Melittia Sangaica nipponica – Bee Mimicking Moth

This most strange and glorious bug, had me confused for many months, but that is because I was searching for a bee.

Location is Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. Alongside a stream and paddy fields.

comments (4)

WildFlower

Lion

I created an entry for the species including both subspecies. I am having second thoughts though - Melittia sangaica nipponica is found in Japan which is further away from Java. The other subspecies is found in China and Taiwan which is not so close either. There are other similar species which are reported from Indonesia or at least one with several synoyms. There is one which is called Melittia javana Le Cerf 1916, but it is also given as a synonym in the catalogue of life.
http://www.boldsystems.org/index.php/Taxbrowser_Taxonpage?taxid=469131
http://www.papua-insects.nl/insect%20orders/Lepidoptera/Sesiidae/Sesiidae%20list.htm
http://www.catalogueoflife.org/col/details/species/id/29334b0dfb069079c555503fa1bb051c/synonym/762830cc6f97928685f191db61e5d627
http://www.sesiidae.net/Checklst.htm Posted 9 years ago, modified 9 years ago
1. Vodkaman
  
  Lion
  
  Good work.
  
  But, the only image from a reliable source 'Bold Systems' is nipponica:
  http://www.boldsystems.org/index.php/Taxbrowser_Taxonpage?taxid=207077
  
  I agree, this is too far away, but javana was definitely not a match. I am happy with sangaica, and feel fortunate to get this far.
  
  Many thanks :)
  
  Dave Posted 9 years ago
2. 1. WildFlower
    
    Lion
    
    The two photos of Melittia celebica on Bold Systems don't look the same but it seems that this is the difference between the male and the female, at least that's the same difference in the reference you've got for Melittia amboinensis - page 43, figure 37 - male and 38 / 39 - female, corresponding to this one's pattern. Both specimens of Melittia javana have the same male wing pattern. These 3 species are synonyms in the catalogue of life.
    http://www.sil.si.edu/smithsoniancontributions/Zoology/pdf_hi/SCTZ-0180.pdf
    
    It's true that the wing patterns of Melittia sangaica look very much like that of the above group of species and apart from that it is hard to find other differences on these dry specimens. Comparing the wings, both Melittia sangaica subspecies seem to have longer forewings related to the hindwings. I don't know if it is a significant difference but you can see it on this photo taken in Japan.
    https://www.flickr.com/photos/aeschylus18917/5921276016/
    
    Yours has shorter forewings
    
    This one is from Thailand and it looks shorter too. Thailand is in the middle so I don't know what it may be...
    http://www.flickriver.com/photos/lennyworthington/16290315622/
    
    If it is Melittia sangaica at all, the differences between Melittia sangaica nipponica and Melittia sangaica sangaica are described here. Unfortunately we cannot see the ventrally located spots.
    http://ci.nii.ac.jp/els/110007630912.pdf?id=ART0009450399&type=pdf&lang=en&host=cinii&order_no=&ppv_type=0&lang_sw=&no=1460897624&cp= Posted 9 years ago
  2. 1. Vodkaman
      
      Lion
      
      When I first read your post, I looked at my images, and thought that I might have shot two species, due to the wing tip differences. I checked and all the images were taken within the same minute, four shots in all.
      
      I have read all the documents with interest. Some of this material I have not seen before, despite spending a lot of time in the past.
      
      The difference that I see between the sexes, is that the male forewing has a distinctive corner, whereas the female wing is always rounded. In my specimen, the corner is particularly sharp.
      
      There is one particular feature that is present in nipponica that is not present in most other species. If you look at the front wing. From the bar, pointing inboard, there is an extra spike or spur in the venation. I did notice in the Thailand new species document, that the drawing of sangaica sangaica also showed this spur.
      
      The map distribution for sangaica sangaica is equally depressing, all three locations being in the mid to north China, but still closer than the Japan of nipponica.
      
      The abdomen of sangaica sangaica does appear to be narrower than nipponica.
      
      As for the javana species, it just doesn’t fit.
      
      Looking at the distribution of hairs on the abdomen. Nipponica looks good.
      
      On my specimen, the front pair of legs are covered in yellow hairs. The mid pair are black with three distinct white spots of hair. This feature must be documented somewhere. Len’s image of nipponica shows the white spots on the leg, lighter tuft of hair on the trailers, wing spur, and looks identical to my specimen.
      
      The blue abdomen rings shown on Daniel Ruyle’s nipponica image are also a match.
      
      In the absence of a reliable sangaica sangaica image, and the overwhelming evidence of nipponica, despite the geographical unliklihood, I personally am for nipponica. There is no evidence of anything close in Java.
      
      The entomology of Sangaica needs a good shake-up, because this is just not correct.
      
      Dave Posted 9 years ago