Lygephila lupina (Graeser, 1890) Pekarsky, 2014

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 : 115-117

Lygephila lupina (Graeser, 1890) stat. n. Figs 64, 65

Toxocampa lupina Graeser, 1890, Berliner Entomologische Zeitschrift, 35: 71-84. (TL: [Russia, Judish Autonomy, Radde] Raddefka)

Lygephila mirabilis (Bryk, 1948), syn. n.

Eccrita mirabilis Bryk, 1948 (TL: N Korea, Shuotsu)

Type material examined.

♀ Type, Amur Centr. (Radde), [18]87, ex. coll. Püngeler, slide No. OP1931f (coll. MNHU).

Additional material examined.

1 ♀, [RFE], Ussuriysk dist., Kajmanovka, 20.VII.[19]82, leg. Ivanov, slide No. 0321Matov (coll. ZISP). 1 ♀, [China], Tapaishan im Tsinling, Sued-Shensi, Ca. 1700 m, 14.7.1936, H. Höne, slide No. OP2402f, 1 ♀, [China], Tapaishan im Tsinling, Sued-Shensi, Ca. 1700 m, 10.8.1936, H. Höne, slide No. OP2403f (coll. ZFMK).

Note.

There is a lot of confusion between Lygephila mirabilis and Lygephila vulcanea (Butler, 1881) in the literature with regard to illustrations of the adults and genitalia. The taxonomic clarification of this problem will be given in a separate publication.

Taxonomy.

The identity of Lygephila lupina was unclear for a long time. Lygephila lupina was described, according to the original description, from Radde, central Amur [Khabarovsk region] (Graeser 1890) on the basis of a single male from the collection of Taylor Tancré, in comparison with Lygephila maxima (Bremer, 1861). The Püngeler collection, now in MNHU, contains a female specimen with a type label (Fig. 64). One can be convinced from the information given by the handwriting of Püngeler on the opposite side of the collecting label (made in May 1905) that this is a true type specimen from the Tancré collection and it is a female, not a male. Thus, Graeser was mistaken about the sex of the type specimen. The study of the genitalia of the type specimen reveals that Lygephila lupina is conspecific with the species known as Lygephila mirabilis (Bryk, 1948). Lygephila mirabilis , therefore, is a junior synonym of Lygephila lupina , syn. n.

Diagnosis.

The distinctive features of Lygephila lupina and Lygephila vulcanea (Fig. 66) are given in the works of Sviridov (1990) and Kononenko (1996) (under the names Lygephila vulcanea and Lygephila mirabilis ). The main external differences between the two species are found in the colouration and shape of the forewing: Lygephila lupina is broader winged and paler in colouration, usually ochreous brown to buff coloured, whereas Lygephila vulcanea is darker, deep brown to claret brown, most often with a clearly visible violaceous shade and the forewing apex is somewhat more pointed. In the majority of the specimens the reniform stigma of Lygephila lupina is stronger, sharper, and more distinctly marked against the paler background. The female genitalia differ from those of Lygephila vulcanea (Fig. 69) by the shallower incision of the posterior margin of the antrum.

Description.

Wingspan 44-49 mm. Head and body brownish grey; collar dark chocolate brown. Forewing brownish grey with sparse dark brown irroration; subbasal line indistinct; antemedial line arched with costal patch; reniform stigma large, dark brown, consists of 5 or 6 streak-like spots; orbicular stigma absent; postmedial and subterminal lines distinct; terminal line a row of black dots. Hindwing brownish; small discal spot present on underside; outer third dark brown; fringes as ground color.

Female genitalia (Figs 67, 68). Ovipositor long, papillae anales large, hairy with long setae on apical edges. Apophyses anteriores relatively short, apophyses posteriores thin, longer than apophyses anteriores. Antrum long, narrow anteriorly, dilated posteriorly, ostium broad, posterior margin with small U-shaped cleft. Corpus bursae membranous, ovoid.

Distribution.

Russian Far East, China, Korea.