Oberthueria formosibia Matsumura, 1927

Wang, Xing, Wang, Min, Zolotuhin, Vadim V., Hirowatari, Toshiya, Wu, Shipher & Huang, Guo-Hua, 2015, The fauna of the family Bombycidae sensu lato (Insecta, Lepidoptera, Bombycoidea) from Mainland China, Taiwan and Hainan Islands, Zootaxa 3989 (1), pp. 1-138 : 58-59

33. Oberthueria formosibia Matsumura, 1927 ( FIGURES 21 A–21D, 22E)

Oberthueria formosibia Matsumura, 1927 , Journal of the Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido Imperial University (J. Coll. Agric. Hokkaido Univ.), 19: 50, pl. 5, fig. 45. TL: “ Formosa (Horisha)=( Taiwan (Nantou))”. Holotype designation by monotypy: male (HUM) [examined]. The published description referred to only one specimen (the holotype), but two specimens with “ type ” labels were found in HUM.

Oberthueria falcigera Butler, 1878 : Chu & Wang, 1993, Sinozoologia 10: 237; Chu & Wang, 1996, Fauna Sinica Insecta 5: 48. Misidentification.

Diagnosis. Characterized by its strongly serrate wing margins, contrasting pattern, non-bifurcate hindwing tail and slender harpe.

Specimens examined. [ TAIWAN] 1 male, Holotype deposited in HUM with the label “male, holotype of Oberthueria formosibia Matsumura, 1927 , Baibara, 22.VII.1925, Kikuchi leg.”; 40 males, from different localities of Taiwan (Ilan, Taitung, Nantou, Taoyuan, Hualien, Miaoli) (MWM); Yilan County: 2 females, Fushan Botanic Garden, 18.VIII. 2010, 500 m, Guo-Hua Huang leg. (HUNAU); 1 male and 1 female, Mingchi, 1050 m, 23.V.2012, Shipher Wu leg. (TFRI); Nantou County: 1 male and 1 female, Renlun, 1400 m, 22.IV.2010, Shipher Wu leg. (TFRI); Hualien County: 2 males, Ci’en, 1950 m, 25.V.2012, Shipher Wu & Wei-Chun Chang leg. (TFRI); 1 male, Guanyuan, 2400 m, 13.IX.2012, Shipher Wu leg. (TFRI).

Bionomics. The species is apparently montane, being known from altitudes of 500–2900 m, and with two generations per year. Moths are on the wing from late March to early July and again from August to early October (Plate 7E–7G). The larvae feed on Acer species (Plate 7H, 8A–8B), a unique host plant association in Bombycidae . It is illustrated, with a cocoon and a live female, at http://caterpillartaiwan.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/ Endromidae . The larvae have a peculiar cobra-like thoracic “hood” and a long anal horn. Chu and Wang (1996) also reported that the larvae fed on Quercus spp.

Distribution. Taiwan.

Remarks. The species is restricted to Taiwan. It was incorrectly recorded from the continent by Zolotuhin (1995).

34. Oberthueria caeca (Oberthür, 1880) ( FIGURES 21 E, 22A)

Euphranor caeca Oberthür, 1880 , Etudes d’Entomologie 5: 40, pl. 6, fig. 2. TL: [Far East of Russia], [south of Vladivostok], “Ascold”. Syntypes: 2 males (BMNH) [examined].

Oberthueria falcigera Butler, 1878 ; Chu & Wang, L.Y. (1996: 48). Misidentification.

Diagnosis. This species is darker ground color without a pinkish tint and, especially, the angled but not bifurcate hindwing tails most clearly distinguish it from its congeners.

Specimens examined. [HEILONGJIANG] Wudalianchi City: 1 male, Xiaoxinganling, 1800 m, July 2000, native collector leg. (MWM); 1 male, Erzendianzy, 45˚40’N, 127˚10’E, Manchuria, June 1924, V. Tolmachov leg. (ZFMK); [ZHEJIANG] 2 males, Chekiang (Zhejiang), West-Tien-Mu-Shan (Xitianmushan National NR), 1600 m, 26.VI.1932, H. Höne leg. (ZFMK); [FUJIAN] 8 males, Fukien (Fujian): Kuatun (Guadun), Wuyishan City, Chong’an District, 2300 m, 27˚40’N, 117˚40’E, 26.V.1938, J. Klapperich leg. (ZFMK); [SHANXI] 5 males, Mienshan (Mian Shan), Jiexiu City, Obere Hoehe, 2000 m, 28.VII.1937, H. Hoene leg. (ZFMK); [HENAN] Songxian County (Luoyang City): 2 males, Baiyunshan National NR, 14.VIII.2008, Guo-Hua Huang leg. (HUNAU); [SHAANXI] Taibai County (Taibaishan Mts (S), Tsinling Mts, Houzhenzi [Mts. Qinling, Mt. Taibaishan, Houzhenzi town], 33˚51’N, 107˚49’E, 1600 m): 2 males, 27.V–08.VI 1999, local collector leg. (MWM); 1 male, summer 1999 (MWM); 2 males, June 1999 (MWM); 4 males, 1–12.VIII.1999 (MWM); Mts. Qinling: 1 male, 14.VII.2006, Liu-Sheng Chen leg. (SCAU); 2 males, 33˚50’N, 107˚44’E, 1500 m, IV. 2005, Siniaev & his team leg. (MWM); 5 males, 33˚51’N, 107˚57’E, 1500 m, 20.IV–11.V.1999, Sinjaev & Plutenko leg. (MWM); 1 male, 33˚55’N, 107˚44’E, 2200 m, June 2004, Sinjaev & his team leg. (MWM); 1 male, Mt. Tapaishan (Taibaishan), Mts. Tsinling (Qinling), Sued-Shensi (?), 1700 m, 17.V.1936, H. Höne leg. (ZFMK); 1 male, Mt. Tapaishan (Taibaishan), Mts. Tsinling (Qinling), Sued-Shensi (?), 3000 m, 2.VII.1936, H. Höne leg. (ZFMK); [SICHUAN] 1 female, 2100 m, north Sichuan, Mts MinShap, Jiuzhaigou vicinity, 12–16.VII.1994, C. Della Bruna leg. (ZFMK).

Bionomics. The larval host plants are Acer palmatum Thunb., 1783 , A. septilobum Fang, 1932 , A. mono Maxim., 1857 (all Aceraceae ), Quercus variabilis Bl., 1850 (Fagaceae) and Morus alba Linn., 1753 (Moraceae) (Chu & Wang, 1996; Park et al., 1999).

Distribution. Mainland China (Heilongjiang, Jilin, Zhejiang, Fujian, Shanxi, Henan, Shaanxi, Sichuan), Russian Far East, North Korea, South Korea.

Remarks. The species is typical of lowland broad-leaved, humid forests. In Russia, the species has two generations a year, with moths on the wing from May to June and from July to August. In Korea, the species appears from April to September (Park et al., 1999).

Figures

FIGURE 21. Adults and labels of Oberthueria spp. A – B. O. formosibia, male (Taiwan), type; C – D. O. formosibia, male (Taiwan), type?; E. O. caeca, male (Sichuan); F. O. yandu, male (Henan); G. O. jiatongae, male (Guangdong); H. O. lunwan, male (Yunnan), holotype.