Reissita simonyi simonyi ( TREMEWAN , 1959)

Klütsch, Cornelya F. C., Misof, Bernhard, Nasher, Abdul K. & Naumann, Clas Michael, 2005, Extended distribution patterns of the Arabian burnet moth Reissita simonyi (R, 1899) (Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae) and the Arabian wall brown Lasiommata felix (W, 1929) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) in Southern Arabia, Beiträge Zur Entomologie = Contributions to Entomology 55 (2), pp. 387-402 : 390-395

Reissita simonyi simonyi ( TREMEWAN, 1959)

Reissita simonyi simonyi TREMEWAN, 1959: 213-217 .

Yemen: 41a larvae, Korseban , 14°49.158’N 48°48.129’E, 1750 m, 15.X.2001, Klütsch, Tissue collection, ZFMK ; 41b larvae, 1950 m, 16.X.2001, Klütsch, Tissue collection, ZFMK ; 42 larvae, Mola Matar , 14°47.701’N 48°46.709’E, 1750 m, 16.X.2001, Klütsch, Tissue collection, ZFMK ; 43a imago, Province Al Mahra, 5 km NW of Jadib, 16°38’N 52°57’E, 600 m, 13.XI.2000, Naumann, CMN ; 43b imago, Province Al Mahra, 5 km NNW Jadib, 16°38’N 52°57’E, 600 m, XI.2000, Naumann, CMN ; 44a imago, Province Al Mahra, ca. 10 km NNE Al Hawf, 16°39’N 53°02’E, 650-700 m, XI.1999, Hein & Kilian, CMN ; 44b imago, 11.& 14.XI.2000, Naumann, CMN ; 44c larvae, Province Al Mahra, Al Hawf , 16°38.958’N 52°57.655’E, 800 m, 29./ 30.IX.2001, Klütsch, Tissue collection ZFMK ; 44d larvae, Province Al Mahra, near Al Hawf (near a spring), 16°38.290’N 52°56.643’E 792 m, 1.X.2001, Klütsch, Tissue collection, ZFMK ; 45 imago, Province Al Mahra, ca. 5 km NNW Damqut, 16°34’N 52°48’E, 360-400 m, 12.XI.2000, Naumann, CMN ; 46 larvae, Province Al Mahra, Damqut , 16°33.942’N 52°46.433’E 792 m, 2./ 3.X.2001, Klütsch, Tissue collection, ZFMK ; 47 imago, ♀ (holotype), Ras Fartak, Wadi , III.1899, Simony, NHMW (not shown in map) ; 48 larvae, Ras Fartak , 15°50.270’N 52°00.100’E, 966 m, 6.X.2001, Klütsch, Tissue collection, ZFMK ; 49 larvae, S-Ras Fartak , 15°37.583’N 52°11.53.7’E, 546 m, 10.X.2001, Klütsch, Tissue collection, ZFMK ; 50 imago, 20 km N Seyhout , 15°17.348’N 51°10.902’E, 800 m (769 m), Naumann, CMN .

Oman: 51a imago, Jabal Al Qamar, 5 km N Rakhyut, Bait Sa´b , 16°46’N 53°20’E, 850-900 m, 6.XI.1997, Naumann, CMN ; 51b imago, Jabal Qamar, Naumann, CMN ; 51c imago, Jabal Qamar, vic. Arift: Bait Handawb , vic. Shaat , 950 m, 5+ 7.XI.1997, Naumann, CMN ; 52a imago, Province Dhofar, Jabal Qara, 1,5 km NNE Qairoon Hairitti , 17°16’N 54°06’E, 850 m, 2-3.XI.1997, Naumann, CMN ; 52b larvae, Province Dhofar, Jabal Qara, 1,5 km SW Qairoon Hairitti , 17°16’N 54°06’E, 850 m, 20.-31. XI.1999 /2000, Naumann & Keil, CMN , Keil, Dresden , 4 spec. in Tissue collection ZFMK ; 53 1♂, 1♀, Province Dhofar, Jabal Qara (N of Salalah), Hatab , 2.IV.1978, Walker , Royal Scottish Museum , Edinburgh (not shown in map); 54a imago, Jabal Samhan , 8 km E Tawi Attair, 17°07’N 54°38’E, 750 m, Naumann, CMN ; 54b imago, Jabal Samhan , 45 km N Agarhanawt Teyq waterhole, 17°09’N 54°37’E, 800 m, 3.XI.1997, V . Polak (personal communication), CMN ; 55 larvae, Province Dhofar, Jabal Samhan, S-facing rocky slopes of Jabal Samhan along Wadi N of Juffa, 17°12’01’N 54°56’16’E, 455-737 m, 29.IX.2002, Meister & Oberprieler, Tissue collection, ZFMK ; 56a ♂♂, ♀♀, Province Dhofar, Qara mts., Khyount , 1750 ft. (530 m), 11.XI.1930, B. Thomas, BMNH (not shown in map) ; 56b 1 specimen, Province Dhofar, Qara mts., Hamirar , 1500 ft. (460 m), 14.XI.1930, B. Thomas, BMNH (not shown in map) ; 56c 1 specimen, Province Dhofar, Qara mts., Fusul , 1350 ft. (410 m), 15.XI.1930, B. Thomas, BMNH (not shown in map).

Description

In this context, only a brief summary about the differences between the two subspecies of R. simonyi is given. Detailed descriptions as well as drawings are available in NAUMANN & EDELMANN (1984). The division in two subspecies is based on the following morphological characters:

1. Sexual dimorphism

A striking feature for division was the unusual sexual dimorphism of males of R. s. yemenicola. One morph (f. simonyi ) is similar, although not identical to the blackish-blue female, while the second one (f. sylviae ) is completely red and resembles the imagines of the Palaearctic genus Zygaena FABRICIUS 1775 whereas in R. s. simonyi males are always blackish-blue.

2. Abdominal cingulation

R. s. yemenicola shows a reduction in the abdominal cingulation in comparison to R. s. simonyi .

Moreover, it seems that R. simonyi yemenicola shows a slightly smaller body size than R. s. simonyi and the mid-line interruption of the red patagia appears to be somewhat wider than in R. s. simonyi ( NAUMANN & EDELMANN, 1984) . However, so far no detailed examination for the supposed different body size has been done.

Biology and Ecology

The larvae of Reissita simonyi are limited to the food plants of the genus Maytenus (Celastraceae) : M. senegalensis and M. dhofarensis . The larvae exclusively feed on leaves of these taxa (Fig. 1).

Therefore, the distribution of R. simonyi is strictly connected to the distribution of Maytenus (Celastraceae) . Usually, the plants are relatively small caused by intensive grazing of goads and sheep (Fig. 2).

Occasionally, where strong rocks are present and the locality is protected, Maytenus bushes can reach 4 m in height. At the beginning of the rainy season, Maytenus shrubs develop fresh shoots after the first rain. Since the first instar larvae are dependent on these soft-leaved fresh shoots, the flight activity of the imagines appears to be limited to the arid periods before the rainy seasons. The first generation is limited to March; the second generation lasts from end of June till mid of July. The third and last generation continues from end of September till early October. The flight period is strictly correlated with these seasons. This corresponds to observations on Fig. 1: Maytenus senegalensis ; the larval other Zygaeninae feeding on Celastraceae (e. g. food plant of R. simonyi ; photo taken Orna , Epiorna , Epizygaenella ). from Tur-Al-Baha, Jabal Araph.

A further ecological adaptation is the daily

flight activity of R. simonyi which is lim-

ited to the hottest period of the day from

11 to 14:30. NAUMANN & EDELMANN

(1984) suggested that this behavior is im-

portant to safe energy, because imagines

do not feed and drink during the entire

imaginal phase. This behavioral specializa-

tion is mirrored by an extreme reduction

of the proboscis. The larvae show further Fig. 2: Maytenus senegalensis ; showing a small-sized adaptations: the serrate setae are probably specimen which is mostly found due to over-grazing. used to serve as crystallization points for Photo was taken from Ras Fartak.

condensation of water to supply additional water for the larvae. The precipitation is transported in form of fogs or humid air from the coast to the mountains.

Distribution

In the western part of the Arabian Peninsula an escarpment of mountains separates the lowland of Yemen and Saudi Arabia from the Central-Arabian plateau. The distribution of Reissita simonyi yemenicola is strongly connected to this western escarpment. R. s. yemenicola generally occurs in high altitudes from 1500 m to 2900 m, but can also be found down to 400 m sea level. The second subspecies, R. s. simonyi occurs on both sides of the Yemeni-Omani barrier along the Indian Ocean among 350-900 m above sea level .

Remarks

Reissita simonyi was described by REBEL in 1899 from a single specimen from Ras Fartak in Southeastern Yemen. In 1907, he gave detailed description of the habitus and provided morphological data. SCOTT & BRITTON (1942) collected a few specimens in 1938. In 1959, TREMEWAN established the new genus Reissita based on differences in wing venation and genital morphology. Moreover, TREMEWAN (1959) divided Reissita simonyi in two subspecies, Reissita simonyi yemenicola and Reissita simonyi simonyi . Reissita simonyi yemenicola is distributed in the mountainous areas along the Red Sea where as Reissita simonyi simonyi is distributed at both sides of the Yemeni-Omani border along the Indian Ocean. Since Reissita simonyi yemenicola features dimorphic males, TREMEWAN described another species for the northern populations, Reissita sylviae . In this case, Reissita sylviae and Reissita simonyi yemenicola shared one distributional area. In 1984, NAUMANN & EDELMANN refused the species status of Reissita sylviae based on several facts: First of all, only males of R. sylviae are observed. No single red female of this species was observed ever. In other words, no reddish forms of females are known. Additionally, the two different forms of males do not vary in their behavior, period of activity or flight. Despite their different color both forms do not differ in morphological characters. Furthermore, red males mate with dark females. Moreover, there is only one type of larvae found which turn out red and black males. This leads to another aspect; both forms seem not to diverge in their ecological requirements. They are fed on the same food plant and have the same life cycles. All of these facts support R. sylviae to be conspecific with R. simonyi . NAUMANN & EDELMANN (1984) came to the conclusion that Reissita sylviae is a junior synonym for Reissita simonyi yemenicola . Furthermore, they suggested to use the name sylviae for the red males (forma sylviae ) to distinguish the two morphs of males in Reissita simonyi yemenicola (black morph should be named forma simonyi ). The separation of two subspecies was still maintained because of the allopatric occurrence of Reissita simonyi yemenicola in the north and Reissita simonyi simonyi in the southeast. In addition, the dimorphic males only occur in the subspecies R. s. yemenicola, not in R. s. simonyi . These two aspects in combination with fore mentioned morphological differences (Wing pattern, abdominal cingulation) support the discrimination of two subspecies. In 1980, WILTSHIRE recorded seven specimens from Oman, which had been collected by THOMAS in 1930. Two years later WILTSHIRE (1982) published one of the first records from Saudi Arabia, collected by TALHOUK.

Given the isolated distribution of L. felix and R. simonyi in Southern Arabia the evolutionary history is of particular interest. Possible origins of R. simonyi could be Africa with the Zygaenini genera Orna , Epiorna , Neurosymploca , Zutulba , and Praezygaena . Moreover, there could be a phylogenetic relationship to the genus Epizygaenella in the oriental region and to the genus Zygaena in the Palaearctic ( NAUMANN, 1977, 1990). In this case, Reissita would be the sister group of Epizygaenella and Zygaena ( NAUMANN, 1990, 1999) or to Zygaena alone ( NAUMANN, 1977). Based on the male pheromone system (first described by KAMES, 1980) which is shown in the genera Reissita , Praezygaena , Epizygaenella and Zygaena and the similar spindle shaped cocoons with a silk cushion of the genera mentioned above (no data available for Praezygaena ) it is assumed that Reissita is closely related to these three genera ( NAUMANN & EDELMANN, 1984). Ongoing molecular approaches (NIEHUIS, personal communication) might clarify the phylogenetic position of the monotypic genus Reissita .

Results

During literature research, it became obvious that there is quite great confusion about the names of the two subspecies of R. simonyi and their distribution. According to statements made above, there are a few clarifications to be made:

- NAUMANN & EDELMANN, 1984, page 487: It is written under point 6. 1. at the end of first line R. simonyi . This is incorrect. It should be read as R. sylviae .

- NAUMANN & EDELMANN, 1984, page 491: in the description for forma sylviae is written “Forewing spots much more pronounced than in f. sylviae”; this should be read as “Forewing spots much more pronounced than in f. simonyi”.

- WILTSHIRE, 1980, page 190: “A subspecies with a black abdomen, instead of red as in the Dhofar-Hadhramaut form, was described by TREMEWAN (1959) from the Yemen.” So far as we know, no red form of Reissita simonyi is found in the area from Dhofar to Hadhramaut. TREMEWAN (1959) mainly distinguished between the two subspecies because of the different expressed abdominal cingulation. He mentioned also that the red form is exclusively found along the Red Sea.

- WILTSHIRE, 1982, page 276: WILTSHIRE wrote for a specimen found in Asir ( Saudi Arabia) R. simonyi simonyi . Since TREMEWAN (1959) described the highland populations as R. simonyi yemenicola this specimen is given below in the list of records under R. s. yemenicola.

- WILTSHIRE, 1990, page 101: He did not name the subspecies simonyi particularly. He named R. simonyi on the one hand and R. s. yemenicola on the other. This might just be an oversight, but correctly one should read under R. simonyi , R. simonyi simonyi and R. simonyi yemenicola . In the first paragraph (under R. simonyi ) he describes the distribution area of R. s. simonyi (Ras Fartak and South Oman) and uses the term “the typical subspecies”, but did not mention the subspecies ( R. simonyi simonyi ) specifically, which might lead to confusion with the named subspecies R. s. yemenicola, which follows in the second paragraph.

- HACKER, 1999, page 34: It is written that Reissita simonyi simonyi is identical with R. sylviae . NAUMANN & EDELMANN (1984, page 488) clearly pointed out that R. sylviae is a subjective junior synonym of R. simonyi yemenicola . Therefore, it should be read R. simonyi yemenicola is equal to R. sylviae . This synonym cannot be used for the subspecies R. simonyi simonyi . However, it would be correct to write that R. sylviae is conspecific with R. simonyi , because it does not form a species on its own.

Results further show extended distribution patterns for both chosen species, but especially for Reissita simonyi the results are very promising. Reissita simonyi has a so far known distribution extended from Al Hada, vic. Ta’if, Asir in Saudi Arabia to Province Dhofar, Jabal Samhan, N of Juffa (17°12’01’N 54°56’16’E) in Oman ( Fig. 4 ). Moreover, it was possible to find populations within a distribution gap known in the past ( NAUMANN & EDELMANN, 1984).

Interesting new localities were found south-east Taiz (37 Jabal Araph / 38 Jaffah / 39 E Labus / 40 S Al Bayda) as well as right in the middle (41 Korseban / 42 Mola Matar / 50 Seyhout) of the so far known gap.

Figures

Fig. 4: Distribution of Reissita simonyi yemenicola (along the Red Sea) and Reissita simonyi simonyi (along the Indian Ocean at both sides of the Yemeni-Omani border).