Itame, HUBNER

Scoble, Malcolm J. & Krüger, Martin, 2002, A review of the genera of Macariini with a revised classification of the tribe (Geometridae: Ennominae), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 134 (3), pp. 257-315 : 279

ITAME HÜBNER

(Figs 11, 111–114)

Itame Hübner, [1823] 1816 . Type species: Geometra vincularia Hübner, [1813] 1796 . Europe. Itama ; Hübner, 1826. [Incorrect subsequent spelling of Itame Hübner. ]

Description

Head. Chaetosemata oval, not strongly extended. Antenna of male and female bipectinate.

Wings (Fig. 11). Grey: forewing with markings as in Figure.

Male genitalia (Figs 111,112). Uncus: setose; horns absent. Valva: sacculus complex, see figure. Vinculum: ventral plate excavated.

Pregenital abdomen ( Fig. 113 ). Sternum A8: octavals in form of small, rounded lobes.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 114 ). Bursa copulatrix: short; corpus bursae globose, with signum present.

Diagnosis. Although the wing colour is broadly similar to many species of Isturgia and Tephrina , the shapes of the sacculus and vinculum in the male genitalia differ. Further differences include the presence of bipectinate antennae in the female as well as the male, and the non-fabaceous foodplant.

Distribution. Southern France, Spain, Portugal, Algeria ( Prout, 1915 –16), Morocco and Tunisia.

Foodplant. Recorded as Rhamnus infectorius (Rhamnaceae) by Prout (1915 –16).

Number of species. We restrict the genus to the type species, I. vincularia , and, probably, I. teknaria Powell & Rungs (in Rungs, 1942: 172). An illustration in Rungs (pl. 1: 8) shows that teknaria has very similar wing markings to vincularia . The species was described from two male specimens, but the genitalia were neither described nor figured.

Although Hodges et al. (1983) included a wide range of North American species in Itame , all will be recombined into various other genera by Ferguson (in prep).

Figures

Figures 111–114. Itame vincularia: 111, ♂ genitalia: 112, detail; 113, sternum A8 of ♂; 114, ♀ genitalia.