Lophoterges (Variterges) Ronkay, 2005, subgen. n.
Creators: name: Ronkay, L.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2005
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Noctuidae
Lophoterges

description: Variterges subgen. n.   
 Type species: Lithocampa millierei var. centralasiae STAUDINGER, 1901, Catalog der Lepidopteren des palaearctischen Faunengebietes 1: 212. Type locality: [Kirghisia] Fergana, Osh.   
 Diagnosis. This lineage can be directly derived from the archetype of the genus, displaying all elements of the typical Lophoterges pattern of the fore wing, the rather strong dissymmetrisation of the valves and retaining the large and complex vesica in the males and the specialisation of the ductus bursae and cervix bursae as well.   
 The subgenus contains two subgroups, the centralasiae- and the radiansgroups which are easily separable by the structure of the socii, the armature of the vesica, the shape and size of the ostium bursae and the sclerotisation of the cervix bursae. The radians -group is monotypical while the centralasiae -group comprises three closely related species, L. (V.) centralasiae, L. (V.) aksuensis and L. (V.) varians.   
 External morphology (Figs 3–18, 31). Body slender, fore wings long, relatively broad; fore wing pattern typical of Lophoterges, stigmata encircled with white and filled with brownish or greyish; costal stripe paler than ground colour, at least at basal third; crosslines reduced to their dark costal streaks. Abdominal coremata represented by the sclerotised pedicels of the brush-organs and the membranous pouches; last sternite of the female abdomen with well-developed pair of lateral gelatinous appendages.   
Male genitalia (Figs 34, 35, 39, 43–48, 69–73). Socii well developed and sclerotised, symmetrical, acutely pointed and projected laterad, not or only finely dentate. Valvae strongly asymmetrical, saccular parts more or less equal with differently strong and long, pyramidal harpes and reduced clavi; distal parts strongly asymmetrical, represented by heavily sclerotised, variably long, arched or straight, stick- or bar-like extensions with acute apex and often with smaller or larger subapical process. Aedeagus long, strong, cylindrical, rather straight, carina less specialised. Vesica broadly tubular, everted forward then bent ventro-laterally, basal third inflated, distal two-thirds more or less evenly tapering towards ductus ejaculatorius, with two small semiglobular or conical diverticula at medial and terminal position. Armature of vesica very complex, consisting of a large number of variably strong and long, spiniform cornuti arranged into large, more or less continuous fields or into larger groups at basal, medial and terminal parts of vesica.  
Female genitalia (Figs 36, 37, 40–42, 49, 50). Ovipositor short, weak, conical, cartilaginous intersegmental appendages well-developed; gonapophyses slender, fine. Ostium bursae large, flattened, strongly sclerotised, more or less asymmetrical, infundibular, calyculate or lyriform, dorsal and ventral plates unequal in size. Distal part of ductus bursae heavily sclerotised, tubular, flattened with folded lateral margins; proximal part forming a gelatinous, wrinkled-rugose bulb. Cervix bursae long, as long as or longer than sclerotised part of ductus bursae, more or less conical, with larger sclerotised patch or long sclerotised lateral lamina running from base to apex. Corpus bursae elliptical-ovoid, membranous, signum regularly present but variably strongly developed.  
 Bionomics. The early stages of the species are unpublished but some rearings are known from Lonicera species. The adults have been collected in stream valleys and montane rocky habitats where the Lonicera bushes grow, they may appear in very different zones of the Central Asian high mountain systems, from rather low altitudes up to the alpine zone. The species are univoltine or bivoltine, depending on the actual climate of the locality, the moths are on the wing from the beginning of May to the end of August. They are active fliers and are attracted to the light, in certain localities may be rather frequent.   
 Distribution. The members of the subgenus are distributed in the Central Asian large mountains, they are typical species of the Hissar-Pamir-Hindukush and the Tien Shan mountain systems. The westernmost known locality of a Variterges species is the Kugitang-Tau Mts, the most easterly found specimens have been collected in the Mongolian Altai and the eastern Tien Shan Mts in Chinese Turkestan.
description: Published as part of Ronkay, L., 2005, Revision Of The Genus Lophoterges Hampson, 1906 (S. L.) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Cuculliinae). Part Ii. The Genus Lophoterges S. Str., pp. 1-57 in Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 51 (1) on pages 18-20, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.12586551