HYLES SALANGENSIS (Ebert, 1969)

GB: Salang Hawkmoth

Type locality: Salang Pass, eastern Afghanistan.

BIOGEOGRAPHICAL AFFILIATION

Holarctic; western Palaearctic region. Pleistocene refuge: Unknown -- its present-day distribution suggests an origin within the Afghan secondary centre in the Turkestan refuge.

ADULT DESCRIPTION AND VARIATION

Wingspan: 55--70mm. Although it resembles a dark hybrid between H. hippophaes and H. euphorbiae, the number of specimens caught over many years indicates that it is a valid species. Some specimens may resemble Hyles euphorbiae robertsi (Butler, 1880).

ADULT BIOLOGY

Little known. In the Salang Pass it flies at 2000--2700m.

FLIGHT-TIME

Early July.

EARLY STAGES

Unknown.

PARASITOIDS

Unknown.

DISTRIBUTION

Salang Pass, Afghanistan, and surrounding mountains.

Extra-limital range. None.