Theretra tibetiana Vaglia and Haxaire,2010

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 : 185-186

26. Theretra tibetiana Vaglia and Haxaire,2010 -Tibetian Hunter Hawkmoth ( Figure 3 : H; Figure 5 : B)

2010. Theretra tibetiana Vaglia and Haxaire , in Vaglia, Haxaire, Kitching and Liyous, European Entomologist, 3 (1): 21.

Material examined: INDIA, Manipur, Ukhrul District, Shirui Hills, Site 3 (25.1171ºN 94.4456ºE), 2190 m asl ,

24.vii.2019 - 1♂, IJ1163, 13.ix.2019 - 1♂, IJ1425, coll. J.S. Irungbam.

Diagnosis: Wingspan ♂, 82 - 86 mm. forewing length 39 - 41 mm. Male genitalia ( Figure 5 : B): In lateral view the uncus is similar to the clotho , but its apex is not so curved and is interrupted more abruptly. The harp is globular, outer edge is rounded, but usually invaginates just before the apex. The inner edge bears the double serrated layer and sclerotic characteristic of clotho , but this double leaf is totally shifted and crushed towards the apex. It is raised and is slightly curved towards the base of the valve. Only the larger apical teeth are visible. There are usually 4 on the outer leaflet and 2 or 3 on the internal leaflet. At clotho the sheets are wide, semi-transparent, are positioned lower on the inner edge and are finely toothed over their entire length. The apical portion is very little or not raised or curved ventrally. The outer edge is regularly domed.

Distribution: India: Manipur. Elsewhere: Bhutan ( Irungbam and Irungbam, 2019); Hong Kong ( Kendrick and Young, 2014); China, South Korea, Japan, northern

Vietnam, northern Laos,northern Thailand ( Vaglia et al., 2010); Taiwan (Wu et al., 2020).

Larval hostplants: Unknown in India.

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

Figures

Figure 3. Image of adult Sphingidae: A. Acosmeryx naga naga (Moore, (1858)); B. A. pseudonaga Butler, 1881; C. Deilephila elpenor macromera (Butler, 1875); D. Hippotion celerio (Linnaeus, 1758); E. H. rosetta (Swinhoe, 1892); F. Theretra alecto (Linnaeus, 1758); G. T. clotho clotho (Drury, 1773); H. T. tibetiana Vaglia and Haxaire, 2010; I. T. lucasii (Walker, 1856); J. T. nessus nessus (Drury, 1773); K. T. oldenlandiae oldenlandiae (Fabricius, 1775); L. T. pallicosta (Walker, 1856); M. Cechetra lineosa (Walker, 1856); N. C. minor (Butler, 1875); O. Rhagastis albomarginatus albomarginatus (Rothschild, 1894); P. R. castor aurifera (Butler, 1875); Q. R. confusa Rothschild and Jordan, 1903; R. R. olivacea (Moore, 1857).

Figure 5. Male genitalia of adult Sphingidae. A. Theretra clotho clotho (Drury, 1773): (i) Genital capsule, (ii) Harpe, (iii) Aedaegus. B. T. tibetiana Vaglia and Haxaire, 2010: (i) Genital capsule, (ii) Harpe, (iii) Aedaegus. C. Cechetra lineosa (Walker, 1856): (i) Genital capsule, (ii) Harpe, (iii) Aedaegus, (iv) Phallus armature. D. C. minor (Butler, 1875): (i) Genital capsule, (ii) Harpe, (iii) Aedaegus, (iv) Phallus armature.