Isturgia limbaria rablensis (Zeller, 1868)

Flamigni, Claudio & Fiumi, Gabriele, 2020, Observations on the Isturgia limbaria (Fabricius, 1775) / roraria (Fabricius, 1776) complex (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Ennominae), Nota Lepidopterologica 43, pp. 227-251 : 240-241

Isturgia limbaria rablensis (Zeller, 1868)

Fidonia limbaria var. rablensis Zeller, 1868, Verh. zool.-bot. Ges. Wien 18: 587, [Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia]: Grafenlahn above Raibl [Cave del Predil] and below along the stream. At the time the locality Raibl was situated in Austria (Upper Carinthia).

Fidonia limbaria styriaca Schwingenschuss, 1911, Verh. zool.-bot. Ges. Wien 61 (1/2): (46), [Austria], Styria: Polster, near Prebichl [ Präbichl], 1400-1600 m. Synonymy follows Huemer and Tarmann (1993). Also Huemer (2013) attributes the population of Styria to the taxon rablensis .

Material examined.

Italy: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Piedmont: province of Verbania-Cusio-Ossola, Valstrona, Campello Monti, 1700 m, 13.vi.2003 (♂), 3.vii.2004 (♀), A. Floriani leg. (RCGF); 1 ♂, Lombardy: Bergamasque Prealps, Oltre il Colle, Monte Menna, 1600 m, 22.vi.2013, R. Taverna leg. (RCCF); 1 ♀, Lombardy: Bergamasque Prealps, Camerata Cornello, towards Passo Grialeggio, 23.vii.2010, M. Massaro and W. Zucchelli leg. (MSMB); 1 ♂, Lombardy: Bergamasque Alps, Ardesio, 1400 m, 28.iv.2007, W. Zucchelli leg. (MSMB); 1 ♂, Trentino-Alto Adige: Monte Baldo, San Valentino, 1300 m, 30.vi.1980, S. Camporesi leg. (RCGF); 3 ♀, Trentino-Alto Adige: Monte Baldo, Monte Altissimo, Rifugio Graziani, about 1600 m, 3.vii.2005, Morandini leg. (RCCM); 1 ♀, Trentino-Alto Adige: Brentonico, [Monte Baldo], 1700 m, 8.vii.2001, E.O. Bonora leg. (RCCM); 1 ♂, Trentino-Alto Adige/Veneto: Monte Baldo, Cima Valdritta, 1400-1600 m, mid v.1966, J. Wolfsberger leg. (RCCM); 1 ♀, Veneto: Monte Baldo, Bocca di Navene, 14.vi.1969 (RCCF, ex coll. S. Zangheri); 3 ♂, 2 ♀, Veneto: Monte Baldo, Rifugio Novezza, 1600 m, 2.vi.2000/17-22.v.2001 ex ovo, 1550 m, 3.vi.1999, E. Friedrich leg. (RCEF) (digital images of both sides on Lepiforum); 2 ♂, 2 ♀, Friuli-Venezia Giulia: Carnic Prealps, Barcis, Prescudin, 600 m, 6.vi.1973, 8.vi.1976, 800 m, 9.vi.1973, Morandini leg. (RCCM); 1 ♂ 3 ♀, Friuli-Venezia Giulia: Carnic Prealps, Monte Festa, 1200 m, 7.vi.1972, C. Morandini leg. (RCCM); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Friuli-Venezia Giulia: Carnic Prealps, Monte San Simeone, 1200 m, 22.vi.1972, Morandini leg. (RCCM); 1 ♂, Friuli-Venezia Giulia: Julian Prealps, Matajur, 1600 m, 17.vi.1989, L. Morin leg. (RCCM); 1 ♂, Friuli-Venezia Giulia: Julian Prealps, Matajur, 1500 m, 19.vi.2014, photo H. Deutsch (digital images of both sides on Lepiforum); 3 ♀, Friuli-Venezia Giulia: Julian Alps, Jof Montasio, 1700 m, 18.vii.1972, 1600 m, 1.vii.1973, C. Morandini leg. (RCCM). Slovenia: 2 ♂, 1 ♀, Julian Alps, Bovec, Mangart, 1700 m, 28.vi.2003, E. Friedrich leg. (RCEF) (digital images of both sides on Lepiforum). Macedonia: 2 ♂, Baba Planina [Baba Mountain], Pelister, Golemo ezero [Large Lake], 22-25.vi.1965, J. Karneluti leg. (RCCM). Greece: 2 ♂, 2 ♀, Western Macedonia: surroundings of Pisoderi, 1950 m, 2-3.vii.2019, V. Valenta leg. (RCCF). Bulgaria: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Sofia: Vitoša [Vitosha], 1500 m, 11.vi.1972, V. Felix leg. (RCCM); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Sofia: Vitoscha [Vitosha], 2.vii.2002 (RCGF). Romania: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Dâmbovița County: Southern Carpathians, Bucegi Mountains, Valea Jepii, 1800 m, 7.vi.2007, S. and. Z. Kovacs leg. (ZSM); 1 ♂, Buzău County: Eastern Carpathians, Nemira Mountains, Lassuag, 1100 m, 22.vi.1996, S. and.Z. Kovacs leg. (ZSM).

The underside of a male from Gitschtal (Austria: Carinthia) is figured by Wieser (2008: fig. 16); colour images of specimens from Serbia (as I. limbaria and as I. roraria ) are shown on the website Alciphron ( 2019).

Diagnosis

(Figs 6 , 11 , 16 , 21 ). Upperside more or less scattered with groups of dark scales (or dark lines short or longer), scattered or more dense; in some specimens (mainly in the westernmost part of the distribution area) there are only a few dark scales in the forewing (except on the costa and in the terminal fascia), a little more dense in the hindwing; in other specimens (also among the most western ones) both wings are scattered with dense groups of dark scales; dark terminal fascia generally narrow, wider in Bulgarian specimens, in the hindwing it can be present or absent. Underside with fore- and hindwings more or less different in pattern and colour (identical in roraria s. str.): both wings scattered with dark vertical lines, but colour generally more orange-yellow in the forewing, more whitish yellow in the hindwing, whitish radiating streak(s) of the hindwing present (sometimes barely perceptible).

In the female genitalia signum large (1.1 mm, exceptionally 1.6 mm). Bullae tympani without roundish lobe.

Distribution.

Northern Italy (see Fig. 2 ), Austria (Huemer, 2013: Carinthia, Styria), Slovenia, Serbia, Macedonia, Kosovo, Albania, Greece (Western Macedonia), Bulgaria, Romania. The taxon rablensis was recorded from Albania (Djalica e Lumës) by Rebel and Zerny (1934) and by Povolný and Moucha (1957: fig. 57); the first two authors also mention Žljeb in Kosovo; its occurrence in Romania is confirmed from the Bucegi Mountains (see also Popescu-Gorj (1995)) and the Nemira Mountains; the records of I. roraria s.l. from other areas of Romania (in particular from the Cluj-Napoca area: cf. Rákosy et al. (2016)) must be verified by examining the underside of the specimens. The species also occurs in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina ( Skou and Sihvonen 2015), but we have not examined material from these countries. Viidalepp (1996) attributes the populations from Transcaucasus (Georgia) to this subspecies (as I. roraria rablensis ).

Molecular data.

The westernmost populations (Lombardy and Monte Baldo in Italy, Carinthia in Austria) correspond to a separate BIN, at a distance of 2.0%, while all the others (from the Julians Alps to Bulgaria and Romania) share the same BIN of the following subspecies; however, no constant morphological character corresponds to these genetic differences and it is not possible to distinguish the specimens of the more western regions from those of the Julian Alps (both populations are very variable). The exact border between these two BINs is not known, since no specimens from the Carnic Prealps have been barcoded. Three specimens from Romania diverge into a separate cluster, but they are morphologically very similar to those from Bulgaria.

Figures

Figure 2. Distribution of the taxa of the complex limbaria / roraria in northern Italy (the open symbols refer to records not verified by the authors).

Figures 3 - 12. Upperside of males (3 - 7) and females (8 - 12). 3 a. I. l. limbaria ♂, Germany: North Rhine-Westphalia, Wuppertal. 3 b. I. l. limbaria ♂, Switzerland: Valais, district of Sierre, Val d'Anniviers. 3 c. I. l. limbaria ♂, Spain: Aragon, province of Huesca, Fanlo. 4 a. I. l. delimbaria ♂, France: Vaucluse, Gignac. 4 b. I. l. delimbaria f. pedemontaria ♂, Italy: Piedmont, Ligurian Apennines, Capanne Superiori di Marcarolo. 4 c. I. l. delimbaria ♂, Italy: Emilia-Romagna, Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, Bologna, Monte Pizzo. 5. I. l. anzascaria ♂, Italy: Piedmont, Monte Rosa, Macugnaga, under Alpe Bill. 6 a. I. l. rablensis ♂, Italy: Piedmont, province of Verbania-Cusio-Ossola, Valstrona, Campello Monti. 6 b. I. l. rablensis ♂, Italy: Trentino-Alto Adige / Veneto, Monte Baldo, Cima Valdritta. 6 c. I. l. rablensis ♂, Italy: Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Carnic Prealps, Barcis, Prescudin. 6 d. I. l. rablensis ♂, Italy: Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Julian Prealps, Matajur. 6 e. I. l. rablensis ♂, Macedonia: Baba Planina [Baba Mountain], Pelister, Golemo ezero [Large Lake]. 6 f. I. l. rablensis ♂, Bulgaria: Sofia, Vitosa [Vitosha]. 7 a. I. l. roraria ♂, Czech Republic: Moravia, Bile Karpaty [White Carpathians], Machova. 7 b. I. l. roraria ♂, Czech Republic: Moravia, Vapenky 7 c. I. l. roraria ♂, Germany: Bavaria, surroundings of Spalt. 8 a. I. l. limbaria ♀, Belgium: Comblain [- au-Pont]. 8 b. I. l. limbaria ♀, Switzerland: Valais, district of Sierre, Val d'Anniviers. 8 c. I. l. limbaria ♀, Spain: Aragon, province of Huesca, Fanlo. 9 a. I. l. delimbaria ♀, France: Alpes-Maritimes, Grasse above Gourdon. 9 b. I. l. delimbaria ♀, Italy: Emilia-Romagna, Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, Bologna, Monte Grande. 10. I. l. anzascaria ♀, Italy: Piedmont, Monte Rosa, Macugnaga, under Alpe Bill. 11 a. I. l. rablensis ♀, Italy: Piedmont, province of Verbania-Cusio-Ossola, Valstrona, Campello Monti. 11 b. I. l. rablensis ♀, Italy: Lombardy, Bergamasque Prealps, Camerata Cornello, towards Passo Grialeggio. 11 c. I. l. rablensis ♀, Italy: Trentino-Alto Adige, Brentonico, [Monte Baldo]. 11 d. I. l. rablensis ♀, Italy: Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Julian Alps, Jof Montasio. 11 e. I. l. rablensis ♀, Bulgaria: Sofia, Vitosa [Vitosha]. 12 a. I. l. roraria ♀, Slovakia: Handlova. 12 b. I. l. roraria ♀, Germany: Bavaria, surroundings of Spalt. 12 c. I. l. roraria ♀, Germany: Bavaria, Spalt.

Figures 13 - 17. Underside of males (13 - 17). 13 a. I. l. limbaria ♂, Germany: North Rhine-Westphalia, Wuppertal. 13 b. I. l. limbaria ♂, Switzerland: Valais, district of Sierre, Val d'Anniviers. 13 c. I. l. limbaria ♂, Spain: Aragon, province of Huesca, Fanlo. 14 a. I. l. delimbaria ♂, France: Vaucluse, Gignac. 14 b. I. l. delimbaria f. pedemontaria ♂, Italy: Piedmont, Ligurian Apennines, Capanne Superiori di Marcarolo. 14 c. I. l. delimbaria ♂, Italy: Emilia-Romagna, Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, Bologna, Monte Pizzo. 15. I. l. anzascaria ♂, Italy: Piedmont, Monte Rosa, Macugnaga, under Alpe Bill. 16 a. I. l. rablensis ♂, Italy: Piedmont, province of Verbania-Cusio-Ossola, Valstrona, Campello Monti. 16 b. I. l. rablensis ♂, Italy: Trentino-Alto Adige / Veneto, Monte Baldo, Cima Valdritta. 16 c. I. l. rablensis ♂, Italy: Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Julian Prealps, Matajur. 16 d. I. l. rablensis ♂, Macedonia: Baba Planina [Baba Mountain], Pelister, Golemo ezero [Large Lake]. 16 e. I. l. rablensis ♂, Bulgaria: Sofia, Vitosa [Vitosha]. 17 a. I. l. roraria ♂, Czech Republic: Moravia, Bile Karpaty [White Carpathians], Machova. 17 b. I. l. roraria ♂, Czech Republic: Moravia, Vapenky. 17 c. I. l. roraria ♂, Germany: Bavaria, surroundings of Spalt

Figures 18 - 22. Underside of females (18 - 22). 18 a. I. l. limbaria ♀, Belgium: Comblain [- au-Pont]. 18 b. I. l. limbaria ♀, Switzerland: Valais, district of Sierre, Val d'Anniviers. 18 c. I. l. limbaria ♀, Spain: Aragon, province of Huesca, Fanlo. 19 a. I. l. delimbaria ♀, France: Alpes-Maritimes, Grasse above Gourdon. 19 b. I. l. delimbaria ♀, Italy: Emilia-Romagna, Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, Bologna, Monte Grande. 20. I. l. anzascaria ♀, Italy: Piedmont, Monte Rosa, Macugnaga, under Alpe Bill. 21 a. I. l. rablensis ♀, Italy: Piedmont, province of Verbania-Cusio-Ossola, Valstrona, Campello Monti. 21 b. I. l. rablensis ♀, Italy: Lombardy, Bergamasque Prealps, Camerata Cornello, towards Passo Grialeggio. 21 c. I. l. rablensis ♀, Italy: Trentino-Alto Adige, Brentonico, [Monte Baldo]. 21 d. I. l. rablensis ♀, Italy: Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Carnic Prealps, Barcis, Prescudin. 21 e. I. l. rablensis ♀, Italy: Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Julian Alps, Jof Montasio. 21 f. I. l. rablensis ♀, Bulgaria: Sofia, Vitosa [Vitosha]. 21 g. I. l. rablensis ♀, Bulgaria: Sofia, Vitoscha [Vitosha]. 22 a. I. l. roraria ♀, Slovakia: Handlova. 22 b. I. l. roraria ♀, Germany: Bavaria, surroundings of Spalt.