Journal of Threatened Taxa |
www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 June 2020 | 12(9): 16153–16160
ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893
(Print)
doi: https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.5302.12.9.16153–16160
#5302 | Received 02 August 2019 | Final
received 31 May 2020 | Finally accepted 06 June 2020
Present status of the genus Sphrageidus Maes, 1984 (Lepidoptera:
Erebidae: Lymantriinae)
from India
Amritpal Singh Kaleka
1, Devinder Singh 2 & Gagan Preet Kour Bali 3
1,2,3 Department of Zoology and
Environmental Sciences, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab 147002, India.
1 apskaleka@gmail.com, 2 devinder.ss.61@gmail.com,
3 gaganviren@gmail.com (corresponding author)
Editor: Jatishwor Singh Irungbam, Biology
Centre CAS, Branišovská, Czech Republic. Date of publication: 26 June
2020 (online & print)
Citation: Kaleka,
A.S., D. Singh & G.P.K. Bali (2020). Present
status of the genus Sphrageidus Maes, 1984 (Lepidoptera: Erebidae:
Lymantriinae) from India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 12(9): 16153–16160. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.5302.12.9.16153-16160
Copyright: © Kaleka
et al. 2020. Creative Commons Attribution
4.0 International License. JoTT allows unrestricted use, reproduction, and
distribution of this article in any medium by providing adequate credit to the
author(s) and the source of publication.
Funding: UGC, New Delhi (Grant no.
F1-17.1/2013-14/MANF-2013-14-SIK-HAR-27073).
Competing interests: The authors
declare no competing interests.
Acknowledgements: The authors are thankful to UGC,
New Delhi (Grant no. F1-17.1/2013-14/MANF-2013-14-SIK-HAR-27073) for the
financial assistance. We extend our gratitude to the authorities of Forest
Departments of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Uttarakhand for their support
during field surveys for sample collection.
Abstract: The surveys to different
localities of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Uttarakhand yielded
three species of genus Sphrageidus Maes, namely S. similis (Fuessly), S. simlensis
(Gupta) and S. xanthorrhoea (Kollar) of
subfamily Lymantriinae. The external morphological
characters particularly wing maculation and venation along with genitalia
characteristics have been studied and illustrated in detail. The male genitalic
features like distinct saccus, ring-like juxta,
simple valva, aedeagus with a hook or reversed spine
at the apex and distinct wing venation, i.e., absence of vein M2 in hindwing
completely conform the characterization of the genus. In the present studies,
the species simlensis has been placed under
genus Sphrageidus Maes
making a new combination as Sphrageidus simlensis (Gupta) for its proper placement. The genus
diagnosis has also been updated. The external morphological characters
including wing maculation, venation and particularly the genitalic
features proved significant from taxonomic point of view in all the three
species.
Keywords: African, Palaearctic, similis, simlensis, xanthorrhoea.
Abbreviations: 1A—First anal
vein | 2A—Second anal vein | 3A—Third anal vein | AED—Aedeagus; | AP.S—Apical spur | ANT.APO—Anterior apophyses | CRN—Cornuti
| CRP.BU—Corpus bursae | CU1—First cubital vein | CU2—Second
cubital vein | DU.BU—Ductus bursae | JX—Juxta | M1—First median
vein | M3—Third median vein | PAP.A—Papilla analis | PO.APO—Posterior apophyses | R1—First radial vein | R2—Second radial vein |
R3—Third radial vein
| R4—Fourth radial vein
| R5—Fifth radial vein |
SA—Saccus | Sc—Subcosta | Sc+R1—Subcosta+First
radial vein | TG—Tegumen | UN—Uncus |
VIN—Vinculum | VLV—Valva.
For the
proper placement of a group of Palaearctic, African, and Madagascan species
with white or yellowish forewings and a yellow anal tuft, genus Sphrageidus by Maes
(1984) with similis Fuessly,
1775 as its type species from Europe was proposed. Holloway (1999) updated the status of virguncula Walker, 1855 and xanthorrhoea Kollar, 1848; he placed them under the genus Sphrageidus.
He further remarked that the genus is related to two other genera namely
Toxoproctis Holloway, 1999 and Urocoma Herrich-Schaffer,
1858 on the basis of long saccus in male
genitalia. The genus is closely allied
to genus Euproctis Hübner,
1819, but it is distinct in terms of wing venation, i.e., absence of vein M2
in hindwing and male genitalic features such as
ring-shaped juxta and presence of hook or reversed spine at apex of
aedeagus. It also resembles with other
allied genera namely Somena Walker, 1856 and Orvasca Walker, 1865 due to the absence of vein M2
in hindwing (Holloway 1999). It is
widely distributed in India, Africa, Myanmar, Sundaland,
and Thailand. Gupta (1986) described a
new species i.e., simlensis under genus
Porthesia Stephens, 1829 from Shimla (Himachal
Pradesh) but the male genitalia completely conforms the characterization of
genus Sphrageidus. A new combination as Sphrageidus
simlensis (Gupta, 1986) is proposed for the
proper placement of the species.
Material
and Methods
Different
localities of Himachal Pradesh (32.0840N & 77.5710E),
Jammu & Kashmir (34.0830N & 74.7970E), and
Uttarakhand (30.3160N & 78.0320E) were surveyed for
the collection of adult moths. The
distribution map of the species studied was also drawn (Fig.1). The light traps equipped with a 160w mercury
bulb and vertical white sheet were used for collection. To study of wing venation, the methodology
proposed by Zimmermann (1978) was followed.
The male and female moths were dissected to examine the external genital
features (Robinson 1976) and the terminology for naming various genital parts
given by Klots (1970) was followed in the present
communication.
Results
and Discussion
The
external morphological characters like ornamentation of antennae, legs and
abdomen, wing maculation, wing venation, and significantly the external genitalic features contributed towards the authentic
identification and characterization of examined taxa. The taxonomic status of the genus Sphrageidus has been updated along with the
upgradation of the distribution range.
Genus Sphrageidus Maes,
1984
Maes, 1984, Nota.
Lepid., 7(1): 55–58; Holloway, 1999, Moths
Borneo, 5: 59.
Type
species: Phalaena similis Fuessly, 1775
Distribution:
Africa, Europe, Pakistan, India, China, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, South
Korea, Sundaland.
Diagnosis: Small sized
moths, usually white in colouration. Labial palpi porrect, hairy. Antennae bipectinate in both sexes. Forewing with ground colour whitish or yellowish;
discal cell half the length of wing, closed; 1A+2A
from base of wing, reaching apex; 3A absent; R5-R2
stalked, R5 branching off more basally from Rs
system than R2; Sc from base of wing not reaching the apex. Hindwing with ground colour white; discal cell half the length of wing, closed; 1A+2A from
base of wing, reaching apex; 3A absent;
Cu1 and M3 stalked or arising independently from lower
angle of cell; M2 absent; M1 and Rs
stalked from upper angle of cell; Sc+R1 from base of wing anastomosing
with discal cell.
Legs dressed with scales; fore-tibia with an epiphysis; mid-tibia with
one pair of tibial spurs of unequal length; hind-tibia with two pair of tibial
spurs of equal length. Abdomen slender,
clothed with scales; distinct yellow anal tuft in females. Male genitalia with uncus robust; saccus long; juxta ring-like; valva
simple, slightly upcurved; aedeagus with a hook or reversed spine at the
apex. Female genitalia with papilla analis relatively short, extending ventrally in a quadrate manner
like the head of manta-ray; corpus bursae may be with bicornute
signum.
Sphrageidus similis (Fuessly, 1775)
(Image
1–10)
Phalaena similis Fuessly, 1775, Verz. Schweiz. Ins., 1775: 35.
Sphrageidus similis: Maes, 1984, Nota.
Lepid.,7(1): 55–58; Holloway, 1999, Moths Borneo, 5: 59.
Euproctis similis: Inoue et al., 1957, Journ.
Med. Sci and Biol., 10: 198.
Porthesia similis: Chao, 2003, Fauna Sinica,
30: 321.
Type
locality: Europe
Diagnosis: Head with
vertex and frons clothed with white scales, an orangish-yellow line behind the
head. Labial palpi fringed with white
scales. Antennae with scape and
flagellum studded with white scales.
Thorax with collar and tegula covered with white scales. Legs dressed with white scales. Abdomen furnished with white scales; anal
segment fringed with orangish-yellow scales.
Wing
maculation: Forewing with ground colour white, a small black or brown tornal mark,
absent in females; fringe white; underside with costal area irrorated with
greyish scales. Hindwing white.
Wing
venation: Forewing with Cu2 from middle of cell; Cu1 from
well before lower angle of cell; M3 from lower angle of cell; M2
from above lower angle of cell; M1 from upper angle of cell; R5-R2
highly stalked from before upper angle of cell; R1 from well before
upper angle of cell. Hindwing with Cu2
from beyond middle of cell; Cu1 just before lower angle of cell; M3
from lower angle of cell; M2 absent; M1 and Rs stalked from upper angle of cell; Sc+R1 from
base of wing anastomosing with discal cell beyond
middle.
Wingspan: Male: 50–52
mm; female: 26–40 mm.
Body
length: Male: 12–14 mm; female: 4–12 mm.
Male
genitalia: Uncus well developed, moderately sclerotized, basal half triangular,
distal half laterally compressed, narrow with blunt apex; tegumen
broad, U-shaped, narrow towards vinculum; vinculum moderately sclerotized,
narrow ending into long, narrow saccus with blunt
apex which is slightly emarginate giving minute knob-like appearance on lateral
side, appears slightly bifid in lateral view; juxta ring-like, well
sclerotized, without any backwardly directed projection. Valva simple;
narrow, without any demarcation; semi-sclerotized; setosed;
gradually narrowing towards distal end, having a slight protrusion on saccular
side near one-third of valva, valva
ending well above the level of uncus.
Aedeagus of moderate size; proximal end flap-like; moderately
sclerotized; distal end armed with backwardly directed spine, distal end circumferenced with fine denticles.
Female
genitalia: Corpus
bursae wedge-shaped, membranous without any distinct signum; ductus bursae from
one side of the corpus bursae, narrow, almost half the length of corpus bursae,
membranous; ductus seminalis originating from the
junction of ductus bursae and corpus bursae; apophysis well-sclerotized,
posterior apophysis narrower than anterior ones having tapering apices; papilla
analis relatively short; rectangular, produced on one
side, setosed with small setae; pseudo-papillae
small, triangular, setosed with small setae.
Material examined:
India: Himachal Pradesh: PUP-LYM-30i-ii, 09.x.2013, 2 females, Baijnath (32.0520N & 76.6480E,
998m), coll. Gagan Bali; PUP-LYM-30iii, 07.ix.2013, 1
male, Chamunda Devi (32.051°N & 76.643°E, 996m),
coll. Gagan Bali; PUP-LYM-30iv, 14.v.2015, 1 female, Janitri (31.834°N & 76.777°E, 760m), coll. Gagan Bali; PUP-LYM-30v-vi, 14.ix.2014, 1 male, 1 female, Ropa (31.795°N & 78.421°E, 2086m), coll. Gagan Bali; PUP-LYM-30vii, 11.ix.2013, 1 male, Lamberi (33.077°N & 74.324°E, 336m), Jammu &
Kashmir, coll. Gagan Bali.
Distribution:
Europe; India (Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh); China; Sri Lanka;
Korea; Siberia; Japan.
Remarks: Fussely (1775) originally described this species under
genus Phalaena Linnaeus, 1758 from Europe.
Inoue et al. (1957) transferred it to genus Euproctis
Hübner, 1819.
Maes (1984) proposed a new genus, Sphrageidus for its proper placement. Holloway (1999) followed the same
nomenclature. Chao (2003) included it
under another genus, Porthesia Stephens,
1829. In the present studies, the male
and female genitalia of the present species have been studied in detail and it
has been concluded that it completely conforms the characterization of Sphrageidus and the nomenclature proposed by Maes (1984) has been adopted.
Sphrageidus simlensis (Gupta)
comb. nov.
(Image
11–20)
Porthesia simlensis Gupta, 1986, Reichenbachia,
24: 107–108.
Type
Locality: India (Shimla)
Diagnosis: Head with
vertex and frons clothed with white scales.
Labial palpi fringed with white scales.
Antennae with scape and flagellum studded with white scales. Thorax, collar and tegula dressed with white
scales. Legs covered with white
scales. Abdomen furnished with white
scales; distal segment fringed with orangish-yellow scales.
Wing
maculation: Forewing with ground colour white; marginal area irrorated with yellow
scales; underside white, costal half fuscous-grey. Hindwing white, costal area smoky; fringe
white; underside fuscous-grey.
Wing
venation: Forewing with Cu2 from middle of cell; Cu1 from
beyond three-fourth of cell; M3 from lower angle of cell; M2
from above lower angle of cell; M1 shortly stalked with common stalk
of R5–R2; R5–R2 well stalked from
upper angle of cell; R1 from well before upper angle of cell. Hindwing with Cu2 from beyond
middle of cell; Cu1 before lower angle of cell; M3 from
lower angle of cell; M2 absent; M1 and Rs highly stalked from upper angle of cell; Sc+R1
from base of wing anastomosing with discal cell
beyond its middle.
Wing
expanse: Male: 26–44 mm; female: not examined.
Body
Length: Male: 11–21 mm; female: not examined.
Male
genitalia: Uncus of moderate size, well sclerotized, broad at base, dorsally setosed with small setae, gradually narrowing towards blunt
apex; tegumen broad, U-shaped, medially dilated,
narrow, quite narrow towards vinculum; vinculum semi-sclerotized, narrow,
ending into long saccus with rounded end; juxta well
sclerotized forming a circular ring and having a long backwardly projected
projection. Valva
simple; semi-sclerotized; setosed; without any
demarcation; distal end narrow, rounded, reaching upto
the level of uncus. Aedeagus of moderate size, moderately sclerotized; proximal
end flap-like; ductus ejaculatorius entering directly
under this flap; distal end armed with backwardly directed long spine and
circumference with two patches of fine denticles.
Material
examined: India: PUP-LYM-29A i-iii, 11.ix.2013, 3
males,Lamberi (33.077°N & 74.324°E, 336m), Jammu
& Kashmir, coll. Gagan Bali.
Distribution: India
(Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh).
Remarks: Gupta
(1986) described the present species as a new species under genus Porthesia from Shimla (Himachal
Pradesh). During the present studies, the
external morphological structures including the wing venation and genitalia
have been studied in detail. On the
basis of characters such as absence of vein M2 in hindwing and
robust uncus; long saccus; simple, slightly upcurved valva; ring-like juxta and reversed spine at the apex of
aedeagus in male genitalia, it has been concluded that it completely conforms
to the characterization of the present genus.
Thus, it has been placed under the present genus Sphrageidus
making a new combination as Sphrageidus
simlensis (Gupta, 1986). Its collection from Lamberi
is its first record from Jammu & Kashmir.
Sphrageidus
xanthorrhoea (Kollar)
(Image
21–29)
Liparis xanthorrhoea Kollar, 1848, in
Hugel, Kaschmir und das
Reich derSiek, 4(2): 470.
Sphrageidus xanthorrhoea: Holloway,
1999, Moths Borneo, 5: 59; Shah et al. 2018, Bionotes
20(1): 28.
Porthesia xanthorrhoea: Hampson,
1892, Moths India: 1: 485; Chao 2003, Fauna Sinica
30: 318.
Arctornis xanthorrhoea: Swinhoe, 1922, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (9) 10 (58):
479.
Euproctis xanthorrhoea: Kishida, 1993, in Haruta,
Moths Nepal, Part 2, 13(3): 88.
Type
locality: Sri Lanka
Diagnosis: Head with
vertex and frons clothed with white scales.
Labial palpi fringed with white scales.
Antennae with scape and flagellum studded with white scales. Thorax, collar and tegula dressed with white
scales. Legs furnished with white
scales. Abdomen covered with white scales;
distal segment fringed with orangish-yellow scales.
Wing
maculation: Forewing with ground colour white, marginal area irrorated with yellow
scales; underside blackish-grey, outlined with pure white; fringe white. Hindwing with ground colour blackish-grey;
basal area white; fringe white; underside blackish-grey, outlined with pure
white.
Wing
Venation: Forewing with Cu2 from well before two-third of lower angle
of cell; Cu1 from well before lower angle of cell; M3
from lower angle of cell; M2 from above lower angle of cell; M1
from upper angle of cell; R5–R2 highly stalked just
before upper angle of cell. Hindwing
with Cu2 from two-third of lower angle of cell; Cu1 from
just before lower angle of cell; M3 from lower angle of cell; M2
absent; M1 and Rs stalked from upper angle
of cell; Sc+R1 from base of wing anastomosing with discal cell beyond its middle.
Wingspan: Male: 24–32
mm; female: not Eeamined.
Body
length: Male: 12–13 mm; female: not examined.
Male
genitalia: Uncus of moderate size, well sclerotized, basal half triangular, distal
half laterally compressed with blunt apex, appears pointed in lateral view; tegumen quite broad, U-shaped, quite narrow towards
vinculum; vinculum narrow, moderately sclerotized ending into quite long,
narrow saccus with rounded end; juxta well developed,
well sclerotized, ring-like, a backwardly directed projection from inner side
of distal end. Valva simple, semi-sclerotized; setosed; saccular area broad; distal end narrow, round
having a slight protrusion/hump on saccular margin; valva
ending well above the level of uncus.
Aedeagus of moderate size; proximal end flap-like; slightly more
sclerotized; ductus ejaculatorius entering directly
from proximal end; distal end armed with backwardly directed spine, circumferenced with fine denticles; vesica
without any distinct cornuti.
Material
examined: PUP-LYM-29i, 09.x.2013, 1 male, Baijnath
(32.052°N & 76.648°E, 998m), Himachal Pradesh, coll. Gagan
Bali; PUP-LYM-29ii, 11.ix.2013, 1 female, Lamberi
(33.077°N & 74.324°E, 336m), Jammu & Kashmir, coll. Gagan
Bali; PUP-LYM-29iii, 22.vi.2015, 1 female, Berinag
(29.775°N & 80.055°E, 1,860m), Uttarakhand, coll. Gagan
Bali.
Distribution: India
(Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand); China; Nepal; Sri Lanka;
Indonesia; Java.
Remarks: Kollar (1848) originally described the present species, xanthorrhoea
under Liparis Ochsenheimer,
1810 from Sri Lanka. Hampson (1892)
transferred it to genus Porthesia Stephens. Swinhoe (1922)
studied it under Arctornis Gremar, 1810. Kishida (1993) considered it as Euproctis
xanthorrhoea Kollar 1848 and described its male genitalic
features. Holloway (1999) placed it
under Sphrageidus Maes
on the basis of its definitative male genitalic features which completely conforms the
characterization of the genus. Though
Chao (2003) followed Hampson’s nomenclature but its placement proposed by
Holloway (1999) has been followed. The species under reference closely resembles
with Sphrageidus simlensis
Gupta in general appearance. The
morphological features such as black hindwings with white basal area; underside
of both wings uniformly black outlined by white and distally narrow valva with a slight protrusion/hump on saccular margin in
male genitalia further makes it a distinct species.
In insects,
genitalic features are highly species-specific
(particularly in Lepidoptera) and play a significant role in species
identification and delimitation. In the
present study, the external morphological characters including wing maculation,
venation and particularly the genitalic features
proved significant from taxonomic point of view. The male genitalic
features of all the three species such as robust uncus; long saccus; simple, slightly upcurved valva;
ring-like juxta and reversed spine at the apex of aedeagus in male genitalia
and distinct wing venation, i.e., absence of vein M2 in hindwing
completely conforms the characterization of the present genus.
Key to the studied species of the
genus Sphrageidus
1. Head with orangish-yellow line; forewing with marginal
area without yellow scales. Male
genitalia with saccus having emarginate apex; juxta without any projection ……………..……….................
similis (Fuessly)
- Head
without orangish-yellow line; forewing with marginal area irrorated with yellow
scales. Male genitalia having saccus without emarginate apex; juxta with backwardly
directed projection ……….................. 2
2. Hindwing with ground colour
white, costal area irrorated with grey scales, underside dressed with grey
scales; forewing with M1 shortly
stalked with common stalk of R5-R2. Male genitalia with saccus
long, having rounded tip; juxta dome-shaped; valva
with distal end reaching the level of uncus ..............................................
simlensis (Gupta) comb. nov.
- Hindwing
with ground colour black, basal area irrorated with
white scales, underside dressed with black scales; forewing with vein M1 from upper angle of cell. Male genitalia with juxta ring-like having
backwardly directed projection; valva reaching above
the level of uncus ……...................
xanthorrhoea (Kollar)
References
Chao, C.L.
(2003). Lepidoptera, Lymantriidae. Fauna Sinica, Beijing Science Press, 484pp.
Fuessly, J.C. (1775). Verzeichnis der Schweitzerischen Inseckten. Zurich
und Winterthur, 35pp.
Gupta, S.L.
(1986). Descriptions of New Species of
Genera Euproctis Hübner
and Porthesia Stephens from India
(Lepidoptera, Noctuoidea, Lymantriidae),
Reichenbachia, 24: 107–108.
Hampson,
G.F. (1892). The Fauna of British India including Ceylon and Burma, Moths - 1, Taylor and
Francis, London, 527pp.
Holloway,
J.D. (1999). The Moths of Borneo, part 5: Lymantriidae. Malayan
Natural Journal 53: 188.
Inoue, H.,
E. Gakuen, E. Funakoshi & Yokosuka (1957). A Revision of the Japanese Lymantriidae (II), Japanese Journal of Medical Science
and Biology 10: 187–219.
Kishida, Y.
(1993). Lymantriidae in Moths
of Nepal 2. Tinea,13 (Suppl. 3): 80–95.
Klots, A.B. (1970). Lepidoptera,
pp. 115–130. In: Tuxen, S.L. (ed.). Taxonomist’s
Glossary of genitalia in Insects. Munksgaard,
Copenhagen, 359pp.
Kollar, V. & L. Redtenbacher
(1848). Aufzählung und Beschreibung der von Freiherr C.V. Hügel
auf seiner Reisedurch Kaschmir
und das Himaleygebirge gesammelten
Insekten in Kaschmir
und das Reich der Siek 4(2): 470.
Maes, K. (1984). Some
remarks on the genus Euproctis Hübner, [1819] 1816 (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae),
Nota Lepidopterologica 7: 55–58.
Robinson,
G.S. (1976). The preparation of slides of Lepidoptera genitalia with special
reference to Microlepidoptera, Entomologists Gazette 27: 127–132.
Swinhoe, C. (1922). A Revision
of the genera of the family Liparidae. Annals and
Magazine of Natural History 10 (58): 449–484.
Zimmerman,
E.C. (1978). Microlepidoptera Insects of Hawaii – 9. University
Press of Hawaii, Honolulu, 1903pp.