Scopula drenowskii Sterneck, 1941

Can, Feza, 2009, DNA barcoding confirms species rank for a cryptic geometrid species from Turkey and Bulgaria (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Sterrhinae), Zootaxa 2314 (1), pp. 63-68 : 65-67

Scopula drenowskii Sterneck, 1941 , stat. n.

Scopula decorata f. drenowskii STERNECK, 1941 : Z. Wien. Ent. Ver. 26 (2): 53 ( Bulgaria: Alibotusch-Bereng). Replacement name of preoccupied Acidalia decorata var. rebeli Drenowski, 1930 , being a junior primary homonym nec PROUT, 1913 (identity: Scopula beckeraria ). For nomenclatural availability see Hausmann (2004). Male genitalia slide of the type specimen from Rebel collection NHMW (Museum of Natural History of Vienna) examined (Hausmann pers. comm.).

Acidalia ornata var.? aequata STAUDINGER, 1879: Horae Soc. Ent. Ross. 14 (4): 440 (northern Turkey, Pontus : Amasia). Holotype § MNHU (Museum fur Naturkunde der Humboldt-Universitat, Berlin). “Preliminary considered as aberratio” by STAUDINGER, hence infrasubspecific and unavailable.

Materials Examined. The following Turkish was examined and submitted for DNA barcoding: ♂: Sivas- Taşlıdere, 39˚ 39’ N, 37˚ 00’ E, 1336 m, 26. VI.2005 F. Can leg, (University of Mustafa Kemal, Hatay, Turkey: hereafter UMKH). Paratypes 7♂: 4♂, Sivas-Taşlıdere, 39˚ 39’ N, 37˚ 00’ E, 1336 m, 24. VI.2005 F. Can leg., ( UMKH); 1♂ Gümüşhane-Merkez, 40˚ 23’ N 39 38 E, 1309 m, 17. VI.2003. F. Can leg., ( UMKH); 1♂ Kayseri-Sarız, 38˚ 33’ N 36˚ 26’ E, 1795 m, 19. VI.2003 F. Can leg., ( UMKH); 1♂ Burdur-Yeşilova, 37˚ 30’ N 29˚ 39’ E, 1360 m, 14. VI.2001, leg. F. Can, ( UMKH). The last two specimens were not included in the molecular study. Additional material (males) was dissected at the ZSM, from: Sivas Gökpinar S Gürün ; Konya Sultan Dagl. Akshehir Pass; Malatya Recadiye S Sürgü; Kizilcahamam, Nevshehir; 5km S Urgiys ; Ankara; Agri; Erzurum (see Fig. 1 ).

Diagnosis. Scopula drenowskii is similar to other species of the ornata species-group, notably decorata , and is usually not distinguishable from decorata by habitus ( Fig. 2 ). Sternum A8 of S. drenowskii has two well developed cerata, the left one shortened to the length of the mappa, and the basis of the sternum largely projecting. In S. decorata , the left ceras is short with a spinulose brush on an oval sclerite, the right ceras long and slightly curved. Comaprison of (a) length of left ceras, (b) shape of right ceras and (c) shape of basis of sternum A8 is as follows: S. drenowskii (a) long, (b) curved, (c) large; in S. decorata (a) small, (b) slightly waved or sinuous, (c) smaller.

Redescription. Wingspan 25.5-28.8 mm. Ground colour of wings creamy white ( Fig. 2a ). Antemedial and medial lines present. Postmedial line dentate distally with grey spots, brownish double spots only on the forewing. Small spots near termen, terminal row of spots fused to a fascia. Palpi stout, proboscis long, well developed. Frons brown, vertex whitish, collar brown. Antennae of male almost filiform, ciliate, cilia 1.0-1.2 times width of flagellum. Hindtibia without spurs, with pencil in male. Male genitalia: Socii large and broad, crossed. Valva longer than fibula, spinosa at tip ( Fig. 3a ). Aedeagus slightly curved, with a small cornutus, broader at base ( Fig. 3b ). Both cerata of sternum A8 stout and pointed: left ceras shorter, turned towards outside; right ceras longer and curved ( Fig. 3c ). The female is unknown but can be addressed and matched through DNA barcoding.

Distribution and biology. The new species is known from Bulgaria (TL: Alibotusch mountains), Sivas, Kayseri, Gümüşhane and Burdur, Turkey. Adult males were collected at altitudes ranging from 1309-1795 m. The early stages and biology of S. drenowskii are unknown.

Molecular data. The UPGMA dendrogram ( Fig. 4 ) separates S. decorata and S. drenowskii , with a bootstrap support value of 100. The other species analyzed appear genetically homogenous, except for S. ornata and S. orientalis (these two species will be addressed in subsequent studies).

Remarks. Examination of a syntype of Acidalia violata var. armeniaca THIERRY- MIEG, 1916 (Misc. Ent. 23: 52; TL: Armenia) by A. Hausmann (pers. comm.) indicated it belonged to S. decorata , and therefore that the name is not applicable to the new species.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Distributional data for Scopula decorata (●), and Scopula drenowskii () in Turkey from collecting by the author, and dissected male specimens from ZSM.

FIGURE 2. Adults of Scopula drenowskii Sterneck, 1941 and S. decorata (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775). a, S. drenowskii male; b, S. decorata male. Scale bar 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 3. Male genitalia. Scopula drenowskii Sterneck, 1941: a, genitalia; b, aedeagus; c, cerata and mappa. Scopula decorata (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775): d, genitalia; e, aedeagus; f, cerata and mappa. Figures not to scale.

FIGURE 4. Scopula ornata species-group: UPGMA tree of 658 bp nucleotide sequences of COI5 gene. numbers near nodes refer to bootstrap values (100 replicates), presented only when higher than 50 percent. Number after species name refers to ID number in Barcode of Life Data Systems.