HYLOICUS BHUTANA (Brechlin, 2015) -- Bhutan Pine hawkmoth

TAXONOMY

Sphinx bhutana Brechlin, 2015, Entomo-Satsphingia 8(1): 17. Type locality: Bhutan, Paro Valley, 5km W Paro City, 11-12.vii.2009, 2820m.

Synonym. Sphinx bhutana Brechlin, 2015.

ADULT DESCRIPTION AND VARIATION

Wingspan: 72--75mm. Similar in size to Hyloicus brunnescens (Mell, 1922), but larger than Hyloicus oberthueri Rothschild & Jordan, 1903, but with male genitalia similar to the latter.

ADULT BIOLOGY

Recorded from 2550m altitude (Jiang, Xiong & Gan, 2022).

FLIGHT-TIME

China: 19.vii.2021 (Bomi, Xizang/Tibet).

EARLY STAGES

OVUM: Unknown.

LARVA: Unknown.

PUPA: Unknown.

Larval hostplants. Unknown.

PARASITOIDS

LOCAL DISTRIBUTION

China: Xizang/Tibet (Bomi County, 2550m).

GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION

Endemic to Bhutan (Dierl, 1975; Brechlin, 2015) and southern Xizang/Tibet (Jiang, Xiong & Gan, 2022).

Records in the Chinese literature of Hyloicus caligineus sinicus Rothschild & Jordan, 1903 from southeastern Xizang/Tibet (Mutu, Namjagbarwa region, 850m) (e.g. Zhang et al., 1986, pl. 1, fig. 3) are usually misidentifications of Hyloicus oberthueri; however, there is the possibility that the individuals could be Hyloicus bhutana (Brechlin, 2015) (or Hyloicus brunnescens (Mell, 1922)).

BIOGEOGRAPHICAL AFFILIATION