Rhodostrophia cinerascens ( Moore, 1888 )

Kumari, Shabnam, Bandyopadhyay, Uttaran, Uniyal, Virendra Prasad, Chandra, Kailash & Hausmann, Axel, 2024, Integrative taxonomic review of the genus Rhodostrophia Hübner, 1823 and its allied genus Tanaotrichia Warren, 1893 (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) from the Western Himalaya, Zootaxa 5519 (1), pp. 59-89 : 68-69

Rhodostrophia cinerascens ( Moore, 1888)

[ Fig. 8–9 , 35, 42 , 49, 56 ]

[TL: Pir Panjal, Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir, India]

= subflavida Warren, 1893 , [TL: Sonmarg, Kashmir]

Phyletis cinerascens cinerascens Moore, 1888 , Description of new Indian lepidopterous insects from the collection of the late Mr. W. S. Atkinson: 264.

Rhodostrophia cinerascens ; Hampson, 1895; The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma, 3: 458.

Rhodostrophia cinerascens ; Prout, 1913; In: Seitz, A. (Ed.) (1912–1916): The Macrolepidoptera of the world, 4: 40, pl. 5, fig. d.

Rhodostrophia cinerascens cinerascens ; Prout, 1938; In: Seitz, A. (Ed.) (1920–1941): The Macrolepidoptera of the world, 12: 143.

Material examined: Pakistan: 7♂♂ , Indus-Kohistan , Gittidas, 3350 m, 03.VIII.1990; 1♀ , Pakistan, Baltistan , Deosai plains, Naran, 2300 m, 02.VIII.1990; leg. Bernard Mollet (in SNSB-ZSM collection) .

Description:

Forewing length: Male: 17–19 mm, Female: 16 mm. Females smaller and narrower-winged than males. Intensity of wing markings greatly varying ( Prout 1938).

Antennae filiform in female; quadripectinate in male, flagellum slightly dentate and brown ventrally. Vertex ochreous to pale brown. Frons reddish-brown. Palpi short, upwardly directed, not reaching frons, pale ochreous laterally. Collar, tegulae, patagia and thorax greyish-ochreous, sometimes with reddish-brown irroration; abdomen pale ochreous. Ventral side pale ochreous; legs with greyish-brown suffusion, femoral part of the legs and ventral side of the thorax with rose-red or vinous irroration. Legs features similar to R. borealis . Forewing greyish-ochreous, slightly darker than in R. borealis , apically elongated with obliquely straight outer margin. Female forewing smaller, narrower and outwardly stretched with acute apex. Costa darker, rarely with rose-red irroration. Antemedial line greyish to red-brown, sinuous, indistinct. Postmedial band oblique with slightly wavy distal border, proximal border straight but usually with slight indentation distad at the centre of wing, dark greyish-brown, darker towards proximal border; marginal band pale grey-brown; area between the two bands pale, concolorous with ground colour. Terminal line dark grey. Cilia greyish-brown, distally paler. Discocellular dot inconspicuous, grey. Hindwing whitish to pale ochreous, markings as in forewing except antemedial line absent, postmedial band inconspicuous, consisting of two slightly undulate lines. Discocellular dot almost absent. Cilia as in forewing. Underside pale ochreous, with unicolorous fuscous suffusion in the forewing up to postmedial band; antemedial line not traceable in both wings; fringes darker than ground colour ( Figs 8, 9 ).

Male ( Fig. 35, 42 , 49 ) and female genitalia ( Fig. 56 ) are similar to R. borealis . However, the main differences are outlined in the differential diagnosis of R. borealis .

Differential diagnosis: Discussed under R. borealis (see above).

Distribution: India: Jammu and Kashmir (Pir Panjal, Western Kashmir and Sonmarg) (Warren 1893; Prout 1913, 1938). Elsewhere: Afghanistan (Warren 1893; Prout 1913, 1938), Pakistan (in SNSB-ZSM collection).

Genetic data: Not available.

Bionomics: R. cinerascens was primarily described from the Pir Panjal Mountain range and also reported from the western parts of Kashmir up to Afghanistan. Its synonym, R. subflavida was described from Sonmarg (Western Kashmir). Adults of this species are commonly found from June to September ( Prout 1913), with no information on life history and larval stages. The elevational distribution of the species ranges from ~ 2400 m to 4000 m [the elevations of the documented locations of the species in the literature and from the museum collections; 2409 m (Naran), 2730 m (Sonmarg) and 3678 m (Gittidas)].

Remarks: R. subflavida was kept as a synonym of R. cinerascens in the latest catalogue of worldwide Geometridae moths by Rajaei et al. (2022b). However, confirmation of its status as a synonym or as an independent species is doubtful and depends on the examination of Warren’s type specimens. If further studies of the type specimens reveal it as an independent species or identify it as R. borealis , the distribution patterns of R. borealis and R. cinerascens would likely show allopatric/disjunct ranges.

Figures

FIGURES 4–16. Habitus images of Rhodostrophia spp. 4–7. R. borealis (4a–4b: Male, 5a–5b: female, 6a–6b: Male, Syntype, NHMUK, 7a–7b: Female, Syntype, NHMUK. 8–9. R. cinerascens* (8: Male, 9: Female). 10–12. R. herbicolens (10a–10b: Male, 11a–11b: Female, 12a–12b: Female, Syntype, NHMUK), 13–14. R. muricolor (13a–13b: Male, Syntype, NHMUK, 14a–14b: Female, Syntype, NHMUK). 15–16. pelloniaria (15a–15b: Male, 16a–16b: Female). *Specimens and genitalia slide at ZSM-SNSB, Munich; slides and photos prepared by Dr Axel Hausmann.

FIGURES 34–47. Male genitalia images of Rhodostrophia and Tanaotrichia spp. 34–41. Male Clasping organ (CLA). 34. R. borealis, 35. R. cinerascens*, 36. R. herbicolens, 37. R. pelloniaria, 38. R. stigmatica, 39. R. tristrigalis, 40. T. prasonaria trilineata. 41–47. Male aedeagus. 41. R. borealis, 42. R. cinerascens*, 43. R. herbicolens, 44. R. pelloniaria, 45. R. stigmatica, 46. R. tristrigalis, 47. T. prasonaria trilineata. *Specimens and genitalia slide at ZSM-SNSB, Munich; slides and photos prepared by Dr Axel Hausmann.

FIGURES 48–62. Male genitalia images of Rhodostrophia and Tanaotrichia spp. 48–54. Male 8th Abdominal Sternite. 48. R. borealis, 49. R. cinerascens*, 50. R. herbicolens, 51. R. pelloniaria, 52. R. stigmatica, 53. R. tristrigalis, 54. T. prasonaria trilineata. 55–62. Female genitalia images of Rhodostrophia and Tanaotrichia spp. 55. R. borealis, 56. R. cinerascens*, 57. R. herbicolens, 58. R. pelloniaria, 59. R. stigmatica, 60. R. tristrigalis, 61. R. vinacearia, 62. T. prasonaria trilineata. *Specimens and genitalia slide at ZSM-SNSB, Munich; slides and photos prepared by Dr Axel Hausmann.