Lygephila kazachkaratavika Stshetkin YuL & Stshetkin YuYu, 1994 [1997]

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 : 114-115

Lygephila kazachkaratavika Stshetkin YuL & Stshetkin YuYu, 1994 [1997] stat. n. (TL: Kazakhstan, Balamurum) Figs 11 -16

Lygephila lubrosa kazachkaratavika Stshetkin YuL & Stshetkin YuYu, 1994 [1997]

Type material examined.

Neotype (here designated) male (Fig. 11), 1 ♂, [Kazakhstan], Balamurum, Kara-tau, 1909.VI.21, leg. Koshantshikoff [Kozhantshikov], ex coll. John, slide No. OP2009m (coll. HNHM Budapest).

Additional material examined.

1 ♀, label1: [Kyrgyzstan], Asia Centr., (Issykul), 1896, revers label1: Toxocampa, von R. Tancré, 5.98, ex. coll. Püngeler, slide No. OP1981f (coll. MNHU); 1 ♂, [Kyrgyzstan], Issi-Kul, slide No. OP2067m (coll. NHMW); 1 ♀, label1: [Kazakhstan], Syr-Daria, Baigacum, Koshantschikoff, revers label1: 20.6.13, label2: 21/6, 1913, 3/7; 1 ♀, label1: [Kazakhstan], Syr-Daria, Baigacum, Koshantschikoff, revers label1: 21.6.13, label2: 21/6, 1913, 4/7; 1 ♀, label1: [Kazakhstan], Syr-Daria, Baigacum, Koshantschikoff, revers label1: 22.6.13, label2: 22/6, 1913, 5/7, ex. coll. Püngeler, slide No. OP1932f (coll. MNHU); 1 ♀, label1: [Kazakhstan], Syr-Daria, Baigacum, Koshantschikoff, revers label1: 23.VI.13, label2: 23/6, 1913, 6/7, ex. coll. Püngeler, slide No. OP1980f (coll. MNHU); 1 ♂, Kazakhstan, Taldy-Kurgan reg., Ili riv., Boroghudsir, 450m, 7-19.06.1996, slide No. OP2017m (coll. P. Gyulai).

Taxonomy.

Described as subspecies of Lygephila lubrosa . It is known that the author did not visit the museum collection of ZIN (ZISP) before writing his article on Lygephila and did not designate a holotype (personal comment of A. Matov). Also, potential type material of Lygephila lubrosa kazachkaratavika has not been found in any of the private collections where Stchetkin YuL’s material was purchased. So, the holotype most likely was never designated. To ensure stability of nomenclature and identification of the taxon it is necessary to designate neotype. A specimen from Kozhantshikov’s material preserved in the HNHM Budapest with the same label data as published in original description is hereby designated as neotype.

Diagnosis.

Easily separable from Lygephila lubrica and Lygephila lubrosa by the very contrasting, well-developed pattern on the forewings. In the male genitalia, it differs from all close relatives by its wider dilatation of the uncus, and the more acute apex of the valva (males); the longer antrum with a deep slit-like cleft on the posterior margin is diagnostic for females.

Description.

Wingspan 41-44 mm. Head and body brownish grey; collar dark chocolate brown. Forewing contrastingly marked, variable in coloration from mottled light greyish brown to uniform dark brown; noctuid pattern well developed; subbasal line traceable; antemedial line arched, consisting of three elongated patches edged by light fascia basally; medial shade waved, bifurcated from below cell to anal margin, with two costal patches; reniform stigma somewhat triangular, black, sometimes with satellite streak-like spots on outer margin; orbicular stigma absent; postmedial line distinct; subterminal line with light fascia; terminal line a row of black dots. Hindwing ochreous; transverse line distinct; small discal spot present on underside; border between pale proximal part and dark outer third diffuse; fringes ochreous.

Male genitalia (Figs 37, 38, 42, 43). Uncus stem short, stout, distal part dilated, terminated in fine tip; anal tube membranous with oval hardening of tissue - scaphial crown on scaphium and with sclerotized fig on subscaphium; valva elongated, relatively wide with parallel margins in the middle and convergent basally and distally; clasper digitiform, undulate, placed subapically, not reaching costa. Aedeagus straight, long, tubular, with small sclerotized fig on ventral side of carina. Vesica globular, multidiverticulate, membranous; basal diverticulum small; medial diverticulum large, cupola shaped with two hemispherical chambers medially and basally; 1st terminal diverticulum large, more or less wedge shaped, with one part densely scobinated and membranous cauliflower-like, opposite part bearing numerous small pockets; 2nd terminal diverticulum tubular, elongated, scobinated on top; 3rd terminal diverticulum medium sized with lateral bulging; 4th terminal diverticulum large, conical, situated opposite to 3rd medial diverticulum; terminal tube membranous, as long as aedeagus, opening point of terminal tube located subbasally near carina.

Female genitalia (Figs 62, 63). Ovipositor relatively large, broad, papillae anales hairy with very long setae on apical edges. Apophyses anteriores long and thin, apophyses posteriores thin, somewhat longer than apophyses anteriores. Ostium broad, antrum tapering, funnel shaped, posterior margin deeply incised producing slit-like cleft; ductus bursae small; appendix bursae small; corpus bursae membranous, ovoid.

Distribution.

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan.