Mimaporia hmong, Wei, Chia-Hsuan & Yen, Shen-Horn, 2017

Wei, Chia-Hsuan & Yen, Shen-Horn, 2017, Mimaporia, a new genus of Epicopeiidae (Lepidoptera), with description of a new species from Vietnam, Zootaxa 4254 (5), pp. 537-550 : 547

Mimaporia hmong sp. n.

Fig. 3–27

Type material. Holotype ♂ ( Fig. 6 ). Vietnam: Sapa , Lào Cai Province, 1800 m, VII-2015, local collector ( NSYSU).

Paratypes: 3 ♂, 1♀. Collection information same as for holotype (1♂ in NHM and 2 ♂1♀ in NSYSU).

Description. Head. Length of antenna 8–9 mm, unipectinate, rami thicker in male. Compound eye black, size as described for genus. Frons wide, covered with brown, hairy scales. Vertex white and brown rough-scaled. Basal segment of labial palpus brown, rough-scaled. Apical segment brown, smooth-scaled. Basal segment about 0.5 times that of apical segment. Proboscis black.

Thorax. Prothorax covered by white scale, with few brown scale developing at anterior margin. Mesothorax and metathorax black, rough-scaled. Tegula hairy, orange basally and black apically. Legs black, smooth-scaled.

Wings ( Fig. 6–8 ). Forewing length 22–23 mm, ground colour brownish black. Spots round, white-yellowish, arranged in series in r5, m2-1a cells in submarginal zone, and one spot located in postmedial zone of m1 cell. A row of spots present or absent in postmedial zone, extending toward tornus if present. Oval patches present in base of r1, discal cell and 1a, divided by veins, arranged transversely. Size of white spots and patches variable in size. Hindwing: Ground colour brownish black. Two rows of spots arranged in series in submarginal and postmedial zones. Several white yellowish patches from base to medial or to postmedial zone present. Pregenital abdomen ( Fig. 16–19 ). As described for genus.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 20–24 ) and female genitalia ( Figs. 25–26 ). As described for genus.

Distribution ( Fig. 27 ). Vietnam (Lao Cai).

Biology. According to the similarity between M. hmong and Aporia agathon in wing pattern, we anticipate that the new species is very likely diurnal and occurs sympatrically with Aporia . The larval hostplant has yet to be investigated as the biology of the possibly closely related genera Burmeia, Chatamla , and Parabraxas is unknown.

Etymology. The specific name derived from the name of H’mong, the original inhabitants (also known as “Miao” in China) living in Sa Pa.

Comments. Besides M. hmong , the specimens discovered in NHM may belong to two further undescribed species (specimen examinations: 1♂, 1 ♀, North India, NHM ( Fig. 9–10 ) . 1♂, China: Wolong, Sichuan province, NHM ( Fig. 11 ) because they are different from the Vietnamese species in several aspects. The two specimens from Northeast India ( Figs. 9–10 ) possibly belong to a sexually dimorphic new species. The wing span of the male ( Fig. 9 ) is 34 mm, and the female is slightly smaller. The male can be distinguished from M. hmong by having a larger size, broader wing shape and large area with white background in male hindwing. The specimen from Sichuan ( Fig.11 ) is similar to M. hmong in size, but different having a straighter forewing termen and grey patagia. Also , the white area is more extended and the marginal rows of white spots are missing on hindwing. Due to the uniqueness and rarity of these specimens as well as the fact that the abdomen of the Indian female specimen is missing, we decided to postpone the description of both the Indian and Chinese taxa until their taxonomic status can be clarified when more specimens become available.

Figures

FIGURE 27. Distribution map of Mimaporia hmong.

FIGURES 3 – 5. Head of Mimaporia hmong. 5. Frontal view; 6. Lateral view; 7. Dorsal view. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURES 6 – 11. Wing pattern variations of Mimaporia hmong and the assumably closely related taxa. 6. M. hmong, holotype, male, Mt. Sapa (Vietnam: Lào Cai), coll. NSYSU; 7. M. hmong, paratype, female, Sapa (Vietnam: Lào Cai), coll. NSYSU; 8. M. hmong, paratype, male, Sapa (Vietnam: Lào Cai), coll. NSYSU; 9. M. sp., male, northern India, coll. NHM; 10. M. sp., female, northern India, coll. NHM. 11. M. sp., male, Wolong, (China: Sichuan), coll. NHM. Scale bar = 1 cm.

FIGURE 12 – 15. Wing venation of Mimaporia hmong and detail of forewing venation in the three possible sister genera. Arrows indicates the differences of M 1 - M 2 vein among the taxa. 12. M. hmong. Scale bar = 1 cm; 13. Burmeia leesi; 14. Chatamla flavescens; 15. Parabraxas davidi. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURES 16 – 19. Pregenital abdomen of Mimaporia hmong. 16. Androconial organ, lateral view; 17. Sternum A 2, ventral view; 18. The concave condition at anterolateral sternum A 2. 19. Tergum A 8. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURES 20 – 24. Male genitalia of Mimaporia hmong. 20 - 21. Genitalia capsule in lateral (20) and ventral (21) view. 22. Magnified area, showing costula. 23 - 24. Aedeagus. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURES 25 – 26. Female genitalia of Mimaporia hmong. 25. Lateral view. 26. Ventral view. Scale bar = 1 mm.