Scopula nigropunctata ( Hufnagel, 1767 )

Wanke, Dominic, Hausmann, Axel, Lee, Kyung Min, Murillo-Ramos, Leidys, Sihvonen, Pasi & Rajaei, Hossein, 2023, Systematics and integrative taxonomic revision of the tribe Scopulini Duponchel, 1845 in Iran (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Sterrhinae), Zootaxa 5359 (1), pp. 1-96 : 18-19

Scopula nigropunctata ( Hufnagel, 1767)

( Plate 5, Figs 1–2; Plate 13 , Fig. 2; Plate 22 , Fig. 5; Map 4)

Phalaena nigropunctata Hufnagel, 1767 . Berlinisches Magazin, 4 (5): 526. Syntype (s) lost ( Germany, Berlin).

Acidalia subcandidata Walker, 1862 . List of the specimens of lepidopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum, 26: 1607. Holotype ♁ (eastern China: Shanghai) (NHMUK). Valid at subspecific rank.

Craspedia imbella Warren, 1901 : Novitates zoologicae, 8: 22. Syntypes 3 ♀ ( Japan) (NHMUK). Valid at subspecific rank.

Scopula nigropunctata chosensis Bryk, 1949 : Arkiv för zoologi, 41A (1): 164. Holotype ♁ ( Korea: Shuotsu ) (NHRS). Valid at subspecific rank.

Scopula nigropunctata subimbella Inoue, 1958 : Tinea, 4 (2): 243. Holotype ♁ ( Japan: Hokkaido. Kushiro, Shibecha ) (NHMUK). Valid at subspecific rank.

Synonymies (for more details on nomenclature see Scoble 1999 and Hausmann 2004): Phalaena repandata : sensu Scopoli, 1763 (north-western Slovenja: Carniolia) (according to Hausmann (2004: 269): misidentification, synonymy uncertain); Geometra strigilata : sensu Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775 ( Austria: Vienna) (according to Hausmann (2004: 269): misidentification); Phalaena tristriaria Fabricius, 1794 ( Italy); Phalaena Geometra nemorata Borkhausen, 1794 (Europe, probably Germany); Geometra strigilaria Hübner, 1799 (according to Hausmann (2004: 269): incorrect subsequent spelling of the misidentified strigilata : sensu Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775; Phalaena inspersata Schrank, 1802 ( Germany, Bavaria: Ingolstadt); Calothysanis exemptaria Hübner, 1823 ( Austria: Vienna) (according to Hausmann (2004: 269): unnecessary replacement name for strigilaria ); Acidalia prataria Boisduval, 1840 (according to Hausmann (2004: 269): unnecessary replacement name for misidentified strigilaria Hübner ); Acidalia prataria var. catenaria Bruand, 1846 ( France: Doubs, Besancon).

For the list of unavailable names, see Hausmann (2004).

Material examined: 4 ♁/ ♀ (see appendix).

Diagnosis. Wingspan ♁ 25–29 mm (Hausmann 2004). In Iran, S. nigropunctata can externally be confused only with S. flaccidaria , therefore its characters are compared against this species. Ground colour ( Plate 5, Figs 1–2) beige, hindwings not pointed out (beige, hindwings pointed out in S. flaccidaria ) (see Plate 5, Figs 1–2; Plate 8, Figs 3–6).

In the male genitalia 8th sternite very broad, square-like, basally straight, with thin cerata, left short, right long (not strongly broadened, basally convex, both cerata long in S. flaccidaria ) (see Plate 13 , Fig. 2; Plate 18 , Figs 1–2).

In the female genitalia lamella antevaginalis big with irregular folds (ring-shaped, antrum with tulip shaped sclerite in S. flaccidaria ) (see Plate 22 , Fig. 5; Plate 25 , Figs 5–6).

Phenology. Univoltine species, flying from mid-June to early August (Hausmann 2004). Investigated specimens in Iran were collected from August to October.

Biology. Larva polyphagous on a wide range of plant species of different families (see Hausmann 2004; Beljaev 2016; Makhov 2023).

Habitat. From 0 m to 1800 m in Europe and to 2200 m in Turkey and Transcaucasus (Hausmann 2004). Investigated specimens in Iran were collected in 250 m.

Distribution. Widely distributed from Portugal to the Urals, Mongolia, and throughout the Far East of Asia, including Korea and Japan (Hausmann 2004; Sihvonen 2005b; Choi & Kim 2016; Makhov 2023). Also distributed in Turkey, the Caucasus, Transcaucasus and Iran ( Viidalepp 1996; Hausmann 2004). In Iran distributed in the northern parts (see Map 4). Reported in the literature also for the provinces Gilan, Golestan, Mazandaran ( Lederer 1871; Prout 1912 –1915; Prout 1921; Wiltshire 1966; Viidalepp 1996).

DNA-barcoding. Nearest species: S. incanata with 7.1 % (see Supplementary Table S1).

MAP 4. Distribution patterns of the Scopula species S. nigropunctata and S. ornata enzela in Iran.

Figures

PLATE 13: Figures 1–3. Male genitalia of Scopula species. 1: S. tessellaria ([Iran], Tacht i Suleiman, g. prep. 1260/2022 D. Wanke); 2: S. nigropunctata (Turkey, Giresun, 1: g. prep. 1236/2021 D. Wanke); 3: S. caesaria (a, b: South Africa, Gauteng, Ezemvelo, g. prep. 1224/2021 D. Wanke; c: Oman, Dhofar, Wadi Sha’ath, g. prep. NHMUK 010317472). a = genitalia capsule; b = aedeagus; c = 8th sternite. Scale-bar 1 mm.

PLATE 18: Figures 1–6. Male genitalia of Scopula species.1: S. flaccidaria (N-Iran,Masandaran,Schasavar,g.prep.1053/2021 D. Wanke). 2: S. iranaria syn. nov. of S. flaccidaria (Cotype, Iran, Kerdej, g. prep. 2299/2020 H. Rajaei); 3: S. minorata (Spain, Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, g. prep. 1248/2021 D. Wanke); 4: S. adelpharia (S Iran, Hormozgan, Sirki, g. prep. 1309/2022 D. Wanke); 5: S. albiceraria (Mongolia, Selenge aimag, near Ochron, g. prep. 1305/2022 D. Wanke); 6: S. immistaria (N Iran, Masandaran, Damavand, g. prep. 0830/2020 D. Wanke); a = genitalia capsule; b = aedeagus; c = 8th sternite. Scale-bar 1 mm.

PLATE 22: Figures 1–7. Female genitalia of Scopula species. 1: S. ansulata (Iran, Ostan-e Khorasan, Haji Abad, g. prep. 0697/2020 D. Wanke); 2: S. adulteraria bona sp. (Iran, Ostan-e Khorasan, Izmansufla, g. prep. 1255/2022 D. Wanke); 3: S. immorata (Turkey, Erzurum, N-Askole, g. prep. 1226/2022 D. Wanke); 4: S. tessellaria (Kazakhstan, S Kirgyzsay, g. prep. 1242/2021 D. Wanke); 5: S. nigropunctata (Turkey, Giresun, 1: g. prep. 1235/2021 D. Wanke); 6–7: S. caesaria (6: Paratype, Ceylon, Slide NHMUK 012821272; 7: South Yemen, Lahej Governorate, Al Dhala, g. prep. 1287/2022 D. Wanke). Scale-bar 1 mm.

PLATE 25: Figures 1–5. Female genitalia of Scopula species. 1: S. incanata ([Iran], Tacht i Suleiman, g. prep. 1277/2022 D. Wanke); 2: S. marginepunctata terrigena (N-Iran, Amarlu, Rudbar, g. prep. 0875/2020 D. Wanke); 3: S. luridata ([Israel], Jaffa, g. prep. 1240/2021 D. Wanke); 4: S. immutata ([Hungary], Bükk̂sd, 1247/2021 D. Wanke); 5: S. flaccidaria (N-Iran, Bandar Pahlavi, g. prep. 1054/2021 D. Wanke); 6: S. iranaria syn. nov. of S. flaccidaria (Iran, Kerdej, g. prep. 11061). Scale-bar 1 mm.