Gnophopsodos ravistriolaria pantherinus, Erlacher, Sven & Erlacher, Josepha, 2016

Erlacher, Sven & Erlacher, Josepha, 2016, A systematic revision of the genus Gnophopsodos Wehrli, 1945, with description of two new species (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), Zootaxa 4169 (3), pp. 435-456 : 445-446

Gnophopsodos ravistriolaria pantherinus subspec. nov.

(adults Pl. 2, Figs 6 b, 6c; male gen. Pl. 4, Fig. 6 e)

Locus typicus: Russia, North –West Altai, Zmeinogorsk , Tigireksky ridge, 3 km east–southeast Razrabotnaya Mountain , 51°02’40’’N / 83°00’05’’E, 1500 m. Deposition of holotype: MNC.

Material examined. Type material. Holotype Ƌ of Gnophopsodos ravistriolaria pantherinus subspec. nov. (Pl. 2, Fig. 6 b; Pl. 4, Fig. 6 e): [ Russia]: ‘Rußland, Altai Reg. | NW Altai, Zmeino – | gorsk, Tigireksky | Ridge , 3 km ESE Razra – | botnaya Mt. 1500 m | 16.–19.vii.2012 lg. | A. Volynkin, coll. Ratzel | 51°02’40’’N / 83°00’05’’[E]’, ‘ Watershed of | Irkutka and Bolshoi | Tigirek rivers; | Border of subalpine | meadows and Pinus | larix forest’, ‘SE– 606 Ƌ | gen. prep. | Erlacher, 2014’, <red label> ‘ HOLOTYPE Ƌ | Gnophopsodos ravistriolaria | ssp. pantherinus | Erlacher & Erlacher , 2016’, MNC.

Paratypes 15Ƌ of Gnophopsodos ravistriolaria pantherinus subspec. nov.: Russia: 1Ƌ (Pl. 2, Fig. 6 c), North – West Altai, Zmeinogorsk, Tigireksky ridge, 3 km east–southeast Razrabotnaya Mountain , 51°02’40’’N / 83°00’05’’E, 1500 m, 16.–19.vii.2012, leg. A. Volynkin, gen. prep. SE–612; 7Ƌ, same data, MNC. 7Ƌ , same data, gen. preps. SE–621, SE–622, SE–656, RUK.

Description. Adults (Pl. 2, Figs 6 b, 6c).

Measurements. Wingspan: 28–32 mm (Ƌ); forewing length: 15–17 mm (Ƌ); forewing width: 10–11 mm (Ƌ). Wings. Upper side yellowish, densely cluttered with dark gray spots and patches, distally from postmedial line darkened, occasionally forming a band-like structure, but not reaching the slightly brighter marginal area; discal spot distinct, dark-gray; antemedial line more or less distinct, dark-gray; postmedial line mostly distinct, occasionally mingling with the darker areas of the basic coloring; marginal line dark-gray, dashed or spotted; underside yellowish-white, characteristic dark-gray pattern of the upper side blurred and light-gray; discal spot distinct, light-gray; antemedial line slightly visible or absent; postmedial line if not distinct at least visible, lightgray; marginal line light-gray, dashed or spotted, occasionally missing; fringes yellowish mingled with gray.

Male genitalia (Pl. 4, Fig. 6 e). Total length: 2.13–2.51 mm; valvae span: 1.51–1.78 mm; valvulae span: 1.78– 2.06 mm; valvae width: 0.85–0.97 mm. Costa uneven padded, long costal thorns condensed on a subterminal bulge-like structure; uncus strongly sclerotized, terminating in a beak-like, slender peak; gnathos bulb-like, laterally compressed, terminal smoothly flattened and slightly notched, subterminal hook pointed, forming a triangular structure when observed ventrally; juxta fairly deep and slender u-shaped incised but less than halfway down, resulting in two rabbit ear-shaped lobes at the caudal end; aedeagus length: 0.89–0.92 mm; appendix aedeagi: 1.50–1.54 mm.

Diagnosis. Gnophopsodos ravistriolaria pantherinus is remarkable for its dark gray wing-pattern on yellowish ground. The wing-form is less rounded than that of the nominotypical taxon and the characteristic pattern of dark gray spots and patches as described above is lacking in the latter.

Distribution ( Fig. 4 ). All specimens of the new subspecies originate from Altai Territory in Russia and were collected near Zmeinogorsk at the Tigireksky ridge at an altitude of 1500 m.

Biology. There are no further records available regarding the flight period apart from the four days in the mid- July when the examined specimens of G. ravistriolaria pantherinus were collected. The biotope was described as border of subalpine meadows and Pinus larix forest (U. Ratzel in lit.).

Remarks. We are aware of the remarkable external differences between G. ravistriolaria ravistriolaria and G. ravistriolaria pantherinus as wing-form and coloration. Besides the male genitalia of the holotype are described and figured by Wehrli (1922: pl. 2, fig. 23) his description omits parts of it (e.g. shape of juxta) and important details can’t be seen on the photograph. A drawing of the male genitalia is depicted in Viidalepp & Soljanikov (1977: 635) but for example the “peculiar prominent lobar cactus-like spiny structure at the dorsal margin” of the valvae described by Wehrli (1922: 24) is not shown at all. Unfortunately, someone before us had difficulties preparing the genitalia of the holotype of G. ravistriolaria ravistriolaria and destroyed many parts of it. So now it is hard to compare the remaining fragment with the genitalia of G. ravistriolaria pantherinus . With examination of further specimens the new subspecies may possibly be confirmed as separate species.

Etymology. The name of the new subspecies refers to the dark gray wing-pattern on yellowish ground, from Latin “pantherinus” (maculated).

Figures

FIGURE 4. Distribution of Gnophopsodos species: G. badakhshanus, G. fractifasciaria, G. gnophosaria, G. ravistriolaria ravistriolaria, and G. ravistriolaria pantherinus subspec. nov.

FIGURE 6. Neighbor joining tree for all analyzed species of Gnophopsodos on the basis of DNA barcoding (Kimura 2 - parameter distance model for COI- 5 P marker) with Gnophos furvata ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) as outgroup. Terminal branches provided with species name, barcode id., barcode length, origin, and BIN number from BOLD.