Charissa (Pterygnophos) agnitaria
Creators: name: Erlacher, Sven
name: Palma, Laura Marrero
name: Erlacher, Josepha
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2017
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Geometridae
Charissa
Charissa agnitaria

description: 1. Charissa (Pterygnophos) agnitaria (Staudinger, 1897)
(adults Pl. 1, Figs 1a–1d; male gen. Pl. 2, Fig. 1e; female gen. Pl. 3, Figs 1f, 1g)
Gnophos agnitaria Staudinger, 1897, Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift Iris, 10: 62, pl. 3, fig. 40.— Locus typicus: Russia, Askold Island. Deposition of holotype: MNHU. Examined.
Gnophos deliciaria shantungensis Wehrli, 1953 syn. nov., Die Spanner des palaearktischen Faunengebietes. In: Seitz, A. (Ed.): Die Gross-Schmetterlinge der Erde, Supplement zu Band 4, Alfred Kernen, Stuttgart: 593.—Locus typicus: China, Prov. Shandong [Shantung], Tai–Shan, 1550 m. Deposition of lectotype: ZFMK. Examined.
Gnophos dorkadiaria Wehrli, 1922, Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift Iris, 36: 20, pl. 1, fig. 16, pl. 2, fig. 26, 42.— Locus typicus: Kukunoor [China, Qinghai Lake]. Deposition of lectotype: ZFMK. Examined.
“ Gnophos perdita” Staudinger, 1897, Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift Iris, 10: 61.—Lapsus calami of Gnophos paerlita Butler, 1886: 389; misidentified.
Gnophos sphalera Wehrli, 1938, Mitteilungen der Münchner Entomologischen Gesellschaft, 28: 89.—Locus typicus: Russia, Vladivostok. Deposition of holotype: ZFMK. Examined.
Material examined. Type material. Holotype ♀ of Gnophos agnitaria Staudinger, 1897 (Pl. 1, Fig. 1c; Pl. 3, Fig. 1f): [Russia:] ‘Askold | [leg.] Dörr[ies]’, <red label> ‘Origin.’, <Staudinger handwritten> ‘Agnitaria | St[audin]g[e]r.’, <yellow label> ‘ agnitaria | ♂ | St[audin]g[e]r | Gnophos | Typ’, ‘[gen. prep. Wehrli–]7161 ♂ [sic!]’, <red label> ‘ HOLOTYPE ♀ | Gnophos agnitaria Staudinger, 1897 ’, MNHU.
Lectotype ♂ of Gnophos dorkadiaria Wehrli, 1922 (hereby designated) (Pl. 1, Fig. 1a): [China:] ‘Difficilis Alph | ♂ <underlined> var. <not underlined> im Juni | P[ün]g[e]l[e]r. Kuku Noor’, ‘ochrofasciaria St[audin]g[e]r. | <underlined> v. <not underlined> [unreadable] P[ün]g[e]l[e]r.’, ‘[gen. prep. Wehrli–]545 ♂ | ochrof. | scharf | gez[eichnet].’, <yellow label> ‘dorcadiaria | ♂ W[e]h[r]li. | Gnophos | abgebildet Seitz IV. | Suppl. fig. | Dr. Wehrli’, ‘GlobInG | specimen ID: | 86 | Exemplar + Etiketten | dokumentiert | specimen + label | data documented’, <red label> ‘LECTOTYPE ♂ | Gnophos dorkadiaria Wehrli, 1922 | Designated by | Erlacher, Marrero & Erlacher (2017) ’, ZFMK.—Paralectotypes 3♂ of Gnophos dorkadiaria Wehrli, 1922 (hereby designated): Kyrgyzstan: 1♂, Issyk–Kul, gen. prep. Reser–8066; 1♂, same data, gen. prep. Wehrli–541; 1♂, same data, gen. prep. Wehrli–542, ZFMK.
Lectotype ♂ of Gnophos deliciaria shantungensis Wehrli, 1953 (hereby designated): [China:] ‘Tai–shan. (1550 m). | Prov. Shantung, China. | 3.5.1934. H. Höne.’, <red label> ‘v. shantungensis | W[e]h[r]li. | Gnoph[os]. | deliciaria | Oberth[uer]. | Dr. Wehrli ♂ Type’, ‘GlobInG | specimen ID: | 83 | Exemplar + Etiketten | dokumentiert | specimen + label | data documented’, ‘SE–706 ♂ | gen. prep. | Erlacher, 2016’, <red label> ‘LECTOTYPE ♂ | Gnophos deliciaria shantungensis | Wehrli, 1953 | Designated by | Erlacher, Marrero & Erlacher (2017) ’, ZFMK.—Paralectotypes 2♀ of Gnophos deliciaria shantungensis Wehrli, 1953 (hereby designated): China: 1♀, Prov. Shandong [Shantung], Tai–Shan, 1550 m, 12.v.1934, leg. H. Höne, gen. prep. SE–707; 1♀, same locality, 1934, leg. H. Höne, gen. prep. Bonn–5 / ZFMK–69 (marked as “holotyp” by mistake), ZFMK.
Holotype ♀ [sic!] of Gnophos sphalera Wehrli, 1938 (Pl. 1, Fig. 1b): [Russia:] ‘Wladiwoastock’, ‘5.6. [18]77’, <yellow label> ‘ sphalera | Wehrli | Gnophos | Type.’, <white label> ‘ Gnophos perlita, Butl[er] | (agrees with sp. from Kala– | pani but not so well with | others from Dharmsala)’, ‘GlobInG | specimen ID: | 0 0 0 5 | Exemplar + Etiketten | dokumentiert | specimen + label | data documented’, ‘[gen. prep. Wehrli–]7168 ♂ [sic!]’, <red label> ‘ HOLOTYPE ♀ | Gnophos sphalera Wehrli, 1938 ’, ZFMK.
Further material. China: 1♂, Beijing Shi, Donglingshan, Xiaolongmen, barcode id. BC– AxYi –0109, BIN BOLD: AAC5997, IZCAS. 1♂, Tibet, Qinghai Lake [Kuku Noor], coll. A. Bang-Haas; 1♀, same locality, 1898, leg. Rückbeil, gen. prep. SE–711, MNHU. 1♂, same locality, 1894, leg. Rückbeil, gen. prep. JH–265; 1♂ same data, gen. prep. SE–574; 1♂, same data, gen. prep. SE–575; 1♂, same data, gen. prep. SE–576; 1♂, Prov. Shandong, Tai–Shan, 1550 m, 04.x.1934, leg. H. Höne, gen. prep. Rezbanyai-Reser No. 7614; 1♂, Prov. Shaanxi [“ Sued–Shensi ”], Taibaishan [“ Tapaishan ”], Qinling [“ Tsingling ”], ca. 1700 m, 9.ix.1936, leg. H. Höne, gen. prep. SE–708; 1♀, same locality, 18.ix.1935, leg. H. Höne, gen. prep. SE–709; 1♂, same locality, 21.ix.1935, leg. H. Höne; 1♀, same locality, 03.vi.1936, leg. H. Höne; 1♂, Prov. Shanxi, Mian Shan, 1500 m, 07.vi.1937, leg. H. Höne, gen. prep. SE–583; 1♀, same locality, 04.vi.1937, leg. H. Höne, gen. prep. SE–584, ZFMK. 1♂, Tibet, Qinghai Lake [Kuku Noor], leg. R. Tancré, gen. prep. SE–712; 1♀, Prov. Hebei, Baiqi, Chongli, 1350 m, 41.05°N / 115.317°E, 23.ix.2006, leg. C. Wang, barcode id. BC– ZSM – Lep –13095; 1♀, same locality, 19.v.2007, leg. C. Wang, barcode id. BC– ZSM – Lep–13107; 1♀, same data, barcode id. BC– ZSM – Lep–13101; 1♀, same data, barcode id. BC– ZSM – Lep –13104; 1♀, same locality, 10.v.2010, leg. C. Wang, barcode id. BC– ZSM – Lep –12977; 2♀, same locality, 28.v.2006, leg. C. Wang, barcode ids BC– ZSM – Lep –13050 and BC– ZSM –Lep–13046; 1♀, Prov. Hebei, Gaojiaying, 40.8833°N / 114.95°E, 15.v.2007, barcode id. BC– ZSM – Lep –13509; 1♂, Dayushu, Yanqing, Beijing Shi, 40.3833°N / 115.95°E, 520 m, 12.ix.2007, leg. C. Wang, barcode id. BC– ZSM – Lep –15635; 1♀, same locality, 23.ix.2006, leg. C. Wang, barcode id. BC– ZSM – Lep –13415; 1♀, same locality, 13.ix.2007, leg. C. Wang, barcode id. BC– ZSM – Lep–15647, ZSM. Korea: 1♂, South – Korea, Seoul, Kalinowalski, Mus. de Varsovie, gen. prep. JH–151, barcode id. SE–MNC–Lep–01291, BIN BOLD: AAC5997; 1♀, North – Korea, Seishin–Olto [= Ch’eongjin], ca. 41°47’N / 129°47’E, leg. A. Kricheldorff, gen. prep. SE–572, ZFMK. Mongolia: 1♂ (syntype of Gnophos ochrofasciata Staudinger, 1895, misidentified), 1894, leg. Lederer, gen. prep. SE–566, MNHU. 1♀ (Pl. 3, Fig. 1g), Prov. Ömnögovi, 20 km E Sevrei Sum, Zoolongii nuruu, Shain Khökh, Khuushuue, 23.–24.viii.1997, leg. P. Gyulai & A. Garai, gen. prep. SE–580, barcode id. SE–MNC–Lep–01152, BIN BOLD:AAC5997, SMM. 1♀, Prov. Govi Altai, 45 km SE Biger, 1850 m, 05.vi.2004, leg. A. Saldaitis, gen. prep. SE–582, barcode id. SE–MNC– Lep –01121 and SE–MNC– Lep –01268, BIN BOLD: AAC5997, SPV. 1♂, Terelj, ca. 80 km NW Ulan Bator, 1500–1600 m, e.o. 29.ix.1983, leg. H. Salpeter, gen. prep. / barcode id. DNATAX – 2317; 1♀ (Pl. 1, Fig. 1d), same locality, e.o. 05.ix.1983, leg. H. Salpeter, gen. prep. / barcode id. DNATAX– 2318; 1♀, same locality, e.o. 15.x.1983, barcode id. SE–MNC– Lep –00142; 1♀, same locality, e.o. 09.ix.1983, barcode id. SE–MNC– Lep –00143, GJK. Russia: 1♂, South Siberia, Kyka village, Cita locality, 25.v.–10.vi.1999, leg. J. Miatleuski, gen. prep. JH–271, SGA. 1♂ (Pl. 2, Fig. 1e), Primorsky Krai, Ussuriysk district, 42 km SW Ussuriysk, Krounovka River, 30.v.–01.vi.2003, leg. E.A. Beljaev, gen. prep. JH–150, barcode id. SE–MNC– Lep –01061, BIN BOLD: AAC5997; 1♀, same data, gen. prep. SE–579, barcode id. SE–MNC– Lep –01062, BIN BOLD: AAC5997, SPV. 1♀, Prov. Tuva, Sayan Mts., Turan, 2000 m, vii., gen. prep. SE–573; 1♂, without data, gen. prep. Wehrli–601, ZFMK. 1♂, Askold, gen. prep. Wehrli–7136, MNHU.
Description. Adults (Pl. 1, Figs 1a–1d).
Measurements. Wingspan: 27–33 mm (♂), 30–33 mm (♀); forewing length: 14–17 mm (♂), 16–18 mm (♀); forewing width: 9–11 mm (♂), 10–11 mm (♀).
Wings. Coloration varies between different shades of cream and grayish-brown, variably patterned intense dark grayish-brown.
Male genitalia (Pl. 2, Fig. 1e). Total length: 2.29–2.78 mm; length of ventral valva margin: 2.21–2.92 mm; uncus and gnathos small, blunt-ended and strongly sclerotized; juxta distinctly asymmetric; no costal thorns developed; aedeagus length: 2.34–3.13 mm; aedeagus without cornutus.
Female genitalia (Pl. 3, Figs 1f, 1g). Total length: 4.6–6.6 mm; antrum length: 1.8–2.91 mm; antrum width: 0.63–0.81 mm; length of spined longitudinal folding: 1.12–1.64 mm.
Diagnosis. Males of C. (P.) agnitaria are determinable by the length of the sclerotized ventral valva margin (2.21–2.92 mm), which is shorter in the three other species of the subgenus (1.61–2.35 mm). This differentiation can be done by sight with no need for actual measuring. The only species that could resemble C. (P.) agnitaria in this specific character is C. (P.) creperaria, when there is no size comparison. But the latter species has a swollen sclerotized dilation close to its costa covered with minute spines, which is absent in C. (P.) agnitaria. Typical females of C. (P.) agnitaria are remarkable for their slender-looking and long antrum (1.8–2.91 mm) and also the long spined longitudinal folding (1.12–1.64 mm). In some specimens the measurements do not lead to sure distinction between the species, because the measurement-ranges of different species slightly overlap. Especially females of C. (P.) ochrofasciata are sometimes very similar to those of C. (P.) agnitaria. Unfortunately, in this case there is no sure distinction by use of female genitalia structures. C. (P.) beljaevi spec. nov. differs from C. (P.) agnitaria in the postvaginal plate, which strongly extends the antrum in C. (P.) agnitaria, while it not extends the antrum in C. (P.) beljaevi spec. nov. Furthermore, the antrum of the latter is clearly shorter with 1.37 mm at maximum, whereas the antrum length of C. (P.) agnitaria amounts to 1.8 mm at minimum, as mentioned above. Females of C. (P.) creperaria have the same postvaginal plate as C. (P.) agnitaria females, but cannot be confused with them due to their remarkably broad, funnel-shaped antrum.
Distribution (Fig. 5). This species is distributed from Central Asia to the Far East, and from South Siberia to China. In Kyrgyzstan it occurs around the Issyk–Kul Lake, in Mongolia north of Ulan Bator, in the Govi Altai Province SE Biger and in the Ömnögovi Province 20 km E Sevrei District. In China the species is distributed around the Qinghai Lake in Qinghai Province, as well as in the Provinces of Shaanxi, Shanxi, Hebei including the Municipality of Beijing, and Shandong. In Russia it is to be found near Lake Baikal, on Askold’s Island around Vladivostok and in Primorsky Krai around Ussuriysk. Charissa (P.) agnitaria is also known from North and South Korea. The moths occur at an altitude range from 520 m to 2000 m.
Biology. The flight period of C. (P.) agnitaria lasts from the beginning of May to the beginning of October, possibly in some regions in two generations. Breeding of this species was successful with Taraxacum officinale and Artemisia vulgaris as food plants for the caterpillars (J. Gelbrecht and B. Müller in lit.).
Remarks. Due to the highly variable habitus of the adults it had not been possible to match males of C. (P.) agnitaria to the female holotype. Checking the locations as well as DNA barcode analyses have helped to confirm the conspecificity of male and female specimens of the species.
Gnophos deliciaria shantungensis Wehrli, 1953 syn. nov. is recognized to be conspecific with Charissa (Pterygnophos) agnitaria (Staudinger, 1897).
Based on available molecular data the nearest species to C. (P.) agnitaria is C. (P.) ochrofasciata with a COI distance of 2.35% (see also Tab. 1 and Fig. 5). The morphology of male and female genitalia also indicates a close relationship between these species.
description: Published as part of Erlacher, Sven, Palma, Laura Marrero & Erlacher, Josepha, 2017, A systematic revision of Charissa, subgenus Pterygnophos Wehrli, 1951, with description of a new species (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) in Zootaxa 4341 (3), DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4341.3.4, http://zenodo.org/record/1040085