Problepsis superans ( Butler, 1885 )

Xue, Dayong, Cui, Le & Jiang, Nan, 2018, A review of Problepsis Lederer, 1853 (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) from China, with description of two new species, Zootaxa 4392 (1), pp. 101-127 : 123-126

Problepsis superans ( Butler, 1885)

Figs 29, 30 , 51 , 72 , 91 , 107

Argyris superans Butler, 1885 , Cistula ent ., 3 (29): 122. Syntypes, Japan: Yezo (NHM). Problepsis superans: Strand, 1911 , Ent. Rundsch., 28: 122.

Problepsis (Problepsiodes) superans: Prout, 1913 , in Seitz, Macrolepid. World, 4: 50, pl. 5: a. Problepsis superans f. summa Prout, 1935, in Seitz, Macrolepid. World, 4 (Suppl.): 33. Syntypes 2 ♂, China: Tibetan frontier, Tse-ku.

Diagnosis. The size of the species is often large (the forewing length is 24–30 mm in male, and 26–31 mm in female); the male antenna is dentate; the vertex is white; the hind tarsus of the male is about one-half the length of the tibia; the postmedial line of the forewing is invisible near the costa; the ocellus of the forewing is large and rounded, consists of a black inner ring which is opened at anterior part, an incomplete silvery ring inside the black ring, two black patches on both sides of CuA1, and strip-like white discal spot; the ocellus of the hind wing is oval and darker than that of the forewing, covered with silvery scales; the central part of postmedial line of the hind wing is very close to the ocellus. The male genitalia are similar to P. shirozui , but the fused socii are shorter; the basal lobe of the valvula is semicircular, while it is triangular in P. shirozui ; a large patch of teeth are present at the central of the aedeagus, while they are absent in P. shirozui ; the manica has no spines at the apex, and two sclerotized bands arising from the dorsal side, one of them is covered with small teeth on terminal half; the vesica has a narrow and long sclerotized band, which forms a spine-like cornutus apically; the eighth sternite of the male has two long lateral processes and one short digitiform central process. The female genitalia are distinctive in the following characters: the lamella postvaginalis and the lamella antevaginalis are fused to the stout and strongly sclerotized dctus bursae, and a pair of curved digitiform membranous process are present on the ventral surface of the posterior margin; the corpus bursae is slightly sclerotized on right side of the posterior part; the signum is situated on the dorsal surface of the left side of corpus bursae.

Material examined. CHINA: Heilongjiang (loaned from NEFU) : 1 ♂, Mao’er Shan, 26.VII.2005, coll. Li Chengde ; 1 ♂, Harbin, Laoyeling, 2–6.VIII.2009, coll. Han Huilin et al. Jilin (loaned from NEFU): 1 ♂, Wangqing, Tianqiaoling, 5.VIII.2007, coll. Han Huilin et al. Liaoning: 1♀ ( IZCAS), Anshan , Qian Shan, 24.VII.1984 ; 1 ♂ (loaned from NEFU), Fushun , 19.VII.2007, coll. Han Huilin et al. ; 1 ♂ (loaned from NEFU), Huairen , 21.VII.2007, coll. Han Huilin et al. ; 1 ♂ (loaned from NEFU), Jianchang , 5–8.VIII.2008, coll. Han Huilin et al. Beijing ( IZCAS) : 1 ♂, Baihua Shan, Huang’antuo , 1100 m, 26.VII.2010, coll. Song Shimei ; 1 ♂, Baihua Shan, Shitangpu , 900 m, 29.VII.2010, coll. Yao Jian & Song Shimei ; 3 ♂, Mentougou, Liyuanling, 1100 m, 11–12.VIII.2014, coll. Li Hongmei, IZCAS slide no. Geom-04600. Hebei (IZCAS): 1 ♂, Wuling Shan, 600 m, 8.VII.1985, coll. Zhang Baolin . Henan ( IZCAS): 1 ♂, Baotianman , 4.VII.2006, coll. Shen Xiaocheng ; 2 ♂, Songxian , Baiyun Shan, 1300– 1400 m, 21.VI.2001, 21.VII.2003, coll. Shen Xiaocheng & Zhang Dandan . Shaanxi ( IZCAS) : 4 ♂ 1♀, Zhouzhi, Houzhenzi, 1300 m, 10.VIII.2007, 10.VIII.2008, coll. Li Wenzhu et al., IZCAS slide no. Geom-03380, 03381; 1♀, Zhouzhi, Houzhenzi, Laoxiancheng, 1700 m, 12.VIII.2007, coll. Yang Ganyan; 1 ♂, Qingling plant park, Daxiagu , 893m, 5–6.VII.2012, coll. Liu Shuxian ; 6 ♂ 3♀, Ningshan, Huoditang, 1538–1580 m, 26–29.VII.1998, 11– 15.VII.2012, coll. Zhang Xuezhong et al.; 9 ♂ 1♀, Ningshan, Guanghuojie nature reserve, 1081–1189 m, 26– 28.VII.2014, coll. Liu Shuxian et al., IZCAS slide no. Geom-05133; 13 ♂, Liuba, Miaotaizi, 1350 m, 21.VII.1998, coll. Yao Jian; 2 ♂, Liuba , 1020 m, 18.VII.1998, coll. Yuan Decheng ; 2 ♂ 1♀, Foping , 950 m, 23–24.VII.1998, coll. Yao Jian ; 1 ♂, Foping , longcaoping, 1256 m, 3.VII.2008, coll. Liu Wangang ; 5♀, Zashui, Yingpan, 953–995 m, 29– 31.VII.2014, coll. Ban Xiaoshuang, IZCAS slide no. Geom-04601; 1 ♂, Zhen’an , 29.VII.1986 ; 1 ♂, Nanzheng, Liping, 1540 m, 27–30.VII.2017, coll. Li Henan. Gansu ( IZCAS): 1 ♂, Tianshui, Longmen, VII.1990, coll. Yuan Shiyun ; 1♀, Tianshui, Donglin, 15.VII.1992, coll. Ding Guanjun; 1 ♂, Dangchang , 1800 m, 7.VII.1998, coll. Yao Jian ; 1 ♂, Kangxian , 1200 m, 11.VII.1998, coll. Yao Jian ; 1 ♂, Kangxian, Qinghe Linchang, 1400–1650 m, 15.VII.1998, 8.VII.1999, coll. Yao Jian; 2 ♂, Kanxian , Baiyun Shan, 1250–1750 m, 12.VII.1998, coll. Yao Jian ; 3♀, Kanxian, Yangba, Meiyuangou, 1000–1020 m, 13.VIII.2014, coll. Ban Xiaoshuang; 1 ♂, Wenxian, Tielou, 1450 m, 24.VII.1999, coll. Zhu Chaodong; 2 ♂, Wenxian , VI.–IX.2002, coll. Wang Hongjian ; 1♀, Wenxian, Liziba, 1971 m, 22–24.VIII.2014, coll. Li Xinxin. Zhejiang (IZCAS): 1 ♂, Tianmu Shan, 25.VII.1973, coll. Zhang Baolin ; 1 ♂, West Tianmu Shan, Sanmuping , 789 m, 25.VII.2011, coll. Cheng Rui ; 3 ♂, Lin’an, West Tianmu Shan, 400– 1500 m, 26–30.VII.2003, coll. Xue Dayong, IZCAS slide no. Geom-04597 ; 1 ♂, West Tianmu Shan, Xianrending , 1506 m, 27.VII.2011, coll. Cheng Rui ; 1♀, Taishun, Wuyanling, Shuangkengkou, 680 m, 29.VII.2005, coll. Lang Songyun, IZCAS slide no. Geom-04598. Hubei (IZCAS): 1 ♂, Xingshan , 1300 m, 29.VII.1980, coll. Yu Peiyu ; 6 ♂, Xingshan, Longmenhe, 1340–1350 m, 14–16.VII.1993, coll. Song Shimei; 1 ♂, Hefeng, Fenshuiling Linchang, 31.VII. 1989, coll. Yang Longlong; 1 ♂, Shennongjia, Jiuchong, 700 m, 18.VII.1998, coll. Luo Tianhong; 1 ♂, Shennongjia, Muyu, 22.VII.1998, coll. Zhou Haisheng; 2 ♂, Shennongjia, Guanmenshan, 1240 m, 23.VII.1998, coll. Zhou Haisheng et al.; 1 ♂, Yichang, Dengcun, Dalaoling, 1709 m, 15–16.VII.2013, coll. Cheng Rui; 12 ♂, Yingshan, Taohuachong, 590 m, 23–27.VI.2014, coll. Jiang Nan et al.; 3 ♂, Yingshan, Wujiashan, 860 m, 28– 30.VI.2014, coll. Cui Le et al.; 4 ♂, Yingshan, gate of Wujiashan , 500 m, 30.VI.2014, coll. Cui Le et al. ; 13 ♂, Luotian, Qingtaiguan, 560 m, 1–4.VII.2014, coll. Xue Dayong et al., IZCAS slide no. Geom-03382, 0 3383. Jiangxi (IZCAS): 1 ♂, Lu Shan, 18.VI.1974, coll. Zhang Baolin . Hunan ( IZCAS): 1 ♂, Sangzhi, Tianpingshan, 24.VII.1981 ; 1 ♂, Sangzhi, Bamaoxi, Shuitianba, 370 m, 7.VIII.2009, coll. Wei Zhongmin. Fujian ( IZCAS): 1 ♂, Jianyang, Huangkeng, 270 m, 30.VI.1973, coll. Zhang Baolin ; 1 ♂, Wuyi Shan, Sangang , 700 m, 29.V.2006, coll. Wang Jiashe ; 1♀, Wuyi Shan, Huangxizhou , 500 m, 16.VII.2013, coll. Xue Dayong . Guangxi ( IZCAS) : 1 ♂, Huanjiang, Yangmei’ao, 1189 m, 18–22.VII.2015, coll. Jiang Nan. Sichuan ( IZCAS): 6 ♂, Baoxing, Dashuigou protect station, 1591 m, 1–5.VIII.2016, coll. Cui Le ; 1 ♂ 1♀, Pingwu, Motianling, 1264 m, 17.VII.2012. Guizhou (IZCAS): 1 ♂, Jiangkou, Heiwan, 600 m, 27.VII.2001, coll. Li Houhun et al. (presented by insect specimen room of Nankai University), IZCAS slide no. Geom-04599.

Distribution. China (Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Beijing, Hebei, Henan, Shaanxi, Gansu, Zhejiang, Hubei, Jiangxi, Hunan, Fujian, Taiwan, Guangxi, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan), Southeast Russia, Japan, Korean peninsula.

Remarks. Prout (1935) described a new form of this species from Yunnan, P. superans f. summa, based on the larger size and the lager ocellus. Parsons et al. (1999) listed the form as a subspecies of P. superans . After examination of a long series of material, we found the size of the adults and the size of the ocellus are varied at the same locality, e.g. Hubei, figs 29, 30. In addition, there is no genital difference among the specimens from different localites of China. Therefore, we still consider summa as a variant form of P. superans .

Figures

FIGURES 23–30. Adults of Problepsis. 23, P. discophora kardakoffi, Heilongjiang. 24–26, P. phoebearia, male, 24, Beijing, 25, Jilin, 26, Heilongjiang; 27–28, P. shirozui, male, Guangxi, 27, uppside, 28, underside, 29–30, P. superans, Hubei. Scale bar = 1 cm.

FIGURES 49–51. Male genitalia of Problepsis. 49, P. phoebearia, Beijing; 50, P. shirozui, Guangxi; 51, P. superans, Guizhou. FIGURES 52–58. Aedeagus of Problepsis. 52, P. albidior, Hainan; 53, P. eucircota, Gansu; 54, P. stueningi sp. nov., paratype, Gansu; 55, P. vulgaris, Tibet; 56, P. paredra, Hubei; 57. P. subreferta, Yunnan; 58, P. batangnensis sp. nov., paratype, Sichuan. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURES 59–72. Aedeagus of Problepsis. 59, P. plagiata, Shaanxi; 60, P. apollinaria apollinaria, Hainan; 61, P. delphiaria auriculifera, Hainan; 62, P. transvehens, Hainan; 63–64, P. conjunctiva; 63, Hainan, 64, Tibet; 65, P. crassinotata, Fujian; 66, P. diazoma, Hunan; 67, P. discophora discophora, Beijing; 68, P. discophora kardakoffi, Heilongjiang; 69–70, P. phoebearia, 69, Russia, 70, Beijing; 71, P. shirozui, Guangxi; 72, P. superans, Guizhou. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURES 73–91. Male eighth sternite of Problepsis. 73, P. albidior, Sichuan; 74, P. eucircota, Jiangxi; 75, P. stueningi sp. nov., paratype, Gansu; 76, P. vulgaris, Guangdong; 77, P. paredra, Hubei; 78. P. subreferta, Yunnan; 79, P. batangnensis sp. nov., paratype, Sichuan; 80, P. plagiata, Shaanxi; 81, P. apollinaria apollinaria, Hainan; 82, P. delphiaria auriculifera, Hainan; 83, P. transvehens, Hainan; 84, P. conjunctiva, Hainan; 85, P. crassinotata, Yunnan; 86, P. diazoma, Fujian; 87, P. discophora discophora, Beijing; 88, P. discophora kardakoffi, Heilongjiang; 89, P. phoebearia, Russia; 90, P. shirozui, Guangxi; 91, P. superans, Guizhou. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURES 99–107. Female genitalia of Problepsis. 99, P. delphiaria auriculifera, Hainan; 100, P. transvehens, Guangdong; 101, P. conjunctiva, Fujian; 102, P. crassinotata, Yunnan; 103, P. diazoma, Zhejiang; 104, P. discophora discophora, Beijing; 105, P. discophora kardakoffi, Heilongjiang; 106, P. phoebearia, Heilongjiang; 107, P. superans, Zhejiang. Scale bar = 1 mm.