Sciadia tenebraria wockearia ( Staudinger, 1871 )

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 : 10-19

Sciadia tenebraria wockearia ( Staudinger, 1871) stat. rev. ( Figs. 9–12 , 35 , 43 )

Dasydia tenebraria var. wockearia Staudinger, 1871: 169 .

Orphne (Dasydia) tenebraria var. woeckearia [sic!] ab. vernagtensis Schawerda, 1933: 34 (infrasubspecific).

Material examined. Italy: 1 ɗ, Südtirol, Stilfserjoch ( TLMF); 1 ɗ, same data, but 6.viii.1926 (LMK); 1 Ψ, same data, but vii.1901, leg. Hirschke ( TLMF); 1 Ψ, same data, but 2500 m, 18.vii.1913 ( OÖLM); 2 ɗ, same data, but 2800 m, 29.vii.1904 ( TLMF); 2 ɗ, same data, but 5.viii.1962, leg. Hinterholzer ( ZSM); 5 ɗ, 1 Ψ, same data, but late vii.1960 and 1962, leg. Wolfsberger ( ZSM); 2 Ψ, Südtirol, Vinschgau, Schnalstal, Schöne Aussicht, 18.vii.1976, leg. Laube ( OÖLM); 2 ɗ, 2 Ψ, Prov. Trento, Adamello, Rif. Mandron, 2900 m, mid. viii.1958, leg. Burmann ( TLMF); 4 ɗ, same data, but 2800 m, 30.vii.–1.viii.1964 ( TLMF); 7 ɗ, 5 Ψ, same data, but 2500–2800 m, various dates, leg. Wolfsberger ( ZSM); 5 ɗ, Prov. Bergamo, Pizzo Arera, 2500 m, 20.vii.1992, leg. Huemer & Tarmann ( TLMF); 1 Ψ, same data, but Val d´Arera, 2000 m, 19.vii.1992 ( TLMF); 1 ɗ, same data, but 2170 m, 23.–24.viii.1992, leg. Tarmann ( TLMF); 1 Ψ, Lecco, Monte Grigna, coll. Wagner ( ZFMK). Switzerland: 9 ɗ, 1Ψ, Graubünden, Ofenpass, 2300 m, 21.vii.1988, leg. Stangelmaier (LMK); 1 ɗ, Umbrail, 2800 m, 5.viii.1977, leg. Burmann ( TLMF). Austria: 1 ɗ, Tirol, Ötztal, Vernagthütte, 2750 m, 22.vii.1924 (LMK); 1 ɗ, same data, but 2700 m, early viii.1935, coll. Bartha (LMK); 1 Ψ, Tirol, Vent, 2300 m, 22.vii.1924, leg. Kranzl ( OÖLM); 1 ɗ, Tirol, Ramolhaus, 3100 m, 30.vii.1950, leg. Burmann ( TLMF); 2 ɗ, Tirol, Obergurgl, 2200 m, late vii.1951, leg. Wolfsberger ( ZSM); 3 ɗ, Tirol, Samoarhütte, 3000 m, 4.viii.1948, leg. Burmann ( TLMF); 1 Ψ, same data, but 16.vii.1950, leg. Wolfsberger ( ZSM); 1 ɗ, 2 Ψ, same data, but 2900 m, 14.vii.1950 ( TLMF); 2 ɗ, same data, but 16.vii.1950, leg. Kappeller ( TLMF); 3 ɗ, Tirol, Rotmoostal, 2300–2400 m, 8.–9.viii.1972, leg. Burmann ( TLMF); 1 ɗ, same data, but 30.vii.1974 ( TLMF); 3 ɗ, same data, but 2.vii.1976 ( TLMF). Additional material: 89 #, 25 Ψ, various data ( ZSM).

Diagnosis. The subspecies differs from other populations of the S. tenebraria species group by the narrow and strongly contrasting yellowish line on the underside of the wings which is strongly curved inwards towards the costa of the forewing. Furthermore the apex of the forewing is marked with a yellowish patch. The upperside of the wings is comparatively dark with usually strongly contrasting and light-edged postmedial and antemedial lines, additional light mottling, and dark cilia lines. Some individual variation in the width of the yellowish lines is known and individuals with a broader and less contrasting fascia are increasingly similar to the nominotypical subspecies. Dannehl (1925 –1930) found a single unmarked specimen among typical ssp. wockearia on one occasion.

Description. Adult ( Figs. 9–12 ). Frons dark brown to ochreous-brown. Wingspan ɗ 24–31 mm; Ψ 25–27 mm; apex of forewing rounded in Ψ; ground colour of wings dark brown to blackish-brown, without gloss, fringe line in all wings black, discal spots usually indiscernible on underside. Upperside of wings with distinct yellowish antemedial and postmedial lines, occasionally terminal part of both wings and proximal area of forewing with some yellowish mottling. Underside of wings with narrow and strongly contrasting transverse yellowish lines, forewing with broader and strongly bent line; apical area with additional yellowish patch, proximal area normally without light mottling. Male genitalia ( Fig. 35 ). Uncus moderately slender, slightly rounded at apex; costa of valva without distinct hump; ventral juxta lobes reasonably long and stout, broadly digitate, apically rounded to weakly pointed; vesica with about 15 to 25 partially short to moderately long and stout spine-like cornuti; additional cornutus varying from dentate plate with small to medium-sized spine. Female genitalia ( Fig. 43 ). Signum small to more or less obsolete.

Distribution. Restricted to a small area of the southern Alps ( Austria, Switzerland, Italy), ranging from the Ötztaler Mountains in the northeast to the Ortler Mountains, Adamello and Alpi Orobie in the southwest.

FIGURES 25–32. Adults of the Sciadia tenebraria species group. 25 – 26, S. slovenica Leraut , ♂; 27 – 28, ditto, Ψ; 29–30, S. dolomitica sp. nov., ♂; 31–32, ditto, Ψ; (left upper side, right underside)

Remarks. Dasydia tenebraria var. wockearia was described as a variation (‘or separate species’) from an unspecified number of specimens collected in the area of Stilfserjoch (‘Trafoi’, Südtirol, Italy) ( Staudinger 1871). No type-material was examined but both description and type-locality leave no doubt to the identity of the taxon. The invalid junior primary homonym Geometra horridaria was described from an unspecified number of specimens with unknown type-locality (Hübner 1799: pl. 28, fig. 149). The accurate original figure depicts a specimen with a sharply curved and strongly contrasting yellowish-white postmedial line on the upperside of the wings, whereas the undersides are not figured. Such a line is typical for S. tenebraria wockearia . In contrast Leraut (2008) synonymized S. horridaria with S. tenebraria and S. innuptaria , whereas he treated S. tenebraria wockearia as a junior synonym of S. torvaria , which is in fact a junior subjective synonym of nominotypical S. tenebraria . Orphne tenebraria var. wockearia ab. vernagtensis was described from the Vernagthütte, Ötztal as an individual form with pale fasciae on the upperside of wings ( Schawerda 1933).

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.