Eupithecia saisanaria Staudinger, 1882

Mironov, Vladimir & Galsworthy, Anthony, 2014, A survey of Eupithecia Curtis, 1825 (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Larentiinae) in Mongolia with descriptions of two new species, Zootaxa 3774 (2), pp. 101-130 : 113-114

* Eupithecia saisanaria Staudinger, 1882

( Fig. 8 )

Eupithecia saisanaria Staudinger, 1882 , Stettiner Entomologische Zeitung 43 (1–3): 75. Holotype ♀ (coll. O. Staudinger in MNHU, examined), [ Kazakhstan]: Saisan.

This little known and rare Asian species from the “ graphata ” group was described on the basis of a single female from south-eastern Kazakhstan near Saisan Lake. It has not hitherto been recorded from Mongolia. The type specimen was illustrated by Dietze (1910) and after that by Schütze (1961), who included illustrations of the type specimen and genitalia of the female. We have found three males and three females of this species in modern material from Mongolia. The male genitalia are described for the first time. The female genitalia are illustrated in fig. 26.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 25 ). Uncus biapical. Valve shaped like an orange segment, evenly narrowed to apex, with arched dorsal margin near base and narrowly rounded apex; sacculus lightly sclerotized. Vinculum relatively short, sharply tapered to apex. Papillae on the anterior arms of labides slightly curved, covered with short setae in apical half. Aedeagus broadened to anterior end, shorter than length of valve. Vesica multiply granulate, armed with two dentate cornuti (one narrow and elongate and the other apical, small, weakly sclerotized), one narrow and elongate V-shaped cornutus, and a small curved cornutus near ductus ejaculatorius base. Sternite A8 peg-like, with laterally pointed basal lobes, and obtuse and broadened apex.

Material examined. ♀, “bon. spec. gueneata -gruppe (Boh.)”, “Saisan Hohr”, “Origin.”, “ saisanaria Stgr. ♂, det. E. Schütze, Kassel, Abdomen fehlt!” (holotype). 1♂, SW Mongolia, Hovd aimak, Bodonchijn-Gol basin, Hundijn-Gol riv. Valley, 1600 m, 46˚06’N; 92˚30’E, 3–4.vii.2010, leg. V.V. Anikin ( ZISP); 1♀, W Mongolia, Hovd aimak, Barlagijn-Gol Valley (under stream), 25 km NW of Altan-Soembo, 1700 m, 45˚53’N; 93˚05’E, on light, 5.vii.2010, leg. V.V. Anikin ( ZISP); 2♂, SW Mongolia, Gobi-Altai aimak, Mongolian Altai Mts. (S. slope), Mogoijn-Gol Valley, 1800 m, 45˚39’N; 93˚47’E, on light, 6–8.vii.2010, leg. V.V. Anikin, Mironov slide no. 837♂ ( ZISP); 2♀, West Mongolia, Bayan-Khongor aimak, 30 km E of lake Tolbo-Nuur, h- 2600 m, beyond pass, 22.vii.2003, P.Ya. Ustjuzhanin leg. ( ZISP; IASE).

Remarks. On the pattern and characteristic colouration, this species is rather similar to representatives of the “ gueneata ” group. However, the female genitalia are typical for species of the “ graphata ” group, as described and illustrated by Schütze (1961). The male genitalia of E. saisanaria can easily be distinguished from other species of the “ graphata ” group by the presence of two dentate cornuti on the vesica of the aedeagus and also by the shape of the eighth sternite, which has an obtusely broadened apex.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 8. Eupithecia adults (scale bar = 10 mm). 1. E. mima Mironov, 1989 (holotype); 2. E. djakonovi Stshetkin, 1956 (Mongolia); 3. E. vicina Mironov, 1989 (holotype); 4. E. holti Viidalepp, 1973 (Mongolia); 5. E. anikini Mironov & Galsworthy, sp. n. (holotype); 6. E. kostjuki Mironov, 1989 (holotype); 7. E. kozlovi Viidalepp, 1973 (Mongolia); 8. E. saisanaria Staudinger, 1882 (Mongolia).

FIGURES 24 – 26. Male and female genitalia of Eupithecia (scale bar = 1 mm; males with sternite A 8; lateral view of uncus and papilla on the anterior arm of labides enlarged). 24. E. anikini Mironov & Galsworthy, sp. n. (paratype); 25, 26. E. saisanaria Staudinger, 1882, male and female respectively.