Grammia kodara, DUBATOLOV & SCHMIDT, 2005

Schmidt, B. Christian, 2009, Taxonomic revision of the genus Grammia Rambur (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Arctiinae), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 156 (3), pp. 507-597 : 533-534

GRAMMIA KODARA DUBATOLOV & SCHMIDT ( FIG. 12)

Grammia kodara Dubatolov & Schmidt, 2005: 53 .

Type material: Holotype male from Mezhded’ , Sul’ban River , Kodar Station , Kodar Range, Chita Province, Russia [ SZM]; male and female paratype in USNM [examined].

Diagnosis: Grammia kodara is most similar to G. quenseli , G. philipiana , and G. virguncula . However, in kodara the broad longitudinal line between the cubital and anal vein of the forewing does not usually reach the distal margin; the dark smoky hindwing colour also distinguishes G. kodara males from those of G. virguncula and G. philipiana . Grammia quenseli is smaller overall with more reduced eyes, shorter male antennal rami and pale not black antennae. Internally, the long male vesica of G. kodara is unique within this group. Holarctia obliterata is superficially similar, but has a yellow or yellow-orange rather than dusky hindwing, in addition to the substantial genitalic differences discussed under Holarctia .

Description: Head – Palps black or yellowish buff, frons yellowish buff, vertex black centrally, yellowish buff along sides; male antennae moderately bipectinate, longest rami relatively short (2.96 ¥ 10 - 1 mm, N = 1 male); female antennae moderately biserrate; dorsal scales black; eyes strongly reduced and elliptical (diameter = 6.11 ¥ 10 - 1 mm, N = 1 male); gena exposed at eye margins. Thorax – Vestiture black with relatively narrow, yellowish buff borders on vertex, patagia, and tegulae; black ventrally, coxa and femur black centrally, yellow at base and apex, giving striped appearance; tibia and tarsus pale buff dorsally, black ventrally. Abdomen – Dorsal ground colour yellowish, pale buff near apex; medial and lateral markings black; black ventrally, abdominal segments bordered yellowish buff distally. Forewing – forewing length 12–16.5 mm (male), 17–19.8 mm (female); black dorsally, vein lines complete, yellowish white; postcubital line not reaching distal margin; basal and antemedial band absent; medial band usually restricted to discal cell; postmedial band absent or restricted to discal cell; subterminal band reduced or complete; fringe, anal margin and basal 2/3 of costal margin yellowish, concolourous with remainder of line markings; ventral markings similar, slightly more diffuse. Hindwing – Ground colour yellow or entirely grey, black markings well developed, often confluent; antemedial markings smeared basad; ventrally, pale medial area brighter than dorsal side, lacking cast of dark grey scales. Male genitalia – Distal portion of valve gradually tapering to rounded apex, slightly curved ventrocaudad; clasper poorly developed, median ridge reduced; uncus broad-based, process evenly tapered to point; juxta roughly equally high as wide; aedeagus with dorsad curve at 2/3 distance beyond base; vesica with basal and medial chamber approximately equal in length and width; distal chamber relatively large, kidney-shaped; vesica overall longer than aedeagus. Female genitalia – Not examined.

Biology: Adult collection dates range from mid June to mid July. This species is only known from the type series, and the apparent rarity may be a result of the diurnal activity of the adults as indicated by the extremely reduced eyes. The immature stages are unknown.

Distribution: So far recorded only from the vicinity of the type locality in the Kodar Mountain Range east of Lake Baikal, Chita Province, Russia.

Molecular variation: Two sequenced specimens showed very similar haplotypes, but with a minimum interspecific divergence of 2.7% ( Table 2). Three other haplotypes, one each of G. quenseli , G. williamsii , and G. virgo ( QE 1, WI1, VI 14, or ‘QWV’), were most similar to G. kodara , together forming the Kodara lineage ( Fig. 133 ). The QWV haplotypes were highly divergent from the remainder of these species’ haplotype complements, but the significance of this is unclear. The morphological and ecological data suggest G. quenseli could be the sister species to G. kodara (see ‘Phylogeny’ at end of section), in which case QWV may represent the native, or at least an ancient, lineage of G. quenseli with introgression into G. williamsii and G. virgo . Additional sampling would be required to test this hypothesis.

Remarks: This is the only species of Grammia that is known to be restricted to the Palaearctic region.

Figures

Figure 133. Neighbour-joining tree of cox1 ‘barcode’ haplotypes of Grammia species and Holarctia obliterata. Two-letter codes correspond to the species name in a given lineage. The Kodara Lineage includes Grammia quenseli (QE1), Grammia williamsii (WI1), and Grammia virgo (VI14) haplotypes. Haplotypes of the Western and Eastern lineages are shown separately in Figs 134 and 135, respectively. Numbers in parentheses indicate number of sampled specimens.