Homadaula schaeuffelei (Amsel, 1959) Mey, 2022

Mey, Wolfram, 2022, Taxonomic notes on Palearctic taxa of Galacticidae, a little-known family of Lepidoptera (Galacticoidea), Nota Lepidopterologica 45, pp. 169-190 : 169

Homadaula schaeuffelei (Amsel, 1959) comb. nov.

Figs 5-8 , 21-26

Bahrlutia schaeuffelei Amsel, 1959: 35-36, type locality: Iran, Iranshar, Holotype and Paratype deposited in SMNS [Paratype examined].

Material examined.

type material, 1 ♀ Paratype, " IRAN Beluchistan / Jranshar, 800 m / 1.-10.iii.1954 /Richter u. Schäuffele” [printed on grey card], " Paratypus /leg. H. Amsel " [printed on red card], genitalia slide Mey (SMNS) . 1 ♂, Pakistan , [Province Baluchistan], 150 km south-west of Quetta, 900 m, 13.vi.1965, leg. Kasy & Vartian, genitalia slide Mey 23/21 ( NHMW) ; 1 ♀, South Iran , 40 km north of Bandar-Abbas, 31.iii.1972, Exped. Mus. Vind., genitalia slide Mey 24/21 ( NHMW) .

Diagnosis.

Male without uncus and gnathos, valvae long, dorsal process broad, elongate, directed dorsad and laterad. Female without bulla seminalis, bursa copuatrix with a sclerotised antrum of ductus bursae, dorsal and ventral side of bursa with thin medial line.

H. schaeuffelei is an unusual species of the genus by showing a completely cream-white, external appearance of the adults, resembling externally H. caradjae .

Redescription.

Adult (Figs 5-8 ). Length of forewing 5-7 mm, wingspan 11.5-14.8 mm (n = 3); head white, frons with appressed scales, vertex and scapes with semi-erected scales; labial palpi as long as eye-diameter, straight, white and with brown patch on second segment; unscaled proboscis yellow-brown; antennae filiform, 0.5 of forewing length, finely ciliated on ventral side; fore-tibia with epiphysis, tarsomeres of fore and mid-legs pale brown on dorsal side, hind legs white, spurs 0.2.4.; forewing white, with small, black scales on termen and in cell forming short, indistinct or distinct patches in basal half; hindwings white, fringes white; wing venation with accessory cell in forewing and M present in cell, R4 and R5 with a short stalk, originating from distal end of accessory cell; hindwing with M3 and Cu1a confluent over short distance; one frenular bristle in male, two in females; retinaculum with white scales on underside of Sc.

Male genitalia (Figs 21-23 ). Tergal plate of segment VIII tapering from broad base towards an acute apex in dorsal view; pleurae membranous, simple, not lobe-like; segment IX vestigial, uncus and gnathos absent, valvae long, dorsal process broad, elongate, directed dorsad and laterad, length of apical part longer, somewhat curved dorsad, rounded apically; phallus with large bulbus ejaculatorius and short, sickle-shaped phallus, connected sub-basally with anellus.

Female genitalia (Figs 24-26 ). Tergum VII with median, shallow groove extending to caudal margin; sternum VIII slightly overlapping with tergum laterally; distal margin of sternum VII in ventral view slightly asymmetrical, ostium bursae on tip of henia, originating in central position of inter-segmental membrane, ductus bursae shorter than bursa, small bulla seminalis present, signa in oval bursa copulatrix absent.

Biology.

Host plant unknown. Adults have been collected at the lights in March and June at elevations of 800-900 m and at lower elevations.

Distribution.

Iran and Pakistan.

Remarks.

The male specimen from Pakistan, widely separated geographically from the localities in south Iran, is associated with H. schaeuffelei by observing the presence of a forked R4 and R5 in the forewing, a character, which is unique and unknown from other species of Galacticidae in the region.

Figures

Figures 1 - 8. Adults of Homadaula spp. 1 - 2. H. caradjae (Walsingham), male paralectotype and label; 3 - 4. H. punctigera (Rebel), male and label; 5 - 6. H. schaeuffelei (Amsel), female paratype and label; 7. H. schaeuffelei (Amsel), female, Iran; 8. H. schaeuffelei (Amsel), male, Pakistan (photos by W. Mey).

Figures 18 - 26. Male genitalia of Homadaula punctigera (Rebel), 18. Lateral; 19. Dorsal; 20. Ventral; 21 - 23. Male genitalia of H. schaeuffelei (Amsel); 21. Lateral; 22. Ventral; 23. Dorsal; 24 - 26. Female genitalia of H. schaeuffelei (Amsel); 24. Ventral; 25. Segment VII dorsal; 26. Lateral.