Macroglossum ungues subsp. cheni Yen, Kitching & Tzen, 2003

Proposed as a subspecies of Macroglossum ungues. Raised to species status by Eitschberger, 2011, Neue ent. Nachr. 66: 202. Resynonymized with Macroglossum ungues as a subspecies by Kitching and Rougerie et al., 2018, Biodivers. Data J. 6: e22236. Eitschberger (2011) raised Macroglossum ungues cheni to species status based on differences in the genitalia and the habitus given in the original description. However, Yen et al. (2003: 293) specifically stated that "because the observed differences in the genitalia of the Lanyu population are so slight, we consider it to be a subspecies of M. ungues, albeit one with a very distinctive color pattern". These "subtle differences in the genitalia" are: "The nominotypical subspecies differs in that the smooth posterior process on the end of the aedeagus [phallus] is longer and apically slightly recurved posteriorly. Furthermore, the serrate anterior process bears several small teeth basally, rather than a blunt process, and the corpus bursae are [sic] slightly shorter". These differences are here considered to be only of subspecific value. Even the reduction of the basal black patch on the hindwing upperside is approximated by several specimens of Macroglossum ungues ungues in the BMNH from the Philippines and may be indicative of the source of the Lanyu population. A similar specimen was also illustrated by Eitschberger (2011: colour plate 2, figure 1). The DNA barcodes of specimens from Java and Kelang Island (off the west coast of Buru) are very similar but there are currently no barcodes for the Lanyu, Philippines and Sulawesi populations of Macroglossum ungues. It is possible that more extensive sampling will reveal that the Philippines and Lanyu moths are consubspecific.