Lasiocampa editae

Speidel, Wolfgang, Hausmann, Axel, Müller, Günter C., Kravchenko, Vasiliy, Mooser, Josef, Witt, Thomas J., Khallaayoune, Khalid, Prosser, Sean & Hebert, Paul D. N., 2015, Taxonomy 2.0: Sequencing of old type specimens supports the description of two new species of the Lasiocampa decolorata group from Morocco (Lepidoptera, Lasiocampidae), Zootaxa 3999 (3), pp. 401-412 : 407-408

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.3999.3.5
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:FC57F570-73DF-4C9C-80B9-4AA1D9725656
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6108020
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/A32DCC71-FFFA-FFF1-C4AA-F9FF6F0DFBE1
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Lasiocampa editae
status

Treatment

Lasiocampa editae SPEIDEL, MOOSER & WITT sp. n.

( Figs 9, 20–22)

Material. Holotype ♂: Morocco, High Atlas, Oukaimeden, NW slopes, 2,0– 2,300 m, 11.–20. 08. 2012, G. Muller, E. Revay et al., BC ZSM Lep 76653, Genitalpräparat Heterocera Nr. 19872 Museum Witt München.

Paratypes: 10 ♂ dto., with additional labels Genitalpräparat Heterocera Nr. 19869 Museum Witt München and BC ZSM Lep 76656; Genitalpräparat Heterocera Nr. 19871 Museum Witt München and BC ZSM Lep 76654; Genitalpräparat Heterocera Nr. 19868 Museum Witt München and BC ZSM Lep 76651; Genitalpräparat Heterocera Nr. 19870 Museum Witt München and BC ZSM 76655; Genitalpräparat Heterocera Nr. 19867 Museum Witt München and BC ZSM Lep 76652. Museum Witt München; dto. 6 ♂ 01.–10. 08. 2013. Museum Witt München; 2 ♂ Morocco, High Atlas, Oukaimeden, Tisrafene, 2,8– 3000 m, mid Aug. 2013, G. Muller, E. Revay et al. Museum Witt München; 10 ♂ Morocco Toubkal, Ait El Qad 2200–2600 m, 22–31. 7. 2012, G. Muller, E Revay et al. Coll. Mooser; 3 ♂ Morocco Toubkal, Ait El Qad 2200–2600 m, 10–15. 7. 2012, G. Muller, E Revay et al. Coll. Mooser; 2 ♂ Morocco, High Atlas, Oukaimeden, southern slopes, 2300–2500 m, 5–10. 7. 2012, G. Muller, E Revay et al. Coll. Mooser; 19 ♂ Morocco, High Atlas, Oukaimeden, southern slopes, 2300–2500 m, 22–31. 7. 2012, G. Muller, E Revay et al. Coll. Mooser; 4 ♂ Morocco, High Atlas, Oukaimeden NW slopes, 2,0– 2,300 m, 11.– 20.08.2012, G. Muller, E. Revay et al. MWM; 10 ♂ Morocco, High Atlas, Oukaimeden NW slopes, 2,3– 2,500 m, 1.– 10.08.2012, G. Muller, E. Revay et al. MWM.

Description. Male wingspan 38–46 mm, forewing length 19–22 mm. Wing-shape and antenna-structure corresponding with that of other members of the L. trifolii group, but without traces of fasciae. Wings reddish brown, superficially indiscriminable from L. hannae sp. n., but on average slightly larger and darker than the latter.

Male genitalia (genitalia slides 19867-19872 (MWM), fig. 3): Valvae very modified, like in all Lasiocampa species in a dorsal position in the standard preparations, not laterally movable. The genitalia are easily damaged, if one tries to move the valvae to a standardized position and if the three–dimensional structures are too strongly flattened. Valva bifid. The exterior lobe of the valva is variable in size, strongly sclerotized. Interior lobe weaker, rounded and easily destroyed during preparation. Vesica dorsolaterally everted.

Genetic data. BIN: ACL1902 (n=6), including holotype. Intraspecific variation: 0.0%. Closest neighbouring species: Lasiocampa decolorata at a genetic distance of 3.5%, Lasiocampa hannae at 3.2%.

Etymology. Named in honour of Prof. Dr. Dr. Edita Revay.

Ecology. The species is found in the Central High Atlas Mts. above the tree line, adults fly in July and August. For habitat pictures see Figs 26 View FIGURE 26 and 27 View FIGURE 27 .

Discussion. The females of the two new species are so far unknown. Females of the Lasiocampa trifolii group are readily attracted to light, and Lasiocampa decolorata also possesses winged females that are phototrophic. Thus, the females of the present species may show low affinity to light or even may prove to be wingless, like the allied species Lasiocampa staudingeri which ranges from Libya to Morocco. However, males of the latter taxon are easily discriminated by its paler yellow rather than reddish-brown wing colour. As well, adults are only found in autumn and there are no records from the alpine region.