Dahira yunnanfuana indicus Melichar, 2021 [云南öṣ天ẽ印ª亚Ñ]

(Figures 37–40)

Dahira yunnanfuana indicus Melichar, 2021; European Entomologist, 13 (3): 118; TL: S. Xizang, China.

Material examined. CHINA: 4♂♂, Nyingchi, Xizang Autonomous Region (2050m), 24-V-2024, Xin Wang leg. [JZHC].

Diagnosis. Male (Figures 37A–B, 39G, 40): Resembling the nominotypical subspecies, with a slightly ochraceous body color. The black band on the forewing upperside appears less distinct, while the white square patch is more prominent compared to the nominotypical subspecies.

Female: Unknown.

Male genitalia (Figures 38A–D, 39H–I): Similar to the nominotypical subspecies, but with a more sharply tapered apical process of the phallus, in contrast to the blunt, multidentate form in the nominotypical subspecies. The harpe is basally broad and abruptly narrows into a strongly curved hook, rather than the tapered, nearly rectilinear shape seen in the nominotypical subspecies.

Distribution. China (SE and S Xizang).

Biological notes. This subspecies was collected in high elevation evergreen broad-leaf forest, attracted to light at night (Figure 40).

Remarks. This moth occurs from C and SW China and Himalaya regions, generally inhabiting montane forests at high elevations. The species was split into three subspecies by Haxaire et al. (2021) based on the results of DNA barcode analysis and male genital morphology. These subspecies show few differences in appearance but can be separated by small characters in the male genitalia (Figure 39): the shape of the harpe seems to tapered and nearly rectilinear in nominotypical subspecies, wider and flatter in ssp. montivaga, and with a broad base, narrowed into a strongly curved hook in ssp. indicus. In this study, we recorded D. y. indicus from SE Tibet in China and confirmed the identification by DNA barcoding and male genitalia structure, extending its distribution beyond its type locality in S. Xizang.