Lemaireia daparo Jiang, Wang, Miu & Guo, 2021

Jiang, Zhuo-Heng, Wang, Cheng-Bin, Miu, Ben-Fu & Guo, Liang, 2021, Review of the genus Lemaireia Nässig & Holloway, 1988 from China, with description of a new species (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae), Zootaxa 5027 (3), pp. 429-437 : 430-432

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.3.8
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:2162DEAD-C66D-441A-AD5E-4DCF8D90B0B7
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03A287D7-9479-5B43-FF31-476DA5F73C20
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Lemaireia daparo Jiang, Wang, Miu & Guo
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Lemaireia daparo Jiang, Wang, Miu & Guo , sp. n.

[达普罗树天蚕蛾]

( Figs. 1a–f View FIGURE 1 ; Figs. 4d, e View FIGURE 4 ; Fig. 5a, b View FIGURE 5 )

Type material ( Holotype and 17 paratypes). Holotype: CHINA: 1♂, Sichuan, Panzhihua City , Yanbian County,

26°40′59″N 101°43′21″E, H: 1650 m, 7.VII.2019, in the edge of forest, Zhuo-Heng Jiang leg. // HOLOTYPE (red), ♂, Lemaireia daparo sp. n., det. Jiang, Wang, Miu & Guo, 2021 ( KIZC) GoogleMaps . Paratypes: CHINA: 4♂♂ 1♀, Sichuan, Panzhihua City , Yanbian County , 26°40′59″N 101°43′21″E, H: 1780 m, 13.VI.2020, in the edge of forest, Ben-Fu Miu leg. // PARATYPE (yellow), ♂ or ♀, Lemaireia daparo sp. n., det. Jiang, Wang, Miu & Guo, 2021 (2♂♂ 1♀ in JZHC, 2♂♂ in MBFC) GoogleMaps ; 6♂♂, Sichuan, Panzhihua City , Yanbian County, 2200 m, 19.VII.2020, Yi-Fan Li leg. // PARATYPE (yellow), ♂, Lemaireia daparo sp. n., det. Jiang, Wang, Miu & Guo, 2021 ( YHYC) ; 1♂, Yunnan, Qujing , Luliang County, 1820 m, 26.VII.2020, Shao-Kui Wen leg. // PARATYPE (yellow), ♂, Lemaireia daparo sp. n., det. Jiang, Wang, Miu & Guo, 2021 ( WSKC) ; 5♂♂, Yunnan, Dali , Yangbi County, 1470 m, 24.VII.2021, Hao-Lin Gan leg. // PARATYPE (yellow), ♂, Lemaireia daparo sp. n., det. Jiang, Wang, Miu & Guo, 2021 (2♂♂ in JZHC and 3♂♂ in MBFC) .

Diagnosis. Lemaireia daparo sp. n. typically belongs to the chrysopeplus species-group of the genus. Externally, it cannot be easily separated from other species within the group, but nevertheless it can be distinguished in the details presented below. The new species is most similar in habitus to the allied species L. luteopeplus aureopeplus Nässig & Holloway, 1988 and it shares the following details, such as the orange and yellow patterns on FW and HW, red ocelli and wing shape. However, L. daparo is much paler in colour than L. luteopeplus aureopeplus . The colour shading difference is best observable in the female. The black zigzag line on HW of L. daparo is closer to the ocellus than this zigzag line in L. luteopeplus aureopeplus . The costal margin of the valva ( Figs. 4a–c View FIGURE 4 ) in L. luteopeplus aureopeplus is smooth and the apical prolongation of the valval apex is more slender than in L. daparo ( Figs. 4d, e View FIGURE 4 ). The phalli of both species are similar, but the shape of the phallus in L. daparo is straighter than L. luteopeplus aureopeplus .

According to the investigation performed through many years by the authors, L. luteopeplus aureopeplus is mainly distributed in W. Yunnan, SW. Yunnan, S. Yunnan and SE. Yunnan, while L. daparo is known only from the limited area of S. Sichuan, E. Yunnan, C. Yunnan and NW. Yunnan. Our observations confirm that the distribution range of the new species is limited within the Jinsha River watershed.

The differences in the altitudinal gradient in distribution are also noted with some altitudinal transition area: L. daparo has often been observed at high altitude, ca. 1400–2200 m, while L. luteopeplus aureopeplus is on the wing at lower altitudes 800–1900 m.

Externally, the new species also resembles L. hainana Nässig & Wang, 2006 . However, the latter species is a typical island species only occurring at Hainan Island. Furthermore, L. hainana is larger in size and much paler in colour. The valva ( Fig. 4f View FIGURE 4 ) of L. hainana lacks any apical produced sclerotization, having a rounded tip similar to L. daparo , but the ventral margin of the valva carries a well-produced sclerotized extension directed dorso-distad.

Description. Male ( Figs. 1a–d View FIGURE 1 ; Figs. 5a, b View FIGURE 5 ): Head, thorax and abdomen orange, covered with yellowish hair; legs light yellow.

FWL: 34–37 mm. FW elongate, with falcate apex; termen oblique, slightly excavated between apex and tornus. Upperside ground colour yellow with two zigzag reddish brown patterns in the base. Median area orange brown, divided into two parts by a yellow zigzag line; yellow median area separated basally by a tiny black line, with an ovoid ocellus in orange, bordered with brown scales. Postmedian area orange, divided by yellow patterns a row of dark grey dots on termen marginally, apical area with grey shadow.

HW with upperside ground colour yellow, covered with some tufts of orange hair on anal margin, with a light patch at tornus. Postmedian area with tiny black zigzag line, a row of vague brown spots, and a row of black dots stretch towards the tornal margin. Ocellus round with black, grey and red circles, and a clear white spot in the center.

Underside of both FW and HW less ornamented, mainly yellow ground colour suffused with brown scales. Median area with a black zigzag line and a row of vague dark grey dots in the marginal area. Ocellus more or less presents a shade of this one on the upperside.

Female ( Figs. 1e, f View FIGURE 1 ): FWL: ca. 42 mm. Similar to male, but the wing shape is slightly wider and ground pattern slightly broader than male.

Male genitalia ( Figs. 4d, e View FIGURE 4 ): Uncus narrow, valval apex narrow, with apical prolongation. The ventral marginal of valva usually with two appendages of bulge shape. Inner ventral valva with a hook-like internal process, and tiny spin. Phallus sheathed with two large tongue-like prolongations dorsally. Phallus short and thick, strongly sclerotized, with 7 spines on the distal tip of the vesica.

Distribution. China (Sichuan and Yunnan) ( Fig. 7 View FIGURE 7 ).

Bionomics. This species was collected in evergreen broad-leaf forest, attracted by light. ( Fig. 6a View FIGURE 6 ).

Etymology. The name of the new species is derived from the stage name of Mr. Hong-Yu Yang and his jewelry brand “Daparo”, which consist of “dandelion”, “rose” and lotus in Sanskrit “padam”. The specific name is to thank Mr. Hong-Yu Yang for his field work and financial support to this study.