Nychiodes eberti, Wanke & Hausmann & Krogmann & Petrányi & Rajaei, 2020

Wanke, Dominic, Hausmann, Axel, Krogmann, Lars, Petrányi, Gergely & Rajaei, Hossein, 2020, Taxonomic revision of the genus Nychiodes Lederer, 1853 (Geometridae: Ennominae: Boarmiini) with description of three new species-an integrative approach, Zootaxa 4812 (1), pp. 1-61 : 34-36

Nychiodes eberti sp. nov. Wanke, Hausmann & Rajaei

( figs 73–83, 120–122 ; map 3)

Type material examined. Holotype, ♂, Türkei, Prov. Erzurum, Kopdagi Pass, vic. Ascale , 2200 m, 27.-31.vii.1978, Lichtf., leg. W. Thomas, g.prep. 0267/2019 D. Wanke; in SMNS . Paratypes, 1 ♂, 1 ♀, NE Türkei, Prov. Erzurum, Dogu Karadeniz Daglari, Korga Dagi , Köprüköy , Umg. bei Ispir , 2000 m, w. 28.vii.2001, e.o. 3.xi.2001, leg. J. Gelbrecht, S. Beshkov, R. Busse, A. Kazanci & E. Schwabe, g.preps (♂) 0456/2019 D. Wanke, (♀) 0457/2019 D. Wanke ; 1 ♂, NE Türkei, Dogu Karadeniz Daglari, Ovit Dagi, ca. 5 km südl. Ovit Dagi Gecidi , 2400-2500 m, 27.vii.2001, leg. J. Gelbrecht, S. Beshkov, R. Busse, A. Kazanci & E. Schwabe, g.prep. 0241/2019 D. Wanke; all in PCJG . 1 ♂, Turkey, St. 2108, Nigde, Bolkardaglari N Side, SW Maden, 1600 m, 3.viii.1995, leg. D.v.d. Poorten, W. De Prins, g.prep. 0341/2019 D. Wanke ; 1 ♀, Turkiye, Konya, 38 km W Konya, 1550 m, 8.-9.vii.[19]88, leg. S. Wagener, g.prep. 0443/2019 D. Wanke ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Turkey, Erzincan, Caglayan, 4 km S. Kalecik, 1600 m, 13.- 15.vii.2000, leg. K. Larsen, g.prep. (♂) 0339/2019 D. Wanke, (♀) 0444/2019 D. Wanke ; 2 ♂, Turkey, Konya, Toros Daglari, Adiller Taskent , 1700 m, 14.vii.1986, leg. Arne Moberg, g.prep. 0343/2019 D. Wanke ; 1 ♂, Turkey, Ankara, 1150-1250 m, 10 km NW Kizilcahaman , 6.-7.viii.1989, leg. Fibiger, Esser ; 1 ♂, Turkiye, St. 1711, Artvin, 8-10 km SW Yusufeli Coruh valley, 900-1000 m, 4.-9.vii.1991, leg. W. De Prins, D.v.d. Poorten, A. Riemis, g.prep. 0344/2019 D. Wanke ; 3 ♂, Turkey, Nigde, Bolkar Daglari, N. s. Maden , 2100 m, 29.vii.1997, K. Larsen, g.prep. 0342/2019 D. Wanke ; 1 ♂, Turkey, Sivas, Gökpinar , 10 km S Gürün, 1500 m, 1.viii.1997, leg. K. Larsen, g.prep. 0340/2019 D. Wanke ; 1 ♂, Turkey, Sivas, Gökpinar , 12 km S Gürün, 1500 m, 25.vii.1998, leg. K. Larsen ; 1 ♀, Turkey, Sivas, Gökpinar , 10 km S Gürün, 1500 m, 11.vii.2000, leg. K. Larsen, g.prep. 0445/2019 D. Wanke ; 1 ♀, [ Turkey], Maras, Binboga Daglari, Göksun Yalakköy , 1600 m, 17.vii.1986, leg. A. Moberg, g.prep. 0451/2019 D. Wanke; all in PCPS . 2 ♂, Türkei centr., Provinz Sivas, Gökpinar , 1,5 km westlich, N 38°39‘21‘‘, O 37°17‘19‘‘, 1600 m ü.NN, 02.vii.2008, LF, leg. Ralf & Sylvana Fiebig, g.prep. 2134/2017 H. Rajaei ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Türkei centr., Provinz Nevsehir, Kappadokien, Göreme , N 38°39‘, O 34°50’, 1080-1150 m ü.NN, 08.-11.vii.2011, LF, leg. R. Fiebig & S. Rothe, g.preps. (♂) 0398/2019 D. Wanke (♀) 0399/2019 D. Wanke ; 1 ♂, Türkei centr., Prov. Nevsehir, Kappadok- ien, Aktepe 1 km SSO, N 38°40‘43‘‘, O 34°52‘25‘‘, 1070 m ü.NN, 26.-27.viii.2009 LF, leg. R. & S. Fiebig, g.prep. 0400/2019 D. Wanke ; 1 ♂, Türkei centr, Provinz Nigde, Aladag West , 5 km SSO von Sulucaova, N 37°58‘13‘‘, O 35°09‘58‘‘, 2200-2500m ü.NN, 16.viii.2009, LF, leg. R. Fiebig & S. Rothe, g.prep. 0396/2019 D. Wanke; all in PCRF . 2 ♂, Türkei, Kopdagi , 4.viii.1978, 2100m, leg. Dittrich, Austria; in PCTM . 2 ♀, Türkei, Prov. Erzurum, Kop- dagi Pass, vic. Ascale , 2200 m, 27.-31.vii.1978, Lichtf., leg. W. Thomas, g.preps 0263, 0435/2019 D. Wanke ; 1 ♂, [ Turkey], Kleinasien, Prov. Erzurum, 40 km NW Erzurum, vic. Egerti , 1850-2000 m, 30.vii.-01.viii.[19]80, g.prep. 0066/2018 D. Wanke ; 5 ♂, [ Turkey], Kleinasien, Prov. Kars, vic. Karakurt , Aras-Tal , 1500 m, 15.-16.vii.1978, leg. de Freina, g.preps 0076, 0077/2018 D. Wanke, 0260/2019 D. Wanke ; 5 ♂, 1 ♀, [ Turkey], Kleinasien, Prov. Kars, vic. Kagizman , Kötek , 1550 m, 29.-31.vii.[19]78, leg. de Freina, g.preps (♂) 0078, 0080/2018 D. Wanke, 0261, 0262, 0264/2019 D. Wanke, (♀) 0266/2019 D. Wanke ; 2 ♂, [ Turkey], Kleinasien, Prov. Erzurum, Umg. Ovacik , Camlika , 2100 m, 01.-02.viii.1980, leg. de Freina, g.prep. 0086/2018 D. Wanke ; 1 ♂, [ Turkey], Kleinasien, Prov. Kars, vic. Sarikamis , 2000-2300 m, 21-27.vii.[19]80, leg. de Freina, 0079/2018 D. Wanke ; 1 ♀, Türkei, Anatolien , 25 km, südl. Sivas, 1500 m, 24.+ 25.vii.1978, leg. W. Thomas, g.prep. 0432/2019 D. Wanke ; 2 ♀, [ Turkey], Klei- nasien, Prov. Artvin, 5 km SE Sarigöl, 750 m, 31.vii.-09.viii.[19]83, leg. de Freina, g.prep. 2090/2017 H. Rajaei, 0436/2019 D. Wanke ; all in SMNS . 6 ♂, [ Turkey], Anatolien , Ankara, 1000 m, vi.1934, leg. Herbert Noack, g.preps 0161, 0162/2018 D. Wanke, 0282, 0283, 0284/2019 D. Wanke ; 1 ♀, Türk., Ostkurdistan, Van Gölü , ca. 1800 m, 1.-31.Vii.1965, leg. Herbert Noack, g.prep. (♀) 0292/2019 D. Wanke; all in SMNK . 1 ♂, Türkei, vii.[19]95, leg. Gelbrecht, g.prep. 0464/2019, D. Wanke ; in ZSM .

Description. Wingspan ♂ 29–40 mm, ♀ 35–42 mm (forewing length ♂ 18–22 mm, ♀ 19–24 mm) ( figs 73–83). Antennae bipectinate in both sexes. Frons flat, projecting about one quarter diameter of eye, smoothly scaled. Chaetosemata present as two small patches. Length of labial palpi about 1.0 times diameter of the eye, slightly exceeding frons. Proboscis absent. Ground colour of wings highly variable, varying from sandy grey-yellow and light brown to dark brown. Transverse lines faint or visible. Terminal line from light to dark brown, sometimes faint. Postmedial line of forewing, if present, curved between M1 and M2; antemedial line, if visible, curved outwards. Postmedial line of hindwing absent or slightly visible. Antemedial line often faint or slightly visible as a shadow. Underside of wings variable, from unicolorous to vaguely showing the pattern of the upper side. Discal spots present only on underside.

In male genitalia ( figs 120–122 ) uncus tapered and curved, basally broad ( fig. 121 ). Gnathos well developed, strongly sclerotized, medially tongue-shaped. Saccus wide. Costa of valva narrow, strongly sclerotized, apically spinose, digitiform and slightly exceeding apex of valva. Both ampullae located in the distal half of valva, apically spinose; ampulla superior long, basally wide, medially narower; ampulla inferior well developed, of similar length like ampulla superior and narrower than the latter. Juxta anchor-shaped, stalk broad. Aedeagus broad (width-length ratio, 1:9), medially curved; cornutus half length of aedeagus.

In female genitalia ovipositor broad, Apophyses anteriores one fifth length of apophyses posteriores ( fig. 143 ). Sternite A9 conical. Lamella postvaginalis antero-posteriorly extended. Ductus bursae sclerotized. Corpus bursae membranous, pear-shaped, signum stellate.

Note. Nychiodes eberti sp. nov. is highly variable in wing pattern, similar to the large variability in N. divergaria (see figs 52–83). Therefore, wing pattern and coloration are absolutely unreliable characters for a secure diagnosis of these two species and examination of male and female genitalia is mandatory.

Diagnosis. In the distribution range of N. eberti sp. nov. the sympatrically occurring N. rayatica and N. divergaria can be confused when comparing wing pattern only (see figs 41, 42, 52–83). Furthermore, the wing pattern and coloration of N. eberti sp. nov. overlaps with that of N. convergata sp. nov., which is so far only known from Israel ( figs 84, 85).

Male genitalia of N. eberti sp. nov. with costa of valva characteristically narrow, digitiform at apex, slightly exceeding apex of valva (costa of valva apically very large and broad, clearly exceeding apex of valva in N. rayatica ; costa of valva wide, not exceeding apex of valva in N. divergaria ; costa of valva basally narrow, apically widely clubbed, clearly exceeding apex of valva in N. convergata sp. nov.) (see figs 105 , 113–123 ). In N. eberti sp. nov. ampulla superior twice as broad as ampulla inferior, both ampullae not curved, located in the distal half of valva (ampulla superior conical, ampulla inferior strongly curved, both ampullae located at the centre of valva in N. rayatica ; ampulla superior very long and broad, ampulla inferior highly variable, both ampullae located at the centre of valva in N. divergaria ; ampulla superior digitiform, three times as broad as ampulla inferior, both ampullae located at the centre of valva in N. convergata sp. nov.) (see figs 105 , 113–123 ). In N. eberti sp. nov. aedeagus thick and slightly curved, cornutus-aedeagus ratio 1/2 (aedeagus very small and short, cornutus-aedeagus ratio 1/ 2 in N. rayatica ; aedeagus thick and strongly curved, cornutus-aedeagus ratio 2/ 3 in N. divergaria ; aedeagus narrow and long; cornutus-aedeagus ratio 1/ 3 in N. convergata sp. nov.) (see figs 105b , 113 b–118b, 123b). Female genitalia of N. eberti sp. nov. with apophyses anteriores one fifth length of apophyses posteriores (strongly reduced apophyses anteriores, two strongly sclerotized spherical patches on sternite A 9 in N. divergaria ; female of N. rayatica and N. convergata sp. nov. unknown) (see figs 141–143 ).

Phenology. Flying from May to August.

Biology. Unknown.

Habitat. In altitudes from 50 up to 2500m.

Distribution. Distributed in Turkey (map 3).

DNA barcoding. Diverging by 3.1% (minimum pairwise distance) from the N. divergaria-subvirida complex. Nearest species (minimum pairwise distances): N. mirzayansi sp. nov. (3.1%) and N. convergata sp. nov. (3.4%) ( fig. 145 ).

Etymology. The name of this species is dedicated to Günter Ebert (born in 1935), former curator of the Lepidoptera collection in Karlsruhe State Museum of Natural History and editor in chief of the masterpiece “Die Schmetterlinge Baden-Württenbergs” in 10 volumes. During his many expeditions in Iran and Afghanistan, Günter Ebert collected the most important reference collection for these countries, deposited in SMNK (and parts in ZSM). All Nychiodes specimens, which were collected by Ebert are examined in this paper.

Figures

FIGURE 145. Un-rooted neighbour joining tree (Saitou & Nei 1987) based on 20 species of the genus Nychiodes (calculated using K2P model: Kimura 1980 with MEGA X (Kumar et al. 2018).

FIGURES 120-126. 120: Paratype of N. eberti sp. nov. (Turkey, g.prep 0464/2019 D. Wanke); 121: Uncus, lateral view, N. eberti sp. nov. (Turkey, Sulucaova, g.prep 0396/2019 D. Wanke); 122: Paratype of N. eberti sp. nov. (Turkey, Kötek, g.prep 0264/2019 D. Wanke); 123: Holotype of N. convergata sp. nov. (Israel, Mt. Hermon, g.prep. 463/2019 D. Wanke); 124: Uncus, lateral view, N. convergata sp. nov. (Israel, Mt. Hermon, g.prep. 463/2019 D. Wanke); 125: Paratype of N. mirzayansi sp. nov. (a: Iran, Kerman, g.prep. 0222/2019 D. Wanke; b: Iran, Kerman, 0315/2019 D. Wanke); 126: Uncus, lateral view, N. mirzayansi sp. nov. (Iran, Kerman, g.prep. 0419/2019 D. Wanke). a = genitalia capsule; b = aedeagus. Scale-bar 1 mm.

FIGURES 135-144. Female genitalia of Nychiodes species. 135: Paratype of N. admirabila (Iran, Fars, g.prep. 10921); 136: Paratype of N. subfusca (Iran, Fars, g.prep. 10933); 137: Paratype (labeled as Allotype) of N. leviata (Iran, Fars, g.prep. 10927); 138: Paratype (labeled as Allotype) of N. subvirida (Iran, Fars, g.prep. 10935); 139: N. subvirida (Iran, Fars, g.prep. 0169/2018 D. Wanke); 140: Paratype (labeled as Allotype) of N. agatcha syn. nov. of N. subvirida (Iran, Laristan, g.prep. 10923); 141: Paratype (labeled as Allotype) of N. variabila syn. nov. of N. divergaria (Iran, Fars, g.prep. 10931; according to morphological examination this specimen belongs to N. divergaria); 142: Paratype (labeled as Allotype) of N. variabila opulenta syn. nov. of N. divergaria (Iran, Baloutchistan, g.prep. 10929), 143: Paratype of N. eberti sp. nov. (Turkey, Ascale, g.prep. 0263/2019 D. Wanke); 144: Paratype of N. mirzayansi sp. nov. (Iran, Kerman, a: whole genitalia; b: close up; g.prep. 2252/2019 H. Rajaei). Scale-bar 1 mm.

FIGURES 103-107. Male genitalia of Nychiodes species. 103: Paratype of N. quettensis (Pakistan, Quetta, g.prep. WW223); 104: Paratype of N. admirabila (Iran, Fars, g.prep. 10920); 105: Holotype of N. rayatica (Iraq, Rayat, g.prep. 11019); 106: Paratype of N. subfusca (Iran, Komehr, g.prep. 10932); 107: Uncus, lateral view, N. subfusca (Iran, Dasht-e Arjan, g.prep. 0412/2019 D. Wanke). a = genitalia capsule; b = aedeagus. Scale-bar 1 mm.

FIGURES 108-114. Male genitalia of Nychiodes species. 108: Paratype of N. leviata (Iran, Fars, g.prep. 10926); 109: Uncus, lateral view, N. leviata (Iran, Isfahan, 0417/2019 D. Wanke); 110: N. agatcha syn. nov. of N. subvirida (Iran, Laristan, g.prep. 10922); 111: Paratype of N. subvirida (Iran, Fars, g.prep. 10934); 112: Uncus, lateral view, N. subvirida (Iran, Fars, g.prep. 0415/2019 D. Wanke); 113: Holotype of N. variabila opulenta syn. nov. of N. divergaria (Iran, Baloutchistan, g.prep. 10928); 114: Holotype of N. variabila syn. nov. of N. divergaria (Iran, Fars, g.prep. 10930); a = genitalia capsule; b = aedeagus. Scalebar 1 mm.

FIGURES 115-118. Male genitalia of Nychiodes species. 115: Syntype of N. divergaria achtyca syn. nov. of N. divergaria (Dagestan, Ackty, g.prep. 7272); 116: Uncus, lateral view, N. divergaria (Turkey, Hakkari, g.prep. 0395/2019 D. Wanke); 117: Lectotype (herewith designated) of N. divergaria (Turkey, Mardin, g.prep. 2106/2017 H. Rajaei); 118: Paralectotype (herewith designated) of N. divergaria (Turkey, Egin, g.prep. 2107/2017 H. Rajaei); a = genitalia capsule; b = aedeagus. Scale-bar 1 mm.

FIGURE 119. Variations in the genitalia capsule of N. divergaria. Differences occur in the shape of the costa of the valva, the shape of the ampulla superior and the presence versus absence of the ampulla inferior. Genitalia capsules sorted from no ampulla inferior (A) to a fully developed one (P). A: Iran, Kermanschah, g.prep. 0189/2018 D. Wanke; B: Iran, Rezaiyeh, g.prep. 0201/2018 D. Wanke; C: Iran, Azerbaijan, g.prep. 0204/2018 D. Wanke; D: g.prep. 0064/2018 D. Wanke; E: Iran, Azerbaijan-e Gharbi, g.prep. 0131/2018 D. Wanke; F: Iran, Miyan Kotal, g.prep. 0177/2018 D. Wanke; G: Turkey, Van, g.prep. 0258/2019 D. Wanke; H: Iran, prov. Kerman, g.prep. 0170/2018 D. Wanke; I: Turkey, Van, g.prep. 0257/2019 D. Wanke; J: Iran, Kendevan, g.prep. 0256/2019 D. Wanke; K: Iran, Mazandaran, g.prep. 2187/2018 H. Rajaei; L: Armenia, Yeghegnadzor suburbs, g.prep. 0375/2019 D. Wanke; M:Armenia,Yeghegnadzor suburbs, g.prep. 0376/2019 D. Wanke; N:Turkey, Malatya, g.prep. 0452/2019 D. Wanke; O: Turkey, Van, g.prep. 0062/2018 D. Wanke; P: Armenia, Yeghegnadzor suburbs, g.prep. 0374/2019 D. Wanke.