Application of two molecular approaches (use of sex attractants and DNA barcoding) allowed to rediscover Zygaenoprocris eberti (Alberti, 1968) (Lepidoptera, Zygaenidae, Procridinae), hitherto known only from the female holotype
Author
Efetov, Konstantin A.
Author
Hofmann, Axel
Author
Tarmann, Gerhard M.
text
Nota Lepidopterologica
2014
37
2
151
160
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/nl.37.7871
journal article
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/nl.37.7871
2367-5365-2
Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Zygaenidae
Zygaenoprocris eberti (Alberti, 1968)
Description of male
(Fig. 1). Length of body: 5.8-6.5 mm; length of forewing: 8.6-8.9 mm, width: 3.3-3.4 mm; length of antenna: 4.6-5.0 mm. Frons and occiput green with submetallic sheen. Antenna strongly clubbed, thickly covered with shining scales, bipectinate, length of pectination in middle part of antenna 0.7 mm, last segments of antenna with pectination reduced, antennal shaft strongly thickened distally, ratio of width of 4th segment from apex to width of 15th segment is 4. Proboscis well developed, yellow. Tegulae and patagia green with submetallic sheen. Thorax thickly covered with green shiny scales. Forewing upperside bright green with submetallic sheen, thickly covered with shiny scales; underside of forewing grey; fringe grey. Hindwing upper- and underside grey, fringe concolorous. Legs green, thickly covered with shiny scales, foreleg with long tibial epiphysis, hind tibia with one pair of spurs (apical). Abdomen greenish black, thickly covered with shiny scales. The long black hair covers the head, labial palpi, thorax, legs and abdomen.
Male genitalia
(Figs 6, 8). Uncus heavily sclerotized, nearly equal in length to tegumen. Valva without any process. Juxta long, 1.5 times longer than uncus. Phallus slightly curved, long, approximately 3 times longer than uncus, with one long straight cornutus, its length 0.5 times length of phallus, distal part of cornutus very slender, with pointed apex.
Figure 6. Male genitalia of
Zygaenoprocris eberti
. Afghanistan, Prov. Bamiyan, Band-i Amir, Jarkushan N, 3130-3280 m, 5.vii. 2011, leg. A. Hofmann.
Differential diagnosis.
Zygaenoprocris
eberti
is syntopic and synchronous with
Zygaenoprocris (Zygaenoprocris) chalcochlora
Hampson, 1900, the type species of the subgenus
Zygaenoprocris
Hampson, 1900. Externally these two species cannot be distinguished but both differ significantly in their genitalia morphology (Figs 6-8;
Efetov and Tarmann 1999
, figs 108, 166). In the male the phallus is longer in
Zygaenoprocris eberti
and the cornutus is large with a characteristic shape (with broad basal part and ending somewhat abruptly in a pointed tip distally). The female of
Zygaenoprocris eberti
has long, broad and strongly curved (twisted) ductus bursae, whereas
Zygaenoprocris chalcochlora
has short, narrow and straight ductus bursae.
Figure 7. Female genitalia of the holotype of
Procris eberti
Alberti, 1968 (=
Zygaenoprocris eberti
), v - ventral view, d - dorsal view. 'Z.-Afghanistan, Koh-i-Baba, S-Seite Shahtu-Pass, 3000 m, 17.-19.7.1966, G. EBERT leg.'
Figures 8
a-d
. a, b. Male genitalia of
Zygaenoprocris eberti
. Afghanistan, Prov. Bamiyan, Band-i Amir, Jarkushan N, 3130-3280 m, 5.vii. 2011, leg. A. Hofmann (Prep. GMT Z 3562). a, Uncus, tegumen, vinculum, saccus, valvae; b, Phallus (Photo S. Heim). c, d. Male genitalia of
Zygaenoprocris chalcochlora
. Afghanistan, Prov. Kabul, Kabul N, Darreh Estalif, 1880-2200 m, 21. vi. 2011, leg. A. Hofmann (Prep. GMT Z 3564). c, Uncus, tegumen, vinculum, saccus, valvae; d, Phallus (Photo S. Heim).
Remarks.
As shown earlier, males of
Zygaenoprocris (Molletia) taftana
(Alberti, 1939), were attracted by (2R)-butyl (7Z)-dodecenoate (
Efetov et al. 2011
). Males of
Zygaenoprocris (Zygaenoprocris) eberti
were attracted by (2R)-butyl (7Z)-dodecenoate (
'R12'
) as well as by the mixture of (2R)-butyl (7Z)-dodecenoate and (2R)-butyl (9Z)-tetradecenoate (
'R12+R14'
) (Fig. 2). Of the 38 males that were collected at both attractants 28 were taken around or on the R12 pheromone baits and 10 around or on the baits with the mixture of R12+R14. Of the 13 dissected specimens taken at R12, 12 were
Zygaenoprocris eberti
and only one
Zygaenoprocris chalcochlora
. All 10 specimens attracted to R12+R14 were
Zygaenoprocris eberti
. The collecting time was between 13.15-14.15 hours.