Sciadia dolomitica Huemer & Hausmann

Huemer, Peter & Hausmann, Axel, 2009, A new expanded revision of the European high mountain Sciadia tenebraria species group (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), Zootaxa 2117, pp. 1-30 : 24-25

Sciadia dolomitica Huemer & Hausmann sp. nov. (Figs. 29–32, 40, 48)

Type material. Holotype ɗ, ‘[ Italy] leg. Burmann Ter. merid. Boespitze 3000 m 12.8.1965 ’ ‘P. Huemer G 1415 ɗ’ ( TLMF). Paratypes. Italy: 1 Ψ, Südtirol, W. Dolomiten, Puezgruppe, östl. Puezspitze, 2800 m, 26.vii.1957, leg. Habeler (coll. Habeler/ TLMF); 1 ɗ, 1 Ψ, same data, but mittl. Puezspitze, 2500 m, 3.viii.1957 (coll. Habeler/ TLMF); 1 ɗ, same data, but Roascharte, 2600 m, 3.viii.1957 (coll. Habeler/ TLMF); 1 ɗ, Südtirol, Latemar-Gruppe, 2300 m, 5.viii.1913, coll. Kitschelt ( NHMW); 4 ɗ, Südtirol, Antermojasee, 11.vii.1921 ( ZFMK); 4 ɗ, 1 Ψ, same data, but 15.vii.1924, leg. Daniel; 1 ɗ, Sellajoch, 2000 m, mid vii.1954, leg. Wolfsberger; 1 ɗ, 1 Ψ, Südtirol, Seiser Alm, 10.vii.1921; 1 ɗ, Südtirol, Dolomiten, Vajolethütte, nr. Antermojasee, 4.viii.1911, leg. K. Schawerda ( NHMW); 2 Ψ, Trento, Marmolata-Gruppe, 2600 m, 3.viii.1913, coll. Kitschelt ( NHMW); 1 ɗ, 1 Ψ, Belluno, Le Tofane sotto Rifugio Giussani, 2500 m, 22.vii.1998, leg. Flamigni (coll. Flamigni); 1 ɗ, Dolomiti, coll. Perlini (coll. Museo Civico di Scienze Naturali, Bergamo).

Diagnosis. Sciadia dolomitica sp. nov. is similar to other species with dull and diffuse subterminal fasciae on the underside of the wings, namely S. slovenica and S. innuptaria . The females differ from the latter species by the dark brown rather than grey colour and the weak gloss. Differences to related species, particularly to S. slovenica , are found in the genitalia which are characterized by extremely prolonged ventral juxta lobes and the significantly larger number of cornuti of the male. The females of both taxa strongly differ by the shape of the corpus bursae which is posteriorly not recurved in the new species and furthermore lacks lateral sclerotizations.

Description. Adult (Figs. 29–32). Wingspan ɗ 25–30 mm, Ψ 26–29 mm; apex of forewing weakly rounded in Ψ; ground colour of wings dark greyish-brown, with weak gloss, discal spots rather indistinct on upperside of wings, weakly represented or hardly discernible on underside. Forewing upperside with contrasting to dull antemedial and postmedial lines with indistinct light edging; distal area of forewing sparsely mottled with pale greyish-brown. Underside of wings with diffuse whitish subterminal fasciae, curved towards apex of forewing. Male genitalia ( Fig. 40 ). Apex of uncus moderately broad, slightly rounded; costa of valva without distinct hump; ventral juxta lobes extremely long, slender and digitate, evenly tapered to pointed apex, extending beyond costa of valva; dorsal juxta lobes large, horn-shaped; saccus prominent, stout, bent dorsoposteriad; vesica with about 50 to 60 short to long spine-like cornuti; additional cornutus prominent, horn-shaped with broad base and large and strongly sclerotized distal horn. Female genitalia ( Fig. 48 ). Antrum broadly funnel-shaped and heavily sclerotized, posterioventral margin broadly emarginated, slightly constricted in middle, without specialized lateral sclerotization and inconspicuous transition into subovate corpus bursae; posterior part of corpus bursae heavily sclerotized, particularly ventrally, smooth, posteriorly not overlapping anterior part of antrum; anterior half of corpus bursae membranous; toothed signum well developed, situated in anterior part of corpus bursae.

Distribution. Only known from the Dolomites ( Italy).

Etymology. The specific name, an adjective derived from the latinized dolomitica , refers to the distribution area, which covers the Dolomites.

Remarks. From the Dolomites formerly mentioned under the name Sciadia (= Dasydia) tenebraria e.g., by Schawerda (1924) and Kitschelt (1925).

Figures

FIGURES 37 – 40. Male genitalia of the Sciadia tenebraria species group. 37, S. septaria (Guenée), slide G 1442; 38, S. innuptaria (Herrich-Schäffer), slide G 1413; 39, S. slovenica Leraut, slide G 1414; 40, S. dolomitica sp. nov., holotype, slide G 1415.

FIGURES 45 – 48. Female genitalia of the Sciadia tenebraria species group. 45, S. septaria (Guenée), slide G 1451; 46, S. innuptaria (Herrich-Schäffer), slide G 1436; 47, S. slovenica Leraut, slide G 1428; 48, S. dolomitica sp. nov., paratype, slide G 1434.