Ragadia latifasciata cristata Monastyrskii & Vu, 2021

Monastyrskii, Alexander L. & Lien, Vu Van, 2021, New taxa and new records of butterflies from Vietnam (Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea), Zootaxa 5048 (4), pp. 486-510 : 500

Ragadia latifasciata cristata Monastyrskii & Vu , subspec. nov.

( Figs. 8 , 9 )

Description: Male. Length of forewing: HT 22.5 mm.

♂ Upperside ( Figure 8A ). Ground colour of both wings blackish with a broad, white postdiscal band broadened at dorsum on the forewing and to the costal edge on the hindwing; on the forewing the band ends at vein M 1. Basal and sub-basal whitish fasciae on the forewing are indistinct. Underside ( Figure 8B ). Both wings ground colour blackish with broad postdiscal white band and well distinct basal, sub-basal and submarginal whitish fasciae. Forewing with series of submarginal eye spots including spots in cells from Cu 1b (double spot) to R 4 (single spots in all other cells); hindwing with series of subterminal eye ringed spots spreading from cell Cu 1b to Rs; spot in cell M 1 is absent.

Female: length of forewing: PTs 24.0; 24.5; 25 mm.

♀ ( Figure 8C, D ) The female is slightly larger than the male with a convex terminal edge on the forewing; wing patterns on both surfaces are similar to that in the male. The most conspicuous character is the absence of an eye spot in cell M 1 of the hindwing.

Male genitalia. ( Figure 9 ). Uncus long, slender and gradually tapering at tip; uncus in 1.5 times longer than tegumen and pointed towards the tip; gnathos is ½ of the uncus length and pointed towards the end; saccus relatively long but shorter than valvae; phallus long with hooked bend at the tip; valvae elongated with the round apex and small and small spike at upper side.

Diagnosis. Specimens recently collected in Ha Giang province are similar to the ♂ and ♀ R. latifasciata type specimens described from Moupin [Baoxing, Sichuan] (W. China) and deposited in the NHM. It is definitely a rare species that has not been collected or mentioned since Leech’s (1892–94) publication of the species description. Recently, the taxon latifasciata was misidentified as a subspecies of R. crisilda in Lang (2017) and has been regarded as a form of R. crisilda . However, type specimens of latifasciata from China and the recent discovery from Ha Giang bear no resemblance to R. crisilda , which has a complete series of submarginal spots on the hindwing underside. The wing patterns of R. latifasciata are similar to those of R. critias Riley & Godfrey, 1921 from central Vietnam, which can be easily distinguished from specimens from the type locality (N. Thailand) and from Southern China (Yunnan province, near the border to Vietnam). At the same time, the male genitalia of latifasciata from N. Vietnam and critias from C. Vietnam, Thailand and S. China show high similarity ( Figures 10 ). Considering these observations, we suggest a revision of these species.

Type material: Holotype: NORTHERN VIETNAM, ♂ Ha Giang province, Dong Van district, Yen Minh commune, VI.2015, local collector leg . Paratypes ♀ the same location and date as holotype, local collector leg .; ♀ the same location as holotype, VI.2009, HVT leg .; ♀ Ha Giang province, IV–V.2007, local collector leg .

Distribution. The new taxon is known only from Ha Giang province (northern Vietnam), though it may occur in southern China.

Figures

FIGURE 8. Ragadia latifasciata cristata Monastyrskii & Vu, subspec. nov. A–B—♂HT, northern Vietnam, Ha Giang province, Dong Van district; C–D—PT ♀—ditto HT; E–F—R. latifasciata Leech, ♂Type; B.M. Type NoRh 2682, China, Moupin, Kricheldorf coll., July 1890; BMNH(E) #141965; G–H—R. latifasciata Leech, ♀Cotype; B.M. Type NoRh 2683, Moupin, Kricheldorf coll., July 1890; BMNH(E) #141963

FIGURE 9. Male genitalia of A—Ragadia latifasciata cristata Monastyrskii & Vu, subspec. nov. (northern Vietnam, Ha Giang province); B—R. l. crystallina Monastyrskii & Vu, subspec. nov. (central Vietnam, Thua Thien Hue province); C—R. l. critias Riley & Godfrey, (southern China, southern Yunnan)

FIGURE 10. A–B—Ragadia latifasciata critias Riley & Godfrey, 1921 stat. rev., ♂—southern China; C–D—R. latifasciata crystallina Monastyrskii & Vu, subspec. nov., ♂HT—central Vietnam, Thua Thien Hue province, Bach Ma N.P.; E–F—Ditto, ♀PT—central Vietnam, Kon Tum province.