Hydria relicta (Herbulot. 1953) Stadie & Fiebig & Rajaei, 2022

Stadie, Dirk, Fiebig, Ralf & Rajaei, Hossein, 2022, Taxonomic review of the genus Hydria H, 1822 (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Larentiinae) in the Middle East, with description of three new species and one new subspecies, Zootaxa 5092 (5), pp. 501-530 : 527-528

Hydria relicta (Herbulot. 1953) comb. n.

( Figs 24–25 )

Eulype relicta Herbulot, 1953 : Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France, 58 (1): 9, ( Kenya, Mt Aberdare, Versant oneset, Maison forestière Kinanagop, 2800 m). Holotype ♂, paratypes 1 ♂, 2 ♀ (in ZSM).

Material examined.

5 ♂, 6 ♀, Kenya, Mt. Kenya East, W Chogoria, 2920m, campsite, 04.x.2001, (Tagfang), 0.10S, 37.25E, leg. L. Kühne, gen. preps (♂) 2334, (♀) 2335/2020 H. Rajaei; all in SMNS ; 3 ♀, Kenya centr[al], Mount Kenya, Rutundu Fishing lodge, S 0°22’22” / E 37°27’39”. 01.– 03.04.2019 LF (e.o.), 3100m, leg. Stadie, Fiebig, Schellhorn, (1 ♀ reared), gen. preps (♀) DS 96-2019, coll. PCDS ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, (paratypes), Kenya, Mt Aberdare , Versant oneset, Maison forestière Kinanagop, 2.600m, 1932-33, [legit] P. A. Chappuis & E. Jeannel ; 1 ♀, Kenya, Mount Kenya, Rutunga road, Juniper / Hagenia forest, Fynbos mosaic, S 0.04806 / E 38.2175, 16.IX.2009, 2,900m, leg. H. S. Staude, BC ZSM Lep 42792 ; 1 ♀, Kenya, Mount Kenya, Rutunga road, moorland, 3,155m, S 0.00889 / E 37.4239, 16.IX.2009, leg. H. S. Staude, BC ZSM Lep 63652;, all in coll. ZSM .

Taxonomic note. Hyrdria relicta comb. n. shows all synapomorphies of the genus Hyrdria including wing venation and most importantly the presence of two areoles in forewing (only one areole in the genus Rheumaptera , see Fig. 1 ); presence of a large coremata on sternum A 8 in H. relicta (like other Hydria species ; very small coremata in Rheumaptera ). Based on those morphological and further biological character combination (see below), herewith we transfer relicta to the genus Hydria .

Distribution. The species is restricted to Mount Kenya and the Aberdare range in central Kenya. Host plant is Berberis holstii , the only Berberis -species that occur in tropical Africa. Though, the hostplant is rather widespread in East Africa ( Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Somalia, Uganda, Malawi), H. relicta has not been recorded elsewhere yet.

Habitat. Hyrdria relicta inhabits xeromontane steppes with fynbos elements ( Protea -species and Ericaceae ) and alpine moorland near or above the timber line between 2,800 –3,200 m. The hostplants occur at not too dry places in steep gorges or along swamp dips ( Figs 80–84 ).

Phenology. The sparse material originates from April, September and October. However, the habitats where this species occurs have day climate conditions without stronger changes around the year. Therefore, we suggest a multivoltine development, with 5–6 generations per year. This hypothesis is supported by rearing under laboratory conditions (pers. observation of the senior author).

Biology. The species was reared under laboratory conditions on Berberis communis . The life cycle of H. relicta is highly similar to other Hydria species of the cervinalis - and montivagata -group, namely behaviour, larval morphology and hostplant (all of them feeding on Berberis species ) (pers. observation of the senior author). Larvae of Rheumaptera species as much as known are broad oligophagous on Salicaceae ( Salix , Populus ), Ericaceae (Vaccinium) , Betulaceae and others and none of them feeding on Berberis species.

Unfortunately, most of the larvae of Hydria relicta were died during the expedition and after few ecdysis. Only two larvae survived and reached L5. After pupation one normal sized female was hatching. The pupal stage lasts for three weeks.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Wing venation. Fig. 1a. Hydria cervinalis; Fig. 1b. Rheumaptera hastate. Pay attention to the presence of two areoles in forewing of Hydria vs. one areole in forewing of Rheumaptera.

FIGURES 16–25. Wing pattern. Fig. 16: Hydria (cf.) sp. n., ♂, Azerbaijan, Talysh, Zuvand (g. prep. DS-05/2012); Fig. 17, H. gudarica, ♀, Spain, Andalusia, Sierra Nevada; Figs 18–19: H. hyrcana bona sp., stat. n.: Fig. 18, ♂, Iran, Schakuh, (g. prep. 1556 H. Rajaei); Fig. 19, syntype ♀, Iran, Hadschiabad [Hajiabad], (g. prep. 1555 H. Rajaei); Fig. 20, H. montivagata montivagata, ♂, Switzerland, Zermatt (g. prep.2328/2020 H. Rajaei); Fig. 21, H. montivagata andalusica, ♀, Spain, prov. Cuenca, M. Universales (g. prep.1459 H. Rajaei); Figs 22–23: H. loebeli sp. n.: Fig. 22, ♂, Turkey, prov. Nigde, Aladag West (g. prep. DS-171/2019); Fig. 23, ♀, Turkey, prov. Malatya, Nemrut dagi (g. prep. DS-181/2019); Figs 24–25, H. relicta comb. n. (Kenya, Mt. Kenya), Fig. 24, ♂; Fig. 25, ♀. a = upperside; b = underside.

FIGURES 78–84. Photos of habitat, larva and adult specimens. Fig. 78. Hydria montivagata andalusica, Spain Sierra Nevada (reared) (photo. DIRK STaDIE); Fig. 79. L5-larva of Hydria montivagata andalusica, Spain Sierra Nevada ex larva (photo DIRK STaDIE); Fig. 80. Habitat of Hydria relicta, a vegetation with a steppic character near the timber line, in fore ground xeromontane steppe with Protea-species and several Ericaceae (montane Fynbos elements) in the background trees of Hagenia abyssinica and Juniperus procera at Rutundu fishing lodge (Mount Kenya) at 3,100m (photo PHILIPP STaDIE, RaLF FIEbIG); Figs 81–83. Habitat of Hydria relicta, area around Rutundu fishing lodge (montane Fynbos elements) Mount Kenya (photo PHILIPP STaDIE, RaLF FIEbIG); Fig. 84. Host plant Berberis holstii of Hydria relicta near Rutundu fishing lodge at Mount Kenya (photo Dirk Stadie).