Charissa (Pterygnophos) ochrofasciata ( Staudinger, 1895 )

Erlacher, Sven, Palma, Laura Marrero & Erlacher, Josepha, 2017, A systematic revision of Charissa, subgenus Pterygnophos Wehrli, 1951, with description of a new species (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), Zootaxa 4341 (3) : -

4. Charissa (Pterygnophos) ochrofasciata ( Staudinger, 1895)

(adults Pl. 1, Figs 4a–4d ; male gen. Pl. 2, Fig. 4e ; female gen. Pl. 3, Fig. 4f )

Gnophos ochrofasciata Staudinger, 1895 , Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift Iris, 8: 362, pl. 6, fig. 15.—Locus typicus: Mongolia, Uliassutai. Deposition of lectotype: MNHU. Examined.

Gnophos finitimaria Fuchs, 1899 syn. nov., Jahrbücher des Nassauischen Vereins für Naturkunde, 52: 149.— Locus typicus: Russia, Krasnojarsk. Deposition of lectotype MNHU. Examined.

Material examined. Type material. Lectotype ♂ of Gnophos ochrofasciata Staudinger, 1895 (Pl. 1, Fig. 4a ; Pl. 2, Fig. 4e ) (hereby designated): [Mongolia:] ‘Sibiria | (Uliassatai)’, <red label> ‘Cotype | ochrofasciata St [audin]g[e]r. ♂’, ‘SE–595 ♂ | gen. prep. | Erlacher, 2013’, <red label> ‘LECTOTYPE ♂ | Gnophos ochrofasciata Staudinger, 1895 | Designated by | Erlacher, Marrero & Erlacher (2017) ’, MNHU.—Paralectotypes 3♂, 3♀ of Gnophos ochrofasciata Staudinger, 1895 : Mongolia: 1♂, Prov. Zavkhan, Ulias(sa)tai, gen. prep. Wehrli–7111; 1♂, same locality, gen. prep. JH–156; 1♂, same locality, gen. prep. SE–596; 1♀ (Pl. 1, Fig. 4c ), same locality, gen. prep. SE–569; 1♀, same locality, gen. prep. SE–586; 1♀, same locality, MNHU.

Lectotype ♂ of Gnophos finitimaria Fuchs, 1899 (hereby designated): [Russia:] ‘Krasnojarsk | Ost–Sibirien | Juli | 1880 | Archlow’, ‘Cotype | finitimaria Fuchs ♂’, <underlined> ‘Finitimaria Fs.’, ‘SE–568 ♂ | gen. prep. | Erlacher, 2013’, <red label> ‘LECTOTYPE ♂ | Gnophos finitimaria Fuchs, 1899 | Designated by | Erlacher, Marrero & Erlacher (2017) ’, MNHU.—Paralectotype 1♂ of Gnophos finimitaria Fuchs, 1899 (hereby designated): Russia: East–Siberia, Krasnojarsk, vii.1880, gen. prep. SE–567, MNHU.

Further material. Mongolia: 1♂, Govi Altai, S Mongolian Altai Mts., Alag Kharkhan Mts., 45°31’56.3’’N / 94°04’02.3’’E, 2500 m, 05.–07.vii.2004, leg. A. Saldaitis, gen. prep. JH–155, barcode ids. SE–MNC– Lep –01120 and SE–MNC– Lep –01267, BIN BOLD: ABZ7842 , SPV . Russia: 1♂ (Pl. 1, Fig. 4b ), Buryatia, Sayan Mts., 400 km W Lake Baikal , 24 km N Sagan Shuluta , 1850–1950 m, 14.–18.vii.2015, lux, leg. A. Steidel & O. Czadek, gen. prep. SE–737 ; 1♀, same data, gen. prep. SE–739, MRJ . 16♂, 2♀, Altai Republic, 3 km NW Kuray, steppe slopes (“ Steppenhänge “), 1650 m, 29.vii.2011, leg. B. Schacht ; 22♂, 1♀, Altai Republic, Aktash , 1300–1600 m, 30.vii.– 04.viii.2011, leg. B. Schacht ; 1♂, same locality, 27.–29.vii.2011 ; 5♂, same locality, 17.–22.vii.2009, leg. B. Schacht ; 1♀, same data, gen. prep. SE–404, barcode id. SE–MNC– Lep –00978, BIN BOLD: ACF0610 ; 2♂, same locality, 1600–2000 m, 17.vii.2010, leg. B. Schacht ; 6 ♂, same locality, 06.–15.vii.2010, leg. B. Schacht ; 1♂, Altai Republic, Aktash, Tourist Basis, 25 km NW Inja Kartun River , 670 m, 13.vi.2012, leg. B. Schacht, SBD . 1♂, Altai Republic, 3–5 km W Aktash , 12.–17.vii.2010, leg. H. Löbel ; 1♀, same data, gen. prep. SE–405, barcode id. SE– MNC– Lep –00979, BIN BOLD: ACF0610 ; 1♀, Altai Republic, Altai Mts., Kuraiskij Khrebet, Aktash , 1365 m, 50°19’N / 87°36.5’E , ♀: 28.vii.2011, e.o. 08.vi.2012, gen. prep. JH–257; 1♀ (Pl. 1, Fig. 4d ; Pl. 3, Fig. 4f ), same data, e.o . 09.vii.2012, leg. J. Gelbrecht, gen. prep. JH–258; 1♀, Altai Republic, Altai Mts., ca. 10 km SE Aktash , 50°15’25’’N / 87°42’48’’E, 1480 m, 29.vii.2011, leg. J. Gelbrecht & E. Schwabe, gen. prep. JH–260, LHS . 1♂, Altai Republic, SE Altai, Kosh–Agachsky District, Kuraisky Ridge, 5 km E Chagan – Uzun , 50°24’27’’N / 87°35’50’’E, 2130 m, 08.vii.2012, leg. A. Volynkin, gen. prep. SE–570 ; 2♂, Altai Republic, Ulagan N Aktash, Aigulaksky Ridge , 50°19’N / 87°35’E, 1400 m, 3.–5.viii.2011, leg. A. Volynkin ; 4♂, same locality, 11.– 13.viii.2001, leg. A. Volynkin ; 4♂, same locality, 5.vii.2012, leg. A. Volynkin, RUK.

Description. Adults (Pl. 1, Figs 4a–4d ).

Measurements. Wingspan: 30–34 mm (♂), 32–34 mm (♀); forewing length: 16–17 mm (♂), 18–19 mm (♀); forewing width: 10–11 mm (♂), 11–12 mm (♀).

Wings. Mongolian specimens ocher-colored, slightly scattered with grayish-brown scales, forming patches distal of the medial band; Russian specimens of yellowish-white ground color with silver-gray pattern; medial band framed by silver-gray bands; underside similar to the respective upper side color and pattern, but paler.

Male genitalia (Pl. 2, Fig. 4e ). Total length: 2.23–2.50 mm; length of ventral valva margin: 2.0– 2.35 mm; uncus and gnathos small, strongly sclerotized; juxta asymmetric; costal thorn developed proximal to setae-covered apex; aedeagus length: 2.18–2.55 mm; aedeagus with sclerotized cornutus.

Female genitalia (Pl. 3, Fig. 4f ). Total length: 5.33–6.13 mm; antrum length: 1.77–2.12 mm; antrum width: 0.73–0.78 mm; length of spined longitudinal folding: 1.18–1.26 mm.

Diagnosis. Male genitalia of C. (P.) ochrofasciata are similar to those of C. (P.) beljaevi spec. nov. For distinction see diagnosis of the latter. The female genitalia resemble those of C. (P.) agnitaria . It seems that in most specimens of C. (P.) ochrofasciata the antrum is slightly shorter than in C. (P.) agnitaria but this is unlikely to provide a sure diagnosis. See also diagnosis of C. (P.) agnitaria .

Distribution ( Fig. 5 ). In Mongolia C. (P.) ochrofasciata occurs around Uliastai, capital of Zavkhan Province, and in the Govi Altai Province in the Alag Kharkhan Mountains (southern part of Mongolian Altai Mountains). The species is further known from Russia, where it is distributed around Aktash, NW Kuray and in the Kosh– Agachsky District, all located in the Altai Republic, as well in the Republic of Buryatia near Mondy, and in Krasnojarsk. It occurs up to altitudes of 2500 m.

Biology. The flight period lasts from the beginning of June to the end of July. As in the other species of the subgenus Pterygnophos no more is known about the biology of C. (P.) ochrofasciata . Unlike in C. (P.) agnitaria and C. (P.) creperaria , the caterpillars of C. (P.) ochrofasciata rejected Taraxacum officinale but accepted Artemisia absinthium . The caterpillars overwinter (B. Müller in lit.).

Remarks. Gnophos finitimaria Fuchs, 1899 syn. nov. is recognized to be conspecific with Charissa (Pterygnophos) ochrofasciata ( Staudinger, 1895) .

Based on available molecular data the nearest species to C. (P.) ochrofasciata is C. (P.) creperaria with a COI distance of 2.02% (see also Tab. 1 and Fig. 5 ), whereas the morphology of male and female genitalia indicates a close relationship between C. (P.) ochrofasciata and C. (P.) agnitaria .

Figures

FIGURE 4. Detail of valva with arrows pointing at diagnostic characters. A — C. (P.) beljaevi spec. nov.; B — C. (P.) creperaria.

FIGURE 5. Distribution of Charissa (Pterygnophos) species.