Culama Walker, 1856

Kallies, Axel, 2012, Revision of Cossinae and small Zeuzerinae from Australia (Lepidoptera: Cossidae) 3454, Zootaxa 3454 (1), pp. 1-62 : 5-6

Culama Walker, 1856

Type species: Culama australis Walker, 1856 , by monotypy.

The genus Culama is an Australian endemic believed to be among the more basic Cossinae ( Edwards et al. 1998) . Schoorl (1990) excluded Culama and the similar genera Zyganisus Viette, 1951 and Macrocyttara Turner, 1918 from Cossidae based on the plesiomorphic character state of these genera. This, however, was not followed by Edwards (1996), who included these genera in Cossinae principally based on their possession of an expanded hind tibia ( Edwards et al 1998). In agreement with this conclusion Yakovlev (2010) treated Culama as a Cossinae genus, as do we.

Culama , similar to Zyganisus and Macrocyttara , shares a number of genitalic characters with typical Cossinae of the Palaearctic and Oriental regions, including the bulla (bulbous tip of the gnathos) and the lateral extensions of the juxta; however, in contrast to most Palaearctic and Oriental taxa, the Australian Cossinae of the Culama - Zyganisus - Macrocyttara group of genera show much smaller processes of the transtilla but greatly extended lateral lobes of the juxta (compare Roepke 1957, Yakovlev 2006, 2009 and Figs 40 and 56 ). This may argue that these genera form a monophyletic entity derived from a single colonization event.

Diagnosis. Culama is characterized by its venation (R 3 /R 4 long stalked), the long labial palps, particularly in females (apical segment very long, about ⅓ to ½ of the length of the middle segment), and the bipectinate female antennae (although this is reduced in C. alpina sp. nov.). Culama appears closely related to Zyganisus and Macrocyttara , and the morphology of the genitalia of all three genera is very similar. Species of Zyganisus differ from those of Culama in their venation (radial veins separate or R 4 /R 5 with short to moderate stalk), antennae (longer pectinated in males), wing scaling (hindwings appearing mottled and less densely scaled), and female labial palps (apical segment not as extended). Species of Macrocyttara differ from those of Culama in their venation (all radial veins separate), female antennae (prismatic), female labial palps (apical segment short), and the presence of a small patch devoid of scales at the base of their hindwings. General features of the venation typical for Australian Cossinae were figured by Common (1990).

Most species of Culama can be distinguished based on external features; however, the male and female genitalia display additional important characters. In particular, the shape of the lateral projections of the transtilla, the lobes of the juxta, and the basal projection of the juxta are of diagnostic value (compare Figs 40 and 56 ).

Remarks. The main flight period of all Culama species is in summer; however, some specimens were recorded as early as September or as late as April. The red larvae of Culama live gregariously in galleries beneath the bark of a wide variety of Eucalyptus and Angophora , both Myrtaceae ( Common 1990) , although the latter hostplant is not confirmed by any records preserved in the collections examined. The larvae pupate in an oval cocoon in the larval galleries or in the soil ( Common 1990). Zyganisus species fly from late autumn throughout winter; however, occasional specimens were recorded as late as early October. Their larval foodplants are unknown (see discussion under Z. caliginosus ). Macrocyttara species are on the wing in summer and their only known larval foodplant is Aegiceras corniculatum (Myrsinaceae) .

Based on the morphology of the genitalia, two species groups can be recognized in Culama , the C. australis group (containing C. australis , C. anthracica sp. nov., and C. crepera Turner 1939 ) and the C. suffusca group ( C. suffusca sp. nov. and C. alpina sp. nov.). Additionally, there are C. dasythrix , which may be related to the C. australis group, and C. glauca sp. nov., which occupies an isolated position within the genus.

Figures

FIGURES 40–45. Culama species, male genitalia. Figs 40–41. C. australis. 40. a. lateral projection of transtilla, b. lateral lobe of juxta, c. bulla (GP AK614, CAK). 41. (GP AK615, CAK). Fig. 42. C. anthracica sp. nov. (GP AK604, CAK). Fig. 43. C. crepera (GP AK709, ANIC). Fig. 44. C. dasythrix (GP AK713, ANIC). Fig. 45. C. suffusca sp. nov. (GP AK605, CAK).

FIGURES 56–67. Culama species, details male genitalia. Figs 56–61. Juxta and transtilla. Fig. 56. C. australis, a. lateral projection of transtilla, b. lateral lobe of juxta, c. basal projection of juxta (GP AK614, CAK). Fig. 57. C. anthracica sp. nov. (GP AK604, CAK). Fig. 58. C. crepera (GP AK709, ANIC). Fig. 59. C. suffusca sp. nov. (GP AK605, CAK). Fig. 60. C. alpina sp. nov. (GP AK606, CAK). Fig. 61. C. glauca sp. nov. (GP AK640, ANIC). Figs 62–67. Phalli. Fig. 62. C. australis (GP AK615, CAK). Fig. 63. C. anthracica sp. nov. (GP AK649, CAK). Fig. 64. C. crepera (GP AK709, ANIC). Fig. 65. C. suffusca sp. nov. (GP AK605, CAK). Fig. 66. C. alpina sp. nov. (GP AK606, CAK). Fig. 67. C. glauca sp. nov. (GP AK639, ANIC).