Preimaginal evidence further elucidates the evolutionary history of the genus Sinobirma Bryk, 1944 (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)

Abstract

The moth genus Sinobirma was reared successfully for the first time, based on specimens of Sinobirma bouyeri collected in the southeastern Himalayas of Tibet. Larvae were reared on the host plants Coriaria nepalensis and Prunus cerasoides in captivity in Yunnan. Morphology and biology of the ovum, larvae, and pupa of S. bouyeri are described in detail. The species exhibits strong gregarious behavior during all larval instars, with mature larvae of S. bouyeri primarily feeding at night. The larvae are black and decorated with green stripes, pupating individually in the soil. Numerous host plants known to be used by African and Asian Saturniidae were tested with larvae of this species. The first parasitoid for the genus Sinobirma is reported. The complete mitochondrial genome was sequenced and used to reconstruct a molecular phylogeny to test the tribal placement of Sinobirma. The paper provided further evidence that Sinobirma originated from the African mainland and reached the Himalayas through dispersal.