Gandaritis fixseni (Bremer)

Schmidt, Olga, 2014, Comparison of the structure and musculature of male terminalia in the tribe Cidariini Duponchel (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Larentiinae) once again throws into doubt a sister relationship with the Xanthorhoini, Zootaxa 3856 (3), pp. 399-418 : 409-410

Gandaritis fixseni (Bremer)

( Figs 15–16 )

The uncus is medium-sized and thin, the socii are absent. The relatively thin muscles m1 extend from the lateral corners of the anterior margin of the tegumen, at some distance from its connection with the vinculum, to the base of the uncus. The long muscles m2(10) originate from the anterior margin of the tegumen dorsad of the muscles m3(2) and run parallel to the double-striped subscaphium towards the distal part of the anal tube. Distinct lateral tegminal projections are missing, however, the short lateral ridges of sclerotization are present, and the muscles m3(2) run from this area to the rounded sclerite connecting the base of the costa valvae with the dorsal area at the base of the labides. The muscles m4 consist of the following two bundles originating very close to each other on the vinculum: the smaller, cone-shaped muscles connecting the distal arched projection of the vinculum, close to the tegumen, with the posterior part of a small lateral broadening of the transtilla; and the fan-shaped muscles connecting the medial portion of the vinculum with the anterior part of a small lateral broadening of the transtilla. The juxta bears the labides rather dorsally. The labides become broadened distally, bearing thick clubbed setae and originate from the base of the costal area of the valva. The muscles m8(3) extend from the posterior margin of a large saccus to the posterior margin of the juxta. The valva is somewhat tongue-shaped, narrowest at its base, with a flap-shaped extension distally, the muscles m5(7) run from the basal angle of the sacculus close to the juxta, to the small projection dorsad of the base of the labides. The aedeagus is stout, strongly curved distally, with the muscles m6(5) connecting the medial areas of the vinculum, proximally to the m4, with the basal process of the aedeagus. The muscles m7(6) extend from the anterior margin of the saccus which is constricted medially, to the medial portion of the aedeagus.

Remarks. There are several characters in the structure of the male genitalia musculature of G. f i xs e n i in common with Chartographa ludovicaria (Oberthür, 1879) . Without presenting illustrations, Kuznetzov and Stekolnikov (2001) described the musculature of “ Eulithis ludovicana ” (Oberthür) (most likely misspelled C. ludovicaria ) pointing out that the small muscles m5(7) run upwards extending from the base of the sacculus to the base of the lateral projections of the juxta which are connected to the base of the valva.

Figures

FIGURES 15 – 16. Gandaritis fixseni, male genitalia and muscles: 15. Armature (proximal part of subscaphium, distal part of muscles m 1 on the left side, middle part of muscles m 2 (10) on the right side not shown). 16. Aedeagus.