Sphinx oberthueri, Rothschild & Jordan, 1903

Irungbam, Jatishwor Singh & Fric, Zdeněk Faltýnek, 2021, Checklist of the family Sphingidae Latreille, 1802 (Lepidoptera: Bombycoidea) from Shirui Hills, Manipur, India, Records of the Zoological Survey of India 121 (1), pp. 173-194 : 179

10. Sphinx oberthueri ( Rothschild and Jordan, 1903) - Masson Pine Hawkmoth ( Figure 2 : J; Figure 4 : E)

1903. Hyloicus oberthueri Rothschild and Jordan, Novit. zool., 9 (suppl.): 119 (key), 149.

Material examined: INDIA, Manipur, Ukhrul District, Shirui Hills, Site 1 (25.1264ºN 94.4357ºE), 1930 m asl ,

23.vii.2019 - 1♂, IJ1429, coll. J.S. Irungbam.

Distribution: India: Manipur. Elsewhere: Central and southwestern China, Myanmar, northern Thailand ( Inoue et al., 1997).

Diagnosis: Wingspan ♂, 63 mm. forewing length 31 mm. Male genitalia: Uncus elongate, slenderer than in Sphinx caligineus (Butler, 1877) , slightly dilated before apex, the edge somewhat notched, shortly hooked at apex, the ventral side deeply concave. Gnathos long, sinuate, the lobes slender, subconical, somewhat curved apically. Harpe characteristic, with two short distal processes separated by a rounded sinus, the upper process with one or more marginal teeth, the lower subconical, pointed, slightly curved, narrower and shorter than the upper. Aedeagus produced into a short process that is rounded apically and slightly curved.

Larval hostplants: Pinus massoniana ( Pinaceae ) in Yunnan, China ( Mell, 1922). Unknown in India.

Remarks: The species is recorded here for the first time from Manipur as well as for India.

Figures

Figure 2. Image of adult Sphingidae: A. Craspedortha porphyria porphyria (Butler, 1876); B. Marumba irata Joicy and Kaye, 1917; C. Callambulyx junonia (Butler, 1881); D. Clanis undulosa gigantea Rothschild, 1894; E. Dolbina inexacta (Walker, 1856); F. Ambulyx liturata Butler, 1875; G. A. ochracea Butler, 1885; H. A. sericeipennis sericeipennis Butler, 1875; I. A. maculifera Walker, 1866 (female); J. Sphinx oberthueri (Rothschild and Jordan, 1903); K. Psilogramma discistriga (Walker, 1856); L. Agrius convolvuli (Linnaeus, 1758); M. Acherontia lachesis (Fabricius, 1798); N. A. styx styx (Westwood, 1847); O. Daphnis hypothous crameri Eitschberger and Melichar, 2010; P. Eupanacra sinuata (Rothschild and Jordan, 1903); Q. Acosmerycoides harterti (Rothschild, 1895); R. Acosmeryx anceus subdentata Rothschild and Jordan, 1903.

Figure 4. Male genitalia of adult Sphingidae. A. Craspedortha porphyria porphyria (Butler, 1876): (i) Genital capsule, (ii) Aedaegus. B. Ambulyx liturata Butler, 1875: (i) Genital capsule, (ii) Harpe, (iii) Aedaegus. C. A. ochracea Butler, 1885: (i) Genital capsule, (ii) Harpe, (iii) Aedaegus. D. A. sericeipennis sericeipennis Butler, 1875: (i) Genital capsule, (ii) Harpe, (iii) Aedaegus. E. Sphinx oberthueri (Rothschild and Jordan, 1903): (i) Genital capsule, (ii) Harpe, (iii) Gnathous, (iv) Aedaegus. F. Acosmerycoides harterti (Rothschild, 1895): (i) Genital capsule, (ii) Harpe, (iii) Aedaegus, (iv) Phallusarmature.