Oberthueria yandu Zolotuhin & Xing Wang

Zolotuhin, Vadim V. & Wang, Xing, 2013, A taxonomic review of Oberthueria Kirby, 1892 (Lepidoptera, Bombycidae: Oberthuerinae) with description of three new species, Zootaxa 3693 (4), pp. 465-478 : 472-473

Oberthueria yandu Zolotuhin & Xing Wang , sp. nov.

Oberthüria caeca sensu Chu & Wang Linyao (1983: 408, Nr 2944) Oberthüeria caeca sensu Chu & Wang Linyao (1996: 48)

Oberthueria formosibia sensu Zolotuhin (1996: 384)

Type material. Holotype: ♂, “ China / Sichuan | WOLONG Reserv | SIGULIANG SHAN | 31°09’ N, 103°20’ E | June 2005 | leg. Sinjaev & his team” (MWM); Genital-slide MWM Nr 18.278. Paratypes: 36 ♂, China, Sichuan, Qingcheng Mts, 60 km W Chengdu, 1500 m, 5.VI 2004, leg. S., V., M. Murzin (MWM); 85 ♂, China, Sichuan, Qingchenghoushan Mts, 70 km NW Chengdu, 1400 m, 21–25.VIII 2005, leg. S., V., M. Murzin (MWM); 2 ♂, China, prov. Sichuan, Qingchenghoushan Mts, 70 km NW Chengdu, 6–13.VIII 2010, 1500 m, leg. S. Murzin (MWM); ♂, China, NW-Sichuan, Daxueshan Mts, Gonggashan, NW Moxi, 29˚41’N, 101˚58’E, 14–19.VII 1999, leg. Sinjaev & Plutenko (MWM); 8 ♂, China, Sichuan Province, Gonggashan, 2200 m, 29˚41’N, 101˚58’E, 25.V– 08.VI 2001, leg. Sinjaev & local collector (MWM); ♂, China, Sichuan Province, Erlangshan Mts, E Luding, 2560 m, 19–23.VII 2004, leg. S. Murzin (MWM); 3 ♂, China, Sichuan Prov., Laolinkou, 1900 m, 28˚21’N, 103˚26’E, 26.VI–12.VII 2008, leg. V. Sinjaev (MWM); 4 ♂, China, Sichuan, Wolong National Nature Reserve, Siguliang Shan, 31˚09’N, 103˚20’E, V 2005, leg. Sinjaev & his team (MWM); 2 ♂, China, N. Sichuan Prov., near Lixian county, H- 2100 m, 30.VII 2011, N31˚24,087”, E103˚09,522”, leg. Floriani & Saldaitis (MWM); 15 ♂, same data (coll. Floriani, Milan, Italy); 2 ♂, China,W. Sichuan, road Dawe/Lushan, Xilingxueshan Mt, H- 2800 m, 21.07.2011, N3051.569", E10246.274", leg. Floriani & Saldaitis (coll. Floriani, Milan, Italy); 2 ♂, China,W. Sichuan, road Yaan/Kangding, Erlangshan Mt, H- 2200 m, 0 2.08.2011, N2987.340", E10230.970", leg. Floriani & Saldaitis (coll. Floriani, Milan, Italy); ♂, China, Sichuan Province, Baoxing County, Donglashandaxiagu, 2011. VI.18, 1950 m alt., leg. Wang M. (SCAU); ♂, China, Sichuan Province, Luding County, Moxi Town, 2003. VII.30, leg. Wang M. & Chen L.S. (SCAU); 2 ♂, China, Sichuan Province, Yingjing County, Nibashan Mountain, 2009. VII.14, leg. Wang M. & Long Y. (SCAU); \ 2 ♂, China, Sichuan Province, Luding County, Moxi Town, 2009. VII.15, leg. Wang M. & Long Y. (SCAU); ♂, China, Sichuan Province, Baoxing County, Donglashandaxiagu, 2009. VII.25, leg. Huang G.H. (HUNAU); ♂, China, Sichuan Province, Yingjing County, Nibashan Mountain, 2009. VII.27, Huang G.H. (HUNAU); ♀, China, North Sichuan, MinShap Mts, Jiuzhaigou vic., 2100 m, 12–16.VII 1994, C. Della Bruna leg. (ZFMK). Additional material: ♂, Kuatun (2300 m), 27,40˚ n. Br., 117,40˚ ö. L., 28.V 1938 (Fukien [Fujian Prov.]), J. Klapperich (MWM); 8 ♂, Fukien: Kuatun (2300 m), 27,40˚ n. Br, 117,40˚ ö. L., 17.–28.V 1938, J. Klapperich (ZFMK); 2 ♂, [ China] Chekiang (Zhejiang Prov.), West-Tien- Mu-Shan [W Tianmushan], 1600 m, 8.VI, 26.VI 1932, leg. H. Höne (ZFMK); 3 ♂, China, Wuyishan, Jiangxi- Fujian border, 50 km SE of Yingtan, 27˚56’N, 117˚25’E, 1600 m, IV 2002, leg. Siniaev & local collector (MWM). 15 ♂, 2 ♀, China, Zhejiang Prov., Tianmushan National Nature Reserve, 2011. VII.24–VIII.1, 1000.1400 m, leg. Wang X. & Liu Y.Y. (HUNAU); ♂, China, Fujian Province, Wuyishan National Nature Reserve, 2011. V.19, 1100 m, leg. Wang M. & Wang H. S. (SCAU); ♂, China, Tibet (Xizang), Ost-Tibet, Meilixueshan, [???] 6000 m, VII 1999, leg. Wang & Li (SMFL); ♂, China, Xizang Province [Tibet], East Tibet, Meilixueshan, [???] 6000 m, Yanging env. VII 1999, leg. Wang & Li (SMFL).

Description. Medium-sized species (Figs 11–13), very similar externally to O. formosibia that formerly led to misinterperetations (see Zolotuhin, 1996). Ground colour chestnut brown with admixture of dark yellow colours in hind wings and with dense suffusion of ash grey scales. Pattern distinct although postmedian is vague; submarginal fascia white and discal spot often obsolete. Wing serration distinct, also for the fore wing, but falcate margin rarely bears dents. Females paler, with pattern more distinct and serration of the hind wing more distinct and forming a short bifurcate tail. Male genitalia (Fig. 25). Uncus lobes curved and apically rounded; valvae short and broad; harpe strong, rather short and covered with dense spines from its middle; right apical spur robust.

Diagnosis. The species resembles O. formosibia in general appearance and saturation, but a bit smaller, paler, with serration shorter and produced in hind wing a kind of bilobed tails (these two tails are always separated in formosibia ). Falcate fore wing margin is always distinctly serrate in formosibia but smooth or with finest serration in the new species, and postmedian is concave in formosibia fore wing but convex to straight here. In the male genitalia, harpe short and strong in contrast to the slender harpe of formosibia .

Bionomics. Seemingly a montane species known from the altitudes of 500–2900 m (6000 m given for moths from Xizang Zizhiqu is surely wrong), developing two generations. Moths are on the wings in late March—early July and again in August—early October. The species was collected in deep mountain valley in destroyed secondary rather humid forest (Figs 30–31).

Distribution ( Fig. 34 ). The species is mostly native to mountane Sichuan Prov. of China but also known eastwards to Zhejiang, Jiangxi and Fujian and westwards in east Tibet.

Comments. Yan-du (Chinese)—a mythical King of southern China.

Figures

FIGURE 34. Maps of distributions.