DISTRIBUTION:

Sinobirma malaisei (wingspan: males: 92mm; females: ) is found in a mountain massif at the border between
Myanmar: Kachin State, Kambaiti;
China: Yunnan,: Tongbinguan Nature Reserve; Yunnan: Gaoligongshan; Yunnan: Yingjiang: Xima. This is the only genus of the Urotini tribe found outside Africa.

It was discovered by Rene Malaise in 1934, and Bryk named the species for Malaise in 1944.

It has also been taken in northern Burma = Myanmar.

Visit Sinobirma Comparison plate to see all three Sinobirma species.

This page (Sinobirma content only from Morphology and Molecules .......) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

Sinobirma malaisei male, Gaoligongshan, Yunnan, China,
as per Morphology and Molecules .......,
slight digital repair by Bill Oehlke.

Sinobirma malaisei locale courtesy of Rodolphe Rougerie

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

The larval host of Sinobirma malaisei is unknown, but the moth flies in an area where "the vegetation consists of low and medium-sized trees, including numerous flowering Castanopsis (Fagaceae), and small clear zones with grass and ferns."

This species, described as "some kind of living fossil of considerable age", is on the wing in May and June.

Sinobirma malaisei, Yunnan, China, 2009, courtesy of Weiwei Zhang.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females emit an airbourne pheromone at night and males track the scent with their antennae by flying in a zigzag pattern into the wind.

Males captured at lights usually arrive between 23:30 and midnight. Females arrive around 21:00.

Sinobirma malaisei female courtesy of Rodolphe Rougerie

Sinobirma malaisei female (HT), Kambaiti, Kachin State Myanmar,
as per Morphology and Molecules .......,
digital repair by Bill Oehlke.

Sinobirma malaisei female (HT) verso, Kambaiti, Kachin State Myanmar,
as per Morphology and Molecules ........

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Larvae probably feed on Fagaceae, and probably pupate underground.

Sinobirma malaisei eggs and first instar larva,
as per Morphology and Molecules .......,
slight digital repair by Bill Oehlke.

Larval Food Plants

It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

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The pronunciation of scientific names is troublesome for many. The "suggestion" at the top of the page is merely a suggestion.

There are many collectors from different countries whose intonations and accents would be different.

The genus name Sinobirma is for the specimen type locality between China and Burma.

The species name "malaisei" is honourific for Rene Malaise.

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