Synopsia centralis ( Wiltshire, 1966 ), 2020

Wanke, Dominic, Hausmann, Axel, Sihvonen, Pasi, Krogmann, Lars & Rajaei, Hossein, 2020, Integrative taxonomic review of the genus Synopsia Hübner, 1825 in the Middle East (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Ennominae), Zootaxa 4885 (1), pp. 27-50 : 42

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4885.1.2

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:3BFEB64C-FEA7-445F-AB3B-DFB3AECF9543

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4328366

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BB942B-5A20-FFF7-FF3A-FF4FFAECFB2B

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Synopsia centralis ( Wiltshire, 1966 )
status

 

Synopsia centralis ( Wiltshire, 1966) comb nov., bona sp.

( figs 25, 26 View FIGURES 5–26 , 35 View FIGURES 33–35 , 42 View FIGURE 42 )

Synopsidia phasidaria centralis Wiltshire, 1966 . Zeitschrift der Wiener Entomologischen Gesellschaft, 51, 146. Holotype ♂ (NHMUK). Hereby combined with genus Synopsia and regarded as bona species based on morphological examination.

Type material examined. Holotype, ♂, Persia [ Iran], N. Fars, Bavant, Kuh Taj Kirmani , 8500 feet [2591 m], 7.viii.[19]50, leg. E.P. Wiltshire, g.prep. E.P. Wiltshire 1467; in NHMUK ( fig. 25 View FIGURES 5–26 ) . Paratype, 1 ♂, same data as Holotype; in NHMUK .

Diagnosis. Wings and body. Wingspan ♂ 32 mm (forewing length ♂ 15.5 mm). Ground colour of wings bright beige with some brown spots (similar forms in S. phasidaria ; beige to brown, spotted dark in S. sociaria ). Transverse lines present, brown (faint or slightly visible in S. phasidaria ; strongly black in S. sociaria ) ( figs. 5–24 View FIGURES 5–26 ).

Male genitalia ( fig. 35 View FIGURES 33–35 ). Uncus sclerotized, tip concave (sclerotized, slightly bifurcate or tip only concave in the centre in S. phasidaria ; sclerotized and strongly bifurcate in S. sociaria ). Gnathos well developed, arms fused, forming a tongue-shaped upturned plate, variable in shape (similar in S. phasidaria ; almost similar in S. sociaria ). Costa of valva without any central projection (central projection present, usually bearing one to three spines in S. phasidaria ; central projection bearing one to two spines in S. sociaria ). Harpe thumb-shaped (harpe sickle-shaped S. phasidaria ; harpe absent in S. sociaria ). Aedeagus thick, bearing 8 cornuti (number of cornuti variable, from 4 to 8 in S. phasidaria ; vesica with two groups of cornuti, with a total amount of up to 25 spines in S. sociaria ) ( figs. 27–34 View FIGURES 27–29 View FIGURES 30–32 View FIGURES 33–35 , 36 View FIGURE 36 ).

Female genitalia. Unknown.

Phenology. Specimens (n=2) collected in August.

Biology. Most likely similar to that of Synopsia phasidaria .

Habitat. In altitudes up to 2600 m.

Distribution. So far only known from its type locality in southern Iran (see fig. 42 View FIGURE 42 ).

Genetic data. No data available.

Taxonomic remarks. S. centralis shares similar external and internal character combinations with its sister species, S. phasidaria , like wing pattern, shape of the uncus, gnathos and the harpe. Nevertheless, on the costa of valva this species lacks the central projection, which is unique and does not occur in S. phasidaria phasidaria . We therefore suggest to treat this taxon as separate species and upgrade it therefore from subspecies to species level. This taxonomic decision needs further examination based on a larger series of specimens to be confirmed.

NHMUK

Natural History Museum, London

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Lepidoptera

Family

Geometridae

SubFamily

Ennominae

Genus

Synopsia

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