Gnophopsodos stemmataria ( Eversmann, 1848 ) Eversmann, 1848

Erlacher, Sven & Erlacher, Josepha, 2016, A systematic revision of the genus Gnophopsodos Wehrli, 1945, with description of two new species (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), Zootaxa 4169 (3), pp. 435-456 : 451-453

8. Gnophopsodos stemmataria ( Eversmann, 1848) comb. nov.

(adults Pl. 2, Figs 8a, 8b; male gen. Pl. 4, Fig. 8c; female gen. Pl. 5, Fig. 8d)

Cabera stemmataria Eversmann, 1848 , Bulletin de la Société des naturalistes de Moscou, 21: 227.—Locus typicus: Kazakhstan, Noor Saisan. Deposition of holotype: ZRAS. Examined.

Gnophos orbicularia Püngeler, 1903 syn. nov., Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift Iris , 16: 297, pl. 6, fig. 16.— Locus typicus: Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan, Issyk–Kul. Deposition of lectotype: MNHU. Examined.

Material examined. Type material. Holotype ♀ of Cabera stemmataria Eversmann, 1848 (Pl. 2, Fig. 8b, Pl. 5, Fig. 8d): [ Kazakhstan:] ‘ Noor–Saisan | <unreadable>’, ‘stomataria[sic!] | Ev [ers]m[ann].’, ‘ Type’, ‘coll Eversmann’, ‘SE – 563 ♀ | gen. prep. | Erlacher , 2013’, ZRAS .

Lectotype Ƌ of Gnophos orbicularia Püngeler, 1903 (Pl. 2, Fig. 8a) (hereby designated): [Kyrgyzstan:] ‘Asia centr[al]. | Issyk–Kul | Rückbeil 1902’, ‘TYPE | orbiculata Püng[eler]. Ƌ | abgebildet Iris 1903 | Püngeler’, ‘SE– 603 Ƌ | gen. prep. | Erlacher, 2014’, MNHU.

Paralectotype Ƌ of Gnophos orbicularia Püngeler, 1903 (hereby designated):

Kyrgyzstan: Issyk Kul , 1902, leg. W. Rückbeil, MNHU .— Further material. Kazakhstan: 1Ƌ, Semiretshje, ca 40 km N Dzharkent, gorge Naryn, vii.1913, leg. W. Rückbeil, gen. prep. SE–587; 1Ƌ, Semiretshje, village Tyshkan, Sary – Saj , vii.1913, leg. W. Rückbeil, ZSM. China: 1Ƌ, Tian Shan , “ Syn–Tagh ” mountains, 1902, leg. W. Rückbeil; 1Ƌ, same locality, 1907, leg. W. Rückbeil junior; 1♀, Tian Shan, Iuldus (Yining) , xii.1911, leg. F. Wagner, gen. prep. SE–589, MNHU. 1Ƌ (Pl. 4, Fig. 8c), Turkestan , Aksu, leg. R. Tancrè, gen. prep. SE–618; 1Ƌ, same data; 3Ƌ, Tian Shan, coll. G. Merzbacher, ZSM . Unknown country: 1Ƌ, Ala –tau, leg. G. Rückbeil, SE–620, ZSM .

Description. Adults (Pl. 2, Figs 8a,b).

Measurements. Wingspan: 24–28 mm (Ƌ), 29 mm (♀); forewing length: 13–16 mm (Ƌ), 15–16 mm (♀); forewing width: 8–11 mm (Ƌ), 10 mm (♀).

Wings. Upper side grayish-brown, subtle diffused with darker scales; lines subtle but mostly distinct; underside pale grayish-brown.

Male genitalia (Pl. 4, Fig. 8c). Total length: 2.02–2.22 mm; valvae span: 1.37–1.44 mm; valvulae span: 1.56– 1.62 mm; valvae width: 0.67–0.70 mm. Costa with sparse costal thorns pooled to an about medial cactus-like structure; uncus slim, beak-like pointed; gnathos bulb-like, laterally compressed and terminally flattened with moderately pointed broad hook; juxta caudally broadened, mushroom-like shape; aedeagus length: 0.70–0.75 mm; appendix aedeagi: 0.90–1.07 mm.

Female genitalia (Pl. 5, Fig. 8d). Total length: 2.71–3.4 mm; antrum length: 0.53–0.58 mm; antrum width: 0.28–0.38 mm; papillae anales densely covered with strong setae.

Diagnosis. Gnophopsodos stemmataria appears to be quite variable and a definite distinction on the basis of external characters, especially from G. puengeleri , will often not be possible. According to male genitalia structures distinction is most easily done by paying attention to the appendix aedeagi: the last third of the appendix aedeagi of G. stemmataria is characteristically spoon-shaped broadened with terminal peak, while the appendix aedeagi of G. puengeleri is smoothly broadened with the caudal margin being finely serrate but not clearly peaked.

Distribution ( Fig. 5 ). As far as known G. stemmataria is distributed over the north-western part of China, East and South– East Kazakhstan (Noor Saisan and Semirechye) and two specimens were collected at the lake Issyk Kul in Kyrgyzstan. Of the eight specimens originating from China three were found in the Tian Shan with no particular reference to any specific locality, two were collected in proximity to Aksu, one female is from what F. Wagner called “Iuldus–area”, which is a mountain plateau in the eastern Tian Shan and two further specimens were also captured in Tian Shan, in a mountain range that is called “Syn–Tagh” by Rückbeil, but no references to this locality could be found.

Biology. The flight period is July.

Remarks. The holotype (♀) of Gnophos stemmataria has been the only specimen of that species for 167 years, and although females of Gnophopsodos are quite difficult to determinate, due to external and internal characteristics it can be assigned to Gnophos orbicularia . Therefore, G. orbicularia is herewith established as synonym of Gnophopsodos stemmataria .

Figures

FIGURE 5. Distribution of Gnophopsodos species: G. hilmari spec. nov., G. p u e n g e l e r i, G. sabine spec. nov., G. stemmataria, and G. tholeraria.