Lygephila lubrica lubrica (Freyer, 1846)

Pekarsky, Oleg, 2014, Taxonomic studies of the Lygephila lubrica (Freyer, 1842) species complex with notes on other species in the genus (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Toxocampinae), ZooKeys 452, pp. 107-129 : 109-110

Lygephila lubrica lubrica (Freyer, 1846) Figs 1-10

Ophiusa lubrica Freyer, 1846, Neuere Beiträge zur Schmetterlingskunde mit Abbildungen nach der Natur. 6: 7, Tab. 483, fig. 4. (TL: not given)

Lygephila lubrica sublubrica (Staudinger, 1896);

Toxocampa lubrica var. sublubrica Staudinger, 1896, Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift Iris 8: 271. (TL: [Mongolia, Uliastai], Uliassutai)

Type material examined.

Lygephila lubrica sublubrica (Staudinger, 1896), Type ♂, [Mongolia, Uliastai], Uliassataj, slide No. WB12 (coll. MNHU).

Additional material examined.

2 ♂♂ & 1 ♀, Russia, C Tuva, W of Ujukskyi Mts, Kamennyi riv. valley, h=800-1000 m, 11-20.07.2003, leg. S. Vaschenko, slide Nos: OP1955m, OP2438m, OP1956f (coll. O. Pekarsky); 1 ♂, Russia, Altai Mts, 700 m, Kupchegen, 23-25.VII.2002, leg. Hácz & Juhász, slide No. OP1962m (coll. O. Pekarsky); 1 ♂, Russia, NW Altai Mts, Tigireksky ridge, slide No. AV0907 (coll. A. Volynkin); 1 ♂ Russia, Altai rep., Aktash, 1400 m, 12-14.VIII.2010, leg. R. Yakovlev, slide No. OP2439m (coll. O. Pekarsky); 1 ♀, Russia, SE Altai Mts, Aktash vill., slide No. AV0906 (coll. A. Volynkin); 1 ♂, Mongolia, Central aim., Nr. 1148, leg. Z. Kaszab, slide No. LR1401m (coll. HNHM); 1 ♂, Mongolia, Chövsgöl aimak, Nr. 1128, leg. Z. Kaszab, slide No. LR1402m (coll. HNHM); 1 ♀, Mongolia, Central aimak, 26 km O von Somon Lun, 1180 m, Nr. 260, 3.VIII.1964, leg. Z. Kaszab, slide No. OP2010f (coll. HNHM); 1 ♂ & 2 ♀♀, Mongolia, Selenga aimak, Orhon v., Sir Orhon, 715 m, N49°08'956", E105°15'099", 3-4.07.2004, leg. K. Gaskó, slide Nos: OP2296m, OP2295f, OP2297f (coll. P. Gyulai); 1 ♂, [Kazakhstan], Russia, Uralsk, 1937.VII., ex coll. Velez, slide No. LR1403m, (coll. HNHM); 1 ♂ & 1 ♀, [Kazakhstan], Uralsk, slide Nos: Hacker2536m/ZSM2510m, Hacker2334f/ZSM2508f (coll. ZSM); 1 ♂ & 1 ♀, Russia, S Ural, Orenburg reg., Donskoe vill., Verbljushka Mt., 25-29.6.2009, leg. L. Srnka, slide Nos: OP2124m, OP2125f (coll. O. Pekarsky); 4 ♂♂ & 1 ♀, Russia, Bashkortostan, Yantysh vill., 29-31.VII.2011 slide Nos: OP2005m, OP2007m, OP2440m, OP2441m, OP2006f (coll. O. Pekarsky); 1 ♂ & 1 ♀, Russia, Kabardino-Balkaria, C Caucasus Mts, Bydyk, 1250m, 18.7.2012, leg. L. Srnka, slide Nos: OP2151m, OP2152f (coll. O. Pekarsky); 1 ♀, Kasakhstan, 40 km W Ust Kamenogorsk, Kalbinski Altai, Monastyri, 600 m, 06.08.1994, leg. Lukhtanov, slide No. OP2013f (coll. P. Gyulai); 1 ♂, Kazakhstan, Boro-Khoro Mts, 30km N of Panfilov, (20 km from Chinese border), N44°29'765" E80°03'848", 1830 m, 30.06.2010, leg. S.K. Korb, slide No. OP2083m (coll. O. Pekarsky); 1 ♂, Kirgizstan, Inner Tjan-Shan, Min-Kush circ., 2300 m, 2.08.2000, leg. I. Pljushtch, slide No. OP2004m (coll. O. Pekarsky); 1 ♂ & 1 ♀, Kyrgyzstan, Naryn reg., Kekemeren river, n., Sarykamysh, 1400 m, 6-8.07.1996, leg. V.A. Lukhtanov, slide Nos: OP2015m, OP2016f (coll. P. Gyulai); 1 ♂, [Kyrhyzstan], Issykkul, Tianschan, 949, ex coll. Kotzsch, slide No. OP2426m (coll. ZFMK); 2 ♀♀, China, Xinyiang [Xinjiang] - Uygur, Boro Horo Shan, Balguntay city, 2000 m, 13.7.1996, leg. Nykl, slide Nos: OP2011f, OP2012f (coll. P. Gyulai); 1 ♂, China, Boro Boro shan, Balguntay city, 2000 m, 13.7.1996, slide No. OP2289m (coll. P. Gyulai); 1 ♀, Aksu Bakalik, Anf. VI.1912, ex coll. Rückbeil, slide No. OP2339f (coll. ZSM); 1 ♂, Aksu Bakalik, Anf. VI.1912, ex coll. Rückbeil, slide No. OP2338m (coll. ZSM); 1 ♂, [China], Aksu, [19]11, 225, ZFMK76/64 Boppard, slide No. OP2427m (coll. ZFMK); 1 ♂, Mongolia, Uliasutai, slide No. 0326Matov (coll. ZISP); 1 ♂, [Mongolia], Uliassatai, 946, ex coll. Kotzsch, 8/57, slide No. OP2428m (coll. ZFMK); 1 ♂ & 1 ♀, SW Mongolia, Hovd aimak, Bodonchijn-Gol basin, Hundij-Gol riv. valley, 1600 m, 46°06'N; 92°30'E, 3.vii.2010, leg. E. Guskova & R. Yakovlev, slide Nos: OP1957m, OP1958f (coll. O. Pekarsky); 2 ♂♂, W Mongolia, Hovd aimak, near Erdene-Buren somon, h=1 400 m, 04.07.2007, leg. Yakovlev R.V. & Guskova E.V., slide Nos: AV0283, AV0285 (coll. A. Volynkin); 1 ♂ & 1 ♀, Mongolia, Hovd Aimak, Altaj Mts, 10 km NE of Dott, 2000 m, 10.08.1996, leg. S. Farkas & I.Zs. Tóth, slide No. OP2290m, OP2291f (coll. P. Gyulai); 2 ♂♂ & 1 ♀, W Mongolia, Hovd aimak, near Erdene-Buren-Somon, 1400 m, 1.07.2010, 2500-2850 m, leg. R. Yakovlev, E. Guskova, slide Nos: OP2350m, OP2351m, OP2352f (coll. O. Pekarsky); 1 ♂, Mongolia, Bulgan aimak, 54 km W of Erdenecant, 1260 m, 104°05' E 47°05' N, 22.07.1987, leg. L. Peregovits, M. Hreblay & T. Stéger, slide No. OP2008m (coll. HNHM); 1 ♂, Mongolia, [Khentii] Chentaj aimak, Tsenkher-Mandal, Modoto, 1600-1800 m, 9-14.07.1984, leg. K. Cerny, slide No. GB2550m, (coll. G. Behounek); 1 ♂, [Russia], Yakovlevka Spas. u., Ussur. kr., 12.VIII.[1]926, [leg.] D’iakonv Filip’ev (in russian), slide No. 0330Matov, (coll. ZISP); 1 ♀, Russia, Primorsky ter., Lesozavodsk reg., Innokentievka, 26-30.VIII.[19]94, slide No. OP2298f (coll. P. Gyulai); 1 ♀, [China], Mien-shan (Prov. Shansi), Obere Höhe ca. 2000 m, 2.8.1937. [leg.] H. Höne, slide No. OP2423f, 2 ♂♂, 9.8.1937, slide Nos: OP2421m, OP2425m, 1 ♂, 13.8.1937, slide No. OP2422m (coll. ZFMK); 1 ♀, [China], Tapaishan im Tsinling, Sued-Shensi, Ca. 3000 m, 17.6.1936, [leg.] H. Höne, slide No. OP2424f (coll. ZFMK).

Taxonomy.

Lygephila lubrica was described in 1846 by Freyer in the genus Ophiusa . The exact type locality was not given in the original paper and also there was no information about the types. In 1896, Staudinger supposed during the description of Toxocampa lubrica var. sublubrica , that Ophiusa lubrica was described by Freyer from Altai: "Freyer sagt von seiner Lubrica nur, dass er sie von Kindermann erhielt; es muss sicher die von diesem Sammler im Altai gefundene Art sein, von der ich drei Stücke aus Lederer’s Sammlung besitze". Based on this assumption the type locality of Lygephila lubrica is most probably "Russian Altai" near Ust-Bukhtarminsk settlement (not existing now), which was located near the junction of the Bukhtarma and Irtysh rivers in the modern territory of Kazakhstan. Staudinger & Wocke (1871) placed this species in the genus Toxocampa , and later Staudinger (1896) described a variation named as sublubrica from Uliastai on the western edge of Khangai Mountains in the western part of Mongolia. The type specimen of sublubrica was not found in the collection of MNHU in Berlin however the genitalia slide made by Edward Wiltshire is in the museum (genitalia slide collection, Figs 27, 28). The current combination - Lygephila lubrica - occurs first in Sheljuzhko (1967) and later in Ronkay (1983). The taxon sublubrica is considered as a subspecies of Lygephila lubrica in these two works. Poole (1989) incorrectly treated Lygephila lubrica (Freyer, 1842) as a new combination, and listed Toxocampa lubrica var. sublubrica Staudinger, 1896 and Toxocampa lubrica var. lubrosa Staudinger, 1901, and have been listed as such in subsequent works (e.g., Goater et al. 2003; Kononenko 2010).

Diagnosis.

The main external distinctive feature of the species is the brownish-grey ground colour of forewings and hindwings. Lygephila lubrica differs from the externally somewhat similar Lygephila lubrosa by its characteristic brownish-grey ground color of the forewings; from Lygephila kazachkaratavika by more unicolorous forewings with a less-developed pattern; and from both related species by its brownish hindwings, which are generally ochreous in the two latter species. The differences in the genitalia structures among the three similar species are easily recognisable in both sexes. In males, the uncus dilation in Lygephila lubrica is wider than in Lygephila lubrosa , but narrower than in Lygephila kazachkaratavika , and the ampulla is more proximal, closer to the middle of the valve, than in the two other species; in the females, the cleft on the posterior margin of the antrum is U-shaped or V-shaped in Lygephila lubrica , whereas in Lygephila lubrosa it is evenly concave; in Lygephila kazachkaratavika the ostium cleft is deep, narrow, slit-like.

Description.

Wingspan 37-50 mm, on average 42-48 mm. Head and body brownish grey; collar dark chocolate brown. Forewing brownish grey, sometimes dark brown; subbasal line indistinct; antemedial line arched, consisting of two elongated patches; medial fascia diffuse, wide and waved, with two costal patches; reniform stigma approximately triangular, dark brown, sometimes with sharp extension at inner corner and with satellite streak-like spots on outer margin; orbicular stigma as small white dot; postmedial line distinct; subterminal line with light fascia; terminal line a black sinuous stripe. Hindwing varies from brown to greyish brown; transverse line distinct; narrow discal spot present on underside; outer dark third with defuse inner margin; fringes as ground color.

Male genitalia (Figs 21 - 32, 39 - 41). Uncus with short stem and dilated distal two thirds, apex with fine tip, anal tube membranous with characteristic oval hardening of tissue - scaphial crown on scaphium and sclerotized fig on subscaphium; valva elongated, relatively wide with parallel margins, valval apex rounded; clasper digitiform, slightly curved towards costa, situated rather far from apex. Aedeagus straight, long, tubular. Vesica globular, multidiverticulate, membranous; 1st subbasal diverticulum small, adjacent to 2nd terminal diverticulum; medial diverticulum large, tapering, with medium-large oblong chamber at base; 1st terminal diverticulum large, more or less wedge shaped with one part densely scobinated and membranous, cauliflower-like, opposite part bears numerous small pockets; 2nd terminal diverticulum tubular, scobinated on top; 3rd terminal diverticulum irregular shaped with large rectangular scobinated basal part and membranous cylindrical extension; 4th terminal diverticulum medium sized, situated between 1st and 3rd medial diverticulum; 2nd subbasal diverticulum small, tubular, sometimes chili-pepper-like (Fig. 41), terminal tube membranous, as long as aedeagus, opening point of terminal tube located subbasally near carina.

Female genitalia (Figs 46 - 57). Ovipositor relatively large, broad, papillae anales hairy with long setae on apical edges. Apophyses anteriores stout, apophyses posteriores thin, longer than apophyses anteriores. Ostium broad, antrum tapering, funnel shaped, posterior margin incised producing large U-shaped cleft; ductus bursae small, inflated with ventral sclerotized ribbon; appendix bursae small; corpus bursae membranous, ovoid.

Distribution.

Siberian. Distributed from Zaporozhie region of Ukraine to Rostov, Samara, Povolzhie regions to Ural of Russia through Kazakhstan, Russian Altai and northern Mongolia.