Sciadia slovenica Leraut, 2008

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 : 23-24

Sciadia slovenica Leraut, 2008 (Figs. 25–28, 39, 47)

Sciadia slovenica Leraut, 2008: 179 , figs 10–11, 22.

Material examined. Slovenia: 2 ɗ, Triglav, 2400 m, mid vii.1927 ( ZSM); 4 ɗ, same data, but vii.1929, leg. Kautz (LMK); 1 Ψ, same data, but 29.vii.1929 ( TLMF); 3 ɗ, same data, but vii.1929, leg. Bubacek ( TLMF); 5 ɗ, same data, but Maria-Theresien Hütte, 31.vii.1906, leg. Galvagni ( TLMF); 1 ɗ, same data, but 29.vii.1909 ( TLMF); 1 Ψ, same data, but Dolec. Sattel, 29.vii.1909 ( TLMF), 1 ɗ, same data, but Kajanc, 25.vii.1911, coll. Kitschelt ( TLMF); 38 ɗ, 9 Ψ, Triglav, various data ( ZSM); 1 Ψ, Mt. Canin, 2280 m, 22.viii.2005, leg. Mayrhofer ( TLMF). Slovenia / Italy: 3 ɗ, 1 Ψ, Mt. Canin, 2250 m, 25.vii.2005, leg. Ortner (coll. Ortner); 9 ɗ, 2 Ψ, same data, but 25.vii.2008. Austria: 1 ɗ, 1 Ψ, Kärnten, Vellacher Kocna, 2000 m, 14.viii.1996, leg. Rakosy (LMK); 1 Ψ, Kärnten, Sanntaler Sattel, 1400–2000 m, 8.–10.vii.1942, leg. Zerny ( NHMW).

Uncertain identity. Albania: 2 ɗ, Kakinja, 14.vii., leg. Dörfler ( NHMW).

Diagnosis. Sciadia slovenica is similar to other species with dull and diffuse subterminal fasciae on the underside of the wings, namely S. dolomitica and S. innuptaria . However, the females differ from the latter two species by the dark brown rather than grey colour and the weak gloss. Major differences to all species are found in the genitalia. The male is similar to S. dolomitica sp. nov. but differs by the shorter ventral juxta lobes which do not extend beyond the costa of the valva, and the comparatively small number of cornuti. The large additional cornutus of the phallus is only shared with S. dolomitica sp. nov., but this species has about twice the number of small cornuti. The characteristically sclerotized and posteriorly recurved corpus bursae and the lateral sclerotization of the antrum are unmistakable for S. slovenica .

Description. Adult (Figs. 25–28). Wingspan ɗ 28–30 mm, Ψ 26–28 mm; apex of forewing fairly pointed in Ψ; ground colour of wings dark brown, with at most a weak gloss, discal spots rather well developed on upperside of wings, weakly represented or hardly discernible on underside. Forewing upperside with contrasting to dull antemedial and postmedial lines with weak light edging; distal and proximal areas of forewing frequently mottled with medium-brown. Underside of wings with diffuse whitish subterminal fasciae, curved towards apex of forewing. Male genitalia ( Fig. 39 ). Apex of uncus moderately slender, slightly rounded; costa of valva without distinct hump; ventral juxta lobes long, rather slender and digitate, evenly tapered to apex, extending at most to before costa of valva; dorsal juxta lobes moderately large, subtriangular; saccus comparatively short; vesica with about 25 moderately short to long, spine-like cornuti; additional cornutus prominent, horn-shaped with broad base and large and strongly sclerotized distal horn. Female genitalia ( Fig. 47 ). Antrum broadly funnel-shaped and strongly sclerotized, posterioventral margin emarginated, vesicular lateral sclerotization at right side of antrum projecting into sub-ovate corpus bursae; posterior part of corpus bursae heavily sclerotized, smooth, posteriorly recurved and overlapping anterior part of antrum; anterior half and to some extant dorsal part of corpus bursae membranous; signum well developed.

Distribution. Restricted to the Julian Alps and the Kamnik Alps/Steiner Alps ( Slovenia, Austria, Italy).

Remarks. Sciadia slovenica was described from a single male only despite the presence of plentiful material in various museums and private collections. We established the identity of the species from figures of the holotype and its genitalia provided in the original description ( Leraut 2008). We have not been able to examine material from the Kamnik Alps of Slovenia but the species has been mentioned from Grintavec under the former name Dasydia tenebraria ( Thurner 1948) . Material from Mt. Canin was collected close to the border of Slovenia and Italy in both countries (Ortner in litt.). A record from Albania is only based on two males and may refer to a separate taxon since the genitalia show slight differences in the longer and more slender cornuti compared with typical S. slovenica .

Figures

FIGURES 37 – 40. Male genitalia of the Sciadia tenebraria species group. 37, S. septaria (Guenée), slide G 1442; 38, S. innuptaria (Herrich-Schäffer), slide G 1413; 39, S. slovenica Leraut, slide G 1414; 40, S. dolomitica sp. nov., holotype, slide G 1415.

FIGURES 45 – 48. Female genitalia of the Sciadia tenebraria species group. 45, S. septaria (Guenée), slide G 1451; 46, S. innuptaria (Herrich-Schäffer), slide G 1436; 47, S. slovenica Leraut, slide G 1428; 48, S. dolomitica sp. nov., paratype, slide G 1434.