Sciadia tenebraria taurusica Huemer & Hausmann

Huemer, Peter & Hausmann, Axel, 2009, A new expanded revision of the European high mountain Sciadia tenebraria species group (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), Zootaxa 2117, pp. 1-30 : 19-20

Sciadia tenebraria taurusica Huemer & Hausmann ssp. nov. ( Figs. 13–16 , 36 , 44 )

Type material. Holotype ɗ, ‘ AUSTRIA - Osttirol Großglockner Ködnitztal 2700 27.7.1988, legit H. Deutsch’, ‘P. Huemer G 1455 ɗ’ ( TLMF). Paratypes. Austria: 2 ɗ, 1 Ψ, Steiermark, Schladminger Tauern, Gollingscharte - Gollingwinkel, 2000 m, 17.vii.1957 (coll. Habeler/ TLMF); 1 Ψ, Steiermark, Schladminger Tauern, Prebertörl, 2200 m, 23.vii.1956, leg. Habeler (coll. Habeler/ TLMF); 2 ɗ, Schladminger Tauern, Schimpelscharte N, 2250–2270 m, 11.vii.1961, leg. Rath ( SLMJ); 1 Ψ, Schladminger Tauern, Waldhorntörl SW, 2260–2270 m, 29.vii.1943 ( SLMJ); 1 ɗ, Schladminger Tauern, Sauofensee, 12.vii.1961, leg. Löberbauer ( TLMF); 1 Ψ, Salzburg, Lungau, Schlierer Sp., 2400 m, 1.viii.1990 (HNS); 8 ɗ, Salzburg, Radstätter Tauern, Kesselspitz, 25.vii.1961 (HNS); 1 ɗ, Salzburg, Stubachtal, Schwarzkarl, 2100 m, 6.viii.1972, leg. Embacher (HNS); 1 ɗ, same data, but 1.viii.1969, leg. Mazzucco (HNS); 2 ɗ, 1 Ψ, same data, but Weißsee, 22.vii.1963 (HNS); 1 ɗ, same data, but Weißsee, 2300 m, 5.vii.1970, leg. Malicky ( TLMF); 1 ɗ, same data, but Rifflkar, 2500 m, 12.viii.1966, leg. Mazzucco (HNS); 1 ɗ, same data, but 18.vii.1983 (HNS); 1 Ψ Salzburg, Kapruner Törl, 6.viii.1906, leg. Hauder ( OÖLM); 1 ɗ, Salzburg, Nassfeld, Stausee, 2300 m, 13.viii.1979, leg. Pöll (coll. Ortner); 1 ɗ, same data, but 15.viii.1979, leg. Pöll ( RCNP); 1 Ψ, Salzburg, Fuscher Törl, 6.vii.1940, leg. Deutsch ( TLMF); 1 ɗ, Salzburg, Glocknergruppe, Edelweißspitze, 2600 m, 22.vii.1986, leg. Embacher (HNS); 1 ɗ, 1 Ψ, Salzburg, Glocknergruppe, Hochtor, 2600 m, 20.viii.1989, leg. Embacher (HNS); 1 Ψ, same data, but 27.vii.1995 (HNS); 1 ɗ, same data, but 9.vii.1988 e.p., leg. Deutsch ( TLMF); 4 ɗ, 2 Ψ, same data, but 2500 m, 23.vii.1986 ( TLMF); 1 Ψ, same data, but 2570 m, 31.vii.2006, leg. Huemer ( TLMF); 1 ɗ, Kärnten, Mallnitzer Tauern, Jamnigalm, 2300 m, 31.vii.1988, leg. Stangelmaier (LMK); 1 ɗ, Kärnten, Hafner, 24.vii.1941, leg. Sieder (LMK); 2 ɗ, ditto, but 25.vii.1941 (LMK); 2 ɗ, ditto, but 26.vii.1941 (LMK); 1 Ψ, [Kärnten?], Glocknergebiet, 28.vii.1924 (LMK); 1 ɗ, ditto, but 24.vii.1940, leg. Sieder (LMK); 1 Ψ, Kärnten, Glocknergeb., 2000 m, 26.vii.1946 ( ZSM); 1 Ψ, Kärnten, Groß-Glockner, 24.vii.1929 ( ZSM); 2 ɗ, G.Glockner, 12.vii., 17.vii., leg. Dannehl ( ZSM); 2ɗ, ditto, but 2200 m, 20.vii.1922 ( ZSM); 1 ɗ, ditto, but 22.vii.1922 ( ZSM); 1 Ψ, Glockner, Gamsgrube, 2560 m, 28.vii.1925 ( OÖLM); 1 ɗ, ditto, but 2300 m, 8.viii.1927, leg. Binder ( ZSM); 1 ɗ, Kärnten, Fleiss, 19.vii.1935, leg. Jaitner (LMK); 2 ɗ, same data, but 29.vii.1939 (LMK); 3 ɗ, ditto, but 20.vii.1934, 30.vii.1939, and 23.vii.1940 ( ZSM); 1 ɗ, 1 Ψ, Gr. Fleißtal, 28.vii.1944, leg. Löberbauer ( TLMF); 2 ɗ, same data, but 1.viii.1944 ( TLMF); 1 ɗ, Kärnten, Gr.[oß]Fragrant, 18.vii.1943, leg. Thurner ( ZSM); 1 ɗ, 1Ψ, Reißeck-Gruppe, 2500 m, 10.viii.1939, leg. Deutsch ( TLMF); 1 ɗ, Tirol, Hochschober, 2400 m, 22.vii.1943, leg. Sieder (LMK); 2 ɗ, same data, but 23.vii.1943 (LMK); 1 ɗ, 1 Ψ, same data, but 2500–2600 m, 24.vii.1943 (LMK); 3 ɗ, 1 Ψ, same data, but 2600–2700 m, 27.vii.1943 (LMK); 2 ɗ, same data, but 22.vii.1943 and 26.vii.1943, 2400–2600 m ( ZSM); 3 ɗ, Osttir. Gau, Kärnten, Kals Törl, 31.vii.1938, leg. Otto Sterzl ( ZSM).

Diagnosis. This new subspecies is characterized by the complete reduction of the light subterminal fasciae on the underside of the wings. Only the submedial lines of the upperside show through on the underside of the wings and hence this area is weakly lightened. The whitish fasciae of the underside of the wings are normally represented in all other populations of S. tenebraria though more or less obsolete in S. innuptaria .

Description. Adult ( Figs. 13–16 ). Frons dark brown. Wingspan ɗ 25–31 mm; Ψ 24–28 mm; apex of forewing rounded in Ψ; ground colour of wings dark brown, without gloss, discal spots well developed on upperside of wings, usually indiscernible on underside. Forewing upperside with contrasting medial fascia, frequently constricted subdorsally, edged by light antemedial and postmedial lines; distal and proximal areas of forewing frequently mottled with greyish. Hindwing upperside with darker proximal and lighter, mottled distal area, postmedial line distinct. Underside of wings without fasciae or lines, subterminal area weakly lightened but mainly from markings of upperside which show through. Male genitalia ( Fig. 36 ). Uncus variable, from slender to moderately broad, apex rounded to slightly indented; costa of valva with weak medial hump; ventral juxta lobes rather short and stout, apically slightly narrowing, rounded; saccus rather long; vesica with about 18 to 23 moderately short to long and stout spine-like cornuti; additional cornutus a small dentate plate with or without small spine. Female genitalia ( Fig. 44 ). Signum always present.

Distribution. Only known from the central Alps of Austria (Hohe Tauern, Niedere Tauern) so far, extending to the main ridge of the Alps in the north.

Etymology. The specific name, an adjective derived from the Latin taurus, refers to the distribution area, which covers the Hohe Tauern (= bull, = taurus) mountain range.

Remarks. This remarkable subspecies has been named already as aberration innuptaria by Hellweger (1914). This author also mentioned two localities in the western part of the range where he found unmarked and fasciated specimens flying together. As in the nominotypical subspecies and ssp. wockearia, intermediate forms may exist. More or less unmarked specimens of S. tenebraria are also mentioned from other areas such as Switzerland ( Vorbrodt and Müller-Rutz 1914) as rare exceptions. However, we have not been able to examine a single unmarked specimen outside the area of the new subspecies. Franz (1943) mentioned that this subspecies, recorded as Dasydia tenebraria innuptaria , prefers habitats on limestone and is a key species for the Caeculus echineps coenosis.

Figures

FIGURES 9 – 16. Adults of the Sciadia tenebraria species group. 9 – 10, S. tenebraria wockearia (Staudinger), ♂; 11 – 12, ditto Ψ; 13 – 14, S. tenebraria taurusica ssp. nov., ♂; 15 – 16, ditto, Ψ; (left upper side, right underside).

FIGURES 33 – 36. Male genitalia of the Sciadia tenebraria species group. 33, S. tenebraria tenebraria (Esper), slide G 1419; 34, ditto, slide G 1418; 35, S. tenebraria wockearia (Staudinger), slide G 1420; 36, S. tenebraria taurusica ssp. nov., paratype, slide G 1455.

FIGURES 41 – 44. Female genitalia of the Sciadia tenebraria species group. 41, S. tenebraria tenebraria (Esper), slide G 1439; 42, ditto, slide G 1445; 43, S. tenebraria wockearia (Staudinger), slide G 1431; 44, S. tenebraria taurusica ssp. nov., paratype, slide G 1452.