Oberthueria jiatongae Zolotuhin & Xing Wang

Zolotuhin, Vadim V. & Wang, Xing, 2013, A taxonomic review of Oberthueria Kirby, 1892 (Lepidoptera, Bombycidae: Oberthuerinae) with description of three new species, Zootaxa 3693 (4), pp. 465-478 : 474-475

Oberthueria jiatongae Zolotuhin & Xing Wang , sp. nov.

Obertheria [sic!] formosibia Kishida & Xing Wang (2011: 138, pl. 30, fig. 14).

Type material. Holotype: ♂, “ China, prov. Shaanxi | Taibaishan Mts (S) | Tsinling Mts., Foping NT | 33˚51’N, 107˚57’E, 1.500 m | 20.IV–11.V 1999 | leg. Sinjaev & Plutenko” (MWM); Paratypes: 38 ♂, 1 ♀, China, prov. Shaanxi, [Qinling Mountains, Taibaishan] Taibaishan Mts (S), Tsinling Mts., Foping NT, 33˚51’N, 107˚57’E, 1.500 m, 20.IV–11.V 1999, leg. Sinjaev & Plutenko (MWM); 4 ♂, China, Shaanxi prov., [Qinling Mountains, Taibaishan] Tai bai shan Mts (S), Tsinling Mts, Houzhenzi, 33˚51’N, 107˚49’E, 1600 m, 27.V–08.VI 1999, leg. local collector (MWM); 6 ♂, same data but May 2002 (MWM); 3 ♂, the same data but June 1999 (MWM); ♂, same data but summer 1999 (MWM); ♂, same data but 1–12.VIII 1999 (MWM); ♂, same data but 1.500 m, VII 2001 (MWM); ♂, same data but 2.600 m, VII 2001, leg. local collector (MWM); ♂, China, Shaanxi prov., Taibaishan Nat. Park, 33˚35’N, 107˚43’E, 1300–1500 m, 20.VIII–4.IX 1998, leg. V. Murzin & V. Sinjaev (MWM); 2 ♂, China, Shaanxi prov., South Taibaishan, Tsinling Mts., Houzhenzi, 33˚51’N, 107˚ 49’E, 1.500 m, 05–10.V 2000, leg. Sinjaev & Plutenko (MWM); 2 ♂, China, Shaanxi prov., Dabashan, 15 km S Shou-Man vill., 1800 m, 32˚08’N, 108˚37’E, 25.V–14.VI 2000, leg. Sinjaev & Plutenko (MWM). Additional material: 2 ♂, China, Jiangxi Prov., Wuyishan, Xipaihe vill., 1500 m, 27˚54’N, 112˚20’E, VII 2004, leg. Sinjaev & his team (MWM); 3 ♂, China, Hubei Prov., Dabashan, Songluohe, 31˚37’N, 110˚33’E, 1300–1800 m, V 2006, leg. Siniaev & his team (MWM); 2 ♂, China, N-Hubei Prov.e, Niutou Mt, Ahiyan, 1550 m, VIII 2000, leg. native collector (MWM); 2 ♂, China, Sichuan Prov., Wolong Nature Reserve, 31˚09’N, 103˚20’E, V 2005, leg. Sinjaev & his team (MWM); 2 ♂, China, Sichuan Prov., Qingchenghoushan Mts, 70 km NW Chengdu, 1400 m, 21–25.VIII 2005, leg. S., V., M. Murzin (MWM); ♂, China, NW-Sichuan Prov., Daxueshan Mts, Gonggashan, NW Moxi, 29˚41’N, 101˚58’E, 14– 19.VII 1999, leg. Sinjaev & Plutenko (MWM); ♂, China, Hainan Prov., Diaoluoshan National Nature Reserve, 2004. IV.24, leg. Huang G.H. (SCAU); ♂, China, Hunan Province, Badagongshan National Nature Reserve, Tianpingshan Mountain, 2009. V.27, leg. Huang G.H. (HUNAU); ♂, the same data but 2009. VIII.10, leg. Wang H.S. (SCAU); ♂, China, Guangxi Province, Huaping National Nature Reserve, 2007. V.25, leg. Chen L.S. & Wu G.Y. (SCAU); 39 ♂, 3 ♀, China, Guangdong Province, Nanling National Nature Reserve, 2011. VI.4–5, 1300 m, leg. Wang X. & Huang G.H. (HUNAU); ♂, the same data but 2003. VI.22, leg. Huang G.H. (SCAU); ♂, the same data but 2003. VIII.16–20 (SCAU); ♂, ♀, the same data but 2003. VII.16, leg. Chen L.S. & Lin H. (SCAU); ♂, the same data but 2008. VI.25, leg. Wang H.S. (SCAU); ♂, the same data but 2008. VII.2 (SCAU); 2 ♂, the same data but 2009. VIII.10 (SCAU); 4 ♂, the same data but 2008. V.31, leg. Wang M. & Wang H.S. (SCAU); 2 ♂, the same data but 2008. VII.29, leg. Long Y. (SCAU); 6 ♂, the same data but 2009. V.8, leg. Li X.P. (SCAU); 7 ♂, the same data but 2009. V.18, leg. Wang H.S. & Long Y. (SCAU).

Description. Medium-sized species (Figs 14–17), very similar externally to O. yandu and probably close to it. Ground colour sandy yellow, with abundant white or ash grey suffusion giving to moths a characteristic appearance. Wing pattern dark grey, prominent, submarginal field of the fore wing is covered with dark yellowbrown to chestnut scales whereas in hind wing it is brighter dark yellow to ochre-yellow. Wing serration distinct in hind wing, but marginal teeth are short and massive, forming sometimes very short bifurcate tail; in fore wing, medial projection may be double and the falcate part is smooth. Female similarly patterned, a bit darker, with the same kind of serration and a short bifurcate tail.

Male genitalia (Fig. 26). Uncus lobes curved, lyre-shaped, with rounded apices; valvae short and broad; harpe strong, rather short and covered with dense spines on its distal third; right apical spur rather slender and pointed. Female genitalia as illustrated (Fig. 28).

Diagnosis. Small size, contrasting ‘grey-scaled’ coloration, prominent wing pattern and short but distinct wing serration makes identification of the species rather easy. From the similar and sometimes sympatric O. yandu it differs being paler, a bit smaller, with shorter wing serration.

Bionomics. The population of the species of the type locality is native to montaine forests where it inhabits altitudes of 1300–2600 m but more commonly 1500–1800 m, and is on the wing from late April to early September, develops 1–2 generation(s) depending on the altitude. Lowland populations (of Hunan, Guangdong, Hainan) are known develop two generations per season and is known from May to August.

Distribution ( Fig. 34 ). Mountains of Shaanxi, Jiangxi, Hubei, also known from N and NW Sichuan, Hunan, Guangdong and Hainan.

PLATE 4. Figs 30–33. Biotopes. 30. Biotopes of O. yandu Zolotuhin & Xing Wang , sp. nov., China, Sichuan Prov., Erlangshan Mts, E Luding, 2560 m. 31. Biotopes of O. yandu Zolotuhin & Xing Wang , sp. nov., China, N. Sichuan Prov., near Lixian County, 2.100 m. 32. Biotopes of O. lunwan Zolotuhin & Xing Wang , sp. nov., China, NW Yunnan, Lijiang/Zhongdian, near Tuguancun, 3.200 m. 33. the same (all photos: A. Saldaitis).

Figures

FIGURE 34. Maps of distributions.