Sympycnodes rhaptodes Turner, 1941

Kallies, Axel, 2012, Revision of Cossinae and small Zeuzerinae from Australia (Lepidoptera: Cossidae) 3454, Zootaxa 3454 (1), pp. 1-62 : 26-28

Sympycnodes rhaptodes Turner, 1941

( Figs 92–95 , 116 , 121, 122 , 132 , 152 , 174 )

Literature. Common 1990: Figs 26.7 ; 91.3 ; Yakovlev 2011: p. 70, color pl. 8, Figs 13, 13a.

Material Examined.

Type material. Syntypes. New South Wales: 1♂, 1♀ “Mittagong, N.S.W. 28-1-36”, “ Sympycnodes rhaptodes Turn. TYPE ” (♂, SAMA; ♀, ANIC). Turner refers to four specimens from Mittagong in January and Nambucca Heads in February ; however, only two syntypes were found and examined. We have chosen not to designate a lectotype at this point because the most important taxonomic characters in this group are not yet well enough understood.

Additional Material. Victoria: 1♂, 18 km ESE Jamieson , S37˚21’ E146˚20’, 15 Jan 1979, IFB Common & ED Edwards ( ANIC) ; 2♂, 1♀, Goonmirk Rocks , Errinundra NP, S37˚16.5’ E148˚53.2’, 1100 m, 20 Jan 2004, CA Dawson & DJ Hilton (♂ wings on slide DJH0023, GP AK685 , Fig. 132 ; CDH, CAK) ; 1♂, Howitt Hut, Alpine NP, 1562 m, S37˚13.5’ E146˚41.5’, 14 Jan 2009, DJ Hilton ( CDH) ; 2♂, East Gippsland, 20 km W Cann River, Bemm River Crossing , 30 Dec 2009, A Kallies ( GP AK659 , CAK) ; 1♂, E Melbourne, Gilwell Park, Gembrook , S37˚26' E145˚49', 28 Jan 2009, A Kallies & P Marriott ( GP AK655 , Fig. 122 ; CAK) ; 5♂, 1♀, Ship Rock Falls , N Gembrook, 15 Jan 2011, A Kallies, DJ Hilton & P Marriott ( Figs 92–93 , ♂ GP AK658 , CAK) ; 1♀, Kallista , 30 Nov 1999, P Marriott ( CPM) ; ♂, Red Hill , 2 Feb 1956, DR Holmes ( GP AK662 , Fig. 121 ; ANIC); numerous ♂, ♀, Red Hill, DR Holmes ( MVM) . Australian Capital Territory: 31♂, Black Mtn , 12 Jan 1955 (1♂), 17 Jan 1955 (1♂), 19 Jan 1955 (1♂), 1 Jan 1956 (1♂), 8 Feb 1956 (1♂), 31 Jan 1957 (1♂), 4 Feb 1958 (1♂), 17 Feb 1958 (1♂), 26 Jan 1960 (2♂), 4 Feb 1963 (2♂), 12 Jan 1966 (1♂), 15 Jan 1966 (1♂), 16 Jan 1966 (11♂), 26 Jan 1966 (1♂), 24 Jan 1968 (1♂, GP AK663 ) , 25 Jan 1968 (1♂), 2 Feb 1968 (1♂), 6 Feb 1968 (2♂), IFB Common ( ANIC) ; 6♂, Black Mtn , 27 Jan 1966 (5♂), 28 Jan 1966 (1♂), MS Upton & RS McInnes ( ANIC) ; 1♂, Lee's Springs , 4000 ft, 30 Jan 1957, IFB Common ( ANIC) . New South Wales: 1♂, 2 km, W Tooma Dam, Kosciusko NP, 1340 m, 27 Dec 1987, ED Edwards ( GP AK664 , ANIC) ; 1♂, Barrallier , 7 Jan 1969, VJ Robinson ( ANIC) ; 2♂, Maryland , 12 Dec 1931 (1♂), 1 Jan 1932 (1♂), WB Barnard ( ANIC) ; 1♀, Barren Grounds Fauna Reserve , 23 Oct 1977, VJ Robinson & NR Badans ( ANIC) ; 2♂, 1♀, CSIRO Experimental Station, Wilton , 16 Mar 1967 (1♂), 20 Jan 1969 (1♂), 23 Feb 1974 (♀), VJ Robinson ( ANIC) ; 2♂, Chatswood , 11 Jan 1963, VJ Robinson ( ANIC) ; 5♂, Starrs Creek, Starrs Creek Rd, Lansdowne SF, 8 Dec 1990 (1♂), 23 Dec 1990 (3♂), 28 Dec 1990 (1♂), J Stockard ( ANIC) ; 1♂, Brown's Lookout, Dingo SF, 19 Dec 1990, J Stockard ( ANIC) ; 1♂, SE face of Breakneck Lookout, Kiwarrak SF, 13 Jan 1994, J Stockard ( ANIC) ; 1♂, Badja Swamp NR, NE Numeralla , S36˚03’ E149˚32', 1040 m, 2 Dec 2002, A Zwick ( ANIC) ; 1♂, 30 km W Macksville , 1 Dec 1988, B Hacobian ( ANIC) ; 1♂, Wyong , 26 Dec 1962, J Overall ( ANIC) ; 5♂, Otford , 21 Jan 1963 (3♂), 7 Feb 1963 (1♂), 4 Feb 1964 (1♂), VJ Robinson ( ANIC) ; 3♂, Trigpoint Bald , 2 km NW Newnes Junction, 1176 m, 11 Jan 1986, B Hacobian ( ANIC) ; 2♂, Gosford , Mar 1948, CGL Gooding ( ANIC) ; 1♀, Gosford , 23 Feb 1968, VJ Robinson ( ANIC) ; 3♂, Mt Keira , 24 Jan 1963, 26 Dec 1963, 29 Jan 1964, VJ Robinson ( ANIC) ; 2♂, Wollongong , 3 Dec 1961, 17 Jan 1962, VJ Robinson ( Fig. 94 , GP AK686 , ANIC) ; 5♂, Bawley Point , 35˚30'S 150˚24'E, 9 Jan 1993 (3♂), 8 Jan 1994 (1♂), 19 Jan 1994 (1♂), DCF Rentz & K McCarron ( ANIC) ; 3♂, Little Snowball Creek , S35˚56’ E149˚35’, 17 Dec 1990, ED Edwards ( ANIC) ; 1♂, Minnamurra Falls State Park , 22 Dec 1972, VJ Robinson & NR Badans ( ANIC) ; 20♂, Narara , 2 Dec 1946 (1♂), 20 Dec 1946 (2♂, GP AK681 ) , 25 Dec 1946 (1♂), 4 Jan 1948 (1♂), 6 Dec 1949 (1♂), 11 Dec 1949 (3♂), 13 Dec 1949 (1♂), 16 Dec 1949 (2♂), 29 Dec 1946 (1♂), 23 Dec 1949 (1♂), 30 Dec 1949 (1♂), 20 Feb 1951 (1♂), 17 Feb 1952 (1♂), 27 Feb 1952 (1♂), 21 Feb 1952 (1♂), 29 Dec 1953 (1♂), LH Mosse-Robinson ( ANIC) ; 1♀, Helensburgh , 12 Feb 1964, VJ Robinson ( Fig. 95 , ANIC) ; 1♀, Birds Rock, Newnes SF, 1140 m, 17 Feb 1996, JC Keast ( ANIC) ; 1♂, Watagan Forest, W Morisset , S33˚06’ E151˚15’, 29 Nov 1997, B Hacobian ( ANIC) ; 1♂, Nambucca Heads , 25 Feb 1937 ( MVM) ; 6♂, 3♀, 3 km E Wedderburn , 34.08S 150.49E, 4 Mar 2007 (1♀), 11 Mar 2005 (1♀), 20 Feb 2004 (1♂, 1♀), 15 Feb 2004 (2♂), 14 Feb 2004 (1♂), 6 Feb 2004 (1♂), 5 Mar 2004 (1♂), DR Britton ( CDB) . Queensland: 3♀, Mt Tamborine , 26-31 Dec 1950, C Oke ( MVM) ; 3♂, Stanthorpe , 19 Dec 1935, WB Barnard ( ANIC) ; 1♂, 4.5 km NW Stanthorpe, S28˚38’ E151˚55’, 1995, IFB Common ( ANIC) ; 1♂, Broken River, Eungella NP, S21˚11’ E148˚31’, 27 Nov - 2 Dec 1996, IFB Common ( ANIC) ; 18♂, Prince Henry Heights , Toowoomba, S 27˚33' E151˚59', 620 m, 9 Nov 1983 (1♂), 6 Dec 1983 (4♂), 16 Dec 1983 (1♂), 22 Dec 1983 (1♂), 3 Dec 1984 (1♂), 24 Dec 1984 (2♂), 5 Dec 1985 (1♂), 6 Dec 1985 (1♂), 11 Dec 1985 (3♂), 18 Dec 1985 (1♂), 19 Dec 1985 (1♂), 20 Oct 1986 (1♂), IFB Common ( ANIC) ; 3♂, Toowoomba , 15 Dec 1961 (1♂), 21 Dec 1964 (1♂), 17 Nov 1965 (1♂), J Macqueen ( ANIC) ; 1♂, Samford , 25 Nov 1972 ( ANIC) ; 1♂, Mt Tambourine, AM Lea ( ANIC) ; 1♂, Brisbane, Lucas Collection ( SAMA) ; 1♂, Conondale Ra, NW Woodford, Bellthorpe , 19 Nov 2005, A Kallies & K Gottschaldt ( CAK) . Northern Territory: 1♂, Baroalba Creek Springs, 19 km NEbyE Mt Cahill , S12˚47' E132˚51', 28 Oct 1972, IFB Common, ED Edwards & MS Upton ( GP AK682 , ANIC) .

Genitalia. Male ( GP AK662, AK655, Figs 121, 122 , 132 ). Valva simple, relatively narrow, without crista; saccus short and somewhat tapered; phallus simple, relatively long and bent, occasionally almost straight.

Diagnosis ( Figs 92–95 , 116 , 121, 122 , 132 , 152 ). Alar expanse in males 24–41 mm (44± 3 mm, n=104), in females 37–54 mm (45± 6 mm, n=6). Labial palps dark brown; frons, vertex, thorax and abdomen covered in fine cream and brown piliform scales of variable ratio giving general light to dark fuscous appearance. Forewings covered in pale brownish grey scales with numerous but variable groups of dark brown scales, giving a generally uniform lightly speckled appearance, but forming few definite lines. Most specimens possess a small dark irregular spot at ⅔ above the midline, while some have an additional small irregular spot at ½ below the midline and denser markings around the base. Hindwings uniformly fuscous. S. rhaptodes shows some similarities to S. epicycla . Like this species the forewing possesses a large number of small black specks and a distinct discal spot ( Figs 86–89, 90–93 ); however, the strigulae and fine lines are more apparent on the forwewings of S. epicycla and the discal spot is more prominent and regular.

Distribution and Biology ( Fig. 174 ). This species appears to inhabit a wide range of habitats in eastern Australia, from subalpine areas at more than 1500 m altitude in Victoria to wet and dry sclerophyll forest in the coastal areas from Victoria to Eungella in Queensland. There is a single specimen collected from tropical Northern Territory, which may belong to a different species; however, no distinct characters were found to separate it from specimens collected elsewhere (see also Remarks below). S. rhaptodes has been collected from late spring and through summer between November and March. The larval food plant is not known.

Remarks. S. rhaptodes is a very heterogeneous taxon, perhaps representing more than one species. Dissection of the genitalia of a series of male specimens from Victoria and New South Wales, however, failed to reveal reliable differences between phenotypically distinct specimens. Further research is required.

Figures

FIGURES 88–95. Zeuzerinae, adults. Figs 88–89. Endoxyla encalypti. 88. ♂, Queensland (ANIC). 89. ♀, Australian Capital Territory (ANIC). Figs 90–91. Sympycnodes tripartita. 90. ♂, Queensland (ANIC). 91. ♀, Queensland (ANIC). Figs 92–95. Sympycnodes rhaptodes. 92. ♂, Victoria (CAK). 93. ♀, Victoria (CAK). 94. ♂, New South Wales (ANIC). 95. ♀, New South Wales (ANIC).

FIGURES 114–118. Zeuzerinae species, wing venation, a. forewing, b. hindwing. Fig. 114. Endoxyla encalypti (wing slide DJH0032). Fig. 115. Sympycnodes tripartita (wing slide DJH0026). Fig. 116. S. rhaptodes (wing slide DJH0023). Fig. 117. S. dunnorum sp. nov. (wing slide DJH0019). Fig. 118. S. salterra sp. nov. (wing slide DJH0019).

FIGURES 119–124. Zeuzerinae, male genitalia. Fig. 119. Endoxyla encalypti (GP DJH0032, CDH). Fig. 120. Sympycnodes tripartita, (GP AK698, ANIC). Figs 121–122. S. rhaptodes. 121. (GP AK662, ANIC). 122. (GP AK655, ANIC). 123. S. epicycla comb. nov. (GP DJH0015, CDH). 124. S. arachnophora comb. nov. (GP AK687, ANIC).

FIGURES 131–140. Sympycnodes species, male genitalia, details of valvae. Fig. 131. S. tripartita (GP AK698, ANIC). Fig. 132. S. rhaptodes (GP AK685, CDH). Fig. 133. S. epicycla comb. nov. (GP DJH0015, CDH). Fig. 134. S. digitata sp. nov. (GP DJH0030, ANIC). Fig. 135. S. dunnorum sp. nov. (GP DJH0029, CDH) Fig. 136. S. interstincta sp. nov. (GP DJH0018, ANIC). Fig. 137. S. salterra sp. nov. (GP AK679, ANIC). Fig. 138. S. salterra sp. nov. (GP AK665, ANIC). Fig. 139. S. uptoni sp. nov. (GP DJH0016, ANIC). Fig. 140. S. adrienneae sp. nov. (GP AK677, ANIC).

FIGURES 144–152. Cossinae and Zeuzerinae, live adults. Fig. 144. Culama australis, ♂, Werribee (Victoria). Figs 145–146. C. anthracica sp. nov., Gembrook (Victoria). 145. ♂. 146. ♀. Fig. 147. C. suffusca sp. nov., ♂, Gembrook (Victoria). Fig. 148. Culama alpina sp. nov., ♂, Pretty Valley (Victoria). Fig. 149. Culama glauca, ♂, Murray Sunset NP (Victoria). Fig. 150. Sympycnodes digitata sp. nov., ♂, Gembrook (Victoria). Fig. 151. S. epicycla comb. nov., ♂, Bunyip SF (Victoria). Fig. 152. S. rhaptodes, ♂, Gembrook (Victoria). (Figs 145–147, 150–152, images by P. Marriott; Figs 144, 148, 149, images by M. Hewish).

FIGURES 173–178. Distribution Maps, Zeuzerinae. 173. Sympycnodes tripartita. 174. S. rhaptodes. 175. S. epicycla comb. nov. (), S. arachnophora comb. nov. (⊖). 176. S. digitata sp. nov. 177. S. dunnorum sp. nov. (), S. uptoni sp. nov. (⊖). 178. S. interstincta sp. nov. (), S. salterra sp. nov. (⊖), S. adrienneae sp. nov. ().

FIGURES 24–31. Cossinae, adults. Figs 24–25. Macrocyttara expressa. Queensland. 24. ♂ (ANIC). 25. ♀ (ANIC). Figs 26–27. M. pamphaea. Queensland. 26. ♂, South Australia (ANIC). 27. ♀, New South Wales (ANIC). Figs 28–29. Zyganisus fulvicollis, Victoria. 28. ♂ (CAK). 29. ♀ (CDH). 28. ♂, Victoria (holotype, ANIC). 29. ♀, Victoria (paratype, MVM). Figs 30–31. Z. caliginosus, 30–33. ♂ (New South Wales, CAK). 31. ♀ (Victoria, CDH).

FIGURES 84–87. Cossodes lyonetii, Western Australia. 84. ♂ (ANIC). 85. ♀ (ANIC). 86. Male genitalia, a. ventral view, b. phallus, c. details of phallus (GP H18, ANIC). 87. Female genitalia (GP 18558, ANIC).