Friday, July 2, 2010

Stachyneura


Stachyneura Diakonoff, 1948


Stachyneura Diakonoff, 1948, Microlepidoptera of the Wissel Lakes, II, Treubia, 19, 19 (2): 183-195 [191-192, figs. 3, 8]. Type species: Cryptophasa sceliphrodes Meyrick, 1925, by original designation.
Stachyneura Diakonoff, 1948. Beccaloni, G. W., Scoble, M. J., Robinson, G. S. & Pitkin, B. (Editors). 2003. The Global Lepidoptera Names Index (LepIndex). World Wide Web electronic publication. http://www.nhm.ac.uk/entomology/lepindex [accessed 17 June 2010].
Stachyneura Diakonoff, 1948. B. Pitkin and P. Jenkins, Butterflies and Moths of the World: Generic Names and their Type-species, 2004. World Wide Web electronic publication. http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/research/projects/butmoth/ [accessed 17 June 2010].

Original description, Diakonoff 1948
Stachyneura nov. gen. (fig. 3).
σταχυς = an ear (of corn), νευρον = a nerve.
Head with appressed scales. Ocelli absent. Proboscis short. Palpus very long, recurved, median segment exceeding base of antenna, somewhat flattened below, slightly thickened with appressed scales, terminal segment about 2/3, slender, acute. Maxillary palpus moderate, slender, appressed. Antenna in ♂ serrulate, fasciculate-ciliated, ciliations 1, scape moderate, somewhat tufted by appressed scales at apex, without pecten.
Patagium long-ciliated. Abdomen with posterior segments long-haired. Tibiae of all legs dilated by long projecting scales above and beneath. Fore wing elongate-triangular, thinly scaled on under surface, but cell and veins thickened with scales, 1b furcate, 1c present throughout, 2 from 4/5, 3 from before angle, 4 from angle, 5 parallel, 7 and 8 stalked, 8 to termen or almost to apex, 11 from before middle; discoidal to between 5 and 6, weak. Hind wing 1 ½, cilia 1/6; 2 from beyond 2/3, 3 and 4 connate from angle,  5 parallel, 6 separate; from upper angle of ceIl, 7 considerably from before angle, upper edge of cell along basal half pressed against 8.
Genotype Cryptophasa sceliphrodes Meyr. 1925.
Nearest to Paralecta Turn. 1897, but distinct by long palpus and neuration in hind wing. Also related to Pansepta Meyr. 1915. Distinct by typical facies.
Description:
Head:
Thorax:
Fig 3: Stachyneura iostigma, wing venation, head. (Diakonoff, 1948).

Abdomen:
Pl 7, fig. 8: Stachyneura iostigma, male genitalia. (Diakonoff, 1948).

Immature stages:

Distribution:

Remarks: The male genitalia of S. iostigma display considerable difference from the typical Cryptophasa, especially in the lack of a sinus beneath the claspers, and the shape of the claspers, uncus and gnathos, and the valvae.

Stachyneura shows some close similarities with the Indian genus Trypherantis, particularly in the shape of the sacculus and claspers. 



Stachyneura sceliphrodes (Meyrick, 1925)


♂ - Qld, 9 km ENE of Mt Tozer Lat. 12' 43'' S Long. 143' 22'' E, 6. Jul. 1986, J.C. Cardale leg.
 (ANIC). [AMO].

♂ - Qld, Iron Range, 7. Apr. 1964, I.F.B. Common M.S.Upton leg. (ANIC). [AMO].

Cryptophasa sceliphrodes Meyrick, 1925, Exotic Microlepidoptera. 3(5–7): 129–160, 161–192, 193–224 [150]. Syntype(s) BMNH 3♂, Nomnagihé and Weyland Mtns, Irian Jaya.
Stachyneura sceliphrodes Meyr. 1925. Diakonoff, 1948, Microlepidoptera of the Wissel Lakes, West New Guinea II, Treubia 19 (2): 183-195 [192].
Stachyneura sceliphrodes (Meryick, 1925). Diakonoff, 1954, Microlepidoptera of New Guinea. Results of the third Archbold Expedition (American-Netherlands Indian Expedition 1938-1939). Part 4. Verhandelingen der Koninklijke Akademie van Wetenschappen 2 ser. 50(1): 1-191 [127].
Cryptophasa sceliphrodes Meyrick, 1925. Common, in Nielsen, Edwards, & Rangsi, 1996, Checklist of the Lepidoptera of Australia. Monographs on Australian Lepidoptera, 4: i-xiv, 1-529 & CD-ROM [87].
Stachyneura sceliphrodes (Meryick, 1925). Beccaloni, G. W., Scoble, M. J., Robinson, G. S. & Pitkin, B. (Editors). 2003. The Global Lepidoptera Names Index (LepIndex). World Wide Web electronic publication. http://www.nhm.ac.uk/entomology/lepindex [accessed 17 April 2010].
Cryptophasa sceliphrodes Meyrick, 1925. Edwards, E. D. (2003), Xyloryctinae. Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study, Canberra. http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/online-resources/fauna/afd/taxa/XYLORYCTINAE [accessed 18 June 2010].
Stachyneura sceliphrodes (Meryick, 1925). B. Pitkin and P. Jenkins, Butterflies and Moths of the World: Generic Names and their Type-species, 2004. World Wide Web electronic publication. http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/research/projects/butmoth/ [accessed 25 June 2010]

Original description, Meyrick 1925
Cryptophasa sceliphrodes, n. sp.
♂. 35-40 mm . Head white, face brown-reddish. Palpi dark brown-red, terminal joint and apex of second white. Antennae with triangular teeth, fasciculate-ciliated. Thorax white sprinkled brown- red. Abdomen rather hairy, pale ochreous. Forewings dilated, termen rather oblique; 8 to apex; pale greyish-ochreous with snow-white reflections, veins white sprinkled dark red-brown or sometimes suffused reddish, a snow-white costal streak broad at base and narrowed to a point at about ¾; cell and dorsal area more or less suffused reddish or brown, thick oblique streaks of blackish or dark red-brown irroration from dorsum at 1/3 and beyond middle, and a spot towards tornus, spaces between these sometimes suffused white; a terminal series of blackish or dark red-brown triangular dots: cilia fuscous mixed white. Hindwings and cilia light greyish-ochreous; 7 separate, from before angle.
DUTCH NEW GUINEA, Nomnagihé (2000 feet), Weyland Mts. (6000 feet), December, January (Pratt); 3 ex. Very similar to Xylorycta atelactis from the same region, but the resemblance is only superficial.

Other references

[Stachyneura] Genotype Cryptophasa sceliphrodes Meyr. 1925. (Diakonoff, 1948).

[S. iostigma] Closely allied to S. sceliphrodes Meyr. (Diakonoff, 1948).

Stachyneura sceliphrodes (Meyrick, 1925)
Cryptophasa sceliphrodes Meyrick, 1925, Exot. Microl., vol. 3, p. 150.
Stachyneura sceliphrodes, Diakonoff, Treubia, vol. 19, p. 192, fig. 3, 1948.
Distribution: Netherlands New Guinea: Nomnagihé, 2000 feet; Weyland Mountains, 6000 feet.
Bernhard Camp, 50 m, January 9, 1939. One female. (Diakonoff, 1954).

Diagnosis:
Description:
Head:
Thorax:
Abdomen:
Food plants:
Flight period:  December, January [PNG], April, July [Qld].
Distribution: Queensland, Irian Jaya, Papua New Guinea. (Edwards, 2003).

Remarks: Currently included by Common in Cryptophasa. Although I have not examined the genitalia of S. sceliphrodes, the wing venation and genitalia of S. iostigma suggest this is a valid genus, sufficiently different from the typical Cryptophasa. The antenna in the male is ciliated in fascicles unlike the bipectinate antennae of male Cryptophasa, strictu sensu.