Rapala rectivitta, (Moore, 1879)

6. R. rectivitta ( Moore, 1879) Figs 1f View FIGURE 1 , 7 View FIGURE 7

Deudorix rectivitta Moore, 1879: 141 View in CoL

Type locality: N. Cachar ( India)

Common Name: Shot Flash

Taxonomic Note: Rapala rectivitta was treated as a senior synonym of R. buxaria by Swinhoe (1897) and has been regarded as such by subsequent literature such as Cantlie (1959, 1962) and Van Gasse (2018). However, Varshney & Smetacek (2015) listed them as separate species. Based on their original descriptions and Swinhoe (1897), we reaffirm that the two species are synonymous.

Material Examined: INDIA. Nagaland. Naga Hills, Jafwo [sic: recte Japfü] Range , viii.1953, 1830–2745 m, MGCL 1201229 , Genitalic Vial KW-24-89 ( MGCL, 1♂) ( Fig. 7a View FIGURE 7 ) .

Wingspan: 30–35 mm ( Ek-Amnuay 2012).

Diagnosis ( Figs 7a View FIGURE 7 ): Rapala rectivitta can be distinguished from the similar-looking R. nissa , particularly by the dorsal view of the males. Males of R. rectivitta exhibit a deep blue color whose iridescence persists even when viewed at around 180° whereas those of R. nissa display a purplish-blue color whose iridescence vanishes when viewed at around 180°. Additionally, R. nissa typically displays an orange patch on the dorsal wing, a feature absent in R. rectivitta . The ventral discal band of R. rectivitta has bronze color at the center similar to that in R. nissa but is often darker and smoother overall, less edged in white than in brown; the ventral color varies from brown to purplish. Females of R. rectivitta are paler blue on the dorsal side.

Male Genitalia ( Figs 7b–7d View FIGURE 7 ): Aedeagus vesica with a serrated distal margin that sticks out on one side; valvae short and wide with blunt apices; cleft between the valvae less than half the length of the valval plate. The genitalia and the specimen illustrated in Huang (2003) belong to R. huangi , not R. rectivitta .

Biology: Not known.

Natural History: Adults are typically observed near woods.

Variation: Variation mostly occurs in the width of the postdiscal bands, which can range from wide, resembling double bands, to narrow, resembling a single band. The color of the postdiscal band may vary from dark brown to light brown.

Phenology in Nepal: March and June.

Elevation: 800–1000 m.

Distribution in Nepal: Pokhara Valley, potentially widespread but confused with R. nissa .

Distribution on the Indian Subcontinent: Nepal, northeastern India, and Bhutan ( Van Gasse 2018).

Remarks: Most records of R. rectivitta from Nepal, cited in Smith (1994, 2006, 2011a, 2011b) and later by Van der Poel & Smetacek (2022), refer to either R. rosacea , R. nissa , or R. huangi . In fact, none of the studied specimens from Nepal labeled R. rectivitta represented R. rectivitta . The only confirmed records to date are by Albert Vliegenthart ( Fig. 1f View FIGURE 1 ) and the first author, with photographs taken in Pokhara, Nepal, in March and June, respectively, at elevations between 800 and 1,000 m. There may be additional records from Nepal that are unknown to us.