Rondotia melanoleuca sp. nov., a new wild-mulberry silkworm from China (Lepidoptera, Bombycidae)

Abstract

Several yellow larvae with black spots were discovered in the wild of Chinese Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, and were further raised in captivity. Reared adults exhibit a striking black and white wing pattern, and they represent unequivocally a new species, here described as Rondotia melanoleuca sp. nov. Molecular analyses suggest that this species could be sister to all previously known species of Rondotia.

Keywords

• adult
• cocoon
• larva
• mulberry
• Sichuan
• taxonomy