Syzeuxis nigrinotata ( Warren, 1896 )

Li, Jing, Xue, Dayong, Han, Hongxiang & Galsworthy, Anthony C., 2012, Taxonomic review of Syzeuxis Hampson, 1895, with a discussion of biogeographical aspects (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Larentiinae), Zootaxa 3357, pp. 1-24 : 14-15

Syzeuxis nigrinotata ( Warren, 1896)

Figs 11 , 23 , 35 , 41

Aphantoloba nigrinotata Warren, 1896 , Novit. zool., 3: 117. Lectotype 3, India: Khasias [Khasi Hills], here designated. (BMNH)

Syzeuxis nigrinotata: Hampson, 1898 , J. Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc., 12: 75 (as syn. of S. trinotaria ); Prout, 1926a, Novit. zool., 33: 12.

Materials Examined. INDIA: 13, Lectotype (here designated), Khasi Hills (as ‘Khasias’ in original description and labelled as ‘Khasis’), March 1895, nat. coll., Geometridae Genitalia slide no. 20323 ( BMNH). INDONESIA: 13, North-Sumatra, Mt. Sibayak, 1650 m, 6 km, NW. Brastagi, 03˚14'N/098˚29'E, 2 March 2002, leg. K. Larsen & M. Fibiger ( IZCAS, slide no. Geom-00737, ex. Dr. M. Fibiger, Denmark); 1Ƥ, North-Sumatra, Near Sipirok, 1435 m, Danau Marsabut, 01˚37'50''N/099˚20'30''E, 27 February 2002, leg. M. Fibiger ( IZCAS, slide no. Geom-00738, ex. Dr. M. Fibiger, Denmark).

Description. Antennae in male bipectinate, filiform at tip and in female. Labial palpus grayish brown, roughscaled, extending about one half of its length beyond frons in both male and female. Frons, vertex and thorax greyish brown. Wing pattern. Forewing length: 3Ƥ 8 mm. Wings yellowish brown, with diffuse black speckles, denser on hindwing. Hindwing relatively smaller than in other species. Forewing with outer margin under apex distinctly concave; a small dark patch present on base of costa; antemedial and postmedial lines greyish yellow, parallel to each other, forming two triangular black patches on costa; another small dark patch on costa near apex; terminal line black, discontinuous, more distinct from M1 to M3. Hindwing with X-shaped postmedial line, one branch very broad, the other one very narrow. Hindwing in male without basal lobe. Fringes of forewing black where terminal line distinct, yellowish brown on other parts; yellowish brown mixed with sparse black spots on hindwing. Underside: yellowish white, with diffuse black speckles; forewing with lower half much paler; postmedial line black brown, broad, fading away towards inner margin; hindwing similar to upperside. Forewing without areole, R1 to R5 long stalked, arising before upper angle of cell, R1 very shortly touching or connected to Sc after arising from stalk. Male genitalia. Uncus large and broad, slightly concave at apical margin. Socii undeveloped. Gnathos developed, with a large relatively narrow median process with a blunt tip. Valva small, subapical strongly narrowed; costa without process. Juxta undeveloped. Aedeagus broad, with sparse spines subposteriorly around aedeagus. Female genitalia. Region around ostium membranous; ductus bursae long and narrow, without antrum. Corpus bursae long and narrow, slightly broader than ductus bursae, membranous. Signum absent.

Diagnosis. See diagnosis under S. pavonata .

Distribution. India (Khasi Hills), Indonesia (North Sumatra).

Remarks. The type status of this species is quite complex. Warren wrote in his original description ‘Several from the Khasias’, which means that the type series should be considered as syntypes. Prout (1926a) restricted S.

nigrinotata to the male syntype and considered only the single male syntype of S. nigrinotata to be this species. He linked the female syntypes to a new species S. magnidica (see remarks under that species). Parsons et al. (1999) listed the male syntype as a holotype, we do not think that it can be so regarded, given Warren’s original description. We follow Prout’s treatment, and for the avoidance of doubt hereby formally designate the specimen listed above as lectotype.

Figures

FIGURES 2 – 13. Adults. 2. Syzeuxis trinotaria (Moore), female; 3. S. tessellifimbria Prout, holotype, female; 4. S. seminanis Prout, holotype, male; 5. S. extritonaria Xue, holotype, male; 6. S. neotritonaria Xue, holotype, male; 7. S. magnidica Prout, lectotype, male; 8. S. subfasciaria (Wehrli), paralectotype, male; 9. S. heteromeces Prout, holotype, male; 10. S. furcalineas sp. nov., holotype, male; 11. S. nigrinotata (Warren), lectotype, male; 12. S. pavonata sp. nov., holotype, male; 13. S. calamisteria Xue, holotype, female. Scale bar = 1 cm.

FIGURES 20 – 25. Male genitalia. 20. Syzeuxis subfasciaria (Wehrli); 21. S. heteromeces Prout; 22. S. furcalineas sp. nov.; 23. S. nigrinotata (Warren); 24. S. pavonata sp. nov.; 25. S. calamisteria Xue. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURES 26 – 37. Aedeagus. 26. Syzeuxis trinotaria (Moore); 27. S. tessellifimbria Prout; 28. S. seminanis Prout; 29. S. extritonaria Xue; 30. S. neotritonaria Xue; 31. S. magnidica Prout; 32. S. subfasciaria (Wehrli); 33. S. heteromeces Prout; 34. S. furcalineas sp. nov.; 35. S. nigrinotata (Warren); 36. S. pavonata sp. nov.; 37. S. calamisteria Xue. Scale bar = 1 mm (except scale bar = 0.5 mm for fig. 35.)

FIGURES 38 – 42. Female genitalia. 38. Syzeuxis tessellifimbria Prout; 39. S. magnidica Prout; 40. S. heteromeces Prout; 41. S. nigrinotata (Warren); 42. S. calamisteria Xue. Scale bar = 1 mm.