A note on the genitalia of Endoclita signifer (Walker) and E. chalybeatus (Moore) (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae) from the Indo-Burma region of southern Asia

Female genitalia attributed to Endoclita signifer (Walker) and E. chalybeatus (Moore), and male genitalia attributed to E. chalybeatus, are redescribed and illustrated. Comparisons are made to earlier published diagrams of Endoclita genitalia. Our observations corroborate earlier determinations by Tindale that E. signifer is restricted to the Indian state of Meghalaya and the northern Bangladesh division of Sylhet. While the previously published distribution of E. chalybeatus extends between the region of northern West Bengal state (holotype location) of India and southern Burma, all records outside the immediate vicinity of the holotype locality require future verification through examination of genitalia for those and any additional specimens. The restricted range of E. signifer is particularly significant for forest management as species in southern China attributed to this species are probably either E. vietnamensis Grehan & Buchsbaum) or another species.