Hemacroneuria flavomarginata (Wu, 1962), new combination

(Fig. 17)

Brahmana flavomarginata: Wu 1962: 150 . Holotype male: Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China .

Illies: 1966: 632 — Zwick 1973: 273 — Du, Sivec & He 1999: 63 — Du & Sivec 2005: 42 — Murányi & Li 2016:183 — Yang & Li 2018: 45.

Locality of observation: China, Yunnan Province, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, ca. 25°57'46"N, 100°23'39"E, 2017-VI-21, photo taken by Zhao Yu-Chen .

Remarks: We recently obtained a photograph of a live “ Brahmana flavomarginata ” from the type locality that matches the description and illustration in Wu (1962) and Cao & Bae (2012) (Fig. 17A, B). Our examination of this specimen and the descriptions provided in the above two papers clearly demonstrate that this species belongs to Hemacroneuria . We therefore formally transfer the species to Hemacroneuria, removing the only species of Brahmana in China and Asia east of the Indian subcontinent.

Hemacroneuria flavomarginata (Wu) was previously recorded under Brahmana from several provinces of China, including Yunnan, Gansu and Shaanxi (Du & Sivec 2005; DeWalt 2021). Of the materials we checked, Hemacroneuria baotianmana Chen & Hou, 2020 (from Henan) and another several collections from Sichuan and Chongqing near northern Yunnan were previously identified as “ Brahmana flavomarginata ”. All of these males generally fit Wu’s original description. Their sensilla basiconica patches and paraprocts displayed no distinct differences, but pigmentation of the head and pronotum were different, even in the individuals collected at the same time and locality. These pigmentation patterns may well be intraspecific, geographical differences. At present, the identity of H. flavomarginata remains unclear. An integrative approach that involves the collection of many individuals, proper examination of the aedeagus, and use of DNA barcoding may be necessary to circumscribe H. flavomarginata and to uncover the diversity of the genus in China.