Dilar vartianorum H. Aspöck & U. Aspöck, 1967

Li, Di, Aspöck, Horst, Aspöck, Ulrike & Liu, Xingyue, 2019, A review of the pleasing lacewing genus Dilar Rambur (Neuroptera, Dilaridae) from Central Asia, Zootaxa 4671 (1), pp. 35-54 : 43-47

Dilar vartianorum H. Aspöck & U. Aspöck, 1967

( Figs 15–23 , 40–43 , 60–68 )

Dilar vartianorum H. Aspöck & U. Aspöck, 1967: 57 . Type locality: Afghanistan, Nuristan, 25 km N Barikot.

Dilar indicus Monserrat, 1989: 420 . Type locality: India, Jammu and Kashmir, Rampur. syn. nov.

Dilar similis Monserrat, 1989: 419 . Type locality: Pakistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, "Salf-ui-Maluk Sar". syn. nov.

Diagnosis. This species is characterized by the forewing with numerous brown spots that are darker proximally; the male tergum 9 with narrow dorsoprocessus, which is widened and slightly concaved on posterior margin; the male gonocoxite 9 arcuately convex on apex; the male gonocoxite 10 in ventral view distally with an acutely pointed projection.

Description. Male. Forewing length 7.8–11.0 mm, hindwing length 7.2–10.5 mm.

Head yellowish brown, with pale yellow setose tubercles. Compound eyes blackish brown. Antennal socket pale yellow. Antenna brown, flagellum pectinate on most flagellomeres, medial branches much longer than those on both ends, longest branch nearly 2.3 times as long as corresponding flagellomere, distal seven flagellomeres simple.

Prothorax pale yellow, pronotum pale yellow but brown on media portion, medially with a pair of pale yellow ovoid markings; meso- and metathorax yellowish brown, mesonotum yellow, dark brown on anterior and lateral margins, metanotum yellow, darker on median and lateral margins. Legs yellowish brown, femora dark brown at tip. Wings hyaline, slightly smoky brown. Forewing 2.5 times as long as wide, densely spotted, proximal spots slightly darker, arranged irregularly; veins pale yellow. Hindwing 2.8 times as long as wide, almost immaculate.

Abdomen brown. Tergum 9 in dorsal view with an arcuate anterior incision, a nearly U-shaped posterior incision, and an elongate dorsoprocessus leaving a pair of broad hemitergites, which are obtuse distally and densely haired. Dorsoprocessus widened and slightly concaved on posterior margin ( Fig. 40 ). Sternum 9 shorter than tergum 9, arcuately convex posteriad and bearing long setae in ventral view. Ectoproct in dorsal view subtrapezoidal, posterodorsally almost truncate, posteroventrally with a pair of curved bifid unguiform projections (visible in dorsal view) ( Fig. 40 ) and a short feebly sclerotized digitiform processus (visible in caudal view) ( Fig. 43 ). Gonocoxite 9 ( Fig. 41 ) in ventral view shorter than gonocoxite 10, arcuately convex on apex. Gonocoxite 10 in ventral view distally with an acutely pointed projection, but some are obtuse or rounded among conspecific individuals. Gonocoxite 11 forming an arcuate sclerite connecting to bases of gonocoxites 9 and 10. Hypandrium internum subtrapezoidal.

Materials examined. Holotype ♂, Afghanistan: Nuristan, 25 km nördl. Von Barikot, 1800 m, 12– 17.7.1963, leg. E. & A. Vartian & F. Kasy . 1♂, SO-Afghanistan: Nangarhar, Safed Koh , Südseite Kotkai [Nangarhar Province, Safed Koh Mountain], 2350 m, leg. E. & A. Vartian ( HUAC) ; 2♂, India: Jammu and Kashmir, SE Anantnag, Lahin- wan-Margan Paβ [Jammu and Kashmir State, Anantnag District, Margan Mountain], 33.30N 75.30E, 2500–3200 m, 20–22.VII.1980, leg. H., U. & Ch. Aspöck, H. Rausch ( CHRR) ; 1♂, India: Jammu and Kashmir, Tangmarg- Gulmarg [Jammu and Kashmir State, Baramulla District, Tangmarg and Gulmarg, 34.04N 74.25E, 2200–2600 m, 24–29.VII.1980, leg. H., U. & Ch. Aspöck, H. Rausch ( CHRR) ; 1♂, India: Jammu and Kashmir, Waniaram bei, Kangan [Jammu and Kashmir State, Ganderbal District, Kangan Town], 2050–2700 mk, 25–27.VII.1980, Wittmer & Holzschuh leg. / 228 ( CHRR) ; 3♂, 80/10, Kashmir, Kishtwar (Jammu) Palmar-Sonder-Yourdu, ca. 33.30N / 75.30E, 1700–2600 m, 5–16.VII.1980, leg. H., U. & Ch. Aspöck, H. Rausch ( HUAC) ; 2♂, 80/12, Kashmir, Kishtwar (Jam- mu) Palmar-Sonder-Yourdu, ca. 33.30N / 75.30E, 1700–2600 m, 5–16.VII.1980, leg. H., U. & Ch. Aspöck, H. Rausch ( HUAC) ; 1♂, 80/15, Kashmir, Kishtwar (Jammu) Palmar-Sonder-Yourdu, ca. 33.30N / 75.30E, 1700–2600 m, 5– 16.VII.1980, leg. H., U. & Ch. Aspöck, H. Rausch ( HUAC) ; 10♂, 80/16, Kashmir, Kishtwar (Jammu) Palmar-Sonder- Yourdu, ca. 33.30N / 75.30E, 1700–2600 m, 5–16.VII.1980, leg. H., U. & Ch. Aspöck, H. Rausch ( HUAC) ; 10♂, 80/17, Kashmir, Kishtwar (Jammu) Palmar-Sonder-Yourdu, ca. 33.30N / 75.30E, 1700–2600 m, 5–16.VII.1980, leg. H., U. & Ch. Aspöck, H. Rausch ( HUAC) ; 3♂, 80/19, Kashmir, Kishtwar (Jammu), Yourdu-Sarkandu-Inshan, ca.

33.30N / 75.30E, 2200–3200 m, 17–19.VII.1980, leg. H., U. & Ch. Aspöck, H. Rausch ( HUAC) ; 3♂, 80/21, Kashmir, Kishtwar (Jammu), Yourdu-Sarkandu-Inshan, ca . 33.30N / 75.30E, 2200–3200 m, 17–19.VII.1980, leg. H., U. & Ch. Aspöck, H. Rausch ( HUAC) ; 1♂, 80/22, Kashmir , SE Anantnag, Lahinwan-Margan Pass, ca . 33.30N / 75.30E, 2500– 3200 m, 20–22.VII.1980, leg. H., U. & Ch.Aspöck, H. Rausch ( HUAC) ; 2♂, 80/23, Kashmir , SE Anantnag, Lahinwan- Margan Pass, ca . 33.30N / 75.30E, 2500–3200 m, 20–22.VII.1980, leg. H., U. & Ch. Aspöck, H. Rausch ( HUAC) ; 2♂, 80/25, Kashmir , SE Anantnag, Lahinwan-Margan Pass, ca . 33.30N / 75.30E, 2500–3200 m, 20–22.VII.1980, leg. H., U. & Ch. Aspöck, H. Rausch ( HUAC) ; 2♂, 80/33, Indien, Kashmir, Tangmarg-Gulmarg , 34.04N / 74.25E, 2200–2600 m, 24–29.VII.1980, leg. H., U. & Ch.Aspöck, H. Rausch ( HUAC) ; 1♂, Kashmir [ India: Jammu and Kashmir State]: Gul- marg [Town], 2.VII.1931, leg. Fletcher ( NHM) ; 1♂, Kashmir [ India: Jammu and Kashmir State]: Gulmarg [Town], 6.VII.1931, leg. Fletcher ( NHM) ; 3♂, Kashmir [ India: Jammu and Kashmir State]: Gulmarg [Town], 7.VII.1931, leg. Fletcher ( NHM) ; 2♂, Kashmir [ India: Jammu and Kashmir State]: Gulmarg [Town], 9.VII.1931, leg. Fletcher ( NHM) ; 1♂, [ India: Jammu and Kashmir State]: Gulmarg [Town], 10.VII.1931, leg. Fletcher ( NHM) ; 3♂, Kash- mir [ India: Jammu and Kashmir State]: Gulmarg [Town], 13.VII.1931, leg. Fletcher ( NHM) ; 1♂, Kashmir [ India: Jammu and Kashmir State]: Gulmarg [Town], 14.VII.1931, leg. Fletcher ( NHM) ; 1♂, Kashmir [ India: Jammu and Kashmir State]: Gulmarg [Town], 17.VII.1931, leg. Fletcher ( NHM) ; 2♂, Kashmir [ India: Jammu and Kash- mir State]: Gulmarg [Town], 19.VII.1931, leg. Fletcher ( NHM) ; 4♂, Kashmir [ India: Jammu and Kashmir State]: Gulmarg [Town], 26.VII.1931, leg. Fletcher ( NHM) ; 3♂, Kashmir [ India: Jammu and Kashmir State]: Gulmarg [Town], 2.VII.1931, leg. Fletcher ( NHM) ; 1♂, NW-Pakistan: Prov. Swat Kalam [Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Swat District, Kalam Valley], 2000 m, leg. E. & A. Vartian ( HUAC) ; 1♂, Uzbekistan: Vil. Dzhizak, Turkestanisches Geb. , Douba [Jizzakh Region, Jizzakh District] , 39°43'39''N 68°25'5''E, 1350–1600 m, 12–13. VI.1997, leg. H. & R. Rausch / 97/19 ( CHRR) .

Distribution. Afghanistan (Nuristan, Nangarhar), India (Jammu and Kashmir), Pakistan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Uzbekistan (Jizzakh).

Remarks. This species can be distinguished from the other Dilar species from Central Asia by an inconspicuous distal apex on male gonocoxite 9 and the absence or reduction of subdistal projection on male gonocoxite 10 ( Figs 40, 41 ).

Remarkably, this species displays distinct intraspecific variations of the apex of male gonocoxite 10 ( Figs 60–68 ). At the beginning of our examination on a large number of specimens from Kashmir, we were confused by the distinctly different male gonocoxites 10 (particularly the distal part) of some specimens, and we even considered that there might be one or more new species amongst them. However, after careful comparison of the male genitalia of all specimens, we found that such genital differences were continuous among individuals. Of the 68 male specimens we examined, 38 had the apex of gonocoxite 10 produced into a narrow and acutely pointed projection, 17 had the apex of gonocoxite 10 slightly thicker and obtuse at tip, while in the remaining 13 specimens the apex of gonocoxite 10 was feebly produced but slightly swollen and rounded at the tip. Therefore, D. vartianorum represents a rare case in Dilaridae in which the male genitalia are highly varied within the same species.

Dilar similis and D. indicus were originally described from Pakistan and India, respectively, both locations in the region of Kashmir ( Monserrat 1989). Monserrat (1989) claimed that these two species differ from D. vartiano- rum in the shape of dorsoprocessus and the complex of male gonocoxites 9, 10, 11. However, based on the original genital illustrations ( Monserrat 1989), the male gonocoxite 10 distally possesses a distinctly produced spinous apex but lacks a distinct subdistal projection, which is apparently identical to the typical characteristics of D. vartiano- rum. Furthermore, the geographical distributions of these two taxa are largely overlapping with that of D. vartiano- rum. Therefore, we treat D. similis and D. indicus as junior synonyms of D. vartianorum .

Figures

FIGURES 15–23. Dilar vartianorum H.Aspöck & U.Aspöck, males, habitus. Fig. 15: holotype, Afghanistan: 25 km N Barikot; Fig. 16: Northwestern India; Fig. 17: India: Jammu and Kashmir State, Baramulla District, Gulmarg; Fig. 18: India: Jammu and Kashmir State, Baramulla District, Gulmarg; Fig. 19: India: Jammu and Kashmir State, Kishtwar (Jammu), Palmar-Sonder- Yourdu; Fig. 20: India: Jammu and Kashmir State, Kishtwar (Jammu), Palmar-Sonder-Yourdu; Fig. 21: India: Jammu and Kashmir State, Kishtwar (Jammu), Palmar-Sonder-Yourdu; Fig. 22: India: Jammu and Kashmir State, Kishtwar (Jammu) Palmar-Sonder-Yourdu; Fig. 23: India: Jammu and Kashmir State, Kishtwar (Jammu), Palmar-Sonder-Yourdu.

FIGURES 40–43. Dilar vartianorum H. Aspöck & U. Aspöck, male. 40. genitalia, dorsal view, arrow indicating dorsoproces- sus; 41. genitalia, ventral view; 42. genitalia, lateral view; 43. ectoproct, caudal view. e: ectoproct; gx9: gonocoxite 9; gx10: gonocoxite 10; gx11: gonocoxite 11; hi: hypandrium internum. S7–9: sternum 7–9; T7–9: tergum 7–9. India: Jammu and Kash- mir State, Kashmir, SE Anantnag, Lahinwan-Margan Pass.

FIGURES 60–68. Dilar vartianorum H. Aspöck & U. Aspöck, genital sclerites, ventral view, showing intraspecific variations (see habitus photos in Figs 15–23 orderly).