Sphingona epiopsis gurkoi
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| Melichar & Řezáč , 2013 |
Sphingonaepiopsis gurkoi is a butterfly ( moth ) fromthe swarm family (Sphingidae).
features
The moths have a wingspan of 38 millimeters. They look similar to Sphingona epiopsis kuldjaensis , but have gray-brown fore wings, with the lighter areas being a light orange tone. The basal and medial bandages are dark brown. The vertical light line next to the medial band above M 2 is narrower than in Sphingonaepiopsis asiatica . The hind wings have a dirty, gray-orange to light yellow basic color, which clearly distinguishes them from Sphingonaepiopsis kuldjaensis , whose hind wings are always light brown and orange in color. The outer edge of the hind wings is about three millimeters in the upper half gray-brown, towards the lower half this dark color disappears. Two parallel bars run centrally across the entire length of the hind wings. The thorax and abdomen are colored the same, as in Sphingonaepiopsis kuldjaensis . At the rear end of the thorax there is a white band about a millimeter wide to separate it from the abdomen. On the first and second abdominal segment there are a pair of white spots 1 to 1.5 millimeters in size.
The morphology of the male genitalia is closer to that of Sphingona epiopsis kuldjaensis than to all other Palearctic Sphingona epiopsis species. Sphingonaepiopsis gurkoi mainly differs in the construction of the harp, in which the upper rounded part is covered with rough protuberances and in which a ridge runs from the lower angle distally along the ventral edge of the valves . These characteristics are completely absent in Sphingonaepiopsis kuldjaensis . The latter feature is so characteristic of the species that it is possible to identify the species on the basis of this feature alone.
Occurrence and way of life
The species is so far only known from the area around the Ruschan chain in Tajikistan , but it could be that the specimens of Sphingonaepiopsis kuldjaensis that Yakovlev (2011) detected in western Mongolia are Sphingonaepiopsis gurkoi . The species inhabits areas with mountain steppes beyond 3500 meters above sea level. Butterflies were caught in Tajikistan in the first three weeks of July. The only previously known individual from Mongolia was from the end of May. The pre-imaginal stages are unknown.
supporting documents
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c Sphingidae of the Western Palaearctic. AR Pittaway, accessed December 28, 2014 .