Smerinthus szechuanus (Clark, 1938) [sün天ë]

(Figures 8–9)

Anambulyx szechuanus Clark, 1938, Proc. New Engl. zool. Club 17: 43. TL: ‘Mt. Omei Shan, Sichuan [China]’.

Smerithus litulinea Zhu & Wang, 1997, Fauna Sinica. Insecta Vol. 11. Lepidoptera . Sphingidae, 272.

Material examined. CHINA: 1♂, Yunnan, Wenshan, Malipo County, 1550 m, 13-VII-2023, Jin-Xiang Liu leg. [JZHC] ; 2♂♂, Gzuihou, Suiyang County, Leigong Shan, 1304 m, China, 13-VII-2021, Xin-Yi Zheng leg. [JZHC] ; 1♂, Guizhou, Libo County, 13-VII-2021, Hao-Lin Gan leg. [GHLC]; 1♂, Hunan, Yueyang County, Fushou Shan, 1040 m, 3-X-2016, Zhuo-Heng Jiang leg. [SFU] ; 2♂♂, Chongqing, Wuxi County, 1205 m, 23-VIII-2022, Zhuo-Heng Jiang leg. [JZHC]; 1♂, Fujian, Sanming County, 925 m, 20-VII-2018, Zhuo-Heng Jiang leg. [JZHC]; 1♂, Guangxi, Jinxiu County, Dayao Shan, 1120 m, 4-VII-2017, local collector leg. [JZHC] .

Diagnosis. Male (Figure 8A–D): Similar to S. minor, but upperside of body and wings brown. Thorax greyishbrown with a broad black-brown patch dorsally. Abdomen brown, with terminal part covered in grey hair. Forewing longer and narrower, edge smooth, slightly protruding outward on M 3 vein; upperside dark brown, basal to medial area yellow-brown with some grey patches, medial to submarginal area with three deep brown wavy lines, a greyish-pink curved band from apex to vein M 3. Underside similar to upperside but darker, basal to medial area pinkish. Hindwing half area yellowish-brown, other half with black-brown patch and two greyish-purple bands, basal area pinkish, complete small black ocellus near tornus with small greyish-blue circle. Underside dark brown with grey curved lines in medial area, orange patches at basal, apex, and tornus.

Female: Unknown in this study.

Male genitalia (Figure 9A–D): Similar to S. planus, but uncus apex much sharper, gnathos sharper and half the length of uncus. Valva more rounded. Sacculus leaf-shaped, basal part narrower, harpe longer than S. kindermannii . Phallus shorter and wider than S. kindermannii, apical process larger and wider, with a small secondary lateral tooth on the outer margin.

Female genitalia: Unknown in this study.

Distribution. China (Shaanxi, Hubei, Chongqing, Sichuan, Yunnan, Hunan, Jiangxi, Guangdong, Fujian, Guangxi), Vietnam.

Biological notes. This species was collected in middle to high elevation evergreen broad-leaf forest, attracted to light at night.