Magnificus Yan, 2000

Grehan, John R., Saldaitis, Aidas, Prozorov, Alexey M., Yakovlev, Roman V., Müller, Günter C., Ignatev, Nikolai, Mielke, Carlos G. C., Xu, Zhen-Bang, Duan, Yang & Dūda, Juozas, 2025, Three new species of the ghost moth Magnificus Yan from China and India (Lepidoptera, Hepialidae), Zootaxa 5679 (4), pp. 552-572 : 554-556

Magnificus Yan, 2000

Type-species: Magnificus jiuzhiensis Yan, 2000 , by original designation.

Monophyly supported by unique tergosternal sclerite comprising a sub-parallel sided, crescent shaped, tergosternal bar ( Grehan et al. 2021).

Species composition

Magnificus bouvieri ( Oberthür, 1913: 671) ( Fig. 5 (HT))

Tyle locality: China, Sichuan, Tâ-tsien-lou [Kangding].

Type depository: Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle , Paris, France .

Generic placement: Grehan et al. (2021).

Distinguishing features: Single male holotype with white hindwings and irregular mottled forewing pattern ( Fig. 5 ).

Magnificus dirschi ( Bang-Haas, 1939: 59) ( Fig. 8 (HT))

Type locality: China, Kansu, Liangtschou .

Type depository: Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, Germany .

Generic placement: Grehan et al. (2021).

Distinguishing features: Single male holotype with reddish-brown hindwings and irregular mottled forewing including near-linear white premarginal line ( Fig. 8 ).

Magnificus florianii Saldaitis & Prozorov , sp. nov.

Type locality: China, west Yunnan, Dulong Valley , 2,900 m a.s.l.

Type depository: World Insect Gallery , Joniškis, Lithuania .

Generic placement: Current paper.

Distinguishing features: Reddish-brown shading on anterior discal cell distal to transverse white line ( Figs 12a–b ). Magnificus ignatevi Grehan & C. Mielke , sp. nov.

Type locality: India, West Bengal, Darjeeling, Tigerhill , 2,400 m a.s.l.

Type depository: Zoologische Staatssammlung München , München, Germany .

Generic placement: Current paper.

Distinguishing features: Narrow submarginal white bands between veins from R to Rs4 of forewing, bifurcating at apex.

Magnificus jiuzhiensis Yan, 2000: 1

Type locality: China, Qinghai, Jiuzhi Dehelong , 3,800–3,900 m a.s.l.

Type depository: Department of Grassland , Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai, China .

Generic placement: Yan (2000)

Distinguishing features: Oblique white band between apex and approximating junction of M1–M2, similar to M. zhiduoensis , but with white oblique banding or lines across anterior discal cell ( Grehan et al. 2021).

Magnificus miniatus (Chu & Wang, 1985: 229) ,

Type locality: China, Hubei, Shennongjia .

Type depository: Institute of Zoology , Academia Sinica, Beijing, China .

Generic placement: Grehan et al. (2021).

Distinguishing features: Forewings with pale yellowish shading and dark greyish brown oblique and sub-linear band from base of central discal cell to base of Rs4-M 1 cell ( Grehan et al. 2021).

Magnificus regius ( Staudinger, 1896: 301) ( Fig. 6a (HT))

= Phassus regius rubellus ( Bang-Haas, 1939) ( Fig. 6b (HT), 6c)

Type locality: China, Xizang province, Kukunoor [Kuku Noor lake] .

Type depository: not located, although the Staudinger collection is in Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, Germany. Generic placement: Grehan et al. (2021) .

Distinguishing features: Mottled forewings with prominent whitish-brown postdiscal transverse band extending from posterior margin and bifurcating near the outer costal margin and apex ( Grehan et al. 2021).

Magnificus roseus ( Oberthür, 1911: 325)

Type locality: China: Xizang [Tibet], eastern border .

Type depository: Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle , Paris, France .

Generic placement: Grehan et al. (2021).

Distinguishing features: Forewings with dark greyish brown shading of outer half of anterior discal cell nd basal Rs4-M1 cell. Rose coloured hindwings ( Grehan et al. 2021).

Magnificus shaosiming Z.-B. Xu & Y. Duan , sp. nov.

Type locality: China, southern Shaanxi, Ankang, Ningshan, Zaofanggou , 1450 m a.s.l.

Type depository: China Agricultural University, Beijing, China .

Generic placement: Current article.

Distinguishing features: Forewing with pale yellowish-white sub-ovoid patch in the anterior discal cell, and trapezoid yellowish-white patch on posterior discal cell.

Magnificus zhiduoensis Yan, 2000

Type locality: China: Qinghai, Zhiduo Deer Farm [Zhiduo County], 4,400–4,600 m a.s.l.

Type depository: Department of Grassland , Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai, China .

Generic placement: Yan (2000).

Distinguishing features: Forewing reddish brown with oblique white band between apex and approximating junction of M1-M2, and white basal half of central discal cell ( Grehan et al. 2021).

Species Descriptions

Figures

FIGURE 12. Magnificus spp. Forewing patterns. a-b. M. florianii sp. nov.; c, M. ignatevi sp. nov.; d-i. M. sp. Morphotype 1.

FIGURES 4–6. Magnificus spp., adults: 4a–f, morphotype 1; 5. M. bouvieri; 6a–d. M. regius (b—lectotype of M. regius rubellus, c—paralectotype of M. regius rubellus). HT—holotype. Photos 4a–e by Alexey Prozorov; 4f by Nikolas Ignatev; 5 by Joël Minet; 6a from Staudinger (1896), 6b by Théo Léger, 6c by Nikolai Ignatev, 6d by Ulf Buchsbaum.

FIGURES 7–8. Magnificus spp., adults: 7. Morphotype 2; 8. M. dirschi, holotype male. HT—holotype. Photo 7 by Alexey Prozorov, 8 by Joël Minet.