Smerinthulus baonganae Brechlin, 2016, Entomo-Satsphingia 9(4): 87. Type locality: Vietnam, Thua Thien Hue Province, Bach Ma Mountains, 16°11.47'N 107°58.07'E, 1400m, iii.2016.
Very similar in appearance to Smerinthulus flavomaculatus Inoue, 1990 and Smerinthulus perversa (Rothschild, 1895), but with shorter and less slender wings than Smerinthulus perversa.
In the male the head is yellow-brown with a brown dorsal stripe. The thorax is yellow-brown with a dorsal creamy patch. The abdome is yellow-brown dorsally with a creamy, dotted line; lateral side exhibits black stigma-dots. The forewing is triangular with a pointed apex, outer margin crenulate, the distal part of the inner margin slightly concave. Dorsally, ground color yellow-brown with a prominent creamy postdiscal patch; basal to medial area includes three broad brown zigzag stripes; submarginal area features a brown zigzag line and three brown dots; apex displays a creamy patch. Ventral side ground color yellow with a black postdiscal line that is not prominent. The hindwings is has the ground color ochre with an indistinct dark brown submarginal band; ventrally, ground color yellow with a black postdiscal line and an inconspicuous arrow-shaped patch. The female isimilar to the male but markedly larger and with broader wings; general ground color ochraceous and with more extensive, pronounced patterning; antennae noticeably slenderer (Jiang, Xu, Lin, Liu, Wang & Hu, 2025).
The male genitalia are impossible to confuse with those of other species in its group (Haxaire, Melichar, Kitching & Brechlin, 2022). The dorsal edge of the valve is extremely swollen and the ventral edge bears numerous small teeth. The apical claw is shorter and more massive than others in its group. The spatulate ventral lobe is vestigial, practically hidden behind the apical claw. Indeed, the overall impression of the genital capsule evokes the raptorial forelegs of a praying mantis in a defensive position of intimidation. Phallus is slender, lacking an apical tooth.
Unknown.
China: vii (Hunan); 14.vii (Sichuan); 14.x (Zhejiang).
OVUM: Unknown.
LARVA: Unknown.
PUPA: Unknown.
Larval hostplants. Unknown.
Unknown.
China: Zhejiang (Hangzhou, Lin'an, 840m); Sichuan (Ya'an, Yingjing, 1200m); Hunan (Yiyang).
So far, only positively recorded from Zhejiang, Sichuan and Hunan, China (Xu ZhenBang, pers. comm 2023), and Thua Thien Hue Province, Vietnam.
Barcodes and male genitalia of specimens of Smerinthulus collected at Yiyang and Ya'an indicate that these populations are closer to Smerinthulus baonganae, and are not Smerinthulus perversa. Further work is needed to unravel this situation and the true distribution of both these species in China (Xu ZhenBang, pers. comm. 2023). The record from Hangzhou, Zhejiang, also represents the northernmost distribution for any species of the genus Smerinthulus.
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