Rhodostrophia vibicaria (Clerck, 1759)

Rajaei, Hossein, Hausmann, Axel & Trusch, Robert, 2022, Taxonomic review of the genus Rhodostrophia Hübner, 1823 (Geometridae: Sterrhinae) in Iran, Zootaxa 5118 (1), pp. 1-64 : 12-14

Rhodostrophia vibicaria (Clerck, 1759)

( Figs 4–8 , 63 , 80 , Map 1 )

Phalaena vibicaria Clerck, 1759 : Icones Insectorum Rariorum , 1: pl. 3, fig 2. ( Sweden: Liumkihl), Lectotype (♂), in LSL.

Records in literature. Pelonia vibicaria: Staudinger (1861: 67) ; Staudinger (1871: 154).

Rhodostrophia vibicaria: Staudinger (1901: 278) ; Prout (1913: 39); Prout (1935: 24); Viidalepp (1988: 57) [author and year of description erroneously cited as “ Linnaeus, 1758”]; Viidalepp (1996: 57) [erroneously referring to “Linné., 1857”]; Scoble (1999: 824); Hausmann (2004: 367); Scoble & Hausmann (2007); Mironov et al. (2008: 210); Beljaev & Mironov (2019: 276); Müller et al. (2019: 844).

Valid subspecies:

Pellonia vibicaria strigata Staudinger, 1871 (distributed in Spain and North Africa, see: Hausmann 2004: 369)

Pellonia vibicaria unicolorata Staudinger, 1871 (distributed in Siberia: Altai and Sajan mountains, see: Hausmann 2004: 369)

Synonymies (see the details of the original citations and nomenclatorial changes in Scoble 1999 and Hausmann 2004): Phalaena cruentata Scopoli, 1763 (type locality: Slovenia, Ljubljana); Phalaena rubrofasciata Hufnagel, 1767 (type locality: Germany, Berlin); Phalaena (Geometra) rubrociliaria Goeze, 1781 (type locality: Europe); Phalaena artriosa Fourcroy, 1785 (type locality: France, Paris); Phalaena (Geometra) cruentataria Villers, 1789 (according to Hausmann (2004: 367): “Probably an incorrect subsequent spelling of cruentata .”; Rhodostrophia vibicaria augustiniaria Fernandez, 1931 (type locality: Spain, Andalusia, Sierra Nevada); Rhodostrophia vibicaria minuta Heydemann, 1933 (type locality: Germany, Amrum island).

Previous records from Iran. [Golestan], Hadschyabad [Hajiabad] ( Christoph 1873)

Additional material examined. 3 ♂, 1 ♀, Iran, prov. Golestan, Elburs Mts., Maghazy-Valley , LUX, N36,64923° / E54,20701°, 11.vi.2007, 1630m, leg. Norbert Pöll, g.p. 668/2005 R. Trusch, barcodes: BC ZSM 33940 , BC ZSM 33941 , BC ZSM 33942 , BC ZSM 33943 ; 4 ♂, 1 ♀, Iran, Ardabil / Gilan, Pass Ardabil-Astara (Passhöhe, W Tunnel), 1600 m, 27.v.2008, leg. W. ten Hagen, g.p. (♀) 2363/2020 H. Rajaei ; in SMNK ; 1 ♀, Persia sept., Elburs Mts. c.s, Tacht I Suleiman , Särdab Tal ( Vandarban ), 19–2200 m, 10.–14.vii.[19]37, E. Pfeiffer & W. Forster, München leg. in ZSM .

Specimen studied total: 7 ♂, 3 ♀.

Differential diagnosis. ( Figs 4–8 ) Wingspan 27–35 mm. Termen of forewing slightly convex; termen of hindwing slightly concave at M3 (in contrast to all other Iranian Rhodostrophia ). Pattern and coloration unique and diagnostic, in Iran confusion only possible with R. auctata , the latter differing by its rounded discal spot and yellow hue on the underside of the wings. Wings of R. vibicaria sandy coloured, with purple to pink fasciae. Usually with three pink lines (antemedial, postmedial and subterminal lines) on forewing; antemedial line absent from hindwing. Sometimes postmedial and subterminal lines connected and forming a broad pink marginal band on both wings (see Figs 4–8 ). Underside similarly coloured as upperside, suffused with pink dots. Discal spots developed as a tiny streak, pink (in contrast to the rounded dots in R. auctata and R. sieversi ). In contrast to all other Iranian Rhodostrophia species, male antennal flagellum ventrally not dentated. Male hindtibia with three normal spurs, without pseudospur.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 63 ) very characteristic, with relatively short and wide uncus (all other Iranian Rhodostrophia species with thin and elongated uncus, Fig. 4 ); valva apically forked, with long ventral process, not spinulose (in contrast to calabra - and terrestraria species-groups); sacculus part of valva folded ventrad over the valva. Male sternum A8 bilobed, with very short octavals (octavals clearly shorter in R. auctata , longer in R. sieversi ).

Female genitalia ( Fig. 80 ) with a large, flat lamella postvaginalis, ductus bursae long (same length as corpus bursae), strongly sclerotized, funnel-shaped, narrowing towards corpus bursae; the latter membranous with a large sclerite on its ventral side and two elongated signa on its dorsal side.

Genetic data. Genetically heterogeneous, including five BINs in its area of distribution. In northern Iran the BIN of the main cluster is occurring: BOLD:AAB6658. Nearest species: R. calabra (8.6%) ( Fig. 119 & Table 1). The large genetic distance from the closest congeneric species highlights the isolated phylogenetic position from the other species-groups.

Distribution ( Map 1 ). Palaearctic. Widely distributed in Europe (except northernmost Scandinavia, British Isles and nearly all the Mediterranean islands). Outside Europe, present in North Africa ( subsp. strigata ), Turkey to Caucasus, Transcaucasus, Iran, Central Asia, western and southern Siberia ( subsp. unicolorata ) (see Hausmann 2004 for more details). In Iran only the nominate subspecies of vibicaria is recorded in northern Iran (northern slopes of Alborz mountains).

Life history and habitat. Larvae polyphagous, with preference on the species of the family Fabaceae (e.g. Cytisus , Genista , Hippocrepis , Onobrychis , Coronilla , Medicago , Astragalus , Anthyllis ). Additionally found or bred on species of other families (e.g. Ericaceae , Caryophyllaceae , Rosaceae , Polygonaceae , Asteraceae ) (see Hausmann 2004 for further details).

Xerothermophilous species, found on sand or limestone substrates, towards the south getting xeromontane. From 0 m up to 1500 m above sea-level in the Alps, up to 2600 m in southern Europe and from 1600 m up to 3000 m in North Africa and Iran ( Hausmann 2004).

Figures

MAP 1. Distribution of Rhodostrophia vibicaria (CLERCK, 1759) in Iran.

FIGURE 119. Neighbour joining tree (COI, 5’; Kimura 2) showing the relationships between different species and subspecies of Iranian Rhodostrophia, including non-Iranian nearest neighboring species R. calabra, R. cinerascens, R. jacularia, R. praecisaria, R. staudingeri and R. skulei added for comparison. Width of triangles refer to sample size, depth of triangles to genetic variation, distance from common nodes to the genetic distance to a hypothetical common ancestor (as inferred by the algorithm); scale bar = 1%.

FIGURES 4-22. Wing coloration and pattern of Rhodostrophia species. Figs 4-8: R. vibicaria (4 & 5. from Iran, prov. Golestan, Maghazy Valley; 6 & 7. from Iran, between prov. Ardabil & Gilan, Astara); Figs 9-10: R. auctata (both from Iran, 9. prov. Kordestan, Baneh; 10. prov. Lorestan, Aligudarz); Figs 11-12: R. sieversi (both from Iran, Tehran, Arangeh); Figs 13-14: R. terrestraria terrestraria (both from Iran, 13. prov. Semnan, Shahkuh; 14. prov.Azarbaijan-e Sharghi, Kandovan); Figs 15-17: R. terrestraria furialis syn. nov. (18. Lectotype, 19. Paralectotype of R. furialis, both from Iran, Khorasan-e Razavi, Bilanoud Mt.; 20. From Iran, prov. Esfahan, Sibak); Figs 18-20: R. terrestraria farsi ssp. nov. (all from Iran, prov. Fars, Abadeh); Figs 21- 22: R. terrestraria pellonaria (both from Iran, 21. Prov. Khorasan-e Shomali, Kopet-Dagh; 22. Khorasan-e Razavi, Alladagh).

FIGURES 63-65. Male genitalia of Rhodostrophia species. Fig. 63. R. vibicaria (Iran, prov. Golestan, g.p. 668 R. Trusch); Fig. 64. R. auctata (Iran, prov. Fars, Tang-e Surkh, g.p. 656 R. Trusch); Fig. 65. R. sieversi (Iran, prov. Tehran, Arange, g.p. 605 R. Trusch). Abbreviations: a. genitalia capsule; b. aedeagus; c. sternite-8.

FIGURES 80-85. Female genitalia of Rhodostrophia species. Fig. 80. R. vibicaria (Iran, prov. Ardabil/Gilan, Pass Ardabil- Astara, g.p. 2363 H. Rajaei; 80b. digital drawing of corpus bursae for visualization of the signa; 80c. sternite-8); Fig. 81. R. auctata (Iran, prov. Fars, Tange Surkh, g.p. 655 R. Trusch; 81b. corpus bursae, g.p. 2412 H. Rajaei, from prov. Kordestan, 53 km South Zandjan); Fig. 82. R. sieversi (prov. Teheran, Arangeh, 25 km N Karaj, g.p. 2414 H. Rajaei); Fig. 83. R. terrestraria farsi ssp. nov. (Iran, prov. Kerman, Gardaneh Sarbishan, Shingara vic., g.p. 653 R. Trusch); Fig. 84. R. bahara (prov. Tehran, Arange; g.p. 666 R. Trusch; 84b. details of antrum, g.p. 2374 H. Rajaei, from Iran, prov. Fars, Fort Sine-Sefid); Fig. 85. R. iranica (Prov. Tehran, 3 km NW Shemshak, g.p. 646 R. Trusch; 85b & 85c. details of signum and its digital drawing, g.p. 2373 H. Rajaei, from prov. Tehran, Shemshak).