Hypobarathra Hampson 1905

Genus Hypobarathra Hampson, 1905

Hypobarathra Hampson, 1905, Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalaenae in the British Museum 5: 221. Type-species: Xylina icterias Eversmann, 1843.

Diagnosis. The genus includes only three species, two of those, H. repetita and H. rau sp. n., are similar in size, reddishbrown colouration of the thorax and forewings, while the third species, H. icterias, is remarkably smaller and has a yellowish-orange coloured forewings mixed with brownish scales. Antennae of both sexes filiform, forewings elongated triangular in shape with apex moderately acute, in H. repetita and H. rau, more rounded on females of H. icterias. Reniform stigma large, remarkable, orbicular and claviform stigmata, antemedian and postmedian fasciae indistinct, subterminal fascia remarkable and strongly waved on H. icterias and H. rau, but less distinct on H. repetita. Hindwings rather dark-greyish on H. repetita and H. rau, lighter yellowish-white on H. icterias, discal spot well expressed, terminal shade broad and pale.

The male genitalia show the typical characters of most Hadeninae-genera in their ground plan, maybe only the subapically less strongly angled and narrower valva can be mentioned as unique feature of Hypobarathra. The cucullus is completely differently shaped on all three species: rather broad, spatulate on H. icterias, falcate, apically acute on H. repetita with an additional small, acute apical process and narrow, rounded, finger-shaped on H.rau. The short but broad aedeagus and vesica are very similar to those of Melanchra, just as the main characters of the female genitalia.