Introduction

The genus Lepidoneura was established by HAMPSON in 1896 with the type-species Antigastra longipalpis Swinhoe, 1894. It includes 3 species, namely L. longipalpis (Swinhoe, 1894), L. africalis Hampson, 1899 and L. grisealis Hampson, 1900 (NUSS et al., 2003-2015). L. grisealis was described from Kuldja (China). However, HAMPSON (1900) based his morphological description on the male only, stating that the type specimen was in Staudinger collection. We therefore asked, Dr. Wolfram Mey (Museum Für Naturkunde Berlin) to compare the type specimen with our Turkish examples but he responded that: “The type specimen of L. grisealis was formerly to be deposited in the Staudinger collection. However, the type was destroyed by burning together with other material on the ship that should return the loan from the Staudinger collection (see AMSEL, 1952). We do not have additional material of this species in our collection”.

The capture of three examples of L. grisealis (2 ♂♂ and 1 ♀) during 2015 in south-east Turkey, during the course of a longer term examination of the Pyraloidea fauna of that country, allows us to recognize the female and to describe and illustrate the genitalia of both sexes for the first time.

Material and methods

Adult moths, comprising 2 males and 1 female, were collected from Siirt Province (south-eastern Turkey) using light traps. These specimens were assessed against Hampson’s original description and then were compared with examples in Vienna Museum (NHMW), which were stated by ZERNY (1914), in terms of both morphology and genitalia, to belong to this species. As a result, it wasconcluded that the Turkish moths belong, with certainty, to Hampson’s L. grisealis. Genitalia wereprepared using standard procedures according to ROBINSON (1976).

Results

Lepidoneura grisealis Hampson, 1900

Material examined: Turkey, 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Siirt Prov., 1 ♀, Botan valley, 700 m, 9-VII-2015 (G.P.2015-56 E.S.); 1 ♂, Rirvan, Tangoli, 900 m, 25-VIII-2015; 1 ♂, Rirvan, Nergizli, 650 m, 4-VII-2015(G.P. 2015-26 E. S.) leg. E. Seven. 1 ♂, “Asia centr. Jill-Gebiet, Umg. Djarkent, Coll. Wagner“ (GP.1653 Slamka, coll. NHM Vienna); 1 ♀, (“Issyk-Kul, Zentral Asien, v. Stummer, ’00”) (G.P. 1742Slamka, coll. NHM Vienna).

Adult (Figs. 1-4): We have been unable to discern any differences in the external characters of the two sexes of L. grisealis and conclude that the sexes are identical in this regard. In the original description of HAMPSON (1900), is mentioned only a single male and is not known if Hampson had to disposal another specimen.

Male genitalia (Figs. 5-6): Uncus elliptical with dense hairs. Tegumen narrow. Tuba analis prominent. Valvae well developed, costa slightly concave, with sclerotized line up to about 2/3 of costa, apex rounded but costal side slightly inclined, fibula (clasper) well developed covered by short scales. Juxta V to U-shaped, apex of lateral components spined. Saccus developed, almost V-shaped. Aedeagus slightly curved, with numbers of short cornuti.

Female genitalia (Figs. 7-8): Papillae anales cylindrical triangular. Apophyses posteriores about half the length of apophyses anteriores. Antrum hemispherical, partly sclerotized, colliculum broad, strongly sclerotized. Ductus bursae narrow, membranous, approximately as long as the bursa copulatrix. Bursa copulatrix nearly elliptical, membranous, signum rhomboid and thin from junction points towards apex. Appendix bursae membranous, well developed.

Discussion

So far, L. grisealis is known from Kuldja (China) (HAMPSON, 1900) and Issyk-Kul (Kyrgyzstan) and Ili territory (“Djarkend”) (ZERNY, 1914) and so its discovery in Turkey constitutes an interesting record in terms of its global distribution.

The possibility that it might be a new species, or perhaps a new subspecies, was clearly a consideration. However, overall morphology remains constant across the three regions. Detailed examination of the genitalia of three male specimens specified in the study, suggests that there may be variation in terms of numbers, shape and position of cornuti within the aedeagus, in female from Central Asia is colliculum longer than in female from Turkey. This is an area that clearly requires further examination before the precise taxonomic relationship among the populations in each of the three relatively disjunct areas of occurrence can be determined. More specimens are required.

Of interest is that there is an image of an alleged example of L. grisealis, labelled “Cotype, Stgr.” on the website of The “Grigore Antipa” National Museum of Natural History Bucharest (STAN, 2016). The second Author was able to examine this specimen and determined that it is a species of Eudonia Billberg, 1820 (Scopariinae).

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Sabine Gaal-Haszler for provision of material from Natural History Museum in Vienna (Austria).and to Mihai Stanescu (The “Grigore Antipa” National Museum of Natural History Bucharest, Romania) for sending the specimens for study. To Wolfram Mey (Museum Für Naturkunde Berlin, Germany) for valuable information concerning to type specimen of L. grisealis and finally to Colin W. Plant, Bishops Stortford, England-for linguistic help.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

AMSEL, H. G., 1952.– Über einige von Hampson beschriebene palaearktische Pyraliden (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae).– Mitteilungen der Münchener Entomologischen Gesellschaft, 42: 40-70.

HAMPSON, G. F., 1896.– Moths.– In W. T. BLANFORD. The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma, 4: i-xxviii, 1-594. Taylor & Francis, London.

HAMPSON, G. F., 1899.– A revision of the moths of the subfamily Pyraustinae and family Pyralidae, Part II.– Proceedings of the General Meetings for Scientific Business of the Zoological Society of London (1): 172-291.

HAMPSON, G. F., 1900.– New Palaearctic Pyralidae.– Transactions of the Entomological Society of London: 369­401.

NUSS, M., LANDRY, B., MALLY, R., VEGLIANTE, F., TRÄNKNER, A., BAUER, F., HAYDEN, J., SEGERER, A., SCHOUTEN, R., LI, H., TROFIMOVA, T., SOLIS, M. A., DE PRINS, J. & SPEIDEL, W., 2003-2015.– Global Information System on Pyraloidea. Available from https://www.pyraloidea.org (accessed 31st October 2016).

ROBINSON, G. S., 1976.– The Preparation of slides of Lepidoptera genitalia with special reference to the Microlepidoptera.– Entomologist’s Gazette, 27: 127-132.

STAN, A., 2016.– Institutul Nat,ional al Patrimoniului, Direct,ia Patrimoniu Mobil, Imaterial ri Digital. MuzeulNat,ional de Istorie Naturala˘ “Grigore Antipa”-Bucurerti. Available from https://www.clasate.cimec.ro/detaliu.asp?tit=Lepidoneura-grisealis—Lepidoneura-grisealis-Hampson-1900&k=208122F3706C417680CB60CAEDF78E3F. (accessed 28th October 2016).

ZERNY, H., 1914.– Über paläarktische Pyraliden des k. k. naturhistorischen Hofmuseums in Wien.– Annalen des (K. K.) Naturhurhistorischen (Hof) Museums. Wien, 28: 295-348.

Figures

Figures 1-8
1-4. Adults of Lepidoneura grisealis (Hamp.); 1-2. Males; 1. Turkey, Siirt, Rirvan, Nergizli, 650m, 4-VII-2015; 2. “Asia centr. Jil-Gebiet, Umg. Djarkent, coll. Wagner”; 3-4. Females; 3. Turkey, Siirt, Botanvalley, 700 m, 9-VII-2015; 4. “Issyk-Kul, Zentral Asien, v. Stummer, ’00”; 5-8. Genitalia of Lepidoneuragrisealis (Hamp.); 5-6. Male genitalia; 5. Same as 1 (G.P. 2015-26 E. S.); 6. Same as 2 (G.P. 1653 Slamka, coll.NHM Vienna); 7-8. Female genitalia; 7. Same as 3 (G.P.2015-56 E.S.); 8. Same as 4 (G.P. 1742 Slamka, coll.NHM Vienna).

Notes

Author notes

*Autor para la correspondencia / Corresponding autor kesran@gmail.com