RHODOPRASINA CORRIGENDA Cadiou & Kitching, 1996

Male Rhodoprasina corrigenda, Nankunshan, Guangdong, China. Photo: © Kishida & Wang, 2003. Male Rhodoprasina corrigenda, Doi Inthanon, Chiang Mai, Thailand. PARATYPE. Photo: © NHMUK.

TAXONOMY

Rhodoprasina corrigenda Cadiou & Kitching, 1996. in Kitching & Brechlin, 1996, Nachr. entomol. Ver. Apollo (N.F.) 17(1): 56. Type locality: Thailand, Chiang Mai, Doi Inthanon [National Park], 'checkpoint', 1700m.

Synonym. Rhodoprasina viksinjaevi Brechlin, 2004, Arthropoda 12(3): 8. Type locality: China, Hunan, Nanling Shan, 1500m (24°54'N, 112°57'E).

Synonym. Rhodoprasina chrisbrechlinae Brechlin, 2016, Entomo-Satsphingia 9(1): 5. Type locality: Vietnam, Thura Thien-Hue Province, Bach Ma Mts., 1400m (16°11.47'N, 107°58.07'E).

Synonym. Rhodoprasina myhanhae Brechlin, 2016, Entomo-Satsphingia 9(2): 40. Type locality: Vietnam, Yen Bai Province, Mu Cang Chai, 1550m (21°46'N, 104°08'E).


ADULT DESCRIPTION AND VARIATION

Wingspan: 82-116mm. Similar to Rhodoprasina corolla Cadiou & Kitching, 1990, from Thailand, but larger and usually with a silvery sheen to the greenish forewings, which are longer and apically pointed. Hindwing pink area usually restricted to the basal half of the wing, but may extend to the centre (Brechlin, 2005). Foretibia with an apical spine. Antennae not reaching the forewing discal spot; in Rhodoprasina corolla they extend beyond this spot. Underside of abdomen with a strong, dark median line posterior from segment four (rather then the narrow, green line present in Rhodoprasina floralis (Butler, 1876)). Smaller individuals may be missing the normal silvery sheen to the greenish forewings, and may have a bluish tint instead. These may also be shorter and more blunted apically, similar to Rhodoprasina corolla.


Male Rhodoprasina corrigenda, Simian Mountain National Scenic Resort, Chongqing, China, xi.2020, 1100m. Photo: © Xu ZhenBang, 2020.

ADULT BIOLOGY

A montane species occurring between 1100 and 2500m altitude. Males will come to light in large numbers between 19.00h and 03.00h. This is in distinct contrast to other members of the genus, which appear to fly for only a short period after dusk (Brechlin, 2005). In northern Thailand flies at the beginning of the dry season before the onset of the cold season in late December, when nights become much colder.


FLIGHT-TIME

China: x-xi (Hunan; Fujian; Chongqing); xii (Yunnan; Guangdong).

In Thailand, from October until early December.


EARLY STAGES

OVUM: Unknown.

LARVA: Unknown.

PUPA: Unknown.

Larval hostplants. Unknown, but the related Rhodoprasina floralis from northern India has been recorded from Acer campbelli (Aceraceae) (Fellowes-Manson, 1906).


PARASITOIDS

Unknown.


LOCAL DISTRIBUTION

China: Yunnan (Yingjiang County); Chongqing (Simian Mountain National Scenic Resort, 1060m); Hunan (Nanling Shan; Mt Shikenkong, 1500m); Fujian (Daimao Shan); Guangdong (Nankunshan).


GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION

The extreme south of China (Yunnan, Chongqing, Guangdong, Fujian and Hunan), as well as northern Thailand (Chiang Mai area, 1700-2500m), northern Laos (Xiangkhouang Province), and northern Vietnam south to the central-southern mountains (Sa Pa, Lao Cai Province; K'Bang District, Gia Lai Province, 1097m (Le & Vu, 2024)).


Regional distribution of Rhodoprasina corrigenda. Map: © NHMUK.

BIOGEOGRAPHICAL AFFILIATION



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© A. R. Pittaway & I. J. Kitching (Natural History Museum, London)