Study on moths of the Herminia decipiens complex (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Herminiinae) with descriptions of three new species
Author
Owada, Mamoru
Author
Wu, Shipher
text
Zootaxa
2019
2019-08-09
4652
3
579
590
journal article
25385
10.11646/zootaxa.4652.3.13
6e15e238-774d-468a-b2e6-6e81c64b39c2
1175-5326
3364962
F8999575-DBAC-4F00-972D-24FA6E29592D
Herminia decipiens
species complex
Taxonomic notes.
Holloway (2008)
synonymized
Nodaria terminalis
Wileman, 1915
(
type
locality: Taiwan) with
Mixomelia decipiens
Hampson, 1898
(
type
locality: Khasi Hills,
India
) and recorded the geographical range of this species as Himalaya,
Taiwan
, northern Ryukyus, Borneo, and also gave his view that “the synonymy above may need to be reviewed when variability in the basal ornamentation of the aedeagus vesica can be assessed over a wider range of material.” Though examining abundant material from different collecting localities, we have the opportunity to review the
Herminia decipiens
complex. Our study shows that
H. terminalis
is distinct from
H
.
decipiens
and is restricted to
Taiwan
. The true
H
.
decipiens
is distributed in Nilgiri Hills, Khasi Hills, South
China
, Indochina, Malay Peninsula. The populations occurring in other regions represent three new species, i.e.
H. yuksam
sp. nov.
(East
Nepal
, Sikkim),
H. borneo
sp. nov.
(endemic to Borneo),
H. amamioshima
sp. nov.
(Amami-oshima Island, Shimo-Koshikijima
Island
and Kagoshima in South Kyushu).
Diagnosis.
The
Herminia decipiens
species complex can be separated from other
Herminia
species by the less distinct wing fasciae, the more and less dark shade at posterior half part of forewing, the markedly large hairy tibial sheath and minute tarsus of male foreleg (
Owada 1987
: fig. 206), and the rather long valval costal process and apical part of valve.
Distribution.
The Himalayan region, South
India
, South
China
, Indochina, Malay Peninsula, Borneo,
Taiwan
,
Japan
(Amami-oshima Is., Shimo-Koshikijima Is. and South Kyushu).