Rhodostrophia philolaches (Oberthür, 1891)

Figs 11, 24, 35, 46, 56

Gnophos philolaches Oberthür, 1891, Études ent., 15: 22, pl. 3, fig. 26. Syntypes including ♁, China: Sichuan, Tachien-lu [Kangding].

Eusarca tibetaria Staudinger, 1896, Dt. ent. Z., 8: 331. Syntypes 2 ♁, China: between Lop Nor and Kuku Nor. Treated as ssp. of philolaches by Parsons et al. (1999). Syn. nov.

Rhodostrophia farinosa Warren, 1897, Novit. zool., 4: 394. Syntypes 1 ♁, 1♀, Qinghai, Kuku-Nor; Sichuan, Tachien-lu [Kangding] (NHM).

Rhodostrophia philolaches: Prout, 1913, in Seitz, Macrolepid. World, 4: 43, pl. 3: e.

Diagnosis. The external characters of the species are similar to R. stueningi sp. nov., but the wing colour varies from yellowish grey to grey; the medial line is sometimes double lines and deep brown, sometimes only one line left, sometimes nearly absent; the postmedial line of the forewing is protruding between veins R 5 and M 1, while in R. stueningi sp. nov., it is protruding between veins M 3 and CuA 2. The male and female genitalia are described under the diagnosis of R. reisseri sp. nov. .

Material examined. CHINA: Ningxia (IZCAS): 3 6 1♀, Jingyuan, Hongxia linchang, 1998 m, 10.VII.2008, coll. Song Wenhui; 1 6, same locality as above, 1896 m, 1.VIII–29.VII.2013, coll. Jiang Nan et al. Gansu (IZCAS): 1♀, Lintan, Yangsha, Anmengou, 2600 m, 18.VII.2005, coll. Wang Hongjian; 1♀, Wushan, Anzigou, 30.VI.2000, coll. Wang Hongjian. Qinghai (IZCAS): 4 6 10 ♀, Tongren, Maixiu, 2950 m, 1.VIII–30.VII.1992, coll. Xue Dayong. Sichuan (IZCAS): 1♀, Nanping, Jiuzhaigou, 2400 m, 7.IX.1983, coll. Chai Huaicheng; 1♀, Batang, 3370 m, 16.VIII.1982, coll. Wang Shuyong; 6♀, Batang, Yidun, 3350 m, 16–17.VIII.1982, coll. Wang Shuyong et al.; 1 6, Batang, 3800 m, 13. VI.1936, coll. H. Höne (D. Stüning presented from ZFMK). Yunnan (IZCAS): 1♀, Deqin, 3250 m, 15.VII.1982, coll. Wang Shuyong; 1 6 1♀, A-tun-tse, 4500 m, 14, 28.VIII.1936, coll. H. Höne (D. Stüning presented from ZFMK) . Tibet (IZCAS): 22 6 8 ♀, Jomda, 3400 m, 26–31.VII.1976, coll. Zhang Xuezhong et al.; 2 6 5♀, Zhag’yab, Gyitang, Youxi, 3600 m, 20–23.VIII.1976, coll. Han Yinheng; 1 6, Markam, Rongxi, 4000 m, 24.VI.1976, coll. Zhang Xuezhong; 2♀, Markam, Tonghai, 3250 m, 8.VIII.1982, coll. Wang Shuyong.

Distribution. China (Ningxia, Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, Yunnan, Tibet).

Remarks. Prout (1913) considered Eusarca tibetaria as a subspecies of philolaches, and mentioned it is different from the nominate subspecies only by the more yellowish brown wing colour. After examination of of the material cited above, we found the wing colour is varied in the specimens from the same locality, e.g. Gansu (from yellowish brown to pale grey). In addition, there is no genital difference among them. Therefore, we consider tibetaria as a synonym of R. philolaches .