Bryophila blepharista ( Boursin, 1954 )

Vargas-Rodríguez, Suraya M., Fibiger, Michael, Honey, Martin R., Ronkay, Gábor, Yela, José Luis, Zilli, Alberto & Ronkay, László, 2020, Bryophila perloides Guenée, 1852 (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Bryophilinae), an overlooked member of the European Noctuidae fauna, with upgrading of Bryopsis Boursin, 1970 to generic level (Taxonomic studies on the western Palaearctic Bryophilinae, No. 1), Zootaxa 4845 (1), pp. 53-70 : 66

Bryophila blepharista ( Boursin, 1954)

( Figs 3c and 7c )

Material examined: Holotype ( Figs 3c and 7c ): 1 male, Taanzoult [Tazoult], Mittel-Atlas, French Marokko, 16. August 1950 (Ch. Rungs leg.) . Paratypes: 1 male, from the same locality and date (Ch. Rungs leg.) , 4 males, Aguelmane de Sidi Ali , Mittel-Atlas 2080 m, 5/ 25 July 1943 (Ch. Rungs leg.) (Coll. Rungs, Boursin and Schwingenschuss) , 1 male, Bahlil , French Marokko, 20. August 1952 (Abdallah leg.) (Coll. Ch. Rungs) . In MNHN .

Taxonomic notes: The species was described from Morocco based on a few male specimens, showing differences in their antennae and certain features of the male genitalia (stout uncus and valval apical section, vesica without cornuti) compared with B. schwingenschussi and B. barbaria ( Boursin 1954) .

External diagnosis: B. blepharista differs from B. perloides externally in the shape of the omega-shaped design, in which the inner marginal line is usually at a higher position in B. blepharista but close to the hind margin in B. perloides . Additionally, B. blepharista shows more or less pronounced antemarginal line, absent or almost absent in B. perloides .

Genital diagnosis: The male genitalia of B. blepharista ( Fig. 7c ) are seemingly stouter than those of B. perloides ( Figs 6a and 6b ), according to the short series of examined specimens; the central clasper is comparatively shorter and gracile in B. perloides , although in both species shows spatulate apex. On the other hand, the uncus of B. blepharista has a narrow stem and incrassate subapical part, exactly like in B. perloides . The sacculus is short and flimsy, like in B. perloides too. Examination of larger series may clarify if these differences are actually interspecific or rather intraspecific. Epiphallus is cylindrical in B. blepharista and conical in B. perloides ; but these differences may be due to different pressure of the cover glass.

Figures

FIGURE 3. 3a. Bryophila squamosa. Lectotype male, High Atlas Mts, Morocco. NHMW. 3b. Bryophila schwingenschussi. Holotype male, Bône, Algeria. NHMW. 3c. Bryophila blepharista. Holotype male, Taanzoult [Tazoult], Morocco. MNHN. 3d. Bryophila blepharista. Paratype male, Middle Atlas Mts, Morocco. MNHN.

FIGURE 7. 7a. Male genitalia of Bryophila squamosa. Lectotype male, HighAtlas Mts, Morocco.Slide No.: RL12464.NHMW. 7b. Male genitalia of Bryophila schwingenschussi. Holotype male, Bône, Algeria. Slide No.: Boursin Schwi30. NHMW. 7c. Male genitalia of Bryophila blepharista. Holotype male, Taanzoult [Tazoult], Morocco. Slide No.: BoursinSchw30. MNHN.

FIGURE 6. 6a. Male genitalia of Bryophila perloides, male, Finca La Molina, Casares, Málaga, Andalusia. Genit, prep. MF, ZMC. 6b. Genitalia of the syntype of Bryophila perloides, designated here as lectotype. Andalusia, Spain. Genit, prep. Gyula M. László, NHMUK, specimen labelled as 010918082. 6c. Male genitalia of Bryophila barbaria. Lectotype male, High Atlas Mts, Morocco. Slide No.: RL12477. NHMW.