RETHERA AMSELI Daniel, 1958

UK: Amsels' Hawkmoth

Rethera amseli Daniel, 1958, Beitr. naturk. Forsch. SuedwDtl. 17: 83--84.

Type locality: Herat, Afghanistan.


Part of a plate from Daniel, 1958.

BIOGEOGRAPHICAL AFFILIATION

Holarctic; western Palaearctic region. Pleistocene refuge: Monocentric -- eastern half of the Iranian refuge.


ADULT DESCRIPTION AND VARIATION

Wingspan: 34--43mm. Larger, with paler markings, than its close relative, Rethera brandti O. Bang-Haas, 1937, from which it is clearly separated by the distinct genitalia (Kernbach, 1959).


Female Rethera amseli, Herat, Afghanistan. PARATYPE.

ADULT BIOLOGY

Unknown.


FLIGHT-TIME

Univoltine; mid-April.


EARLY STAGES

Unknown.


PARASITOIDS

Unknown.


DISTRIBUTION

Rethera amseli was discovered near Herat (western Afghanistan) at the same time as Rethera afghanistana Daniel, 1958.

[Badly worn individuals collected in western Pakistan (North Suleiman/Kesai Mountains, South Waziristan, near Tanai Village, 1500-2500m, 28.vii-12.viii.2005 & 17-21.viii.2008 (leg. V. Gurko, coll. Sphingidae museum of Czech Rep.)) appeared, at first, to be this species. However, DNA barcoding has confirmed them as being Rethera brandti euteles.]

Extra-limital range. None.


Global distribution of Rethera amseli. Map: © Tony Pittaway.
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