Scopula caesaria (Walker, 1861)

Wanke, Dominic, Hausmann, Axel, Lee, Kyung Min, Murillo-Ramos, Leidys, Sihvonen, Pasi & Rajaei, Hossein, 2023, Systematics and integrative taxonomic revision of the tribe Scopulini Duponchel, 1845 in Iran (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Sterrhinae), Zootaxa 5359 (1), pp. 1-96 : 19-20

Scopula caesaria (Walker, 1861)

( Plate 5, Figs 3–7; Plate 13 , Fig. 3; Plate 22 , Figs 6–7).

Acidalia caesaria Walker, 1861 . List of the specimens of lepidopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum 22: 750. Syntypes 5 ♁ (Ceylon [ Sri Lanka]) (in NHMUK, examined).

Scopula caesaria walkeros Wiltshire , [1981], The Journal of Oman Studies , Special Report , 2: 193. Holotype ♁ (northern Oman; Mu’askar al Murtafa’a) ( NMSZ).

Synonymies (for more details on nomenclature see Scoble 1999): Acidalia faeculentaria Mabille, 1880 ( Madagascar); Acidalia obturbata Walker, 1861 ( Ceylon [ Sri Lanka]); Acidalia perfectaria Walker, 1861 (type locality not given); Craspedia rufimixtaria Warren, 1900 (Tenimber [Tanimbar] Islands: Selaru).

Type material examined. Paratype ♀, Ceylon, NHMUK 014173570 , g. prep. NHMUK 012821272 ; in NHMUK.

Additional material examined: 4 ♁/ ♀ (see appendix).

Diagnosis. Wingspan ♁ ♀ 17–22 mm. Scopula caesaria has a unique wing pattern and externally cannot be confused with any other Scopula species in Iran. Ground colour ( Plate 5, Figs 3–7) beige to yellow, with red transverse lines.

In the male genitalia ( Plate 13 , Fig. 3), fibula curved, tapering. Aedeagus basally thin, broadening to the tip, vesica with rear small cornutus. 8th sternite hat-shaped, cerata absent. In the female genitalia ( Plate 22 , Figs 6–7) lamella antevaginalis weakly developed, centrally notched. Ductus bursae short. Signum large, numerous spines around the corpus bursae.

Phenology. Investigated specimens were collected in April (North Oman), June ( South Yemen), October ( Oman) and December ( South Africa).

Biology. Unknown.

Habitat. Investigated specimens were collected at altitudes from 1350 m to 1400 m ( South Africa), at 1500 m ( South Yemen).

Distribution. Investigated specimens in this study from Ceylon ( Sri Lanka), Africa, Yemen and Oman. Reported for southern Iran by Wiltshire (1980).

Remarks. While the occurrence of this species in southern Iran has been reported by Wiltshire (1980), no specimens were found for for Iran in this study. Therefore, the presence of this species in Iran awaits further confirmation.

DNA-barcoding. Nearest species: S. immorata with 9.1 % (see Supplementary Table S1).

Figures

PLATE 13: Figures 1–3. Male genitalia of Scopula species. 1: S. tessellaria ([Iran], Tacht i Suleiman, g. prep. 1260/2022 D. Wanke); 2: S. nigropunctata (Turkey, Giresun, 1: g. prep. 1236/2021 D. Wanke); 3: S. caesaria (a, b: South Africa, Gauteng, Ezemvelo, g. prep. 1224/2021 D. Wanke; c: Oman, Dhofar, Wadi Sha’ath, g. prep. NHMUK 010317472). a = genitalia capsule; b = aedeagus; c = 8th sternite. Scale-bar 1 mm.

PLATE 22: Figures 1–7. Female genitalia of Scopula species. 1: S. ansulata (Iran, Ostan-e Khorasan, Haji Abad, g. prep. 0697/2020 D. Wanke); 2: S. adulteraria bona sp. (Iran, Ostan-e Khorasan, Izmansufla, g. prep. 1255/2022 D. Wanke); 3: S. immorata (Turkey, Erzurum, N-Askole, g. prep. 1226/2022 D. Wanke); 4: S. tessellaria (Kazakhstan, S Kirgyzsay, g. prep. 1242/2021 D. Wanke); 5: S. nigropunctata (Turkey, Giresun, 1: g. prep. 1235/2021 D. Wanke); 6–7: S. caesaria (6: Paratype, Ceylon, Slide NHMUK 012821272; 7: South Yemen, Lahej Governorate, Al Dhala, g. prep. 1287/2022 D. Wanke). Scale-bar 1 mm.