Bittacus taraiensis Penny, 1969

Bicha, Wesley J., 2011, A review of the Hangingflies (Mecoptera: Bittacidae) of South Asia with the description of a new species of Bittacus from Nepal, Zootaxa 3032, pp. 60-64 : 63

Bittacus taraiensis Penny, 1969 , new synonym of B. indicus Walker, 1853

The collection of Nepalese specimens included seven specimens with wing venation similar to that of the holotype of Bittacus indicus ( Fig. 5 ). The holotype is missing its abdomen and the details of the terminalia are unknown. The terminalia of the male specimen of the Nepalese B. indicus match those of the paratype of B. taraiensis . Thus, the slight variation in Sc crossvein location of B. taraiensis and B. indicus are deemed to be normal variation. Rust and Byers (1976) discussed these variations and acknowledged that it was probable that these two species were synonyms. Clarification required a male with an intact terminalia, which is now at hand, and so I consider B. taraiensis to be a junior synonym of B. indicus . The elongate proctiger of this species suggests an affinity with many oriental species.

Additional Bittacus indicus collection data: Nepal, Amlekhganj (in the Eastern Terai) 520m at light, 2 June 1957, 1 female; 21 June 1957, 1 female; 27 July 1957, 2 females; 29 July 1957, 1 female; 30 July 1957, 1 female; Mahakharat Range, Sambhanjang (Sim Pass), Bhainse-Kathmandu Road, 2484m, 1 male; leg. Ed Coher.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Bittacus indicus. Holotype, left forewing. Scale bar: 1 mm.