Craniophora ligustri, Schiffermuller, 1776

Han, H. L. & Kononenko, V. S., 2010, New species of the genera Acronicta Ochsenheimer, 1816 and Craniophora Snellen, 1867 from China with notes on synonymy and checklist (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae: Acronictinae), Zootaxa 2678 (1), pp. 48-68 : 64

Craniophora ligustri ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)

( Figs. 16 , 26, 30 )

Noctua ligustri [Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775, Ankündung eines Systematisches Werkes von den Schmetterlinge der

Wiener Gegend: 70 (Type-locality: [ Austria], Vienna district]). Synonymy: litterata Panzer, 1804; coronula Haworth, 1809; gigantea Draudt, 1937 ; carbolucana Hartig, 1968. Craniophora ligustri gigantea Draudt, 1937 , Entomologische Rundschau 54(30–32): 375, illustrated in Draudt 1950, pl.

1, fig. 10. Type material reported: "Likiang Nord-Yuennan, im July, August".

Material examined. Lectotype. Male lectotype (designated herein to promote stability of the name, preserved in ZFMK) with labels: " Holotype Craniophora ligustri gigantea Draudt female Tapaishan im Tsiling Sued-Shensi [Shaanxi], ca. 1700m 13. VIII 1930 H. Höne / Craniophora ligustri gigantea Draudt female". (male!). Non type specimen: 1 female Likiang ca. 2000 m Prov. Nord Yuennan 11.x 1934 H. Höne (misidentified specimen of Craniophora harmandi (Pojuade, 1898) .

Notes. The specimen indicated as " Holotype, female" by Draudt in fact is a male. This specimen later was illustrated by Draudt (1950). The label data of the “ holotype ” does not correspond with the locality in the original description. However we select this specimen as lectotype, following Draudt’s indication. Comparison of the male genitalia of C. ligustri gigantea with European and Japanese specimens of C. ligustri shows they are conspecific. The other specimen, collected in Likiang on October 11 is a misidentified female of C. harmandi .

Bionomics. Mesophilous species, common in wet lowland deciduous and mixed forest where Fraxinus , Ligustrum and Syringa are abundant. Univoltine, bivoltine in warm years. The moth flies from V to VIII. Larvae feed mainly on Ligustrum , Syringa , Fraxinus (Oleaceae) ; mature larvae recorded also on Betulaceae , Corylaceae , Aceraceae , Elaeagnaceae , Viburnaceae . Overwinters as pupa.

Distribution. Europe, Near East, Caucasus and Transcaucasia, European Russia, Far East, to Sakhalin and Primorye terr., China, Korea, Japan.

Figures

FIGURES 11–16. Craniophora ssp., adults. 11. C. draudti, male, holotype (ZFMK); 12. C. tapaishana, male, lectotype (ZFMK); 13. C. simillima, lectotype (ZFMK); 14. C. pacifica, male Russia, Primorye (IBSS); 15. C. pacifica, female Russia, Primorye (IBSS); 16. C. ligustri, male Russia, Primorye (IBSS).

FIGURES 24–30. Craniophora ssp., male and female genitalia. 25. C. pacifica, prep. 3010 VK (IBSS); 26. C. ligustri, prep. 1850 VK (ZFMK); 27. C. tapaishana, paralectotype, prep. 1867 VK (ZFMK); 28. C. simillima, prep. 1965 VK (ZFMK); 29. C. pacifica, Russia, Primorye, VK; 30. C. ligustri, N China, prep. HHL.