The Male Genitalia of the New Zealand Pterophoridae.

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 59, 1928, Page 645

The Male Genitalia of the New Zealand Pterophoridae. By Alfred Philpott, Hon. Research Student in Lepidoptera, Cawthron Institute, Nelson. [Read before the Nelson Philosophical Society, 29th August, 1928; received by Editor, 18th September, 1928; issued separately, 30th November, 1928.] About 20 New Zealand species of this family have been recorded, two or three of which are of doubtful validity. All are endemic except the practically cosmopolitan Stenoptilia zophodactyla Dup.; no endemic genus, however, has been evolved. The most striking characteristics of the male genitalia are the complete absence of all trace of the gnathos and socii, the lateral position on the aedeagus for the entrance of the ductus ejaculatorius (not in Alucita) and the peculiar form of the juxta. Not having as yet studied the other Pyraloid families, I am unable to say if the absence of the gnathos and socii is of any phylogenetic significance, but I note that Petersen (Die Gattung Crambus F. Verhand, 111, Internat. Ento-Kongres. Zurich, p. 405) figures a well-developed gnathos (which he terms the “subscaphium”) in Crambus. The genera Platyptilia and Stenoptilia have long been recognized by systematists as groups which are not separable by definite and unfailing characters. Though the bulk of the species can be assigned to the separate categories without much difficulty there remain a fair number of forms which fit about equally well into either genus. The male genitalia offer no help in this connection; it is not possible to distinguish the structures generically, and one description may be used to cover the united groups. Platyptilia Hübner. Stenoptilia Hübner. (Figs. 1–8.) These genera are practically cosmopolitan. Platyptilia contains by far the greater number of species though Stenoptilia would appear (owing to the absence of the black scales in the fringes of the hindwings) to be the more primitive. The two genera comprise all except four of the known New Zealand Pterophoridae, but only eight species have been available for dissection. Tegumen short, broad, not fused with vinculum; uncus long, narrow, pointed, curved or bent, with short backwardly-directed hairs on upper surface. Aedeagus strongly curved, rather swollen basally, the ductus ejaculatorius entering this swollen portion on the left side; just above this swollen portion is a thumb-like process projecting ventrally and coming into contact with the basal groove of the juxta, while the apical portion of the aedeagus rests between its upper lobes. Juxta forming a curved somewhat funnel-shaped structure at base, with a pair of broad lobes above, and ending in another pair of lobes which are more or less triangular and pointed; both

Fig. 1.—Platyptilia epotis Meyr. A, male genitalia; B, harpe; D, aedeagus and juxta; F, uncus, dorsal view. Fig. 2.—P. aeolodes Meyr. male genitalia; B, harpe; D, aedeagus and juxta; F, uncus, dorsal view. Fig. 3.—P. falcatalis Walk. A, male genitalia; B, harpe; D, aedeagus; E, juxta, lateral view; Ea, juxta, caudal view; F, uncus, dorsal view. Fig. 4.—P. deprivatdis Walk. A, male genitalia; B, harpe; F, uncus, dorsal view. Fig. 5.—P. heliastis Meyr. A, male genitalia; B, harpe; E, juxta, lateral view; F, uncus, dorsal view; J, vinculum.

pairs of lobes bear some short stiff hairs apically and the aedeagus rests between the divergent upper pair. Harpes long, leaf-like; sacculus well marked but not free at apex; cucullus with short ventral hook near apex; central area with dense fine long hair directed towards upper margin, apical hair directed backwards, hair on sacculus basally directed inwards, very short apically. Vinculum with very thin arms; saccus absent, but a rounded process is directed caudally, its apex being covered with short, stout spines. Key To The Species Of Platyptilia And Stenoptilia. 1. With black scales in dorsal fringes of hindwings 2. Without black scales in fringes of hindwings*A few black scales are frequently present in vigens, also in lithoxesta, and, according to Mr. Hudson, in celidota. On the other hand, examples of deprivatalis are not uncommon in which the scaling is entirely absent. 6. 2. Uncus constricted basally 3. Uncus not constricted basally 5. 3. Uncus strongly compressed laterally P. epotis Meyr. Uncus not compressed laterally 4. 4. Uncus on dorsal view hardly dilated; juxta with apical lobes blunt-pointed P. aeolodes Meyr. Uncus on dorsal view moderately dilated; juxta with apical lobes acutely pointed P. falcatalis Walk. 5. Uncus very thin, long, with finely tapered apex P. deprivatalis Walk. Uncus moderately broad, short, apex shortly pointed P. heliastis Meyr. 6. Uncus constricted at base 7. Uncus not constricted at base S. celidota Meyr. 7. Uncus almost rectangularly bent S. vigens Feld. Uncus very obtusely angled S. lithoxesta Meyr. Alucita Linné. (Figs. 9–12.) A genus of moderate extent with four endemic species in New Zealand. The male genitalia are more or less asymetrical and differ widely from the type met with in Platyptilia and Stenoptilia. Tegumen moderate or broad; uncus curved or recurved, narrow. Aedeagus thin, curved or bent, without ventral process, apex frequently somewhat dilated and bent. Juxta an asymetrical structure with basal plate strongly attached to right harpe and apical portion dividing into a pair of irregular lobes, the left being much the longer. Harpes long, moderate or narrow, curved, more or less asymetrical; sacculus a long thin curved or sinuate free process, sometimes divided into two asymetrical prongs. Vinculum with caudal process as in Platyptilia, without hair or spines. Lettering: ae, aedeagus; bc, barb or cucullus; c, cornutus; de, ductus ejaculatorius; fs, free lobe of sacculus; h, harpe; j, juxta; lj, lower lobe of juxta; pa, ventral process of aedeagus; sh, modified scales on harpe of A. innotatalis; ss, sacculus; sv, spines of vinculum; t, tegumen; u, uncus; uj, upper lobe of juxta; v, vinculum; va, vesica. Unless otherwise stated, the views of the genitalia (A) and aedeagus (D) are from the lateral aspect; those of the harpe (B) are from within.

Fig. 6—Stenoptilia celidota Meyr. A, male genitalia; B, harpe; D, nedeagus; F, uncus, dorsal view; J, vinculum Fig. 7.—S. lithoxesta Meyr. A, male genitalia; B, harpe; E, juxta, lateral view; F, uncus, dorsal view; J, vinculum Fig.8.—S. vigens Feld. A, male genitalia; B, harpe; D, aedeagus, F, uncus, dorsal view. Fig. 9.—Alucita innotatalis Walk. A, male genitalia; B, harpe; C, tegumen, dorsal view; E, juxta, caudal view. Fig. 10.—A, furcatalis Walk. A, male genitalia; Bl, left harpe; Br, right harpe; C, tegumen, ventral view; D, aedeagus, ventral view; E, juxta, caudal view; J, vinculum. Fig. 11.—A. lycosema Meyr. A, male genitalia; Bl, left harpe; Br, right harpe; D, aedeagus; E. juxta, caudal view; J, vinculum.

Key To The Species Of Alucita. 1. Harpes covered outwardly, except on apical portion, with large oval scales; uncus slightly curved . innotatalis Walk. Harpes without such scales; uncus strongly curved or recurved 2. 2. Uncus recurved; sacculus not divided apically furcatalis Walk. Uncus not recurved; sacculus divided apically 3. 3. Apex of left harpe narrow, pointed lycosema Meyr. Apex of left harpe moderately broad, rounded monospilalis Walk. Fig. 12.—A. monospilatis Walk. A, male genitalia; Bl, left harpe; Br, right harpe; D, aedeagus; E, juxta, caudal view; J, vinculum.