Pantoporia bieti aurantina Monastyrskii & To, 2021

Monastyrskii, Alexander L. & Lien, Vu Van, 2021, New taxa and new records of butterflies from Vietnam (Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea), Zootaxa 5048 (4), pp. 486-510 : 496

Pantoporia bieti aurantina Monastyrskii & To , subspecies nov.

( Figs. 7A, B )

Description: Female: Length of forewing: HT 25 mm.

Both wings upperside. ( Figure 7A ) Ground colour is black; all spots and bands are uniformly bright orange, including large discal cell streak merged with the streak beyond discal cell; lower postdiscal large spots in cells A1+A2 and Cu 1a are connected in cell Cu 1b;

Both wings underside. ( Figure 7B ) Ground colour of both wings dark reddish brown; all spots and bands are yellow; markings broad and distinct; wing patterns similar to those on the upperside except for a series of distinct pale violet subcostal spots in cells R 1, R 2, R 5 and M 1.

Diagnosis: The new taxon may be distinguished from individuals of other subspecies distributed in western China (the nominate subspecies) ( Figure 7E–F ), Naga Hills and northern Vietnam ( subspec. paona ) ( Figure 7C–D ). It has well developed, broad, bright orange markings on the upperside of both wings, while the other subspecies have whitish (eastern Tibet; Bozano, 2008) or yellowish markings (the nominate subspec. from central China and subspec. paona from northeastern India (ex Lepidoptera collection of the NHM). The most unusual character of the new taxon is the well-developed series of subcostal spots on the underside of the forewing. Individuals of other subspecies either lack this character or it is unclear. In addition, subcostal spots on the forewing are not typical for Pantoporia . This character is usually observed in some Neptis with orange markings, such as the armandia , themis and antilope groups.

Type material: Holotype: CENTRAL VIETNAM, ♀ Gia Lai province, Kon Ka Kinh N.P., IV.2016, TQ leg.

Distribution: Currently only recorded from Central Vietnam, Gia Lai province, Kon Ka Kinh N.P.

Figures

FIGURE 7.—Pantoporia bieti aurantina Monastyrskii & To, subspec. nov. A–B—♀HT, central Vietnam, Gia Lai province, Kon Ka Kinh N.P.; C–D—P. b. paona Tytler, 1915, Type, ♀, Kirbari, Naga Hills; E–F—P. b. bieti (Oberthür, 1894), Type, ♂, western China, Ta-Tsien-Lou