Graphium (Pazala) alebion (Gray, [1853])

Zhang, Hui-Hong, Cotton, Adam M., Condamine, Fabien L., Wang, Rong-Jiang, Hsu, Yu-Feng, Duan, Kuang, Zhang, Xin & Hu, Shao-Ji, 2020, Revision of Pazala Moore, 1888: The Graphium (Pazala) alebion and G. (P.) tamerlanus Groups, with Notes on Taxonomic and Distribution Confusions (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae), Zootaxa 4759 (1), pp. 77-97 : 82-83

Graphium (Pazala) alebion (Gray, [1853]) ( Figure 3 )

Papilio alebion Gray, [1853] ; Cat. lepid. Ins. Coll. Br. Mus., 1: 30, pl. 13, f. 6; TL: ‘Northern China’ [probably S. of Shanghai, China].

Papilio Mariesii Butler, 1881 ; Ann. Mag. nat. Hist. (Ser. 5), 7: 33, t. 4, f. 4; TL: ‘Lu-Shan mountains, province of Kiukiang, China’ [Lu Shan, Jiujiang, Jiangxi, China].

Cosmodesmus hönei O. Bang-Haas, 1927 ; Horae Macrolepid., 1: 1. [nomen nudum, published in synonymy]

Cosmodesmus hoenei O. Bang-Haas, 1927 ; Horae Macrolepid., 1: 1. [nomen nudum, published in synonymy]

Diagnostic characters: Small in size, forewing length: male 31.0– 33.5 mm (mean = 32.1 ± 1.0 mm, n = 4), female 33.5–35.0 mm (mean = 34.1 ± 0.6 mm, n = 4). Both wings distinctively narrow and elongate, ground colour with a light ochreous hue. Forewing the 1 st, 2 nd, 8 th, 9 th black bands and the terminal (10 th) black band all reach tornal margin in both sexes; area between the 8 th and 9 th bands almost devoid of dark scales; the 7 th band not displaced inward in cell R 4; veins CuA 2 to M 2 stained with black distally. Hindwing discal band broadened towards costa; a whitish small patch at the base of tail in cell M 3; tornal yellow spots large and undivided on both sides.

Nomenclatorial note: The type specimen in BMNH was labelled as ‘Lectotype’ by Campbell Smith with the intention of designating it as such in a subsequent revision, similar to the type of Papilio glycerion Gray, 1831 ( Hu et al. 2018). A literature search confirmed that this specimen has not actually been formally designated as the lectotype, and since Gray did not state the number of specimens when he described Papilio alebion the specimen must be treated as a syntype. Since there is no clear reason requiring lectotype designation in this case, we refrain from doing so in this publication.

Distribution: E. China (Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Anhui, Hunan).

Phenology: Univoltine in mid-March to early April.

Host plant: Lindera rubronervia (Lauraceae) is reported in Nanjing, Jiangsu ( Zhang et al. 2018). Host plant usage in other parts of its distribution range needs further study.

Male genitalia ( Figure 4 ): Five male genitalia in total were dissected, and the general characters were consistent. Highly sclerotized. Ring slightly wavy in the upper half; saccus rather reduced; socius acute and smooth, distance between the base of socii 0.48–0.52 mm (mean = 0.50 ± 0.01 mm, n = 5). Valve short, oval in general, mostly dark in colour except for the base (unique in subgenus Pazala ); dorsal terminal harpe triangulate, edge serrate with the base widely separated apart; the medial harpe long and nearly straight, the dorsal projection almost flat, broader at the base and gradually narrowed into a pointed tip; no tooth in the middle of the medial harpe. Aedeagus shorter than the other species, almost straight. Juxta very small and narrow, highly sclerotized without hair, the base not directly associated with the base of valves.

Female genitalia ( Figure 5 ): In total, three females were available for dissection, and the characters were consistent. Lamella postvaginalis very reduced; lamella antevaginalis broad horizontally; ostial lobe heavily sclerotized, broad at the base and gradually narrowed into a blunt tip in lateral view, while the posterior margin smoothly wavy without any indentation or bifurcation in ventral view.

Figures

FIGURE 3. G. (P.) alebion (Gray, [1853]); upperside above, underside below; scale bar = 10 mm. A–B: ♂, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; C: ♀, ditto; D: ♀, Jurong, Jiangsu, China; A and C © Jian-Qing Zhu (Shanghai Zoological Park, Shanghai, China).

FIGURE 4. Male genitalia of G. (P.) alebion (Gray, [1853]) from Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; scale bar = 1.0 mm.All: genitalia as a whole, R.: lateral view of ring, TSU: dorsal view of tegumen, socii and uncus (lines and arrows indicate the distance measured), V.: right valve, Ae.: lateral view of aedeagus, Ju.: ventral view of juxta.

FIGURE 5. Female genitalia of G. (P.) alebion (Gray, [1853]) from Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; scale bar = 1.0 mm.