HYLES SALANGENSIS (Ebert, 1969)

GB: Salang Hawkmoth

Celerio salangensis Ebert, 1969, Reichenbachia 12: 47--48.

Type locality: Salang Pass, eastern Afghanistan.

(Taxonomic note. Mitochondrial DNA analysis of Hyles stroehlei indicates that it and H. salangensis are conspecific (Ian Kitching, pers. comm., 2008).)


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

Male Hyles salangensis, Salang Pass, Afghanistan. Male Hyles 'stroehlei', Shandur Pass, Hindu Kush, Pakistan. Photo: © HNHM. Male Hyles 'stroehlei', Shandur Pass, Hindu Kush, Pakistan. Photo: © HNHM.

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; up to 4300m elswhere, particularly in the Hindu Kush.


FLIGHT-TIME

Early July.


EARLY STAGES

Unknown.


PARASITOIDS

Unknown.


DISTRIBUTION

Salang Pass, Afghanistan, and surrounding mountains. Also the Hindu Kush mountains and Kohistan (Swat Province), Pakistan (Eitschberger, Danner & Surholt, 1998).

Extra-limital range. None.

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