Lophoterges (Fibigerges) atlas, Ronkay, 2005

Ronkay, L., 2005, Revision Of The Genus Lophoterges Hampson, 1906 (S. L.) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Cuculliinae). Part Ii. The Genus Lophoterges S. Str., Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 51 (1), pp. 1-57 : 44-56

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.12586551

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03CF707A-FF99-FFB4-BB6F-FD3AFB29FDDD

treatment provided by

Felipe

scientific name

Lophoterges (Fibigerges) atlas
status

sp. nov.

Lophoterges (Fibigerges) atlas View in CoL sp. n.

( Figs 22, 23 View Figs 17–24 , 57–60 View Figs 57–58 View Figs 59–61 )

Holotype: male, “ Morocco, Mrassine , May 1921, leg. H. POWELL ”, slide No. 3103m RONKAY. The holotype is deposited in coll. NHM, Vienna.

Paratypes. Morocco: 1 female, Moyen Atlas, El-Ksiba , 940 m, 12. VI .1973, leg. VARTIAN (coll. HNHM). Algeria: 1 male, Hodna Mts , 2–3. V .1986 (coll. HACKER); a series of both sexes, Oran, Sebdou , 26.VII.1918, leg. P. ROTROU; 21.VII.1919, leg. V . FAROULT (coll. BMNH); 1 male, 1 female, Prov . Alger, Gorges de la Chiffa , 200–400 m, 25. V .1979, leg. C. NAUMANN (coll. KRUŠEK) .

Slide Nos: 4156m, 8054m RONKAY (males), 2738f, 4155f, 8062f RONKAY (females).

Diagnosis. Lophoterges (F.) atlas is the allopatric sister-species of L. (F.) millierei . The two species are very similar externally and hardly separable without the study of the genitalia. Lophoterges (F.) atlas has, however, somewhat more unicolorous fore wing colouration as compared with that of L. (F.) millierei , the differently coloured parts of the wing are less contrasting, less vivid, and the costal stripe is more expressed, broader and more whitish grey than in case of the sibling species.

The key features of the male genitalia are the valval shape and the size and shape of the socii. The distal thirds of the valvae of L. (F.) atlas are curved dorsally, with narrow and less separated cuculli, their tips are not or only very finely pointed (the valvae of L. (F.) millierei are more or less straight with more distinct, broader quadrangular, acutely pointed cuculli sitting on short, narrow neck); the socii are somewhat more slender, apically not so acute and the right socius is proportionally longer than those of its sibling species. The female genitalia of the two species can be distinguished by the shape of the ostium bursae (that of L. (F.) atlas is more elongated, proximally more tapering) and the relative length of the ductus bursae: the sclerotised posterior part of ductus bursae is longer in case of the new species.

Description. External morphology ( Figs 22, 23 View Figs 17–24 ). Wingspan 28–32 mm. Head dark grey-brown, collar pure ash-grey with blackish grey lines at base and on tip. Thorax uniformly dark red-brown or chocolate-brown; abdomen much paler, light grey, dorsal crest blackish. Fore wing variably dark brownish slate-grey in pastel shade, irrorated with whitish grey, especially along basal third of costa; veins covered with fine whitish scaling in marginal area. Basal dash black, long, fine, broad at base; median zone of wing with a more or less diffuse, interrupted, dark chocolate-brown area extending from base to subterminal line in and below cell, defined by claret-brown suffusion below. Maculation typical of Lophoterges , white outline of reniform somewhat shadowed of upper extremity but defined on outer part by an irregular, orange-ochreous or orange-brownish patch which extends from the reniform (sometimes from outer edge of orbicular) to apex. Subterminal line diffuse, whitish grey, marked with black-brown striae between veins. Terminal line double, very fine, white and blackish; cilia dark grey with outer part often lighter, finely striolate with white and ochreous grey. Male hind wing shining white with weak ochreous shade, costa and termen with darker brown irroration which may extend along outer margin. Discal spot most often absent, veins partly covered with brown. Terminal line fine, blackish-brown; cilia white, with a few brownish scales. Hind wing of female with broad, diffuse, brownish marginal suffusion. Underside of fore wing dark grey with whitish grey irroration, hind wing as on upperside but dark covering of costa, marginal area and veins stronger, discal spot small, prominent.

Male genitalia ( Figs 57, 58 View Figs 57–58 ). Uncus short, curved apically and slightly dilated, tegumen narrow, high. Socii asymmetrical, longer on left side, heavily sclerotised, dentated laterally, with apex acute. Valvae also asymmetrical, saccular part of left valva larger, broader. Valva relatively long and narrow, basal two-thirds straight, distal third curved, forming narrowly quadrangular, finely pointed cucullus. Clavus indistinct; harpe reduced to its flattened basal bar fused partly with ventral end of sacculus. Aedeagus cylindrical, distal part thicker, ventral edge of carina sclerotised. Vesica broadened basally, recurved dorso-laterally then bent ventrally; basal diverticulum large, more or less globular, projecting forward. Armature of vesica consisting of two fields of short, fine spinules, basal field rather sparse, consisting of longer, stronger spinules, terminal field more dense, composed of numerous finer, thinner spiculi.

Female genitalia ( Figs 59, 60 View Figs 59–61 ). Ovipositor very short, weak, conical; gonapophyses thin, short. Ostium bursae only slightly asymmetrical, strongly sclerotised, very large and broad, rather calyculate, proximally strongly tapering. Ventral plate entirely sclerotised with margins upturned dorsally, dorsal plate significantly smaller, more or less V-shaped. Ductus bursae short, distal part sclerotised with semiglobular bulb on right side, lateral margins stronger; proximal third wrinkled-rugose, gelatinous. Cervix bursae short, conical, upper part with a slightly sclerotised lamina; corpus bursae rather elliptical, membranous with fine scobination.

Bionomics. Poorly known, it was found in lower and medium high zones, in semi-arid biotopes. A rarely observed species, it is supposedly univoltine with a relatively long generation, the adults are on the wing from the beginning of May to the end of July.

Distribution. Lophoterges (F.) atlas is known from Morocco and Algeria, the known localities lie in the lower zones of the Atlas Mts and the edges of northern parts of the Sahara.

Lophoterges (Fibigerges) millierei millierei ( STAUDINGER, 1871) View in CoL

( Figs 24 View Figs 17–24 , 25, 32 View Figs 25–32 , 61–64 View Figs 59–61 View Figs 62–63 View Figs 64–66 )

Lithocampa millierei STAUDINGER, 1871 , Berliner Entomologische Zeitung [1870]1871: 119, 330. Type locality: Spain, Catalonia.

Type material examined: Paratype female (labelled as “Cotype”), “Hispania, Barcelona, Himmighofen e.l.”, “Cotype Millierei Stgr. ?” (red label), “Zool. Mus . Berlin ” (yellow label) . Slide No. 2741 RONKAY. The specimen is deposited in the MNHU, Berlin .

Additional material examined. Spain: 1 male, 1 female, Montes ibericos, Albarracin, 1–15. VIII.1936, coll. WAGNER ( HNHM, ZSM) ; 2 mm from same locality, 2 and 19. VI .1936, leg. PREDOTA ( HNHM and ZSM); 1 male, from the same locality, 22.VII.1930, leg. TURNER ( ZSM) ; 1 male from the same locality, 6.VII.1980, leg. & coll. HACKER ; 1 male, Berrocal (Huelva) 380 m, 18.VIII.1982, leg. DE LA TORRE (coll. YELA) ; 2 males, Roblehondo ( Sa de Cazorla , Jaen), 4. VI .1986, leg. HERRERA (coll. YELA); 1 female, Arroyo Truchas ( Sa de Cazorla , Jaen), 11.VII.1986, leg. HERRERA (coll. YELA) ; 1 male, El Ventorrillo (Cercedilla) (Madrid), 5.VII.1981, leg. & coll. YELA ; 1 male, La Mesa ( Sa de Cazorla , Jaen), 19. V .1987, leg. HERRERA (coll. YELA); 1 female, Seis Pinos ( Sa de Cazorla , Jaen), 27. V .1986, leg. HERRERA (coll. YELA); 1 male, Trillo, Guadalajara, 6.VIII.1983, leg. et coll. YELA ; 1 male, Sa de Tragacete (Tragacete)(Cuenca), 27.VII.1985, leg. & coll. YELA ; 1 female, Mte Dehesa del Pinar (Albarracin, Teruel), 17.VII.1986, leg. & coll. YELA ; 1 female, Prov. Teruel, Mt. Universales, Fuente del Tejo , 1650 m, 25–26. VI .1990, leg. BEHOUNEK (coll. P. GYULAI); 1 female, Catalonia ( ZSM) ; 1 male, Sierra de Espuna , 19. V .1955, leg. EISENBERGER ( ZSM); 3 males, Catalonia, vic. of Barcelona, 22.IV.1923, 15.IV.1925, 23.V.1943, leg. MARTEN (coll. BEHOUNEK) ; 1 male, Gerona, 2.VII.1980 (coll. HACKER) ; 1 female, Blanes, 21. VI .1973 (coll. HACKER) ; 1 male, Albarracin, 24–25. VI .1992, leg. P. SKOU (coll. G. RONKAY) .

Slide Nos 4520 HACKER, 2746m, 2748m RONKAY (males), 4523 HACKER, 2524f, 2747f RONKAY (females).

Diagnosis. The detailed comparisons of L. (F.) millierei with the other species of the subgenus are provided above in the diagnoses of the preceding three taxa. The diagnostic features of L. (F.) millierei are the strongly asymmetrical, apically acute, laterally strongly dentate-spinose socii, the distally conspicuously spatulate valvae forming quadrangular, acutely pointed cuculli sitting on short, narrow neck and the reduced armature of the vesica consisting of a small number or fine spinules arranged into two small fields of cornuti (males); the huge, broadly calyculate, more or less symmetrical ostium bursae and the relatively short, proximally strongly bulbed ductus bursae (females).

The two races of L. (F.) millierei are more or less isolated by the Pyrenees, but their genital differences are significantly smaller when compared with those of the other taxa of the subgenus.

Description. External morphology ( Figs 24 View Figs 17–24 , 25, 32 View Figs 25–32 ). Wingspan 27–33 mm. The external appearance is very similar to those of L. (F.) atlas and L. (F.) hoerhammeri . It differs from the preceding species by its somewhat more variegated fore wings with more contrasting dark markings, stronger costal streaks of crosslines and darker covering of veins, and less intense whitish-greyish suffusion on costal area.

Male genitalia ( Figs 62, 63 View Figs 62–63 ). Uncus short, curved apically and slightly dilated, tegumen narrow, high. Socii heavily sclerotised, acute, dentated laterally; strongly asymmetrical, much longer on left side. Valvae also asymmetrical, saccular part of left valva larger, broader. Valva relatively long, broadened at basal two-thirds, constricted at apical third. Costa and cucullus sclerotised, latter elongated-quadrangular with apex acute. Clavus reduced, harpe reduced to its flattened basal bar fused partly with ventral end of sacculus. Aedeagus cylindrical, distal part thicker, ventral edge of carina sclerotised. Vesica broadened basally, recurved dorso-laterally; armature of vesica consisting of two (a basal and a terminal) fields of short spinules.

Female genitalia ( Figs 61 View Figs 59–61 , 64 View Figs 64–66 ). Ostium bursae strongly sclerotised, huge, broad, rather calyculate, only slightly asymmetrical. Ductus bursae short, shorter than that of L. (F.) atlas , its distal part sclerotised with semiglobular bulb on right side. Cervix bursae short, conical, upper part with slight sclerotisation; corpus bursae elliptical-ovoid, membranous, finely scobinate.

Fg. 71. Lophoterges (V.) varians sp. n., paratype male, Uzbekistan

Bionomics. The species occurs in the forested, relatively wet, warm lower and medium-high zones of the xerothermic, sometimes semi-desert-like mountain regions in southern France and Spain, especially stream valleys, rocky gorges and open rocky forests.

The imagines are nocturnal, visiting regularly the light but avoiding baits, and are usually on the wing throughout the night. Bivoltine, the flight periods are April–June and July–August (but mainly August). The first, laconic description of the larva was given by STAUDINGER in comparison with that of Calliergis ramosa (ESPER, 1786) (with reference to MILLIÈRE); subsequently it was described by HAMPSON (1906). The known foodplants are Lonicera species.

Distribution. Atlantico-Mediterranean, its range being restricted to Spain.

Lophoterges (Fibigerges) millierei fibigeri RONKAY et RONKAY, 1995 View in CoL

( Figs 26–28 View Figs 25–32 , 65, 66 View Figs 64–66 )

Lophoterges millierei fibigeri RONKAY et RONKAY, 1995 View in CoL , Noctuidae View in CoL Europaeae 7: 119, 330. Type locality: France, Basses Alps.

Type material examined: Holotype, male, “Südfrankreich, Basses Alpes, 400 m, Oraison, 5.5.69., Ziegler München”, slide No. 2520m RONKAY. The holotype is deposited in the HNHM Budapest.

Paratypes. France: 1 male, from the same locality and data (coll. P. GYULAI) ; 1 male, from the same locality, 1. VI .1971, leg. KUCHLER (coll. BEHOUNEK); 1 male, from the same locality, 13.VII.1975, leg. & coll. BEHOUNEK ; 7 males, 4 females, Drome, St. Restitut by St. Paul Trois Chateaux, 250 m, VI .1984, leg. FIBIGER & MOBERG (coll. HNHM, FIBIGER, MOBERG & G. RONKAY); 1 male, 1 female, Basses Alps, Mezel, Asse valley , 13–18. VI .1974, leg. et coll. BEHOUNEK; 5 males, 2 females, Basses Alps, Estoublon, Asse valley , 3–4. VI .1983, leg. FLUNGER (coll. BEHOUNEK & P. GYULAI); 2 males, 1 female, from the same locality, 19–26. VI .1984, leg. FLUNGER (coll. BEHOUNEK); 1 male, Digne, 7–18.VII.1955, leg. SCHÜTZE (coll. ZSM) ; 1 female, from same locality, VI .1959, leg. PFISTER (coll. ZSM); 5 males, 2 females, Basses Alps, Sisteron , 18–22. V .1963, leg. FRIEDEL (coll. ZSM); 1 male, from same locality, V .1958, leg. PINKER (coll. ZSM); 1 male, Lavagne, VIII.1978 (coll. HACKER) .

Additional material examined. France: 1 male, Alpes maritimes, Col de Vence , 8.VIII.1983, leg. B. GOATER (coll. HNHM) ; 1 female, Ardeche, la Voulte, 600 m, 24. V .1987, leg. B. GOATER (coll. HNHM).

Slide Nos: 4513 HACKER, 2749m RONKAY (males), 2742f RONKAY (female).

Diagnosis. External morphology ( Figs 26–28 View Figs 25–32 ). Wingspan 29–33 mm. The northern populations differ from the nominate subspecies by the somewhat paler, more brownish grey ground colour of the fore wing with slightly lighter costal stripe and less conspicuous dark medial zone; hind wing of male with weaker apical (and marginal) irroration, vestige of discal spot more distinct, hind wing of female with stronger, more regular marginal suffusion.

In the male genitalia of subsp. fibigeri ( Fig. 65 View Figs 64–66 ) the cuculli are somewhat more elongated and narrower than those of ssp. millierei ( Figs 61 View Figs 59–61 , 62 View Figs 62–63 ), the short, wedge-shaped apical processi are longer, stronger, the penicular lobes have more numerous teeth. The female genitalia of the two races differ mainly in the shape of the sclerotised part of the ductus bursae: the proximal bulbous extension is more distinct, semiglobular in subsp. millierei ( Figs 61 View Figs 59–61 , 64 View Figs 64–66 ) but is essentially smaller in subsp. fibigeri ( Fig. 66 View Figs 64–66 ).

Distribution. Southern France (Basses Alps, Digne, Drôme).

*

Acknowledgements. The author would like to express his sincere thanks for the colleagues helping in the studies with useful advices and/or loan of material: G. BEHOUNEK (Grafing), B.

BENEDEK (Budapest), T. CSŐVÁRI (Budapest), GY. FÁBIÁN (Budapest), M. FIBIGER (Sorø), R. GAEDIKE (Eberswalde), B. GOATER (Chandlers Ford), P. GYULAI (Miskolc), H. HACKER (Staffelstein), H.-J. HANNEMANN (Berlin), B. HERCZIG (Baj), M. HONEY (London), †M. HREBLAY (Érd), Z. KLYUCHKO (Kiev), I. KOSTYUK (Kiev), K. KRUŠEK (Prague), M. LÖDL (Vienna), W. MEY (Berlin), K. MIKKOLA (Helsinki), A. MOBERG (Stockholm), †C. NAUMANN (Bonn), L. PEREGOVITS (Budapest), G. RONKAY (Budapest), Å. SELLING (Stockholm), W. SPEIDEL (Bonn), D. STÜNING (Bonn), K. SZEŐKE (Székesfehérvár), H. THÖNY (Poté/Ingolstadt), E. VARTIAN (Vienna), J. L. YELA (Toledo).

VI

Mykotektet, National Veterinary Institute

V

Royal British Columbia Museum - Herbarium

HNHM

Hungarian Natural History Museum (Termeszettudomanyi Muzeum)

ZSM

Bavarian State Collection of Zoology

T

Tavera, Department of Geology and Geophysics

R

Departamento de Geologia, Universidad de Chile

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Lepidoptera

Family

Noctuidae

Genus

Lophoterges

Loc

Lophoterges (Fibigerges) atlas

Ronkay, L. 2005
2005
Loc

Lophoterges (Fibigerges) millierei fibigeri

RONKAY et RONKAY 1995
1995
Loc

Lophoterges millierei fibigeri

RONKAY et RONKAY 1995
1995
Loc

Lithocampa millierei

STAUDINGER 1871
1871
Darwin Core Archive (for parent article) View in SIBiLS Plain XML RDF