Zygaenoprocris eberti (Alberti, 1968)

Efetov, Konstantin A., Hofmann, Axel & Tarmann, Gerhard M., 2014, Application of two molecular approaches (use of sex attractants and DNA barcoding) allowed to rediscover Zygaenoprocris eberti (Alberti, 1968) (Lepidoptera, Zygaenidae, Procridinae), hitherto known only from the female holotype, Nota Lepidopterologica 37 (2), pp. 151-160 : 153-154

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Zygaenidae

Zygaenoprocris eberti (Alberti, 1968)

Description of male

(Fig. 1). Length of body: 5.8-6.5 mm; length of forewing: 8.6-8.9 mm, width: 3.3-3.4 mm; length of antenna: 4.6-5.0 mm. Frons and occiput green with submetallic sheen. Antenna strongly clubbed, thickly covered with shining scales, bipectinate, length of pectination in middle part of antenna 0.7 mm, last segments of antenna with pectination reduced, antennal shaft strongly thickened distally, ratio of width of 4th segment from apex to width of 15th segment is 4. Proboscis well developed, yellow. Tegulae and patagia green with submetallic sheen. Thorax thickly covered with green shiny scales. Forewing upperside bright green with submetallic sheen, thickly covered with shiny scales; underside of forewing grey; fringe grey. Hindwing upper- and underside grey, fringe concolorous. Legs green, thickly covered with shiny scales, foreleg with long tibial epiphysis, hind tibia with one pair of spurs (apical). Abdomen greenish black, thickly covered with shiny scales. The long black hair covers the head, labial palpi, thorax, legs and abdomen.

Male genitalia

(Figs 6, 8). Uncus heavily sclerotized, nearly equal in length to tegumen. Valva without any process. Juxta long, 1.5 times longer than uncus. Phallus slightly curved, long, approximately 3 times longer than uncus, with one long straight cornutus, its length 0.5 times length of phallus, distal part of cornutus very slender, with pointed apex.

Differential diagnosis.

Zygaenoprocris eberti is syntopic and synchronous with Zygaenoprocris (Zygaenoprocris) chalcochlora Hampson, 1900, the type species of the subgenus Zygaenoprocris Hampson, 1900. Externally these two species cannot be distinguished but both differ significantly in their genitalia morphology (Figs 6-8; Efetov and Tarmann 1999, figs 108, 166). In the male the phallus is longer in Zygaenoprocris eberti and the cornutus is large with a characteristic shape (with broad basal part and ending somewhat abruptly in a pointed tip distally). The female of Zygaenoprocris eberti has long, broad and strongly curved (twisted) ductus bursae, whereas Zygaenoprocris chalcochlora has short, narrow and straight ductus bursae.

Remarks.

As shown earlier, males of Zygaenoprocris (Molletia) taftana (Alberti, 1939), were attracted by (2R)-butyl (7Z)-dodecenoate ( Efetov et al. 2011). Males of Zygaenoprocris (Zygaenoprocris) eberti were attracted by (2R)-butyl (7Z)-dodecenoate ( ‘R12’) as well as by the mixture of (2R)-butyl (7Z)-dodecenoate and (2R)-butyl (9Z)-tetradecenoate ( ‘R12+R14’) (Fig. 2). Of the 38 males that were collected at both attractants 28 were taken around or on the R12 pheromone baits and 10 around or on the baits with the mixture of R12+R14. Of the 13 dissected specimens taken at R12, 12 were Zygaenoprocris eberti and only one Zygaenoprocris chalcochlora . All 10 specimens attracted to R12+R14 were Zygaenoprocris eberti . The collecting time was between 13.15-14.15 hours.