Gnophopsodos fractifasciaria Pungeler 1901
Creators: name: Erlacher, Sven
name: Erlacher, Josepha
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2016
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Geometridae
Gnophopsodos
Gnophopsodos fractifasciaria

description: 2. Gnophopsodos fractifasciaria (Püngeler, 1901)
(adults Pl. 1, Figs 2 a, 2b; male gen. Pl. 3, Fig. 2 c; female gen. Pl. 5, Fig. 2 d)
Gnophos fractifasciaria Püngeler, 1901, Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift Iris, 14: 189, Pl. 3, Fig. 13.— Locus typicus: Kyrgyzstan, Alexander Mountains. Deposition of holotype: MNHU. Examined.
Material examined. Type material. Holotype Ƌ (Pl. 1, Fig. 2 a; Pl. 3, Fig. 2 c): [Kyrgyzstan:] ‘ Asia centr[al]. | Alexandergebirge | Rückbeil 1899’, ‘ Type | fractifasciata Püng [eler]. | Ƌ’, ‘SE–594 Ƌ | gen. prep. | Erlacher, 2014’, MNHU.—Further material. Kazakhstan: 1Ƌ, mountains Terskey Alatau, river Orta Kokpak, 42°42’N / 79°46’E, 2400 m, 09.vii.1993, leg. V. Murzin, coll. C. Herbulot, gen. prep. SE–654, barcode id. SE–MNC– Lep –00852, BIN BOLD:ABA8683; 1Ƌ, same locality, 05.vii.1993, leg. V. Murzin, coll. C. Herbulot, barcode id. SE–MNC– Lep – 0 0 853, BIN BOLD:ABA8683; 1Ƌ, same data, barcode id. SE–MNC–Lep–00854, BIN BOLD:ABA8683, ZSM. Kyrgyzstan: 1Ƌ, Issyk Kul, leg. W. Rückbeil, MNHU. China: 2Ƌ, Saichin mountain chain N Korla, 1902, leg. W. Rückbeil; 1♀ (Pl. 1, Fig. 2 b; Pl. 5, 2d), same data, gen. prep. SE–592, MNHU.
Description. Adults (Pl. 1, Figs 2 a, 2b).
Measurements. Wingspan: 30–33 mm (Ƌ), 33 mm (♀); forewing length: 17–19 mm (Ƌ), 18 mm (♀); forewing width: 12–14 mm (Ƌ), 12 mm (♀).
Wings. Upper side whitish to brownish light-gray; antemedial line often indistinct; postmedial line distinctly visible, spotted or continuous; marginal line spotted, sporadically absent.
Male genitalia (Pl. 3, Fig. 2 c). Total length: 2.40 mm; valvae span: 1.62 mm; valvulae span: 1.83 mm; valvae width: 0.81 mm. Costa padded, sparse costal thorns pooled to a subterminal cactus-like structure; uncus broadly rounded with intense and slender peak; gnathos bulb-like, laterally strongly compressed, ventrally pointed; juxta caudally spoon-shaped broadened; aedeagus length: 0.58–0.67 mm; appendix aedeagi: 1.11–1.12 mm.
Female genitalia (Pl. 5, Fig. 2 d). Total length: 3.30 mm; antrum length: 0.74 mm; antrum width: 0.35 mm.
Diagnosis. Due to variability of coloration and line-pattern G. fractifasciaria can resemble G. puengeleri, G. sabine or G. tholeraria. For distinction between G. fractifasciaria and G. s a b i n e see diagnosis of G. sabine. As implied by the name “ fractifasciaria ” the species typically has disconnected ante- and postmedial lines, which are rather continuous in G. puengeleri. But this characteristic is still quite variable and hardly useful for a distinction between the species. However, postmedial lines of G. puengeleri proceed remarkably straight towards the apex while line-proceeding of G. fractifasciaria is less directed and additionally, post- and antemedial lines of G. fractifasciaria diverge less towards the costa than those of G. puengeleri. External distinction between G. fractifasciaria and G. tholeraria should mostly be possible by paying attention to the more slender wing-form of G. tholeraria and the patches of grayish-brown scales that are scattered over the wings, whereas the wings of G. fractifasciaria are rather smoothly colored. Internally, G. fractifasciaria is characterized by a slightly broadened appendix aedeagi with smooth margin and distinct peak, whereas the appendix aedeagi of G. puengeleri has no peak and the caudal margin is finely serrate. According to male genitalia there is no possibility of confusing G. fractifasciaria and G. tholeraria because of the keyhole-shaped juxta, the short saccus and the spoon-shaped and divided appendix aedeagi of the latter.
Distribution (Fig. 4). Three specimens of G. fractifasciaria originate from China in a mountain chain north of Korla. The holotype was found in the Alexander Mountains in Kyrgyzstan. Kaila et al. (1996) listed the species from the Issyk–Kul and Kaindy. Another known occurrence is in South– East Kazakhstan in the Terskey Alatau Mountains, where three males were collected in 1993. The species occurs at an altitude of about 2400 m.
Biology. So far as is known the flight period is from the beginning to the middle of July (see Kaila et al. 1996).
Remarks. Based on available molecular data the nearest species of G. fractifasciaria is G. puengeleri with a COI distance of 4.77% (see also Tab. 1 and Fig. 6).
description: Published as part of Erlacher, Sven & Erlacher, Josepha, 2016, A systematic revision of the genus Gnophopsodos Wehrli, 1945, with description of two new species (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), pp. 435-456 in Zootaxa 4169 (3) on pages 441-442, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4169.3.2, http://zenodo.org/record/267918