On December 28, Zhao Li, director of the Chengdu Huaxi Entomological Museum, posted on social networks that rare moth specimens collected in Chongzhou in early December had been made.
This is also the first time this rare moth has been found in China. "After identification, it was originally considered by the international academic community to be a penetrating silkworm moth that was only distributed in the Himalayas beyond the borders of our country." Zhao Li introduced that the "Himalayan eye-catching silkworm moth" was named after the place where it was first discovered, and this moth did not have a Chinese name before.
"This rare silkworm moth species, known in India as the 'Rusty Emperor', is as maverick as the Winter Mosquito, courting only in early winter." Zhao Li revealed that some overseas enthusiasts call it "ice moth".
↑ Himalayan eye-catching silkworm moth
There is no Chinese name yet
Known in India as the "rusty monarch moth"
On the day of December 3, Zhao Li originally wanted to go to Chongzhou Jiguan Mountain to take a snow scene, but found that the road was broken at an altitude of more than 1,000 meters, because of a flood in August, the local government did not allow it to go up. "I was hanging around the place where the card was set, and at night when it was dark, I found this moth under the street lamp of the village."
At that time, the outdoor temperature was very low, and Zhao Li's car temperature was only 3 ° C. "There was already snow on the top of the mountain, and I didn't expect this kind of moth to move at the bottom of the mountain." It seems that like the winter mosquitoes found in previous years, it is the main antifreeze. Zhao Li introduced that compared with other moths, this moth can see thick fur in the naked eye, which looks like wearing a furry coat.
↑ Himalayan giant silkworm moth found in the ground, the summit of which is covered in snow
Later, I checked the "Zoology of China" and found that there was no such thing, and I realized that it was a good thing. Then go to the foreign website to check, only to know that it is a new record. Zhao Li introduced that this moth (Rhodinia newara) is a rare and beautiful moth distributed in the Himalayas. The distribution of this species is recorded in the mountains of India, Nepal, Sikkim, Myanmar and Thailand near the Himalayas and Hengduan Mountains. This species belongs to rhodinia, a genus of macromoths in the family Macromothidae, which has been found worldwide in 11 species. It was first discovered in 1872 in the southern foothills of the Himalayas and is distributed only in a few villages in the Rodinha Nevara region of India, where it appears from November to December.
Because of its rust-colored markings on its rare and yellow wings, Nature Conservation In India has dubbed it the "Rusty Emperor Moth" on its promotional websites. In addition, because it only appears in early winter, some overseas enthusiasts also call it an "ice moth".
"Since the species did not have a Chinese name in the past, I drew up the name of this Chinese based on the name of the region where it was first discovered and the genus in which it was located." Zhao Li called it the "Himalayan Great Silkworm Moth".
Maybe "growing up in the mountains is unknown"
The specimen will be on display at the Warhey Entomological Museum
This time, Zhao Li collected the Himalayan giant silkworm moth, including two males and a female individual considered extremely difficult to detect in the relevant records.
This rare moth is also the first time it has been found and recorded in China. "This proves that the ecological environment in Chengdu is good, because its distribution is all mountainous areas with good vegetation." Zhao Li said.
"In the past, the places where it was found in various countries were close to the borders of our country, but it has never been recorded in our country, and even the "Zoology of China" does not record this species in the detailed research report on the great silkworm moth family in China." Zhao Li introduced that although there are only more than 400 kinds of moths in the world, they are famous.
"Most of the species in this family are large, exaggeratedly patterned, colorful, and of high ornamental value, making them familiar to insect research and enthusiasts." The reason why this large beautiful species, which is very easy to attract attention, has not been found in China for a long time, Zhao Li speculated, this should be related to its appearance time, "In the common sense of insect researchers, the cold early winter in the mountains at an altitude of more than a thousand meters, it is impossible to have moth activities." No one will go to the Himalayas and Hengduan mountains at this time to investigate moths. Therefore, this large and gorgeous moth has been 'growing in the mountains without recognition'. ”
At present, the specimen has been made, and then it will be exhibited at the Huaxi Entomological Museum at the right time, and everyone can see the "ice moth" in the museum.
Red Star News reporter Yan Xue intern Liu Yuanhang Picture from the interviewee
Edited by Yu Manga