Journal archives for December 2016

December 10, 2016

Notes on the genus Xyroptila (Lepidoptera, Pterophoridae)

The genus Xyroptila includes four Indo-Australian species described by Meyrick in 1908 (X. oenophanes, X. peltastes and X. marmarias) and Fletcher in 1909 (X. vaughani), along with a central African species described by Bigot in 1969 (X. africana).

In 2006, Kovtunovich and Ustjuzhanin published a paper in the journal Atalanta 37 (1/2): 249-276, The genus Xyroptila MEYRICK, 1908 in the world fauna: new species, new records and taxonomic comments. This paper adds 19 new species to the genus (11 Indo-Australian, 7 African and 1 from Peru). Each species is briefly (re-)described and high-quality genitalia drawings are offered (both sexes for 10 species, male only for 9 species and female only for 5 species). A few specimens are illustrated with colour photos, but reproduction does not facilitate fine comparison of external characters. The species originally described by Meyrick as Oxyptilus caminites had also been assigned to this genus, but Kovtunovich and Ustjuzhanin determined that it does not belong here, although details for their decision are not provided.

In 2007, Gielis and de Vos added one more species from Papua (http://www.zobodat.at/pdf/ENT_0028_0185-0200.pdf). At the same time, they commented on the 2006 paper as follows: "In a recent review (KOVTUNOVICH & USTJUZHANIN, 2006) of the genus Xyroptila a great number of new species were described. This has, on species level, substantially increased the knowledge of this genus. There is, however, a down side to this publication. Without a proper genus description, which is not present in the cited publication, it is difficult, if not impossible, to find the arguments used by the authors to comment on earlier publications, nor could the reason be detected which they used to place the treated species in the current genus. Also the removing of species out of this genus, without explaining the reason for this decision, and without indicating where that species has to be placed must be considered very poor, and not convincing."

There are other issues with the 2006 paper, some of which I discuss below. One important point is that both Xyroptilia naivasha and Xyroptila naiwasha are provided as spellings for the name of one of the new species. According to the zoological code, the spelling for this species name is not settled until the first time the species is revised. Kovtunovich and Ustjuzhanin state that the female presented by Bigot in his original description for X. africana is in fact the female for their new species, X. ruvenzori.

Personally, I lament the absence in the recent species descriptions of any detail or illustration of the external abdominal markings, since these are so often distinctive. Most published photographs in such treatments show the specimen after dissection - I cannot understand why materials are not photographed before removal of the abdomen. Earlier treatments, such as those from Meyrick and Fletcher, are much more usable in this respect.

The expansion of the genus to 25 currently accepted species (or perhaps 26, if X. caminites has been excluded on insufficient grounds) has made it difficult to assign identifications to individuals of this genus illustrated live in photographs on the web. This note is an attempt to establish basic information to assist with identifying individuals illustrated in iNaturalist and elsewhere.

It should also be noted that some species in the genera Nippoptilia and Leptodeuterocopus are relatively close to Xyroptila in appearance. See examples from Papua here.

The following groups the species according to the three regions indicated above, leaving the whole "Indo-Australian" group as one, since species ranges overlap in this area. For each species, I have organised the information provided for external characteristics in Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin 2006. In a few cases, I have filled gaps by interpreting their images. In the case of X. colluceo, I have selected the equivalent information from Gielis & de Vos 2007.

As I discuss in this later post, there are real problems with interpreting some characters given by Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin. The following should therefore be seen only as a convenient summary of their descriptions.

Indo-Australian species


Xyroptila oenophanes Meyrick, 1908

Meyrick's original description here

Distribution: India, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, China, Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia, ? New Guinea, ?? Africa
Head, thorax and tegulae: Brown interspersed with lighter scales
Labial palpi colouration: White at base, brown apically
Lapial palpi length against eye diameter: 2x
Labial palpi shape: Elephant tusk
Antennae: Chequered with patches of brown and white scales
Forewing: Brown with white or yellowish spots
Forewing length: 11mm
Concave forewing lobes: 2nd only
Fringe inside cleft: Light with dark hair close to tips of lobe
Forewing dorsal fringe: Yellow with dark patches at base, centre and apex
Hindwings : Plain brown
Hindwing 3rd lobe length against 2nd: Shorter
Hindwing 3rd lobe apical scale tooth: Absent
Hind legs: Dark brown with some patches of light scales
Abdomen: (From Meyrick's original description) Rather dark fuscous, base ochreous-white, beneath whitish


Xyroptila oksana Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin, 2006

See this iNaturalist observation

Distribution: India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia
Head, thorax and tegulae: Reddish-brown
Labial palpi colouration: Brown
Lapial palpi length against eye diameter: 2x
Labial palpi shape: Elephant tusk
Antennae: Evenly chequered with brown and white patches
Forewing: Reddish brown with yellow-orange spots at centre of wing and at base of cleft, and slanting orange band in distal part of fore lobe, continuing to base of cleft oh hind lobe
Forewing length: 10-11mm
Concave forewing lobes: ?2nd slightly (from painting)
Fringe inside cleft: White with dark patches close to outer margin
Forewing dorsal fringe: Patches of yellow and brown hair
Hindwings : Brown
Hindwing 3rd lobe length against 2nd: Less than half
Hindwing 3rd lobe apical scale tooth: Absent
Hind legs: Light brown mottled with yellowish and brown patches, and erect clusters of brown scales at base of spurs
Other: Outer fringe of first forewing lobe brown, second white in middle and brown at sides


Xyroptila soma Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin, 2006

Distribution: India
Head, thorax and tegulae: Dark brown
Labial palpi colouration: Unknown
Lapial palpi length against eye diameter: Unknown
Labial palpi shape: Unknown
Antennae: Dark brown
Forewing: Plain dark brown, with only a yellowish spot between base of wing and cleft / with yellow-orange spots at centre of wing and base of cleft, and a slanting orange band situated distally in the middle of the fore lobe and continuing onto the hind lobe to the base of the cleft
Forewing length: 12mm
Concave forewing lobes: 1st only
Fringe inside cleft: Light brown with dark patches close to outer margin
Forewing dorsal fringe: Yellowish-brown with dark patches at middle, under base of cleft and at apex of 2nd lobe
Hindwings : Dark brown
Hindwing 3rd lobe length against 2nd: Half
Hindwing 3rd lobe apical scale tooth: Absent
Hind legs: Dark brown


Xyroptila vaughani (Fletcher, 1909)

Fletcher's original description of Oxyptilus vaughani here
Distribution: Sri Lanka
Head, thorax and tegulae: Dark brown
Labial palpi colouration: Chequered brown and whitish
Lapial palpi length against eye diameter: Almost 2x
Labial palpi shape: Not specified
Antennae: Dark brown with patches of yellowish scales
Forewing: Dark brown with white spots and scales
Forewing length: 10mm
Concave forewing lobes: Both
Fringe inside cleft: Plain dark brown
Forewing dorsal fringe: Yellow with dark patches at middle, under base of cleft and at apex
Hindwings : Plain reddish brown
Hindwing 3rd lobe length against 2nd: Half
Hindwing 3rd lobe apical scale tooth: Present
Hind legs: Chequered brown and white
Abdomen: (From Fletcher's original description) First segment and base of second segment pale sulphur-yellow, second, third, and fourth segments deep chestnut-bronze-brown, apical margin of fourth segment edged with a narrow transverse band of brilliant white scales, fifth segment thickly irrorated with white scales so as to form a distinct broad transverse bar across the abdomen, terminal segments deep reddish-purple; anal tuft long, apex yellowish-white


Xyroptila dohertyi Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin, 2006


Distribution: Thailand
Head, thorax and tegulae: Light brown
Labial palpi colouration: Earth-coloured on top, brown below
Lapial palpi length against eye diameter: 2x
Labial palpi shape: Straight
Antennae: Dark brown with lighter scales
Forewing: Dark brown with hardly any noticeable lighter scales
Forewing length: 13mm
Concave forewing lobes: 1st only
Fringe inside cleft: Yellow with dark patches close to outer margin
Forewing dorsal fringe: Yellow with dark patches at middle, under base of cleft and at apex
Hindwings : Plain dark brown
Hindwing 3rd lobe length against 2nd: Half
Hindwing 3rd lobe apical scale tooth: Well-expressed
Hind legs: Darn brown with white spots and rings


Xyroptila siami Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin, 2006


Distribution: Thailand, Myanmar, China
Head, thorax and tegulae: Brown, tegulae lighter
Labial palpi colouration: Brown
Lapial palpi length against eye diameter: 2-2.5x
Labial palpi shape: Tusk-like
Antennae: Dark brown
Forewing: Mottled with brown and yellowish patches, apex mid-brown with hardly noticeable narrow yellowish band
Forewing length: 14mm
Concave forewing lobes: 1st only
Fringe inside cleft: Light brown with dark patches close to outer margin
Forewing dorsal fringe: Yellow with three dark patches at outer margin
Hindwings : Dark brown and yellow
Hindwing 3rd lobe length against 2nd: Half
Hindwing 3rd lobe apical scale tooth: Absent
Hind legs: Light brown with darker rings at base of spurs and joints; tibiae with white spots and scattered scales


Xyroptila aenea Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin, 2006


Distribution: Indonesia
Head, thorax and tegulae: Dark brown
Labial palpi colouration: Brown
Lapial palpi length against eye diameter: 2-2.5x
Labial palpi shape: Elephant tusk
Antennae: Dark brown
Forewing: Copper red with orange spots
Forewing length: 11mm
Concave forewing lobes: 1st only
Fringe inside cleft: Yellow with dark patches close to outer margin
Forewing dorsal fringe: Yellow with dark patches under base of cleft and at apex of 2nd lobe
Hindwings : Plain brown
Hindwing 3rd lobe length against 2nd: Half
Hindwing 3rd lobe apical scale tooth: Absent
Hind legs: Dark brown


Xyroptila elegans Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin, 2006


Distribution: Indonesia, New Guinea, Australia
Head, thorax and tegulae: Dark brown
Labial palpi colouration: Light brown
Lapial palpi length against eye diameter: 2-2.5x
Labial palpi shape: Elephant tusk
Antennae: Chequered with rings of white and brown scales
Forewing: Mottled with brown and yellow-orange patches
Forewing length: 14-15mm
Concave forewing lobes: Both
Fringe inside cleft: Yellow with dark patches close to outer margin
Forewing dorsal fringe: Yellow with dark patches at centre, under base of cleft and at apex of 2nd lobe
Hindwings : Brown
Hindwing 3rd lobe length against 2nd: Half
Hindwing 3rd lobe apical scale tooth: Well-expressed
Hind legs: Light brown with darker rings at base of spurs and joints


Xyroptila kuranda Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin, 2006


Distribution: Indonesia, Australia
Head, thorax and tegulae: Brown
Labial palpi colouration: Brown, 2nd segment light brown above and black below, 3rd segment black
Lapial palpi length against eye diameter: 2-2.5x
Labial palpi shape: Tusk-like
Antennae: Dark brown
Forewing: Violet iridescence, mottled with brown and yellow-orange patches
Forewing length: 10-11mm
Concave forewing lobes: 1st only
Fringe inside cleft: Yellow with dark patches close to apex
Forewing dorsal fringe: Yellow with dark patch under apex of 2nd lobe
Hindwings : Brown
Hindwing 3rd lobe length against 2nd: Half
Hindwing 3rd lobe apical scale tooth: Absent
Hind legs: Brown


Xyroptila marmarias Meyrick, 1908

Meyrick's original description here

Papuan specimen here

Distribution: New Guinea, Australia
Head, thorax and tegulae: Light brown
Labial palpi colouration: 3rd segment darker than 2nd
Lapial palpi length against eye diameter: Almost 3x
Labial palpi shape: Elephant tusk
Antennae: Dark brown
Forewing: Reddish brown with yellow spots
Forewing length: 11mm
Concave forewing lobes: Both
Fringe inside cleft: Yellow with dark patches at tips of lobe
Forewing dorsal fringe: Yellow with dark hairs under base of cleft and tip of 2nd lobe
Hindwings : Plain reddish brown
Hindwing 3rd lobe length against 2nd: Half
Hindwing 3rd lobe apical scale tooth: Absent
Hind legs: Yellow with tarsi noticeably darkened
Abdomen: (From Meyrick's original description) Bright golden-bronze, base of first segment yellowish-white, margins of second and third segments more or less whitish, towards middle and apex more or less suffused with dark coppery-fuscous


Xyroptila colluceo Gielis & de Vos, 2007

Colour photograph of holotype here

Distribution: New Guinea
Head, thorax and tegulae: Head appressed scaled, dorsally brown, frons orange brown; thorax and tegular shining orange; mesothorax shining orange with sparse white scales
Labial palpi colouration: 2nd segment orange-brown above, brown below, 3rd segment brown
Lapial palpi length against eye diameter: 3x
Labial palpi shape: Curved upwards
Antennae: Dark brown with sparse white scales
Forewing: Bright orange with dark brown markings; basal darkening along 1/4 of wing along costa and dorsum; discal spot extending to costa; costal and dorsal spot at base of cleft; transverse band in centre of both lobes; subterminal darkening in both lobes
Forewing length: 10mm
Concave forewing lobes: 2nd only (base on image, 1st lacking termen)
Fringe inside cleft: Orange-grey with outer third dark grey
Forewing dorsal fringe: Orange-grey with brush at 6/7 and dark at apex
Hindwings : Dark brown, 3rd lobe orange-brown, fringes orange-grey
Hindwing 3rd lobe length against 2nd: Half
Hindwing 3rd lobe apical scale tooth: Absent
Hind legs: Shining orange; two pairs of spurs of equal length; small brown scale brush at base os spurs; tarsal segments dark brown


Xyroptila falciformis Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin, 2006

Distribution: New Guinea
Head, thorax and tegulae: Brown scales
Labial palpi colouration: Brown
Lapial palpi length against eye diameter: 2x
Labial palpi shape: Curved upwards
Antennae: Dark brown
Forewing: Mottled with brown and yellowish patches
Forewing length: 12-13mm
Concave forewing lobes: 2nd only
Fringe inside cleft: Yellow with dark patches only close to apex
Forewing dorsal fringe: Brown with dark patch close to apex
Hindwings : Light brown, with distinct darkening at apex of 3rd lobe
Hindwing 3rd lobe length against 2nd: Half
Hindwing 3rd lobe apical scale tooth: Absent
Hind legs: Light brown with darker rings at base of spurs and joints


Xyroptila maklaia Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin, 2006

Distribution: New Guinea
Head, thorax and tegulae: Light brown
Labial palpi colouration: Muddy-white above, brown below
Lapial palpi length against eye diameter: 2-2.5x
Labial palpi shape: Elephant tusk
Antennae: Dark brown
Forewing: Mottled with brown and yellow-orange patches
Forewing length: 12mm
Concave forewing lobes: 2nd only
Fringe inside cleft: Yellow with dark patches close to outer margin
Forewing dorsal fringe: Yellow with dark patch only at apex of 2nd lobe
Hindwings : Brown, 3rd lobe lighter with darkened apex
Hindwing 3rd lobe length against 2nd: Half
Hindwing 3rd lobe apical scale tooth: Absent
Hind legs: Light brown with darker rings at base of spurs and joints


Xyroptila variegata Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin, 2006

Distribution: New Guinea
Head, thorax and tegulae: Brown
Labial palpi colouration: Not specified
Lapial palpi length against eye diameter: 2x
Labial palpi shape: Elephant tusk
Antennae: Brown with patches of light scales
Forewing: Mottled with brown and yellow-orange patches
Forewing length: 13mm
Concave forewing lobes: 2nd only
Fringe inside cleft: Plain light brown with dark patch at base of 2nd lobe
Forewing dorsal fringe: Light brown with dark patch at apex of 2nd lobe
Hindwings : Brown, darker than forewing
Hindwing 3rd lobe length against 2nd: Half
Hindwing 3rd lobe apical scale tooth: Large
Hind legs: Light brown with darker rings at bsae of spurs and joints


Xyroptila peltastes (Meyrick, 1908)

Meyrick's original description of Oxyptilus peltastes here

Image of live individual in Queensland here

Distribution: Australia
Head, thorax and tegulae: Reddish-brown
Labial palpi colouration: White at base, brown at extremity
Lapial palpi length against eye diameter: 2x
Labial palpi shape: Directed forward
Antennae: Chequered, dark brown with greyish rings
Forewing: Bright reddish brown with yellow spots and patches of white scales
Forewing length: 13mm
Concave forewing lobes: Both
Fringe inside cleft: Greyish-yellow with dark close to base and outer margin
Forewing dorsal fringe: Light brown with dark patches at base, centre and apex
Hindwings : Plain reddish brown
Hindwing 3rd lobe length against 2nd: Half
Hindwing 3rd lobe apical scale tooth: Present
Hind legs: Dark brown with tarsi and bases of spurs almost black


Xyroptila uluru Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin, 2006

Distribution: Australia
Head, thorax and tegulae: Light brown
Labial palpi colouration: Light brown, darkening towards apex
Lapial palpi length against eye diameter: 2-2.5x
Labial palpi shape: Tusk-like
Antennae: Dark brown with regular patches of lighter scales
Forewing: Light brown with grey spots, lighter-coloured band at apex of 1st lobe, distal part of both lobes dark brown
Forewing length: 11mm
Concave forewing lobes: 2nd only
Fringe inside cleft: Yellow with dark patches close to apex
Forewing dorsal fringe: Yellow with dark patches under base of cleft and at apex of 2nd lobe
Hindwings : Plain light brown with light fringe
Hindwing 3rd lobe length against 2nd: Half
Hindwing 3rd lobe apical scale tooth: Absent
Hind legs: Brown with darker rings at base of spurs and joints

African species


Xyroptila africana Bigot, 1969

Distribution: Congo, Nigeria
Head, thorax and tegulae: Dark brown scales
Labial palpi colouration: Not specified
Lapial palpi length against eye diameter:
Labial palpi shape:
Antennae: Plain dark brown
Forewing: Dark brown with yellowish patches scattered over whole wing
Forewing length: 13mm
Concave forewing lobes: 2nd only
Fringe inside cleft: Yellow with dark patches at base
Forewing dorsal fringe: Light yellow with dark patches at base, centre and under base of cleft
Hindwings : Plain dark brown
Hindwing 3rd lobe length against 2nd: Half
Hindwing 3rd lobe apical scale tooth: Absent
Hind legs: Brown with patches of yellow scales


Xyroptila fulbae Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin, 2006

Distribution: Nigeria, Principe I.
Head, thorax and tegulae: Dark brown scales, with yellow sides to thorax
Labial palpi colouration: Brown
Lapial palpi length against eye diameter: 2-2.5x
Labial palpi shape: Elephant tusk
Antennae: Chequered with yellow and brown
Forewing: Reddish-brown with orange spots at base, in centre and above and beliw cleft
Forewing length: 13-14mm
Concave forewing lobes: Both
Fringe inside cleft: Yellow with dark patches at base
Forewing dorsal fringe: Yellow with dark patches at middle, under base of cleft and at apex
Hindwings : Plain reddish brown
Hindwing 3rd lobe length against 2nd: Almost half
Hindwing 3rd lobe apical scale tooth: Absent
Hind legs: Light brown
"Other: Apical part of wing elongated
Outer spurs of hindwing (sic) very long, almost as long as 3rd lobe
"


Xyroptila irina Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin, 2006

Distribution: Madagascar
Head, thorax and tegulae: Glittering brownish yellow scales
Labial palpi colouration: Brown
Lapial palpi length against eye diameter: 2-2.5x
Labial palpi shape: Elephant tusk
Antennae: Chequered with yellow and brown
Forewing: Dark and mottled with brown and yellowish scales
Forewing length: 14mm
Concave forewing lobes: Both
Fringe inside cleft: Yellow at base with dark patches from centre to outer margin
Forewing dorsal fringe: Yellow with dark patches at base of cleft and apex of 2nd lobe
Hindwings : Light brown with lobe apices darker
Hindwing 3rd lobe length against 2nd: Half
Hindwing 3rd lobe apical scale tooth: Absent
Hind legs: Mottled with yellowish and brown patches, and clusters of erect brown scales at base of spurs
Other: Apical part of wing elongated


Xyroptila masaia Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin, 2006

Black-and-white photograph of specimen from Congo here

Distribution: East Africa
Head, thorax and tegulae: Light brown scales
Labial palpi colouration: Brown
Lapial palpi length against eye diameter: 2-2.5x
Labial palpi shape: Elephant tusk
Antennae: Chequered with yellow and brown
Forewing: Mottled with brown and yellowish patches, distal section of centre of apex of wing lobe having an inclusion of yellowish scales
Forewing length: 12-13mm
Concave forewing lobes: 2nd slightly
Fringe inside cleft: Yellow with dark patches at outer margin
Forewing dorsal fringe: Yellow with dark patches at middle, under base of cleft and at apex
Hindwings : Light brown
Hindwing 3rd lobe length against 2nd: Half
Hindwing 3rd lobe apical scale tooth: Absent
Hind legs: Light brown with darkening at base of spurs and joints


Xyroptila monomotapa Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin, 2006

Distribution: Mozambique
Head, thorax and tegulae: Reddish-brown scales
Labial palpi colouration: Brown, darker distally
Lapial palpi length against eye diameter: 2-2.5x
Labial palpi shape: Tusk-like
Antennae: Chequered with yellow and brown
Forewing: Dark brown with noticeable dark yellow spots and bands
Forewing length: 12mm
Concave forewing lobes: 2nd only
Fringe inside cleft: Yellow with dark patches from middle to outer margin
Forewing dorsal fringe: Yellow with dark patches at middle, under base of cleft and at apex
Hindwings : Dark brown
Hindwing 3rd lobe length against 2nd: Half
Hindwing 3rd lobe apical scale tooth: Absent
Hind legs: Brown with darker rings at base of spurs


Xyroptila naiwasha Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin, 2006

Distribution: Kenya
Head, thorax and tegulae: Dark brown with mesothorax and part of tegulae lightened with yellowish scales
Labial palpi colouration: Brown
Lapial palpi length against eye diameter: 1.5x
Labial palpi shape: Slightly curved upwards
Antennae: Dark brown with patches of light scales
Forewing: Dark brown with yellow spots, especially at base of cleft on both lobes
Forewing length: 13mm
Concave forewing lobes: 2nd slightly
Fringe inside cleft: Dark brown at base
Forewing dorsal fringe: Brown with dark patch at apex of 2nd lobe
Hindwings : Plain dark brown
Hindwing 3rd lobe length against 2nd: Half
Hindwing 3rd lobe apical scale tooth: Strong
Hind legs: Not specified


Xyroptila ruvenzori Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin, 2006

Distribution: Uganda, Ghana
Head, thorax and tegulae: Copper brown glittering hair, sides of thorax bright yellow
Labial palpi colouration: Dark brown
Lapial palpi length against eye diameter: 2-2.5x
Labial palpi shape: Elephant tusk
Antennae:
Forewing: Reddish brown with patches of yellowish and white scales and two distinct longitudinal yellow spots at costal margin
Forewing length: 10-12mm
Concave forewing lobes: Both
Fringe inside cleft: Yellow with patches of dark hair at base
Forewing dorsal fringe: Light yellow with dark area just below apex
Hindwings : Plain reddish brown
Hindwing 3rd lobe length against 2nd: Almost half
Hindwing 3rd lobe apical scale tooth: Absent
Hind legs: Reddish brown
"Other: Apical part of wing elongated
Outer spurs of hindwing (sic) very long, almost as long as 3rd lobe
"


Xyroptila zambesi Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin, 2006

Distribution: Zimbabwe
Head, thorax and tegulae: Dark brown scales
Labial palpi colouration: Light brown
Lapial palpi length against eye diameter: 2-2.5x
Labial palpi shape: Tusk-like
Antennae: Brown with regular patches of light scales
Forewing: Light brown with yellow spots, bands and tiny patches
Forewing length: 12mm
Concave forewing lobes: Both
Fringe inside cleft: Yellow with dark patches at outer margin
Forewing dorsal fringe: Yellow with dark patches at middle, under base of cleft and at apex
Hindwings : Plain dark brown
Hindwing 3rd lobe length against 2nd: Half
Hindwing 3rd lobe apical scale tooth: Absent
Hind legs: Light brown with darker rings at base of spurs and joints

Latin American species


Xyroptila sybylla Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin, 2006

Distribution: Peru
Head, thorax and tegulae: Reddish brown scales
Labial palpi colouration: Brown
Lapial palpi length against eye diameter: 2-2.5x
Labial palpi shape: Tusk-like
Antennae: Dark brown with regular patches of lighter scales
Forewing: Dark brown with dark yellow spots and bands
Forewing length: 13mm
Concave forewing lobes: 2nd only
Fringe inside cleft: Yellow with dark patches close to outer margin
Forewing dorsal fringe: Yellow with dark patches under base of cleft and at apex of 2nd lobe
Hindwings : Dark brown, fringe of first two lobes light, slightly darkened at apex
Hindwing 3rd lobe length against 2nd: Half
Hindwing 3rd lobe apical scale tooth: Present
Hind legs: Light brown with darker rings at base of spurs and joints

Posted on December 10, 2016 01:57 PM by dhobern dhobern | 0 comments | Leave a comment

Original description of Oxyptilus vaughani Fletcher, 1909

Since Fletcher described the species now known as Xyroptila vaughani in a volume of the journal Spolia Zeylanica which is not currently among those included in BHL, here is a transcription of his original description.

Fletcher, 1909, The Plume-moths of Ceylon. Part 1. — The Pterophoridae. (Spolia Zeylanica 6: 1-39, Plates A-F), pages 23-24:


OXYPTILUS VAUGHANI, n. s.

♂. Expanse 10.5 mm. Palpi long, slender, curved, sickle-shaped, smooth ; white, irregularly mottled with fuscous ferruginous ; terminal joint acute, longer than second. (Antennae wanting.) Head dark ferruginous fuscous, vertex covered with a loose tuft of elongated erected scales which do not form a regular cone. Thorax dark ferruginous fuscous ; pectus pale sulphur-yellow. Abdomen ; first segment and base of second segment pale sulphur-yellow, second, third, and fourth segments deep chestnut-bronze-brown, apical margin of fourth segment edged with a narrow transverse band of brilliant white scales, fifth segment thickly irrorated with white scales so as to form a distinct broad transverse bar across the abdomen, terminal segments deep reddish-purple ; anal tuft long, apex yellowish-white. Legs dark ferruginous-fuscous, narrowly banded transversely with white ; spurs long, equal ; posterior tibiae with small clusters of short dark fuscous spines near base and on origin of spurs. Fore wing cleft from 3/5 ; elongated, narrow at base, broadly expanded outwardly ; first segment rather narrow, apex acute, termen concave, oblique, anal angle distinct ; second segment posteriorly dilated, apex produced (not extending beyond anal angle of first segment), termen concave, oblique ; deep chestnut-brown, thickly irrorated with ferruginous and thinly sprinkled throughout with minute patches of lilacine-whitish scales ; costal edge dark fuscous ; a small whitish dot on costa at ½, a small whitish transverse costal spot at ½ of first segment, and a small white sub-apical spot ; second segment with a small whitish dot on anterior margin at 3/4 ; cilia ochreous-white, with blackish patches at angles of both segments suffused with blackish within cleft, with black bars on dorsum at 3/4 and 7/8 and a black dorsal scale-tooth at ½. Hind wing cleft firsly from 2/5, secondly from near base, segments very narrow and linear ; dark ferruginous fuscous, third segment with a white bar at ½ and a minute apical dorsal scale-tooth just beyond it ; cilia ochreous-white, fuscous on first segment and towards apex of second, those of third segment very long and delicate.

Type ♂ (No. 6,459) in Coll. Bainbrigge Fletcher.

Locality.—Ceylon, Province of Uva, Madulsíma, Cocogalla estate (4,000 feet) ; February, 1907, at light (W. Vaughan).

I have much pleasure in naming this species after Mr. Wm. Vaughan, to whom I am indebted for this and many other "plumes."

Oxyptilus vaughani seems closely related to O. peltastes, Meyr. (T. E. S., 1907, 479), but differs in the distinct band on the abdomen and the white-banded legs. Both these species seem to approach very nearly to the members of the lately-described genus Xyroptila, Meyr., and will probably have to be removed from the genus Oxyptilus ; but until the exotic Oxyptilids are better known it seems to me that no good purpose will be served by separating the group.

Since writing the above I have examined a specimen collected by Dr. A. Willey at Trincomalee on October 4, 1908, and have also received an example taken by Mr. W. Ormiston at Haldummulla in November.

On September 10 Mr W. Vaughan obtained a second specimen at Aráwa, and a few days later bred a third from a pupa found suspended from the upper surface of a leaf of Dimorphocalyx glabellus in the same locality. Furnished with this information, and thanks to Mr. Vaughan's kind assistance, I was able to visit Aráwa on several occasions during December and found the moths quite common. They were at first obtained rather sparingly by beating D. glabellus, but later on I found them in abundance flying in the bright morning sunshine (about 10 to 11 A.M.) around the flowers of Leea sambucina (Sinh. "Bouroula"). In several cases I noted that the moths were actually feeding on the flowers, their tongues unrolled and thrust violently into the flower in search of food. In other cases they were settled on the leaves, when they hung down freely suspended by the first two pairs of legs, the wings folded and held out at right angles, the tip of the abdomen strongly curved upwards, and the posterior legs with the tibiae extended at an angle between the wings and the abdomen, and the tarsi curved inwards until the distal tarsal joint nearly touched the apex of the abdomen.

An examination of a long series shows that O. vaughani may differ from the type, as described above, in the following points:— (1) The white spots on the first segment of the fore wing are sometimes developed into distinct, though narrow, transverse bands. (2) The white bands on the hind legs are sometimes very indistinct. (3) The fifth abdominal segment is usually less suffused with white scales. The narrow white bar on the fourth abdominal segment, however, is always very distinct and characteristic.

The larva will probably be found to feed inside the fruit of Dimorphocalyx glabellus (Sinh. "Weliwenna"), from which I also beat an example of O. vaughani at Alutnuwara on December 16, 1908.

Posted on December 10, 2016 09:25 PM by dhobern dhobern | 0 comments | Leave a comment

December 11, 2016

Xyroptila observations in iNaturalist and elsewhere

I have attempted to summarise the descriptive information in the most recent treatments of species in the genus Xyroptila in another post.

There is much that is unsatisfactory about the descriptions provided by Kovtunovich and Ustjuzhanin's 2006 paper. For a number of the species described, no photograph or painting of any kind is provided. For the rest, reproduction is poor (very dark) and only for a few species is the abdomen illustrated. The descriptions for each species are limited in detail (compared e.g. to the historical descriptions by Meyrick and Fletcher) and seem in a number of respects to be misleading.

For many species, the descriptions state that the termens of the first, the second or both forewing lobes are concave. At best, this categorisation leaves several possibilities unstated. Some forewing lobes on some of these species have a straight termen, while others are rather narrow and have little or no obvious termen. More importantly, the photographs included of several of the species do not agree with the information in this description on this point. As an example, for X. marmarias, Meyrick wrote, "first segment rather narrow, second posteriorly dilated, its apex produced, termen concave, oblique," while Kovtunovich and Ustjuzhanin write (of the lectotype), "outer margin of both lobes concave". Photographs are included of two of Meyrick's specimens and these show a concave termen for the first lobe for the lectotype and a more acute lobe for the syntype. This seems therefore to be a character which cannot readily be used to distinguish live individuals.

Additionally, for many of the species, Kovtunivich and Ustjuzhanin write of the dorsal fringe of the forewing that it includes "patches of dark hair at the base, in the centre and at the apex." The natural reading of this wording would be to interpret this as a series of positions along the wing. However, the actual positions of these patches in the species do not seem to include any at the base of the wing. More correctly, they include patches around the middle of the wing, below the base of the cleft (i.e., around 60-65% of the way along the wing), and near the tornus (i.e., around 95%). This seems to be the only possible interpretation of this description.

For two of the species, we have enough information in Meyrick's descriptions and other material to know their appearance.

X. marmarias is well illustrated by this Papuan specimen and the individual represented in this photograph from Queensland (actually a modified image to give bilateral symmetry - I believe that the whitish prothorax is a lighting artefact). These individuals match the syntype for X. marmarias, which is illustrated (with abdomen attached) by Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin. Note the abdominal pattern on these individuals, mostly golden yellow, but white at the base and between the 2nd and 3rd segments and ferruginous on the 3rd segment and apical region.

X. peltastes is shown in this photograph from Queensland. The appearance matches Meyrick's original description. Note the abdominal pattern with a bronzy fuscous coloration with a whitish metathorax and basal segment and whitish edges or spots on subsequent segments.

The current Xyroptila observations on iNaturalist can be separated into two groups: 1) Two apparently matching individuals from Hong Kong (here and here), and 2) One individual from West Bengal, India (here).

It is clear that the two iNaturalist forms do not match either X. marmarias or X. peltastes.

The Indian observation is somewhat close to X. marmarias but the colouration is much more orange and the abdominal pattern is only whitish at the base (very extensively). As discussed on the observation page, the moth in the photograph is a perfect match for X. oksana as illustrated by Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin.

The Hong Kong moths have presented me with more difficulties. The abdominal pattern is very distinctive in comparison with the other species for which live observations are available. The basal segment shows brilliant white edges, leaving a ferruginous triangle, completely different from the whitish basal segments on the other three species. Of the remaining Indo-Australian species, 1) X. soma is described as dark brown on the head and thorax and different in most other visible characters, although the forewing description is self-contradictory; 2) X. vaughani is described by Fletcher and has the first two abdominal segments pale yellow; 3) X. dohertyi has dark forewings with hardly any pale scales; 4) X. colluceo is illustrated and completely different; 5) X. falciformis is apparently brown and yellow, with a different pattern in the forewing dorsum; 6) X. maklaia, 7) X. variegata, 8) X. aenea and 9)X. siami again apparently have a different pattern in the forewing dorsum; 10) X. kuranda has a violet iridescence on the forewings and a different pattern in the dorsum; and 11) X. uluru apparently has light brown forewings with grey spots.

This leaves just two candidate species: 12) X. oenophanes, the type species of the genus and one of the most widely recorded, including Taiwan and Guangxi province, China; and 13) X. elegans from the Moluccas, Sulawesi, New Guinea and Australia. The descriptions provided for both of these species by Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin could fit these Hong Kong individuals. However the supplied photograph of a specimen of X. elegans shows much more extensive pale mottling on the forewings, whereas the best image of X. oenophanes shows a pattern very close to these iNaturalist observations. Moreover, the syntype of X. oenophanes is illustrated - the picture is very dark, but clearly shows the same pattern as the Hong Kong specimens in the white at the base of the abdomen.

Returning to Meyrick's original description of X. oenophanes, the description of the forewings in particular is a good match for these observations: "Fore-wings with apex of second segment produced, acute, termen concave ; dark ferruginous-fuscous, somewhat sprinkled with whitish ; a whitish bar parallel to termen crossing both segments before their middle : cilia pale ochreous tinged with crimson, with a black bar at apex, and blackish-grey posterior patches on lower margin of first segment and both margins of second." Interestingly, the "crimson" colouration can be seen in some of these Hong Kong images.

I therefore conclude that, based on geography and appearance, the Hong Kong individuals are X. oenophanes.

Note: following writing this post, I discovered that I had earlier identified this Xyroptila from Singapore as X. oenophanes. There is some difference in the extent of the pale patches on the forewing (which corresponds with at least one of the specimens photographed by Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin) but again I can see no reason to identify this as anything else.

Posted on December 11, 2016 07:55 PM by dhobern dhobern | 1 comment | Leave a comment

December 13, 2016

Original description of Xyroptila africana Bigot 1969

Bigot described Xyroptila africana and an unidentified Xyroptila sp. in a volume of the journal Revue de Zoologique et de Botanique Africaines which is not easily located, so here is a transcription of his original descriptions. The misspelling Xyroptilia is in the original.

According to Bigot, the unidentified Xyroptila sp. was identified by Meyrick as Xyroptila tectonica, now Pseudoxyroptila tectonica (Meyrick, 1914), a south-east Asian species.

Bigot, 1969, Les Lépidoptères Pterophoridae du Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, à Tervuren (Revue de Zoologique et de Botanique Africaines LXXIX: 165-206), page 180:


21) Xyroptilia vaughani nova sp. — Fig. 10 (B-D).

Type ♂ : envergure, 10 millimètres. Couleur de fond des antérieures brun acajou brillant ; franges plus sombres excepté à l'intérieur del la fissure et localement en deux ou trois points le long du bord interne où la couleur est plus claire que le fond des ailes. Postérieures de couleur uniforme, peu brillantes. Derner segment thoracique et premier segment abdominal recouverts d'écailles blanches. Pattes brunes, les postérieures teintées de blanc sur la face interne.

Genitalia : uncus faible, valves symmétriques, incisées à leur extrémité, pénis droit avec une incision distale.

Provenance : Stanleyville, A. COLLART, 20.IV.1928 ; collection Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale.

Allotype ♀ : envergure, 10 millimètres. De même présentation que le mâle mais en meilleur état d'où des couleurs plus vives. Genitalia caracterisées par une forte pièce sclérifièe prolongeant le ductus bursae ; signa de forme circulaire, criblés.

Provenance : Eala, J. GHESQUIÈRE, VIII.1936 ; collection Musée Royale de l'Afrique Centrale.

22) Xyroptilia sp. — Fig. 10 (E).

Une ♀ provenant d'Eala, J. GHESQUIÈRE, IV.1936. Envergure : 13 mm. Très voisin de X. africana. Couleur brun acajou avec quelques éclaircies au niveau du disque et du premier lobe. Genitalia caracterisées par une plaque sclérifiée, moins trapue que chez X. africana, prolongeant le ductus bursae et par des signa arrondis, épineux.

Détermination de MEYRICK : Xyroptila tectonica.

Posted on December 13, 2016 10:38 AM by dhobern dhobern | 0 comments | Leave a comment

Matters requiring investigation in regard to the genus Xyroptila

As noted in this post, Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin 2006 greatly expanded the list of described species in the genus Xyroptila. Unfortunately, several matters are left unclear in their treatment.

I am using this post to collect notes on points requiring clarification.

Description of genus Xyroptila

As noted by Gielis & de Vos 2007, the paper includes no definition for the genus and therefore does not justify the set of included species or give others the opportunity to determine whether new species should be placed in it.

Generic placement for [Xyroptila] caminites

The species originally named Oxyptilus caminites had been placed within Xyroptila. The paper excludes this species (without detailed justification) but does not propose a new generic placement.

Spelling of Xyroptila naivasha/naiwasha

The name of one of the species newly described in the paper is variously spelled as Xyroptila naivasha and Xyroptila naivasha. Until the first revision of this species, the name has no established spelling.

External abdominal characters

At least some proportion of the species can clearly be separated based on colouration and patterning of the abdomen. This feature is not described in the paper for any species.

Improved external descriptions

The external descriptions supplied in the paper for head, thorax, wings and legs are formulaic and lacking sufficient detail to be of use in diagnosis.

Forewing shapes

The paper suggests that different species vary in whether the termen of one or both forewing lobes is concave. This information does not match other descriptions or the illustrations of some of the species.

Assignment of materials to Xyroptila africana and Xyroptila ruvenzori

The paper states that Bigot's female allotype for Xyroptila africana is in fact the female for the new species Xyroptila ruvenzori. This would leave X. africana with no described female. The paper does not illustrate the female genitalia for X. ruvenzori, although these are described and presumably match Bigot's illustration of female genitalia provided for X. africana. The paper gives no reason for the claim that any of these females are to be associated with either male form. In particular, there is no sign of DNA verification. This means that the females in question may be for either species or a mixture (undiagnosed using genitalic characters). Bigot's male and female were from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin refer to both male and female specimens from localities in both Ghana and Uganda. In other words, locality alone does not determine the case. The only conceivable justification for the pairing in the paper seems to be the matching geographic extent including wide ranges either side of Bigot's core locations. Note also that the Zoological Museum in Copenhagen holds two female specimens collected in the Uluguru Mountains in Tanzania on 18 July 1981 - the genitalia for these perfectly matches those illustrated by Bigot for X. africana and presumably therefore match the materials identified by Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin as the female for X. ruvenzori. See map of localities for males of each species and females.

Posted on December 13, 2016 09:43 PM by dhobern dhobern | 0 comments | Leave a comment

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