Smerinthus szechuanus (Clark, 1938)

Jiang, Zhuo-Heng, Li, Tao, Yan, Ming, Wang, Jia-Xin, Zheng, Xin-Yi & Hu, Shao-Ji, 2024, The life history of Smerinthus minor Mell, 1937, with a review of the East Asian species of the genus Smerinthus Latreille, 1802 (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae), Zootaxa 5551 (3), pp. 453-478 : 461-463

Smerinthus szechuanus (Clark, 1938) [sün天ë]

( Figures 8–9 )

Anambulyx szechuanus Clark, 1938 , Proc. New Engl. zool. Club 17: 43. TL: ‘Mt. Omei Shan, Sichuan [ China]’.

Smerithus litulinea Zhu & Wang, 1997 , Fauna Sinica. Insecta Vol. 11. Lepidoptera . Sphingidae , 272.

Material examined. CHINA: 1♂, Yunnan, Wenshan , Malipo County, 1550 m, 13-VII-2023, Jin-Xiang Liu leg. [ JZHC] ; 2♂♂, Gzuihou, Suiyang County, Leigong Shan , 1304 m, China , 13-VII-2021, Xin-Yi Zheng leg. [ JZHC] ; 1♂, Guizhou, Libo County, 13-VII-2021, Hao-Lin Gan leg. [ GHLC] ; 1♂, Hunan, Yueyang County, Fushou Shan , 1040 m, 3-X-2016, Zhuo-Heng Jiang leg. [ SFU] ; 2♂♂, Chongqing, Wuxi County, 1205 m, 23-VIII-2022, Zhuo-Heng Jiang leg. [ JZHC] ; 1♂, Fujian, Sanming County, 925 m, 20-VII-2018, Zhuo-Heng Jiang leg. [ JZHC] ; 1♂, Guangxi, Jinxiu County, Dayao Shan , 1120 m, 4-VII-2017, local collector leg. [ JZHC] .

Diagnosis. Male ( Figure 8A–D ): Similar to S. minor , but upperside of body and wings brown. Thorax greyishbrown with a broad black-brown patch dorsally. Abdomen brown, with terminal part covered in grey hair. Forewing longer and narrower, edge smooth, slightly protruding outward on M 3 vein; upperside dark brown, basal to medial area yellow-brown with some grey patches, medial to submarginal area with three deep brown wavy lines, a greyish-

pink curved band from apex to vein M 3. Underside similar to upperside but darker, basal to medial area pinkish. Hindwing half area yellowish-brown, other half with black-brown patch and two greyish-purple bands, basal area pinkish, complete small black ocellus near tornus with small greyish-blue circle. Underside dark brown with grey curved lines in medial area, orange patches at basal, apex, and tornus.

Female: Unknown in this study.

Male genitalia ( Figure 9A–D ): Similar to S. planus , but uncus apex much sharper, gnathos sharper and half the length of uncus. Valva more rounded. Sacculus leaf-shaped, basal part narrower, harpe longer than S. kindermannii . Phallus shorter and wider than S. kindermannii , apical process larger and wider, with a small secondary lateral tooth on the outer margin.

Female genitalia: Unknown in this study.

Distribution. China (Shaanxi, Hubei, Chongqing, Sichuan, Yunnan, Hunan, Jiangxi, Guangdong, Fujian, Guangxi), Vietnam.

Biological notes. This species was collected in middle to high elevation evergreen broad-leaf forest, attracted to light at night.

Figures

FIGURE 8. Habitus of Smerinthus szechuanus. A–B. male, Libo, Guizhou, China; C–D. male, Wuxi, Chongqing, China. Scale bar = 10 mm.

FIGURE 9. Male genitalia of Smerinthus szechuanus, Ya’an, Sichaun, China. A. Lateral view; B. Left valve; C. Phallus; D. Anterior lobe of the process.