Sciadia tenebraria tenebraria (Esper, 1806)

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 : 7-9

Sciadia tenebraria tenebraria (Esper, 1806) stat. rev. (Figs, 1–8, 33–34, 41–42)

Geom[etra] tenebraria Esper, 1806 : pl. 51, fig. 6.

Geometra torvaria Hübner, 1813 : pl. 71, figs 366–369. Syn. rev. Parascotia olivacea Warren, 1895: 129 .

Dasydia tenebraria f. interrupta Wehrli, 1920: 5 (infrasubspecific). Sciadia sabaudiensis Leraut, 2008: 181 , figs 16–19, 24, 29. Syn. nov.

Material examined. Type material. Neotype ɗ herein designated, Geometra tenebraria : [southern Germany], ‘Allgäu, Mädelegabel, 2400–2600 m, 24.vii. [19]46, W. Forster leg.’ ‘ Neotypus Geometra tenebraria Esper, 1806 designated Huemer & Hausmann, 2009’ ( ZSM). Neotype ɗ herein designated, Geometra torvaria : [ Austria], ‘Tirol, Innsbruck, Saile, 19.vi. [19]30, leg. A. Deutsch’ ‘ Neotypus Geometra torvaria Hübner, 1813 designated Huemer & Hausmann, 2009’ ( ZSM). Holotype ɗ, Parascotia olivacea [photographs examined]: ‘Type’, ‘ Parascotia olivacea Warr. ɗ Type’, ‘FELDER COLL.N’, ‘Spiti. ’, ‘Rothschild Bequest B.M. 1939–1.’ ( BMNH). Austria: 1 Ψ, Steiermark, Hochschwab, Tramies, 2000 m, 8.vii.1941 ( ZSM); 5 ɗ, 1 Ψ, Steiermark, Hochschwab, ex coll. Bohatsch ( ZSM); 1 ɗ, Salzburg, Kitzsteinhorn, 2400 m, 19.viii.1974, leg. Embacher (HNS); 1 Ψ, same data, but 6.viii.1979 (HNS); 1 ɗ, Stubachtal, Brandlscharte, 13.vii.1949, leg. Witzmann (HNS); 1 Ψ, Salzburg, Imbachhorn, 26.vii.1937, leg. Häuslmayr ( OÖLM); 4 ɗ, same data, but 17.vii.1943, leg. Löberbauer ( TLMF); 1 ɗ, 4 Ψ, Salzburg, Fuschertal, Gleiwitzerhütte, 2450 m, 16.vii.1943, leg. Kusdas ( OÖLM, TLMF); 1 Ψ, same data, but 23.vii.1943 e.p. ( OÖLM); 1 Ψ, same data, but 28. –31.vii.1948 ( OÖLM); 1 Ψ, same data, but 2200 m, 21.vii.1936 ( OÖLM); 1 Ψ, same data, but 6.vii.1940 ( TLMF); 1 ɗ, same data, but 14.vii.1950, leg. Wolfsberger ( ZSM); 1 ɗ, Tirol, Kaisergebirge, vii.1924, leg. Schawerda ( NHMW); 1 ɗ, Tirol, Wilder Kaiser, Ellmauer Kar, 29.vii.1933, leg. Schawerda ( NHMW); 6 ɗ, Rofangebiet, 2200 m, various dates, leg. Wolfsberger ( ZSM); 1 Ψ, Tirol, Wilder Kaiser, Gruttenhütte, 1600 m, 20.vii.1998, leg. Haslberger ( TLMF); 4 ɗ, Tirol, Vennatal, 13.vii.1958, leg. Burmann ( ZSM); 1 ɗ, Tirol, Vennatal, Saxalpenwand, 2700 m, 19.vii.1950, leg. Kappeller ( TLMF); 4 ɗ, same data, but 2800 m, 23.vii.1950, leg. Burmann ( TLMF); 2 ɗ, Tirol, Vennatal, 2400 m, 9.vii.1950, leg. Burmann ( TLMF); 3 ɗ, Tirol, Kraxentrager, 2800 m, 7.viii.1940, leg. Burmann ( TLMF); 3 ɗ, 2 Ψ, same data, but 7.viii.1949 ( TLMF); 51 ɗ, 22Ψ, Tirol, Nordkette, 2000–2200 m, various dates, leg. Burmann ( TLMF); 7 ɗ, Tirol, Muttekopf, 2700 m, 30.vii.1951, leg. Burmann ( TLMF); 4 ɗ, 1 Ψ, same data, but 21.vii.1952 ( TLMF); 3 ɗ, same data, but 14.viii.1965 ( TLMF); 1 ɗ, same data, but 2500 m, 21.vii.1953, leg. Wolfsberger ( ZSM); 1 ɗ, Tirol, Saile, 17.vii.1921, leg. Deutsch ( TLMF); 1 ɗ, same data, but 17.vii.1921 ( TLMF); 2 ɗ, same data, but 24.vii.1927 ( TLMF); 1 ɗ, same data, but 29.vii.1934 ( TLMF); 1 ɗ, Tirol, Saile, 2000 m, vii.1928 (LMK); 1 ɗ, same data, but 17.vii.1938, coll. Kolar (LMK); 1 ɗ, Serles, vii.1912 ( NHMW); 1 ɗ, same data, but 16.viii.1941, leg. Wettstein ( NHMW); 2 ɗ, Tirol, Rinnerspitze, 2900 m, 12.vii.1957, leg. Burmann ( TLMF); 1 ɗ, Tirol, Franz Sennhütte, 2700 m, 13.viii.1957, leg. Burmann ( TLMF); 2 ɗ, Tirol, Breslauerhütte, 3000 m, 27.vii.1952, leg. Burmann ( TLMF); 1 Ψ, Tirol, St. Anton, Valluga, ix.1957, leg. Pinker; 1 ɗ, Vorarlberg, Galtür, vii.1950, leg. Burmann ( TLMF); 1 Ψ, Vorarlberg, Garneratal, Plattenjoch, 2700 m, 30.vii.1968 leg. Aistleitner (coll. Aistleitner); 1 ɗ, Vorarlberg, Brandnertal, Tote Alpe, 2700 m, 20.viii.1984, leg. Huemer ( TLMF); 6 ɗ, 1 Ψ, Vorarlberg, Brandnertal, Wildberg, 2750 m, 22.viii.1984, leg. Huemer ( TLMF); 1 ɗ, same data, but 14.viii.1985 ( TLMF); 1 ɗ, 2 f #, Vorarlberg, Gr. Walsertal, Klesenza Alpe, unteres Hutlatal, 1650–1900 m, 17.viii.1987, leg. Aistleitner (coll. Aistleitner, TLMF); 1 Ψ, Vorarlberg, Zitterklapfen, 2300 m, 6.vii.1964, leg. Aistleitner (coll. Aistleitner); 1 Ψ, Vorarlberg, Göppinger Hütte, Johanneswanne, 26.viii.1963, leg. Aistleitner (coll. Aistleitner); 7 ɗ, Vorarlberg, Kl. Walsertal, Hoher Ifen, 2100–2200 m, 7.viii.1998, leg. Aistleitner (coll. Aistleitner). Germany: 1 ɗ, 1 Ψ, Bayern, Allgäuer Alpen, Mindelheimer Hütte, 2000 m, late vii.1970, leg. Groß ( ZSM); 1 ɗ, same data, but 2100 m, 15.viii.1997, leg. Aistleitner (coll. Aistleitner); 2 ɗ, Bayern, Allgäuer Alpen, Nebelhorn, 15.viii.1973, leg. Schwarzbeck ( TLMF); 2 ɗ, 1 Ψ, Bayern, Allgäuer Alpen, Laufbacheck, 2000 m, 16.vii.1947, leg. Wolfsberger ( ZSM); 2 ɗ, Bayern, Allgäuer Alpen, Gr. Wilder, 17.vii.1946, leg. Wolfsberger ( ZSM); 6 ɗ, 3 Ψ, Bayern, Funtensee, 5. – 7.8.1947, leg. Wolfsberger ( ZSM); 1 ɗ, Bayern, Nationalpark Berchtesgaden, Gr. Hundstod, 2300 m, 15.vii.2003, leg. Haslberger ( TLMF). Liechtenstein: Augstenberg, 2350 m, 11.viii.2000, leg. Aistleitner (coll. Aistleitner); 1 ɗ, Naafkopf, 2500 m, 10.viii.2000, leg. Aistleitner (coll. Aistleitner). Switzerland: 6 ɗ, 2 Ψ, Graubünden, Davosertal, various dates, leg. Wolfsberger ( ZSM); 1 ɗ, 1 Ψ, Graubünden, Pontresina, 2600–2800 m, 4.– 5.viii.1969, leg. Bauer (coll. Ortner); 3 ɗ, 1 Ψ, Graubünden, Medel, Val Casatscha, 2550–2700 m, 25.vii.2008, leg. Mayr ( TLMF); 1 ɗ, Graubünden, Hinterrhein Ursprung, 2400–2550 m, 26.vii.2008, leg. Mayr ( TLMF); 1 ɗ, 1 Ψ, Graubünden, Pizzo della Margna, 11.viii.1922, leg. Wehrli ( ZFMK); 1 ɗ, Wallis, Simplon ( ZFMK); 1 Ψ, same data, but leg. Anderegg ( ZFMK); 1 Ψ, Wallis, Gornergletscher, Betempshütte, 18.vii.1903 ( ZFMK); 1 ɗ, same data, but 3000 m, 22.viii.1930, leg. Kusdas ( OÖLM); 1 ɗ, Wallis, Gornergrat, 17.viii.1889 ( TLMF); 1 ɗ, same data, but 3000 m, early viii.1973, leg. Wolfsberger ( ZSM); 2 ɗ, Wallis, Martigny, coll. Schlag ( TLMF); 1 ɗ, Wallis, Mettelhorn, 22.vii.1918, leg. Wehrli ( ZFMK); 1 ɗ, same data, but 18.vii.1919 ( ZFMK); 1 Ψ, same data, but 24.vii.1920; 1 ɗ, Wallis, Umg. Zermatt, 2900 m, 24.vii.1960, leg. Bauer (coll. Ortner); 16 ɗ, 4 Ψ, Wallis, Mt. Gd. Bonvia, 18.vii.1958, leg. Malicky ( TLMF). France: 10 ɗ, 3 Ψ, Hautes Alpes, Col du Galibier N, 2600 m, 14.vii.1947 ( ZSM); 2 ɗ, Savoie, Col du Bonhomme, vii.1929 ( TLMF); 1 ɗ, 2 Ψ, Savoie, Pralognan, 14.viii.1897, coll. Viard ( ZFMK); 1 ɗ, Savoie, Val d´Isère, 3.viii.1896 ( ZFMK). Additional material: 265 ɗ, 69 Ψ, various data ( ZSM).

Diagnosis. Sciadia tenebraria tenebraria is characterized by the distinct, though diffuse whitish fasciae on the underside of the wings. These fasciae exhibit a remarkable individual variation, ranging from narrow lines to broad fasciae, with or without whitish mottling of the proximal area of the forewings and sometimes also the hindwings. Rarely the fasciae are more or less obsolete. Compared to S. tenebraria wockearia the fasciae are more diffuse and less curved towards the costa of the forewing, whereas in S. tenebraria taurusica ssp. nov. the fasciae are completely reduced. The male genitalia are characterized by stout and moderately long ventral juxta lobes and a small or obsolete additional cornutus. The female genitalia differ from related species in the eastern and southern Alps by the heavily wrinkled and membranous posterior part of the corpus bursae. Furthermore S. tenebraria tenebraria differs from the rather closely related S. septaria by the longer and rounded juxta lobes and the much larger antrum.

The genitalia exhibit some individual and geographical variation with a tendency to a reduction of the signum of the female and the additional cornutus of the male towards the western Alps (both absent in populations from Graubünden and Wallis, Switzerland). Furthermore the ventral juxta lobes are usually shorter in western populations. However, all of these characters show some geographical variation which is here considered infrasubspecific.

Description. Adult ( Figs. 1–8 ). Wingspan ɗ 22–31 mm; Ψ 24–28 mm; apex of forewing rounded in Ψ; ground colour of wings dark greyish-brown, with weak gloss, discal spots represented on upperside of wings, hardly discernible or completely absent on underside. Forewing upperside with weakly contrasting dark medial fascia, edged by scarcely paler antemedial and postmedial lines; distal and proximal areas of forewing scarcely paler. Hindwing upperside with scarcely lighter postmedial line. Forewing underside with narrow to broad and diffuse subterminal whitish fascia, curved towards costa, proximal area beside fascia frequently more or less intensely mottled with lighter scales, particularly in female. Hindwing underside with narrow to broad and diffuse subterminal fascia, proximal area beside fascia usually without light mottling. Male genitalia ( Figs. 33–34 ). Uncus moderately slender, slightly rounded to indistinctly emarginated at apex; costa of valva without distinct hump; ventral juxta lobes moderately long and stout, broadly digitate, apically rounded to weakly pointed; dorsal juxta lobes moderately large, horn-shaped; saccus short; vesica with about 15 to 25 partially short to moderately long and stout spine-like cornuti; additional cornutus usually small, variable, as dentate plate with small spine to completely absent. Female genitalia ( Figs. 41–42 ). Antrum broad, funnel-shaped and strongly sclerotized, posterioventral margin emarginated, without specialized sclerotization; posterior part of corpus bursae membranous, heavily wrinkled, posteriorly overlapping anterior part of antrum; dorsal part and anterior half of corpus bursae membranous; toothed signum well developed to reduced, if present, situated in anterior part of corpus bursae.

Distribution. Widely distributed, from the Northern Limestone Alps ( Austria, Germany) and the northern part of the central Alps across large parts of the Swiss Alps to the southwestern Alps of France and Italy. An isolated record far in the east of Austria is known from the Hochschwab Mountains where the species occurs sympatrically with S. innuptaria .

Remarks. Geometra tenebraria was described from an unspecified number of specimens with unknown type locality (Esper 1806: pl. 51, fig. 6). The original figure depicts a male with a distinct yellowish white fascia only slightly curved towards the costa on the forewing underside. Therefore it seems likely that a specimen from the northern Alps or maybe from Switzerland was figured. Despite an intensive search in ZSM and in the Museum Wiesbaden no syntypes could be found. Therefore, to clarify the taxonomic status and the type locality of the taxon we selected the male from southern Germany as neotype because it is most reminiscent of Esper’s figure in colouration of the upper- and undersides.

Geometra torvaria was described from an unspecified number of specimens with unknown type locality (Hübner 1813: pl. 71, figs 366–369). According to Horn and Kahle (1935) the types of Hübner are deposited in NHMW. However, most of the types are presumably lost and this is the case for G. torvaria . The accurate original figures depict the upper and undersides of a male and female and give some hints to the identity of the species. The somewhat diffuse yellowish white subterminal fasciae on the underside of the wings are broad. On the forewing the fascia is moderately curved inwards near the costa, and the proximal area is somewhat mottled with whitish scales. However, these character states are represented in several populations from the western and northern Alps. Therefore, to clarify the taxonomic status and the type locality of the taxon we selected the male from Tirol as neotype of Geometra torvaria . The neotype is most reminiscent of Hübner’s figures in colouration of the upper- and undersides.

Parascotia olivacea was described from a single male, allegedly collected at Spiti in the Indian Himalayas ( Warren 1895) and now deposited in the Felder collection in the BMNH. However, it seems unlikely that a species group restricted to high European mountain systems should have been collected in the Himalayas on a single occasion as already doubted by Prout (1915). This disbelief is supported by the original printed label which states “Spiti.”, with full stop after the name, thus probably being an abbreviation of an unkown locality or a collector and not of the Indian locality Spiti. The male holotype is damaged in that a wrong abdomen has been glued to the rest of the specimen. Although the identity has to be based on external characters only, the diffuse, though distinct yellowish-white subterminal fasciae on the underside of the wings correspond with those of nominotypical S. tenebraria . Though the synonymy of olivacea and tenebraria was already stated Prout (1915) and Scoble (1999) the former name was not listed by Leraut (2008).

Sciadia sabaudiensis Leraut (2008) was described from four males and four females collected in the western Alps of Savoie ( France) and in Slovakia (Presov). However, no species of the Sciadia tenebraria species group is known from Slovakia or Czechia ( Lastuvka 1998). Most probably the specimen from Presov is simply mislabeled. We have been able to study a small series of specimens from the type locality and it fully falls into the variation range of nominotypical S. tenebraria . Characters stated as specific by Leraut (2008), such as the small signum, vary individually as proven by the absence of a signum in one specimen. Other characters show clinal variation such as the additional cornutus in the phallus or the size and shape of the ventral juxta lobes, and the same character-states also occur in specimens from the Bavarian Alps, for example. Therefore, we formally synonymize S. sabaudiensis with S. tenebraria tenebraria .

Dasydia tenebraria f. interrupta was described from Wallis ( Switzerland) as an individual form with constricted medial fascia ( Wehrli 1920).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 8. Adults of the Sciadia tenebraria species group. 1 – 4, S. tenebraria tenebraria (Esper), ♂; 5 – 8, 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.