Morphology of the
external male genitalia of five Indian geometrid species (Lepidoptera)
JagbirSingh Kirti 1, Tarun Goyal 2 & Mandeep Kaur 2
1,2 Department of Zoology, Punjabi
University, Patiala, Punjab 147002, India
Email: 1 prjagbir2005@gmail.com
Date of publication (online): 26
September 2009
Date of publication (print): 26
September 2009
ISSN 0974-7907 (online) |
0974-7893 (print)
Editor: R.K. Varshney
Manuscript details:
Ms # o1814
Received 28 June 2007
Final received 16 March 2009
Finally accepted 18 April 2009
Citation: Kirti, J.S., T. Goyal & M. Kaur (2009). Morphology of the external
male genitalia of five Indian geometrid species (Lepidoptera). Journal
of Threatened Taxa 1(9): 484-487.
Copyright: © Jagbir Singh Kirti, Tarun Goyal & Mandeep Kaur 2009. Creative
Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. JoTT allows unrestricted use of this article in any medium
for non-profit purposes, reproduction and distribution by providing adequate
credit to the authors and the source of publication.
Acknowledgement: The authors are
thankful to Head, Department of Zoology, Punjabi University, Patialafor providing the necessary laboratory facilities.
Abbreviations: ACR
- Acrotergite; AED - Aedeagus;
CO - Costa; CU - Cucullus; DU.EJ - Ejaculatory duct;
JX - Juxta; SA - Saccus; SL
- Sacculus; SL.PR - SaccularProjection; TG - Tegumen; UN - Uncus;
VES - Vesica; VIN - Vinculum; VLA - Valvula; VLV – Valva
In a study of
the moths of the family Geometridae of Solan in Himachal Pradesh, five species belonging to the
subfamily Ennominae were recorded in the collections
between August and November 2004. Moths
belonging to subfamily Ennominae can be easily
recognized by the presence of a fovea or pit of hyaline membrane on the
underside of forewing at the base of anal vein. Another important taxonomic feature to identify these moths is from
their hindwing venation, as the vein M2 is obsolete (Hampson 1895). In
the present study, the external male genital morphology has been studied.
Terminology used by Klots (1970) has been
adopted. Nomenclature has been followed
after Holloway (1993, 1996 & 1997), Walia (1994,
1995, 2000), and Walia & Anju(2005). Collection of moths was made by
setting up light traps. The collected
moths were killed and preserved in air tight wooden boxes. For external genitalia studies the detached abdomens
were potashed in 10% solution (Robinson 1976), then
washed in 1% glacial acetic acid and dissected in 30% alcohol for taking out
male genitalia. After proper
dehydration, the genital structures were preserved in vials containing a
mixture of alcohol and glycerol in the ratio of 3:1. The Illustrations were drawn with the help of
a graph eye piece fitted in a stereo zoom binocular.
Family: Geometridae
Subfamily: Ennominae
Hindwing with vein M2
obsolete; M1 and M3 considerably approximated; Sc+R1 free and running close
along Rs to about middle of cell, very rarely anastomosingwith it. A fovea or pit of hyaline
membrane on underside of forewing at base of anal vein, probably acting as a
tympanum, developed in many species in males, a character hardly found in any
other group of Lepidoptera. Hind tibia
dilated in male, with a fold containing a tuft of long hairs acting as a scent
organ.
GenusHypomecis Hübner
Hübner,
1821, Index exot. Lepid. Colln 7.
Type species: Cymatophora umbrosaria Hubner.
Labialpalpus upturned, fringed with hairs. Antenna bipectinate with long branches in
male. Forewing with the discal cell less than
half the length of wing; vein R1, R2 arising from cell; R3, R4, R5, stalked
from near upper angle; vein Cu1 from near angle of cell. Hindwing with vein Cu1 from near
angle of cell.
1.Hypomecis infixaria (Walker)
(Figs.
1-3)
Walker, 1860, Lepid. Ins. Colln. Br. Mus. 21: 379.
Distribution:
Throughout India.
Material
examined: 3 males, 6.ix.2004; 3 males, 8.x.2004; 4 males, 15.x.2004; 1
male, 30.x.2004, Sabathu, Himachal Pradesh. Collections deposited in the museum of
Department of Zoology P.U. Patiala.
External male
genitalia: Uncus short, broad at base, tapering
towards tip, well sclerotized, setosedwith setae; tegumen longer than uncus,
membranous, v-shaped; acrotergite present; vinculum
longer than tegumen, u-shaped; saccuswell developed; juxta present, weakly developed; valva heavily setosed with setae
at top, a well developed saccular projection is
present; aedeagus well sclerotizedhaving two prominent spine like structures; ductus ejaculatorius enters apically.
GenusPetelia Herrich-Schaffer
Herrich-Schaffer,
1855, Syst. Bear. Sch. Eur. 6: 109
Type species: Petelia medardaria Herrich-Schaffer.
Labialpalpus upturned. Antenna of male bipectinate. Fore tibia with a long process and tuft of
hair. Hind tibia not dilated. Forewing
with vein R1 free; R2, R3, R4, R5 stalked, from before upper angle; Cu1 from
near angle of cell. Hindwing with vein Cu1 from angle of cell.
2. Petelia medardaria Herrich-Schaffer
(Figs. 4-6)
Herrich-Schaffer,
[1856], Samml. neuer oder wenig bek.aus.Sch. 1(1): 23-25.
Distribution: Throughout India.
Material examined: 2 males,
8.x.2004, 1 male, 15.x.2004; 1 male, 30.x.2004, Sabathu,
Himachal Pradesh. Collections deposited
in the museum of Department of Zoology, Panjabi University, Patiala
External male genitalia: Uncus long, narrow, curved at tip, heavily sclerotized, setae present; tegumenlonger than uncus, weakly sclerotized,vshaped; vinculum longer than tegumen, u-shaped; saccus well developed; juxtaprominent, lower arms long, upper arms short; valvaweakly sclerotized, narrow at base, broaden towards
tip, setosed with setae; aedeaguswell developed, sclerotized towards distal region; ductus ejaculatorius enters
apically.
GenusPeratophyga Warren
Warren, 1894, Novid. zool. 1: 407
Type species: Acidaliaaerate Moore.
Labial palpus porrect, hairy, not
reaching beyond frons. Antenna serrate and fasciculate in male. Hind tibia dilated. Forewing of male with
fovea; veins R2, R3, R4 and R5 stalked from before angle; M1 and M2 stalked
from upper angle; Cu1 from just before angle of cell. Hindwing with vein Cu1 from angle of cell.
3.Peratophyga hyalinata (Kollar)
(Figs.
7-9)
Kollar, [1844], kasch, und das Reich der Siek 4(2):
491.
Distribution: Shimla;Khasis.
Material examined: 1 male, 7.viii.2004;
1 male, 8.viii.2004; Sabathu, 2 males, 6.ix.2004; 1
male,15.x.2004, Nauni, Himachal Pradesh. Collections
deposited in the museum of Department of Zoology, Panjabi University, Patiala.
External male genitalia: Uncus long, wavy, narrow at base, broadened gradually
towards the tip ending in a short spine; tegumenshorter than uncus which is u-shaped, membranous;
vinculum longer than tegumen, u-shaped; saccus weakly developed; juxtaplate like; valva narrow at base, broaden towards
middle, well sclerotized at top, setosedwith setae; aedeagus long and broad; ductus ejaculatorius enters subapically.
GenusBiston Leach
Leach, [1815] 1830, Bre. Edin.Ency.
9: 134.
Type species: Geometra prodromaria (Denis and Schiffermuller).
Labial palpus short and hairy. Thorax stout and clothed
with thick pile. Legs hairy. Hind tibia not dilated. Forewing with apex rounded; outer margin
oblique; vein R1 and R2 stalked; R3, R4 and R5 stalked from near upper angle;
Cu1 from near angle of cell. Hindwing with cell long; vein Cu1 from angle.
4.Biston suppressaria (Guenee)
(Figs.
10-12)
Guenee, [1858], Hist.
nat. Ins. (Spec. gen. Lepid.) 9: 210.
Distribution: Sikkim; Assam; Kangra.
Material examined: 4 males,
7.viii.2004; 1 male, 8.viii.2004, Nauni, Himachal
Pradesh. Collections deposited in the
museum of Departmentof Zoology, Panjabi University, Patiala
External male genitalia: Uncus short, broad at base, narrow towards tip, well sclerotized; tegumen longer than uncus, v-shaped, weakly sclerotized;
vinculum longer than tegumen, u-shaped; saccus weakly developed; juxtawell developed, oval; valva narrow at base, well sclerotized, upper part well differentiated into cucullus and valvula, heavily setosed with setae; aedeagus long
and broad, well sclerotized; ductus ejaculatorius enters laterally.
GenusGnophos Treitschke
Treitschke,
1823, Schmett Eur. 5(2): 432.
Type species: Geometra furvata (Denis and Schiffermuller).
Labial palpus porrect, fringed with hair below. Hind tibia
usually dilated with a fold containing a ridge of hair. Wings with outer margins crenulate. Forewing broad, with vein R3, R4, R5 stalked from near upper angle; Cu1
from before or near angle of cell. Hindwing with vein Cu1 from before or near angle of cell.
5.Gnophos tephrosaria Moore
(Figs.
13-15)
Moore, 1888, Descr. new Ind. Lepid. Ins. Colln 1888(3): 247.
Distribution: Sikkim.
Material examined: 1 male,
6.ix.2004, 2 males, 2 females, 8.x.2004, Sabathu,
Himachal Pradesh; 1 male, 16.x.2004, Nauni, Himachal
Pradesh. Collections deposited in the
museum of Departmentof Zoology, Panjabi University, Patiala.
External male genitalia: Uncus short, broad at the base, narrow towards the tip,
curved; tegumen shorter than uncus,
v-shaped; vinculum longer than tegumen, u-shaped; saccus well developed; juxtamembranous; valva narrow at base, broadened towards the
tip, setosed with well developed setae, ampulla developed bearing three prominent spines; aedeagus short and broad; ductus ejaculatorius enters subapically.
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