Zobida bipuncta (Hübner, [1824])

Macià, Ramon, Ylla, Josep, Gastón, Javier, Huertas, Manuel & Bau, Josep, 2022, The species of Eilema Hübner, [1819] sensu lato present in Europe and North Africa (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini), Zootaxa 5191 (1), pp. 1-87 : 50-51

Zobida bipuncta (Hübner, [1824])

Original combination Bombyx bipuncta Hübner [1824] . Sammlung Europäischer Schmetterlinge Bomb.: 68.

T. L.: not stated [Europe].

Material examined. SPAIN: HUELVA: 1 ♂ and 1 ♀, Coto Doñana , Matalascañas, 10 m, 28.ix.2018 J. Pérez leg. ; 1 ♂ and 1 ♀, Palacio de Doñana , Parque Nacional, Almonte, 12 m, 6.ii.2008, 30.ix.2011, R. Laffite leg. ; 6 ♂ and 3 ♀, Estación Biológica , Palacio de Doñana, Almonte, 10 m, 29SQA2397, 4.x.2019, R. Macià leg.

MOROCCO: 12 ♂ and 10 ♀, Korkeichenwald , Kenitra, 50 m, 5.x.2013, F. Gründwald leg. ; 6 ♂ and 3 ♀, Lac de Sidi , Boughaba, Kenitra, 25 m, 14.x.2004, L. Lehmann leg. ; 2 ♂ and 1 ♀, Aït-ou-Mribete , Agadir, 25 m, 14.ix.1999, Seibald leg.

Diagnosis. Unmistakable species, due to the forewings of a greyish brown to pale sandy colour with two welldefined large black spots, one on the costa and the other in submedian área, hindwings, coloured, pale greyishochre or greyish-white. Pelosia muscerda ( Hüfnagel, 1766) , is the only externally somewhat similar species of the European fauna. It can be confused with its African counterparts such as Zobida similipuncta (Hampson, 1914) or Zobida colon (Möschler, 1872) , which have a very similar pattern.

Re-description. Imago ( Figs. 47–48 ). Average wingspan males 27.9 mm (n=10; 26–31 mm); average wingspan females 29.8 mm (n=10; 27–34 mm).

Genitalia ( Fig. 72 ). Male genitalia: Uncus triangular, straight, ending with an acute tip; valvae oval, elongated, narrow and with the cucullus rounded, slightly deviated downwards, not reaching the end of the valvae; sacculus very wide and strongly sclerotised with the terminal process in the form of a thick hook; clasper falciform, with a complex hook-like structure; vinculum short, wide, robust and triangular; juxta V-shaped with thick finger-like arms; aedeagus cylindrical without fascia and cornuti except for a series of tiny spicules covering the vesica. Female genitalia: anal papillae strongly sclerotised with prolongations towards the 8 th segment and long posterior processes; 8 th segment with very short anterior processes and with strongly sclerotised pincer-shaped pieces that extend into the ostium and part of the ductus bursae; ostium bursa small, membranous; lamella postvaginalis symmetrical, cupshaped strongly sclerotised; ductus bursae trapezoid, extremely short and membranous; bursa copulatrix elongated and pointed in its lower part, without signum, with a very large globular process or membranous wart, hence the ductus seminalis begin.

Immature stages ( Fig. 93 ). The last instar larva is 15 to 16 mm long. Cephalic capsule reddish; prothoracic shield with 4 well-defined verrucae. Body with very short setae and dark grey verrucae; dorsal line black, narrow and sinuous, bordered by two clear lines; sides with light grey ground colour, with widespread black spots surrounding the verrucae, mixed with white spots; a single orange sub-triangular spot (M) behind the L2 wart. Spiracles black. Anal shield with indistinct black verrucae. Pupa glossy brown, with dark brown spots on the back of the thorax and abdomen, and with barely perceptible circular depressions on the abdomen. Tip of abdomen rounded, smooth, without cremaster. In pupae of females, the antennae are shorter. The cocoon woven among lichens.

Molecular data. The Zobida bipuncta samples cluster in a well-supported clade (PP=1). The RESL clustering algorithm identifies a single distinct group that does not match any previously published BIN, as no public records for this species had been released before. The distance from other species under study is very large (average TN-dist = 9.81%), justifying the placement in a distinct genus, Zobida .

Biology. Bivoltine, or even trivoltine in favourable environments. Flight period from mid-February to mid-March and again from September to November. Zobida bipuncta occurs in humid and warm biotopes near the coast and marshes; in Morocco it is also found in mountainous areas at middle elevation. Both sexes are attracted to artificial light. The larvae feed on lichens that grow on the ground and tree trunks. In captivity, they accept lichens of family Parmeliaceae as well as artificial diet.

Distribution ( Fig. 118 ). Northwestern coast and central Atlas of Morocco and in a narrow coastal strip in the extreme southwestern part of the Iberian Peninsula.

Figures

FIGURE 72. Zobida bipuncta male and female genitalia, gen. prep. 7311JG, Coto Doñana, Almonte, Huelva (Spain); 7487JG, Coto Doñana, Almonte, Huelva (Spain).

FIGURE 93. Immature stages Zobida bipuncta (picture MH).

FIGURES. 41–48. 41. Katha depressa (Esper, [1787]). Male: Riera del Surreig, Osona (Barcelona), 26.vi.2002, R. Macià & J. Ylla leg.; 42. Female: Santuari de Puiglagulla, Vilalleons, Osona (Barcelona), 7.viii.2006, R. Macià leg.; 43. Wittia sororcula (Hufnagel, 1766). Male: Loma del Rey, Quintanilla Sobresierra (Burgos) Spain, 1050 m, 30TVN41, 28.v.2008, R. Macià leg.; 44. Female: Serra del Turmell, Vallibona (Castellò) Spain, 1080 m, 2.viii.2007, R. Macià & J.Ylla leg.; 45. Pseudokatha rungsi Toulgoët, 1960. Male: Camino de Murguis, Las Entinas, Almerimar (Almería), 4 m, 12.vi.2014, R. Macià leg.; 46. Female: Platja Cuartel Vell, Torre la Sal (Castellón), 3 m, 31TBE54, 5.v.2011, R. Macià leg.; 47. Zobida bipuncta (Hübner, [1824]).Male: P.N de Doñana (Huelva) Spain, 10 m, 2.x.2019 R. Macià leg., 48. Female: P. N. de Doñana (Huelva) Spain, 10 m, 2.x.2019 R. Macià leg.

FIGURES 110–118. 110. Indalia pygmaeola pallifrons; 111. Setema cereola; 112. Nyea lurideola; 113. Muscula muscula; 114. Collita griseola; 115. Katha depressa; 116. Wittia sororcula; 117. Pseudokatha rungsi; 118. Zobida bipuncta.