Phlogophora pectinata ( Warren, 1888 )

Bandyopadhyay, Uttaran, Dey, Rushati, Bhattacharyya, Kamalika, Mallick, Kaushik, Mazumder, Arna, Gayen, Subrata, Das, Moumita, Raha, Angshuman, Sanyal, Abesh Kumar, Kumar, Vikas, Uniyal, Virendra Prasad & Chandra, Kailash, 2021, Taxonomy and ecology of genus Phlogophora Treitschke, 1825 (Lepidoptera Noctuidae) in Indian Himalaya with description of a new species, Zootaxa 5004 (2), pp. 311-342 : 327

Phlogophora pectinata ( Warren, 1888)

[ Fig. 12 , 39, 40 ]

Euplexia pectinata Warren, 1888 , Proc. Zool. Soc.: 308.

Euplexia pectinata Warren : Hampson, 1908, Cat. Lepid. Phalaenae Br. Mus., 7: 221.

Phlogophora pectinata (Warren) : Yoshimoto, 1994, in Haruta, Tinea , 14: 110.

Type locality: Thundiani [ Pakistan]

Material examined: India: 1 ♀, Himachal Pradesh, Dist. Kullu, Great Himalayan National Park, Dhel , 31.75618° N, 077.46146° E, 3567 m, 29. VIII. 2016; coll. A. K. Sanyal & team ; 1 ♀, Ropa FRH, 31.76558° N, 077.35765° E, 1515 m, 19. IX. 2019; coll. K. Mallick & team .

1 ♂, 1 ♀, Uttarakhand, Dist. Chamoli, Valley of Flowers National Park, Ghangaria , 30.70122° N, 079.59402° E, 3128 m, 28. VIII. 2016; coll. H. Kumar.

1 ♀, Sikkim, Dist. West Sikkim, Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve, Yuksom , 27.37864° N, 088.22087° E, 1879 m, 20. XI. 2019 , 1 ♀, 23. XI. 2019; coll. A. K. Sanyal & team.

1 ♂, West Bengal, Dist. Darjeeling, Singalila National Park, Meghma , 27.01586° N, 088.08993° E, 2733 m, 18. V. 2018; coll. K. Bhattacharyya & team .

1 ♀, Arunachal Pradesh, Dist. Tawang, Lumla , 27.52915° N, 091.71025° E, 2427 m, 14. IX. 2016; coll. J. Saini ; 2 ♀♀, Dist. Dibang Valley, Dihang Dibang Biosphere Reserve, Mayodia , 28.23309° N, 095.90814° E, 2463 m, 29. XII. 2016; coll. S. Gayen ; 3 ♂♂, Malini Camp , 28.68275° N, 095.15980° E, 1870 m, 27. XI. 2017 ; 1 ♂, 28. XI. 2017; coll. N. Singh.

Diagnosis: Wing expanse: Male: 32–34 mm, female: 34–36 mm. P. pectinata is typically identified by the pectinated antenna in males, whereas in female it is filiform. It closely resembles P. albovittata in outer morphology. The major differences are observed in the forewing of the two species having a distinct black spot conjoined with the basal patch in case of albovittata whereas it is disjunct from the basal area in pectinata ; the submarginal sinuous line is distinctly defined in pectinata whereas it is completely absent in albovittata . Hindwing completely fuscous unlike albovittata where the basal and inner area are whitish.

Male genitalia: Uncus short; valva spindle shaped; harpe and digitus longer compared to albovittata ; the vesica is typically characterized by well distributed patch of small cornuti.

Distribution: India: Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana, Tamil Nadu ( Hampson 1908). Global: Pakistan, Nepal ( Warren 1888; Yoshimoto 1994).

Bionomics: Widely distributed species ranging throughout Himalayas from North-Western to Eastern Himalaya, Western Ghats and Semi-Arid region, preferably in the altitudinal zone of 1500–3500 m in Himalaya, in wide ranging habitat types from Chir Pine Forest to sub-alpine Birch- Rhododendron Forest. The species was recorded from a comparatively broad range of mean annual temperature from 4.6–16 ºC and an annual precipitation range of 1000–2300 mm. Although recorded throughout the year, maximum abundance was detected mainly in the month of November.

Figures

FIGURES 11–18. Habitus images of Phlogophora spp. 11. Phlogophora albovittata (Moore, 1867); 12. Phlogophora pectinata (Warren, 1888); 13. Phlogophora subpurpurea Leech, 1900 (dorsal); 14. Phlogophora subpurpurea Leech, 1900 (ventral); 15. Phlogophora calamistrata (Moore, 1882); 16. Phlogophora plumbeola (Hampson, 1894); 17. Phlogophora striatovirens (Moore, 1867); 18. Phlogophora discisignata (Moore, 1867)*. *Image procured from Dr Péter Gyulai, Hungary, through personal correspondence.

FIGURES 39–46. Male genitalia images of Phlogophora spp. 39–40. Phlogophora pectinata (Warren, 1888), Uttarakhand, Gen. prep. WHLEP_133; 41–42. Phlogophora subpurpurea Leech, 1900, Uttarakhand, Gen. prep. AS/CK31/3/03.VI.18/8; 43–44. Phlogophora calamistrata (Moore, 1882), Sikkim, Gen. prep. KB/DZ19/1/24.XI.19/11; 45–46. Phlogophora plumbeola (Hampson, 1894), Uttarakhand, Gen. prep. GLA_4.2.