Research Article |
Corresponding author: Wolfram Mey ( wolfram.mey@gmx.de ) Academic editor: Lauri Kaila
© 2022 Wolfram Mey.
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Citation:
Mey W (2022) Taxonomic notes on Palearctic taxa of Galacticidae, a little-known family of Lepidoptera (Galacticoidea). Nota Lepidopterologica 45: 169-190. https://doi.org/10.3897/nl.45.78574
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Galacticidae is a poorly known family in the Palearctic Region. The range of the family covers the Mediterranean Zone of North Africa, as well as Western Asia, Eastern Russia, Central Asia and the Eastern Palaearctic. The included taxa are summarised in a checklist. Available type material was examined and redescriptions of some species are provided. Two genera are recognised and diagnosed: Homadaula Lower, 1899 with four species and Zarcinia Chrétien, 1915 with five species. Bahrlutia
The family Galacticidae was established by
male tergum VIII forming a hood over segments IX and X which are deeply incorporated within segment VIII,
female genitalia with genital opening on a penis-like tube projecting from membrane between segments VII and VIII.
The taxonomy of the family has not been revised until now. In the past, the genera were introduced without descriptions of the genitalia, which subsequently turned out to be the most significant features in the discrimination of taxa.
The oldest generic name in the family is Homadaula Lower, 1899, whose description is based on H. lasiochroa Lower, 1899 from Australia.
The genus Galactica Walsingham, 1911 was established with the description of G. caradjae collected in Algeria.
The genus Zarcinia Chrétien, 1915 was established with the description of Z. nigrosignatella Chrétien, 1915. The species was collected in the south of Tunisia. The number and sex of the type specimens were not stated. Two more species were added subsequently to this genus by Meyrick (1917,
The genus Bahrlutia Amsel, 1935 was introduced based on characters of the wing venation, which were regarded as different from Zarcinia. The type species, B. ghorella Amsel, 1935, was collected in Palestine (= today Israel). Later, Amsel described a second species of the genus, B. schaeuffelei Amsel, 1959 on the basis of two females collected in Iran. Each of the four genera were originally described in Yponomeutidae, but were excluded from this family by
In the Microlepidoptera collection of the Russian lepidopterist Y.L. Stshetkin, which is deposited in the Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin (
Adults examined included type specimens as well as non-type specimens from private collections and museums that are listed at the end of the chapter. Pinned specimens and their associated slide-mounted genitalia, as well as other features, were examined with dissecting and compound microscopes. Dissection of the genitalia was performed according to the procedure described by
The terminology used in the descriptions of species largely follows
As explained in the introduction, this article is not designed as a revision in its proper sense. Therefore, the species are not described according to a fixed scheme but are treated in a way providing mainly new faunistic records, references and hitherto unknown details.
Homadaula Lower, 1899
= Galactica Walsingham, 1911, syn. nov.
H. anisocentra Meyrick, 1922 China, Japan
H. caradjae (Walsingham, 1911) [Galactica], comb. nov. Algeria
H. punctigera (Rebel, 1910) [Paraprays] Uzbekistan, Kyrgistan
H. schaeuffelei (Amsel, 1959) [Bahrlutia], comb. nov. Iran, Pakistan
Zarcinia Chrétien, 1915
= Bahrlutia Amsel, 1935, syn. nov.
Z. ghorella (Amsel, 1935) [Bahrlutia], comb. nov. Israel
Z. nigrosignatella Chrétien, 1915 Tunisia
Z. stshetkini sp. nov. Tajikistan, Afghanistan
Z. walsinghami (Caradja, 1920) [Galactica], comb. nov. Russia, Kazakhstan
Z. spec. Iran
Incertae sedis
Galactica variinotella (Chrétien, 1915) [Psecadia] Tunisia
Homadaula disperdita Meyrick, 1922 China
Zarcinia sacra Meyrick, 1925 Egypt
The genera and species of Galacticidae cannot be distinguished by external characters alone. Contrary to the opinions of
1 | Female genitalia with ostium bursae as round opening in membrane beyond distal margin of sternum VIII; phallus of male elongated, protruding and twisted | Zarcinia |
– | Female genitalia with ostium bursae on tip of membranous process (= henia); phallus of male short, retracted within segment IX | Homadaula |
Galacticoidea Dugdale, Kristensen, Robinson & Scoble (1998)
Handbook of Zoology, vol. 4(35): 217
Galactica Walsingham, 1911; by subsequent selection. Alexanor 14(7): 305–306.
In the phylogenetic tree of
Galacticinae Friese, 1966
Beitr. Ent. 16: 447 [in Plutellidae]
Homadaula Lower, 1899: 115. Type species H. lasiochroa Lower, 1899; by monotypy, type locality: New South Wales, Broken Hill.
Homadaula
Lower, 1899:
Paraprays
Rebel, 1910: 13–14. Type species P. punctigera Rebel, 1910; by monotypy, type locality: Alai Mts. [Kyrgyzstan], synonymised by
Paraprays
Rebel, 1910:
Galactica Walsingham, 1911: 14–15. Type species Galactica caradjae Walsingham, 1911; by monotypy, type locality: Algeria, Biskra, syn. nov.
Galactica
Walsingham, 1911:
Stichotactis
Meyrick, 1930: 562–563. Type species S. calamitosa Meyrick, 1930: by monotypy, type locality: Sudan, Gendettu, bred from flowers of “Acacia nilotica and A. arabica”, synonymised by
Male genitalia with tergum IX reduced or with uncus and remnants of gnathos invaginated into segment VIII, phallus short, not projecting, sclerotized, dagger-like and pointed, ankylosed with larger anellus forming a structure with complicated morphology.
Female genitalia with segment VII with sclerotised sternum and tergum, sometimes fused to a certain degree; dorsal side of tergum a broad, bilobed or compact plate without median, shallow groove; caudal margin of sternum VII symmetrical in ventral view, ostium bursae a small opening on tip of elongate and freely projecting, sterigmal tube (= henia), membranous or weakly sclerotised; ductus bursae barely longer than bursa copulatrix; bulla seminalis absent or present; bursa with or without signa.
Homadaula anisocentra
Meyrick, 1922: 47, type locality: China, Tsingtau, female holotype in
1 ♂, Japan, Honshu, Gifu Province, Shira-kawa, 380 m, Oppara, 19.vi.2003, LF, leg. W. Mey (
Galactica caradjae Walsingham, 1911: 14–15, type locality: Algeria, Hammam-es-Salahin.
type material Holotype ♀, “Hammam-es-Salahin/Algeria/18.iv.1904/Wlsm. 97923“[printed on white card], “BM ♀/Genitalia slide/No 5615” [made by JW Tremewan] (BMNH). Paratype ♀, “Biskra/Korb 1902” [hand-written on white card], “3984/Wlsm 1903” [printed on white card with inscriptions], “859” [printed], “09” [hand-written], “Paratypus”[printed on red card], genitalia slide G. Friese 859 (
In the genitalia slides of both the holo- and paratype, the henia of the female genitalia is clearly visible. This character is an apomorphic and diagnostic feature of Homadaula. Its presence in G. caradjae necessitates the transfer of this species to the genus Homadaula Lower, 1899, which has priority over Galactica
The species was never reported again since it was collected in North Africa. The male sex is unknown, which renders the identification of the species difficult. The species resembles Z. schaeuffelei, and new material from Northern Africa would be necessary to clarify the identity of H. caradjae.
Paraprays punctigera
Rebel, 1910: 13–14, type locality: Alai Mts., types in
1 ♂, [Uzbekistan], “Margelan, H[a]b[er]h[auer]” [hand-written on brown paper], ex coll. Staudinger (
Forewings brown-grey, with very small, black dots along R and Cu; tarsal segments of fore- and midlegs not flecked dorsally; male with vestiges of uncus and gnathos, valvae long, dorsal process broad, not abruptly separated from apical portion.
The species is similar to H. anisocentra by sharing the grey-brown colour of the adults and the similar pattern of forewings. In the male genitalia, the long tergal plate and the form of the phallic apparatus (= fused with the anellus) have a similar architecture in both species.
Adult (Fig.
Male genitalia (Figs
Female: unknown.
(Fig.
Bahrlutia schaeuffelei Amsel, 1959: 35–36, type locality: Iran, Iranshar, Holotype and Paratype deposited in SMNS [Paratype examined].
type material, 1 ♀ Paratype, “IRAN Beluchistan/Jranshar, 800 m/1.-10.iii.1954/Richter u. Schäuffele” [printed on grey card], “Paratypus/leg. H. Amsel” [printed on red card], genitalia slide Mey (SMNS). 1 ♂, Pakistan, [Province Baluchistan], 150 km south-west of Quetta, 900 m, 13.vi.1965, leg. Kasy & Vartian, genitalia slide Mey 23/21 (
Male without uncus and gnathos, valvae long, dorsal process broad, elongate, directed dorsad and laterad. Female without bulla seminalis, bursa copuatrix with a sclerotised antrum of ductus bursae, dorsal and ventral side of bursa with thin medial line.
H. schaeuffelei is an unusual species of the genus by showing a completely cream-white, external appearance of the adults, resembling externally H. caradjae.
Adult (Figs
Male genitalia (Figs
Female genitalia (Figs
Host plant unknown. Adults have been collected at the lights in March and June at elevations of 800–900 m and at lower elevations.
Iran and Pakistan.
The male specimen from Pakistan, widely separated geographically from the localities in south Iran, is associated with H. schaeuffelei by observing the presence of a forked R4 and R5 in the forewing, a character, which is unique and unknown from other species of Galacticidae in the region.
Adults of Homadaula spp. 1–2. H. caradjae (Walsingham), male paralectotype and label; 3–4. H. punctigera (Rebel), male and label; 5–6. H. schaeuffelei (Amsel), female paratype and label; 7. H. schaeuffelei (Amsel), female, Iran; 8. H. schaeuffelei (Amsel), male, Pakistan (photos by W. Mey).
Zarcinia Chrétien, 1915: 310–311. Type species Z. nigrosignatella Chrétien, 1915; by monotypy,
Zarcinia
Chrétien, 1915:
Bahrlutia Amsel, 1935: 213–214. Type species B. ghorella Amsel, 1935, by monotypy, syn. nov.
Bahrlutia
Amsel, 1935:
Male genitalia with tergum IX reduced and invaginated into segment VIII, phallus elongated, sclerotized and asymmetrically screwed; female genitalia with segment VII with sclerotised sternum and tergum; dorsal side of tergum (= tergal plate) with median, shallow groove; caudal margin of sternum VII symmetrical or asymmetrical in ventral view, ostium bursae a large, rounded opening in central or lateral position of intersegmental membrane between segments VII and VIII, rim of ostium sclerotised, antrum present; ductus bursae longer than bursa copulatrix; bulla seminalis present or absent; bursa without signa.
Bahrlutia ghorella Amsel, 1935: 214, type locality: Israel, West-Jordan Land, Holotype deposited in LMK [examined].
Holotype ♀, “Südende d[es]/Toten Meers/15. –27.3.[19]33/H. Amsel“ [printed], “gesammelt v./Aigner” [printed], “Typus/leg. H. Amsel” [printed on red card], genitalia slide Mey 28/21 (LMK).
Zarcinia ghorella externally resembles Z. walsinghami. It can be distinguished by characters of female abdomen and genitalia, e.g., tergum and sternum VII overlapping in lateral view, median groove of tergum VII in central position and bulla seminalis absent.
Adult (Fig.
Female genitalia (Figs
Host plant unknown.
Israel.
In the original description two available specimens were mentioned. One is obviously lost, and the remaining individual is the one which was designated by Amsel as the type, which is interpreted here as a valid holotype designation.
The descriptions of three, unrevised species summarised in the incertae sedis group are more or less in agreement with the description of Z. ghorella. In the case of conspecifity with one or all of these species, which could be detected in the future, Z. ghorella would become a synonym of one of those species.
Zarcinia nigrosignatella
Chrétien, 1915: 310–311, type locality: south Tunisia, Zarcine-Kebili, type in
2 ♀, “Gabes, Tunis/1895, Reit.” [Tunisia], genitalia slide Mey 04/04, ex coll. Staudinger (
The holotype of the species could not be traced in the
Holotype ♂, [Tajikistan], Pristan, 12 km south of Dschlikulja, on Vahsh River, at the lights, 38.442494°N, 69.559346°E, 24.vi.[19]49, leg. Y. Stshetkin, genitalia slide Mey 2/04 (
Paratypes: 4 ♀, same locality: 30.vii.148; 3.xi.1948, genitalia slide Mey 3/04; 31.v.1949; 14.vi.1949, genitalia slide Mey 22/21; 16.vi.1949, all leg. Y. Stshetkin; 1 ♀, Lower Vahsh River, Tigrovaja Balka, 9.x.1949, leg. Y. Stshetkin; 1 ♀, Vahsh River valley, Molomovabadskyi rayon, 30.viii.1953, leg. Y. Stshetkin, genitalia slide Mey 21/21 (all in
2 ♂, Kazakhstan, Almaty, Shengeldy, 10 km SW of Almatinskiye, Sun Mare, 43°56'32"N, 77°20'49"E ,7.–9.vi.2018, 480 m leg. Knud Larsen, genitalia slide 4147 KL (coll. K. Larsen); 4 ♂ 1 ♀, Kazakhstan, Almaty: Bakbakty, 6 km W, Jeppesen Party, 44°33'41"N, 76°38'20"E, 30.v. –2.vi.2018, 410 m leg. Knud Larsen, genitalia slide male 4148 KL (coll. K. Larsen);
Paratypes: 2 ♀, Afghanistan, Nuristan, 25 km north of Barikot, 1800 m, 12.–17.vii.1963, leg. Kasy & Vartian, 1 ♀ without abdomen, genitalia slide Mey 26/21 (
Zarcinia stshetkini sp. nov. resembles Z. walsinghami. It can be distinguished by characters of male and female genitalia. In the male, the new species differs from Z. walsinghami by the dorsal process of the valva, which is directed caudad and shorter than the apical part, whereas it is directed distad and longer in Z. walsinghami. The pallus is as long as the valva and double twisted in contrast to Z. walsinghami, whose phallus is simply curved and shorter than half length of the valva. The distal tip of the tergal plate is lobe-like and rounded with a short, median tip in the new species, but triangular and acute in Z. walsinghami. In the female genitalia, the bulla seminalis is absent and the ductus bursae much longer than the bursa in the new species
Adults of Zarcinia spp. 9–10. Z. ghorella (Amsel), holotype and label; 11–12. Z. stshetkini sp. nov., male holotype and label; 13–14. Z. walsinghami (Caradja), male paralectotype and label; 15. Z. stshetkini sp. nov., female, Afghanistan; 16. Zarcinia sp., female, Iran (photos by W. Mey).
Adult (Figs
Male genitalia (Figs
Female genitalia (Figs
Host plant unknown. Adults have been collected from May to October at elevations of 1000–1800 m.
(Fig.
The specific name is dedicated to the memory of Yuri Leontovich Stshetkin (1919–1995), a Russian lepidopterist, who lived and collected Lepidoptera mainly in Tajikistan. He intensively explored the Lepidoptera fauna of the upper Vachsch valley (
Galactica walsinghami
Caradja, 1920: 90, type locality: Inderskysche Salzsteppe, Uralsk [Kazakhstan], lectotype designation by Shovkoon in
Galactica walsinghami:
Calantica bootella
Turati, 1926: 68, type locality: [Libya], Porto Bardia, synonymised by
Zarcinia melanozestas
Meyrick, 1935: 556, type locality: Daghestan [Russia], synonymised by
type material, lectotype ♂, Kazakhstan, “Indersky/Salzsee/23.vi.[19]07”[hand-written on white paper], genitalia slide G. Friese 862, (
Zarcinia walsinghami resembles Z. stshetkini sp. nov. The males differ in the form of the valva and the size of the phallus. In the female genitalia, the bulla seminalis is present in Z. walsinghami and absent in Z. stshetkini sp. nov.
Adult (Fig.
Male genitalia (Figs
Female genitalia (Figs
The species was reared by
(Fig.
Galactica walsinghami was described from specimens from Indersky Salt Lake near Uralsk in northern Kazakhstan. The species remained uncollected for more than 100 years.
Photos of adults were published by
1 ♀, Iran, 70 km south of Teheran, 1300 m, 5.v.1965, leg. [F.] Kasy & [A.] Vartian, genitalia slide Mey 25/21 (
According to the genitalia, the single female represents an undescribed species. It mainly differs from Z. ghorella, Z. stshetkini sp. nov. and Z. walsinghami in the median position of the ostium bursae in the intersegmental membrane ventrally between segment VII and VIII. The abdominal segments are more melanised than in other species and especially the surface of sterna VI and VII have a rough surface formed by minute denticules (Fig.
With only one female individual at hand, the species is not named and described here. More material including males should be collected in the area of the known locality, which would provide a more adequate basis for a species description.
Species incertae sedis
Psecadia variinotella
Chrétien, 1915: 339, type locality: Gafsa, Tunisia, lectotype in
Galactica variinotella:
The male lectotype was designated by
Homadaula disperdita Meyrick, 1922: 551, type locality: Shanghai, China.
From the original description alone, the generic affiliation cannot be determined. The type specimen is missing in coll. E. Meyrick (
Zarcinia sacra Meyrick, 1925: 214, type locality: Egypt.
From the original description alone, the generic affiliation cannot be determined. The type specimen is missing in coll. E. Meyrick (
Zarcinia spp., male genitalia of Z. stshetkini sp. nov., holotype; 27. Lateral; 28. Phallus and anellus, ventral; 29. Segment VIII, caudal; 30. Ventral; 31. Dorsal; 32. Wing venation; 33–35. Male genitalia of Z. walsinghami (Caradja); 33. Tergal plate, dorsal; 34. Valva, lateral; 35. Genitalia of paralectotype, caudal (genitalia slide Friese 863).
Female genitalia of Zarcinia spp., 36–38. Z. ghorella (Amsel), holotype; 36. Lateral; 37. Ventral; 38. Segment VII, dorsal; 39–41. Z. stshetkini sp. nov.; 39. Ventral; 40. Lateral; 41. segment VII, dorsal; 42–44. Z. walsinghami (Caradja), Kzyl-Orda; 42. Lateral; 43. Ventral; 44. Segment VII, dorsal; 45–47. Z. nigrosignatella (Chrétien); 45. Ventral; 46. Lateral; 47. Segment VII, dorsal; 48. Zarcinia sp., Iran, ventral view.
The taxonomy of Homadaula and Zarcinia is still far from being resolved. The types of a number of species are missing and the opposite sex of others are unknown. We can only hope for freshly collected material of both genera coming from Microlepidoptera samples of the known type localities in North Africa and adjacent regions. Unfortunately, faunistic studies in these areas are difficult to carry out at present, and we probably have to be satisfied with a poor knowledge on the family for a while. The host plant of Zarcinia walsinghami was identified by
My thanks go to D. Bartsch (SMNS), S. Gaal-Hazler and M. Lödl (