Orthobrachia latifasciata (Moore, 1888)

Huang, Guo-Hua, Su, Zi-You & Stuening, Dieter, 2016, Taxonomic notes on the genus Orthobrachia Warren, with description of a new species from China and Thailand (Lepidoptera, Geometridae), ZooKeys 609, pp. 121-137 : 124-125

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Geometridae

Orthobrachia latifasciata (Moore, 1888) Figures 2 A–B, 4A, 5A

Stegania latifasciata Moore, 1888, in Hewitson & Moore, Descr. new Indian lepid. Insects Colln late Mr Atkinson: 260. Type locality: Darjeeling, India.

Orthobrachia latifasciata : Yazaki 1992: 21.

Diagnosis.

This species can be recognized and distinguished from the other Orthobrachia species based on external features. Main diagnostic characters are the strongly waved antemedial and postmedial lines in forewing, the white or slightly greyish-white medial bands and the large, dark brown apical patch with concave posterior border in hind wing (see also key to species). In addition the genitalia of both sexes exhibit distinctive characters: valva with a large, dorsal saccular lobe, formed like a heterocercal fish-tail in a lateral view, broadly oval in dorsal view. Compared to flavidior , the uncus is more slender, and the shorter and broader valva of the latter has a large basal lobe instead of the hook-like costal process just beyond the middle of the valva. The aedeagus of latifasciata is long and slender, with one stout cornutus, that of flavidior is shorter and rather stout, with two cornuti. The female genitalia are distinctive, with three long spines distally on the antrum, while flavidior has two short distal and two long proximal spines laterally on antrum. A second similar species is owadai , also having a white median band in hind wing (diagnosis given under owadai ).

Material examined.

INDIA: 1♂, Lectotype of Stegania latifasciata Moore, designated by Yazaki (1992), labeled "Type/ Stegania latifasciata Moore, Type/1621 Darjeeling/ Moore Coll. 94-106/ Geometridae genitalia slide No. 7925 ♂", BMNH; l♂2♀♀, W. Bengal, Tiger Hill, 2573 m, 30.IX-5.X.1986, F. Aulombard & J. Plante leg., BMNH. l♂1♀, “Khasias”, L. B. Prout Coll., B.M. 1939-643 (ZFMK, by exchange from BMNH, 1964); NEPAL: l♂, Godavari, 28.VI.1990, preserved in BMNH; Gandaki Parbat District, 1♀, Ghorapani, Deolari, 2800 m, 15.X.1981, M. Owada leg., NSMT; 1♀, Ulleri, 2070 m, 14.X.1981, M. Owada leg., preserved in NSMT; 3♀♀, Banthanti, 2620 m, 16.X.1981, M. Owada leg., NSMT; l♂2♀♀, nr Kathmandu, Siwapuri 2650 m, 7.X.1981, M. Owada leg., NSMT. 1♂, Indien, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, 15 km E Drass, 3000 m, 1.VIII.1986, leg. W. Thomas, Gen. prep. no. 2306-DS, ZFMK; CHINA: 1♂2♀♀, Tieshanting, Mao’ershan Na tional Nature Reserve, 1950 m, 11.IX.2015, M. Wang leg., SCAU; 1♀, “Frontière orientale du Thibet, Chasseurs indigènes du P. Déjean 1906"/ Lomographa , Orthobrachia Warr., latifasciata Moore ♀, abgebildet Seitz IV. Suppl. fig. 22g, ex coll. Ch. Oberthür. ZFMK.

Biology.

The adults are flying in summer and autumn.

Distribution.

N. India, Nepal and China.

Remarks.

This species is distributed in the high mountains, usually above 2000 m and up to 3000 m in altitude.