Hydria gernoti, Stadie & Fiebig & Rajaei, 2022

Stadie, Dirk, Fiebig, Ralf & Rajaei, Hossein, 2022, Taxonomic review of the genus Hydria H, 1822 (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Larentiinae) in the Middle East, with description of three new species and one new subspecies, Zootaxa 5092 (5), pp. 501-530 : 509-510

Hydria gernoti sp. n.

( Figs 11–12 , 28 , 36 , 42 , Map 1 )

Holotype ♂, Türkei, prov. Nigde, Ala Dagi, Umg [ebung] Sulucaova , N37°59‘51“, E35°11‘39“, 20.05.2009 LF, 2100m, leg. D. Stadie & H. Löbel, coll. PCDS.

Paratypes. 13 ♂, 6 ♀, Türkei, Prov. Nigde, Ala Dagi, Umg [ebung] Sulucaova , N37°59‘51“, E35°11‘39“, 20.05.2009 LF, 2100m, e. o. [reared], leg. D. Stadie & H. Löbel, coll. PCDS , coll. PCJG; 2 ♂, 1 ♀, same locality as before, gen. preps. (♀) 2317 and (♂) 2318/2020 H. Rajaei , both in SMNS ; 1 ♂, same locality as before, RC LL 0031, gen. prep. DS 1-2012, coll. PCDS , 2 ♂, 1 ♀, same locality as before, gen. preps. (♂) DS 99-2012, (♀) DS 100-2012, coll. PCDS , coll. PCJG; 2 ♂, 1 ♀, same locality as before ; 1 ♀, Türkey, Zentralanatolien, Ümg. Göreme , 21.- 23.4.1995, leg. Dr. Löbel & Th. Drechsel, (♀) 2421/2021 H. Rajaei, in SMNS . 1 ♂, same locality as latter, gen. preps. (♂) 2420/2021 H. Rajaei ; 1 ♀, Türkey, Taurisches Gebirge bei Anatolya , 200–600 m, 28.-304.1995, leg. Dr. Löbel & Th. Drechsel, gen. prep. 2422/2021 H. Rajaei, coll. PCHL . 2 ♂, same locality as before, in PCRF .

Description. ( Figs 11–12 ) Wingspan in male and female 31–34 mm. Apex of forewing slightly rounded. Ground colour of forewing ochre-brown (lighter in males), ante- and postmedian fascia darker. Discal spot on forewing small but distinct, blackish brown in colour. Terminal area between postmedian fascia and subterminal line uniform light ochre-brown, darkened only subapically between the veins R3–5. Transverse lines weak or absent. Subterminal line whitish, irregularly waved. Terminal line weak, dark brown. Hindwing upper side uniform light ochre-brown towards termen somewhat darkened, nearly without pattern. Discal spot very small and of low contrast. Termen strongly undulating. Subterminal line present near anal margin, elsewhere lapsed; terminal line dark brown, consisting of angulated streaks between the veins. Wing underside uniform light ochre-brown. The darker ochrebrown postmedian fascia well developed, more intensely towards costa of forewing. Latter running rather straight from inner margin up to vein M1, then strongly curved basally up to the costa, reaching the latter nearly in a right angle. Discal spots well visible, on forewing comma-shaped, on hindwing round. Transverse lines absent. Terminal line like on upper side. Fringes like the ground colour. In male, the patch of androconial hairscales visible on dorsum of hindwing’s underside, light ochre in colour. Slightly variable in all patterns.

Male genitalia. ( Figs 28 , 36 ) Uncus triangular, slender and tapering. Valva membranous, lobe-like, apically rounded. Sacculus projection digitiform, medially curved dorsad, reaching half of the length of valva, its apex pointed. Juxta trapezoid, distally with two lateral horn-like processes and a rectangular median projection. Labides well developed, reaching to the mid of uncus, apically clubbed and covered with hairs. Saccus broadly rounded, rather narrow. Aedeagus very short, cylindrical, slightly bent at its dorsal part. Vesica membranous, with three to five stout, needle-shaped cornuti.

Female genitalia. ( Fig. 42 ) Ovipositor large, broad. Posterior apophyses twice longer than anterior apophyses. Antrum and lamella antevaginalis membranous. Ductus bursae wide. Corpus bursae largely oval, with two distinguishable parts, posteriorly well sclerotized with a semi-circular crista densely covered with spinules, anteriorly membranous with a star-shaped signum. Lateral lobe absent.

Diagnosis. The new species could be easily distinguished from other west Palearctic Hydria species based on wing and genitalia characters. Forewings of H. gernoti with light ochre-brown ground colour, wings even in fresh specimens semi-translucent (very variable, light-to chocolate brown in cervinalis , light greyish in schachti sp. n.). Nevertheless, in all of these species forewings are never translucent. In H. gernoti the apex of forewing is rounded; transverse lines are absent at the terminal area of forewing (apex is pointed and transverse lines are present at the terminal area of forewing in all other discussed Hydria species ). The shape and colour of the androconial hairscale patch on dorsum of the male hindwing is small and light ochre in colour in H. gernoti (same colour in schachti ; large and rusty red- to dark brown in H. cervinalis ). The hairy scales are also visible even in worn specimens.

Male genitalia are very similar to H. cervinalis , but the digitiform sacculus projection is arched ventrad as in H. gudarica (not arched in H. cervinalis ), this character is visible only in natural position (see Figs 35, 36 ) and not in embedded genital capsule. Additionally, shape of the juxta in H. gudarica distally with a rectangular median projection (forked in H. cervinalis ). Hydria gudarica has a shorter and thicker aedeagus (longer and more slender in H. cervinalis ) ( Figs 26–28 ). In female genitalia of H. gudarica the lateral lobe is absent (present in H. cervinalis ) (see Fig. 40–42 ).

Genetic data. Nearest cluster to H. gernoti is the H. schachti —cluster with a min. distance of 1.8%.

Phenology. The species is so far known only from mid-May, recorded at the type locality. Adults fly in early spring, the time of bursting of buds on the Berberis bushes. Snowfields were present on northwards facing slopes.

Distribution. So far known from the Ala-dagi and the surroundings of Göreme, province Nevsehir in Central Turke, but due to the early flight period probably overlooked in other places.

Habitat. Continental xero-montane mountain-steppe dominated by spiny dwarf-shrubs of Acantholimon and Astragalus species. Patches of Berberis bushes were occurring on moister, northwards facing escarpments and along small creeks ( Fig. 74, 75 ).

Biology. Xero-montane species. Univoltine under laboratory conditions. Reared on B. communis . Larva hiding between spun leaves, mainly feeding at night. Pupation near the soil. Overwintering as pupa fully developed.

Etymology. The new species is dedicated to GERnoT STaDIE (Ϯ), the father of the senior author. He died suddenly and unexpected in the age of 74 in January 2017. In memoriam and gratitude.

Figures

MAP 1. Distribution map of the genus Hydria in the Middle East: H. cervinalis taurica ssp. n.; H. gernoti sp. n.; H. schachti sp. n. and H. (cf.) sp. n.

FIGURES 3–15. Wing pattern. Figs 3–8: Hydria cervinalis cervinalis: Fig. 3, ♂, Germany, Sachsen-Anhalt, Mansfeld; Fig. 4, ♂, Ungarn, prov. Vesprérn, Zsofiapuszta; Fig. 5, ♂, Germany, Ug. Freyburg Zscheiplitz, Schafberg; Fig. 6, ♂, Germany, Umg. Jena; Figs 7 and 8, ♂, Germany, Sachsen-Anhalt, Mansfeld; Figs 9–10: H. cervinalis taurica ssp. n., Turkey, prov. Antalya, Civizli W Seydisehir, Fig. 9, Holotype ♂, (g. prep. DS-120/2012); Fig. 10, Paratype ♀, (g. prep. DS-121/2012); Figs 11–12: H. gernoti sp. n., Turkey, prov. Nigde, Ala Dagi: Fig. 11, Holotype ♂; Fig. 12, Paratype ♀; Figs 13–15: H. schachti sp. n.: Fig. 13, Holotype ♂, Turkey, prov. Erzurum, Meschit Daglari; Fig. 14, Paratype ♀, Turkey, prov. Erzurum, Meschit Daglari; Fig. 15, Paratype ♂, Turkey, prov. Erzurum, Karadeniz Daglari, Korga Dari. a = upperside; b = underside.

FIGURES 26–30. Male genitalia. Fig. 26: Hydria cervinalis cervinalis (Germany, Kaiserstuhl, Badberg, g. prep. 2326/2020 H. Rajaei); Fig. 27: Hydria cervinalis taurica subsp. n., Paratype, (Turkey, prov. Antalya, Civizli W Seydisehir, g. prep. DS- 122/2012); Fig. 28: Hydria gernoti sp. n., Paratype, (Turkey, Nigde, Ala Dagi, g. prep. DS 99/2012); Fig. 29: Hydria schachti sp. n. Paratype (Turkey, Ispir, g. prep. DS-112/2012); Fig. 30, Hydria (cf.) sp. n., paratype (Azerbaijan, Talysh, Zuvand, g. prep. DS-05/2012); a = genitalia capsule; b = aedeagus.

FIGURES 35–39. Sacculus projection in its natural position. Fig. 35: Hydria cervinalis cervinalis; Fig. 36: Hydria gernoti sp. n.; Fig. 37: Hydria hyrcana; Fig. 38: Hydria montivagata montivagata; Fig. 39, Hydria loebeli sp. n.

FIGURES 40–47. Female genitalia. Fig. 40: Hydria cervinalis cervinalis (Germany, Kaiserstuhl, Badberg, g. prep. 2327/2020 H. Rajaei); Fig. 41: Hydria cervinalis taurica subsp. n., Paratype, (Turkey, prov. Antalya, Civizli W Seydisehir, g. prep. DS- 121/2012); Fig. 42: Hydria gernoti sp. n., Paratype, (Turkey, prov. Nigde, Ala Dagi, g. prep. 2317/2020 H. Rajaei); Fig. 43: Hydria schachti sp. n. Paratype (Georgia, Achaltzych, g. prep. LL 38/2011); Fig. 44. Hydria gaudarica (Spain, Albarracin, g. prep. DS-107/2012); Fig. 45: Hydria hyrcana, syntype (Iran, Hajiabad, g. prep. 1555 H. Rajaei); Fig. 46: Hydria montivagata montivagata (Switzerland, Zermatt, g. prep. 2329/2020 H. Rajaei); Fig. 47, Hydria loebeli sp. n., Patatype (Turkey, prov. Nigde, Aladag, g. prep. DS-175/2012).

FIGURES 71–77. Photos of habitat and adult specimens. Fig. 71. Col Du Zad, province Khenifra, Morocco. The locality is a habitat of Hydria gudarica (DUFaY, 1983) at 2,135m. The habitat is an open Cedar forest mixed with dry, species-rich meadows (photo. noRbERT PöLL); Fig. 72. Turkey, Middle Taurus, Civizli, type locality of Hydria cervinalis taurica ssp. n. during the flight period of the adults in mid-May. The forests in the background are dominated by Quercus cerris and Juniperus excelsa. At forest clearings Berberis species and wild Pyrus trees are present (photo DIRK STaDIE); Fig. 73. Hydria gernoti sp.n. male PT, Turkey, Province Nigde, Als dagi, Sulucaova vic., 2,100m, ex ovo (photo DIRK STaDIE); Figs 74–75. Type locality of Hydria gernoti sp. n. in the Ala dagi mountains at 2,300m in mid-May. In foreground right some leafless bushes of Berberis (photo DIRK STaDIE, RaLF FIEbIG); Figs 76–77. Habitat of Hydria loebeli sp. n. and H. gernoti sp. n., small river valley near Göreme, Central Turkey (photo DIRK STaDIE, RaLF FIEbIG).