Lepchina kitchingi Brechlin, 2000, Nachr. ent. Ver. Apollo (N.F.) 21: 145. Type locality: China, Shaanxi, south Tai bai shan-Mts [south Taibai Shan], "Tsinling-Mts. [Quinling Shan]" [Qinling], Houzhenzi, 33°08'N 107°44'E, 2200m.
Synonym. Lepchina kitchingi Brechlin, 2000.
Synonym. Lepchina plutenkoi Brechlin, 2002, Nachr. ent. Ver. Apollo (N.F.) 22: 231. Type locality: China, Sichuan, Gongga Shan, 29°41'N 101°58'E, 2600-3200m.
A small species which is variable in the colour and shape of the forewings, which have variably cut outer margins. The genitalia and mtDNA barcodes of the darker populations from Sichuan, described by Brechlin (2002) as Lepchina plutenkoi, confirm it to be Dahira kitchingi. That the specimens from Sichuan came from a higher altitude than the type series of D. kitchingi may explain their darker colour and the slight phenotypic differences between the two populations (Haxaire, Melichar & Manjunatha, 2021).
Occurs at between 1600 and 3200m altitude.
China: 24.iv-15.v (Sichuan); v-vi (Shaanxi); 21.vi.2015 (Sichuan); vi-vii (Sichuan).
OVUM: Unknown.
LARVA: Unknown.
PUPA: Unknown.
Larval hostplants. Unknown.
Unknown.
China: Shaanxi (Taibai Shan, Heihe National Forest Park, Houzhenzi, 1600-2200m; Daba Shan, 1800m); Sichuan (Gongga Shan; Dujiangyan, 1800m; Ya'an).
Endemic to south-central China.
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