Furcula terminata

(Figs 1–35, 70–72)

Harpyia lanigera forma terminata Wiltshire, 1958, Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 55, 231. HT: ♀, “Afganistan, Faizabad, Kokscha valley, 1,450m ” (ZSM).

= Furcula gorbunovi Schintlmeister, 1998, syn. n., Entomofauna, 19(5), 88. HT: Ô, “Tadshikistan, Gissar Mts., Ramit Nature Reserve, 38°25’ N.B., 69°20’ E.L.” (CASD).

= Furcula mimonovi Schintlmeister, 1998, syn. n., Entomofauna, 19(5), 91. HT: Ô, “ Uzbekistan, Karakalpakija, Tachtakupyr, 43°02’ N.B., 60°17’ E.L.” (CASD).

Taxonomic note. 1. Wiltshire (1958) described terminata from one female. It has the diagnostic merged spots along the external margin of the forewing (Fig. 1). Wiltshire considered it as an Afghan form of Harpyia lanigera Butler, 1877 which was a taxon then thought to be distributed from northwestern India eastwards to Japan. Later, Daniel (1965) cited the letter from Wiltshire where he mentioned that actually not one but two females were collected by Klapperich in Afghanistan. One with the merged spots, described by Wiltshire as terminata, and “The second specimen resembles lanigera completely...” (“Das zweite Stuck gleicht lanigera vollkommen...,” Daniel, 1965: 39). Considering the fact that the two females were collected at the same time and place, Daniel suggested that they are conspecific and the merged spots of the holotype female of terminata was just an aberration. Wings shape and coloration reminded him very much of the Georgian Harpyia pulvigera Staudinger, 1901. But instead of synonymizing terminata, he considered it as a local race of pulvigera. Schintlmeister (1989), stated that terminata “whether it is a subspecies of its own must remain open for lack of material” and “belongs after the illustration of the original description without any doubt to petri,” meaning Furcula aeruginosa petri Alpheraky, 1882 (“Das Taxon terminata aus Afghanistan gehört nach der Abbildung der Urbeschreibung zweifelsfrei zu petri. Ob es sich um eine eigene Unterart handelt, muss mangels Material noch offen bleiben,” Schintlmeister, 1989: 82). Finally, nine years later Schintlmeister (1998) raised terminata to the status of a valid species after he investigated more adults and their genitalia, although he did not see any additional Afghan material and did not investigate genitalia of the female holotype. He considered the species together with Furcula furcula (Clerk, 1759) within the same specific group “characterized by the processes of valvae which are terminating unpointed” (Schintlmeister, 1998: 79). Schintlmeister also mentioned that the male genitalia of terminata are “unlike mimonovi ” (Schintlmeister, 1998: 85).

Below, in the same publication, Schintlmeister (1998) described two new Central Asian species: F. gorbunovi from the mountains of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan and F. mimonovi from the lowlands along the rivers Vakhsh, Amu Darya and Syr Darya. Both were placed into the bifida -group characterized by the pointed apex of costal process of valva. No diagnostic differences between F. gorbunovi and F. mimonovi were mentioned in the original description or later (Schintlmeister, 2008). We also couldn’t find any stable external characters to distinguish F. gorbunovi (Figs 17–25) from F. minonovi (Figs 8–16) because of an external variability of specimens collected even in the same localities (Figs 14–16). Males from the valleys of Vakhsh, Syr Darya and Amu Darya rivers, Gissar and Darvaz mountains and western Pamir, including the type localities of F. gorbunovi and F. mimonovi, showed no significant differences in genitalia (Figs 26–31). Although, we had no males from northeastern Afghanistan at our disposal to compare with F. gorbunovi and F. mimonovi, we did compare the females. Genitalia of the female holotype of F. terminata (Fig. 4), another female from Afghanistan (Fig. 6), and paratype female of F. mimonovi (Fig. 5) are very much alike the females from Uzbekistan (Fig. 32), Kazakhstan (Fig. 33), and Tajikistan (Figs 34–35).

In summary, dissection of the holotype female of F. terminata helped to prove it is conspecific with F. gorbunovi and F. mimonovi (Fig. 70, blue), while F. terminata sensu Schintlmeister is described below as Furcula victoria sp. n. (Fig. 70, red).

2. The female holotype of F. terminata in the collection of ZSM is mislabeled as “ ssp. nuristana Wiltshire,” “ Holotype.” The taxon Harpyia pulcherrima nuristana Wiltshire, 1958 was described in the same publication with F. terminata, and it is presently considered to be a synonym of Neoharpyia pulcherrima (Brandt, 1938) (Schintlmeister, 1989; 2008). To avoid future misunderstandings, we will add the correct identification label “ Harpyia lanigera f. terminata Wiltshire ” to the female.

Redescription. Male (Figs 3, 8, 11, 14–17, 21–22). Flagellum covered with white scales, rami dark brown or black. Head white. Thorax mesally has black and white or brown and white speckled pattern with yellow scales. Abdomen white with brown or black stripes developed between abdominal sclerites or almost completely brown or black. Forewing. Forewing length: 16–19 mm; wingspan: 31–45 mm. Elongated ellipsoid, apex rounded, outer margin smooth. Background color white, yellowish or creamy. Pattern dark brown or black with rare yellow scales, consist of: speckled antemedial band of sand glass shape, sometimes mesally split, laterally accompanied by fragmented lines; discal mark; medial field with more or less developed speckled pattern; doubled crenulated postmedial line; crenulated external line with dark speckled apical field. Fringe white with black spots. Hindwing. Somewhat triangular. Background color white or yellowish with dark discal spot, anal spot and spots present along external margin. Genitalia (Figs 7, 26–31). Uncus beak-shaped with pointed apex, loosely covered with setae. Socii hardly sclerotized and grown together into hoof-shaped structure, loosely covered with setae. Tegumen fused, forming a band. Valva semioval, membranous, unevenly covered with setae of variable length, sacculus sclerotized, costa bears half-connected sclerotized fingerlike ridge with pointed apex. Juxta a band fused to vinculum. Aedeagus sickle-shaped with widened phallobase. Vesica long, spiral, distally narrowed. Eighth sternite oval, caudal margin may have medial concavity. Eighth tergite somewhat oval. Female (Figs 1–2, 9–10, 12–13, 18–20, 23–25). Similar to male but bigger and antenna pectinations much shorter. Forewing length: 20–22 mm; wingspan: 36–44 mm. Genitalia (Fig. 4–6, 32–35). Papillae anales crescent-shaped, densely covered with setae. Posterior and anterior apophyses short, about the same length. Sterigma hardly sclerotized, lamella antevaginalis somewhat V-shaped with well-developed antrum. Ductus bursae spiral, about the length of corpus bursae. Corpus bursae large, egg-shaped.

Variability. Background color of wings may be white (Fig. 14), yellowish (Fig. 13) or creamy (Fig. 12); maculation may be black (Fig. 23) or dark brown (Fig. 20). Abdomen may have brown stripes (Fig. 16) or be completely brown (Fig. 18) or black (Fig. 23). Antemedial band may be continuous (Figs 10, 17) or incomplete (Fig. 16). Medial field may have almost no pattern (Figs 12, 20) or be almost completely black (Fig. 16).

Diagnosis. Furcula aeruginosa petri (Figs 51–53) is smaller than F. terminata (Figs 8–25), has shorter forewings and more or less a pronounced creamy background color, while the background color of F. terminata is usually white or yellowish, rarely creamy (Fig. 12); costal process of valva with dents (Figs 61–62), while F. terminata has no dents (Figs 26–31); lamella antevaginalis has smaller medial concavity and smaller antrum (Fig. 67), while F. terminata has larger antrum (Figs 32–35). Furcula bifida (Figs 54–56) has a wide antemedial band on forewing and a varying pronounced dark external field on the hindwing, which may be brown, while the antemedial band of F. terminata often narrows medially or is discontinuous and the external field is not as pronounced (Figs 8–25); F. bifida has a paired semioval signum (Fig. 68), while F. terminata does not (Figs 32–35). Furcula danieli (Figs 57–59) has a creamy background color instead of white or yellowish of F. terminata (Figs 8–25); antrum basally narrower (Fig. 69), while in F. terminata it is wider (Figs 32–35). Furcula victoria sp. n. (Figs 36–38, 42–50) is overall paler than F. terminata (Figs 8–25); the costal process of valva with dents (Figs 39–40), while that of F. terminata lacks dents (Figs 26–31); the lamella antevaginalis has a smaller medial concavity and a smaller antrum (Figs 41, 66) than F. terminata (Figs 32–35).

Distribution (Fig. 70). Afghanistan, Southern Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.

Biology. Inhabits various landscapes from lowland riparian woodland up to the mountains along Pyandzh, Amu Darya, and Syr Darya rivers (Figs 71–72). Occurs up to 2,210 meters a.s.l. It flies in two generations from April to August in lowlands, while it is likely to be monovoltine in the mountains. Larvae could feed on Salix sp. under lab conditions (recorded for F. mimonovi; Schintlmeister, 1998).

Examined type material: ♀ holotype of F. terminata, NO Afghanistan, Badakhschan, Kokschatal, Faizabad, 1450 m, 7.VIII.1953, leg. Klapperich, slide Notod-1 (ZSM); Ô, paratype of F. gorbunovi, Tajikistan, Gissar mts, Ramit, 38°25’ N, 69°20’ E, 25.IV.1988, leg. O. Gorbunov (ZISP); Ô, paratype of F. gorbunovi, Tajikistan, Gissar mts, Ramit, 38°25’ N, 69°20’ E, 25.IV.1988. leg. O. Gorbunov, slide 2022 0122 (MWM / ZSM); ♀, paratype of F. mimonovi, [Uzbekistan] Karakalpakia, Takhtakupyr, 08.VI.1988, leg. Mimonov (ZISP); ♀, paratype of F. mimonovi, [Kazakhstan] Tschimkent, Tschardara, Syrdarya river, 200 m, 22–25.V.1996, leg. V. Lukhtanov, slide 2022 0123 (MWM / ZSM). Additional material. Kazakhstan: ♀, [Kazakhstan, Kyzylorda] Turkestan, Syr-Darja, Perowsk, slide 1995 (ZSM); Ô, [Kyzylorda] Perovsk, Syrdarya river, 07.IV.1909, leg. E. Miller (ZMMU); ♀, [Kyzylorda] Perovsk, Syrdarya river, 24.04.1909, leg. S.K. Schell (ZMMU); ♀, Baigakum station, Syrdarya river, 19.IV.1908, leg. Malyschew (ZISP); Ô, 40 km SW Turkestan, Syrdarya river, Tugay forest, 05.V.1994, leg. V. Zolotuhin (CGSP); 11Ô, 2♀, Syrdarya river valley, 10 km SE Bairkum village, tugay forest, 42°12’ N, 68°14’ E, 200 m, 16.IV.2018, leg. P. Gorbunov, slides G0271, G0272 (CPMM); 6Ô, Kyzylorda region, Syrdarya river, 44°24’377” N, 66°16’301” E, 142 m, 25.IV.2017, leg. D. F. Shovkoon, (CPMM); 3Ô, Kyzylorda region, Syrdarya river, 128 m, 44°24’418” N, 66°16’401” E, 25.IV.2019. leg. D. F. Shovkoon (CPMM); 7Ô, [Taraz] Djambul, 24.IV.1986, leg. M. Bouma (CASD). Uzbekistan: ♀, Vakhshivar, Baisuntau mts, 1450 m, 2–10.V.1977, leg. A. Nekrasov (ZISP); ♀, [Surkhandarinskyi distr.] Uzun, 30.V.1963 (ZMMU); ♀, Surkhandarinskyi distr., Dzharkurgan, 14.III.2002, leg. O. Legezin (CGSP); 3Ô, 3♀, Karakalpakstan, Takhtakupyr, 18.VI.1984, leg. E.V. Mimonov, slides G0273, G0274 (CPMM); 3♀, West Hissar Gebirge, Sangardak, Denau, 1200 m, 8.V.1999, leg. O. Legezin (CASD). Tajikistan: ♀, Gissar Mts, Kondara gorge, 21.VI.1968, leg. A. Tsvetayev (ZMMU); ♀, Yavroz, river Kafirnigan gorge, 1000–1200 m, 20–30.V.1979, leg. A.Nekrasov (ZISP); Ô, ♀, Peter I range, Khingob river, 7 km E Tavildara, 38°43’512” N, 70°32’679” E, 1712 m, 25.V.2017, leg. Benedek & Ilniczky (CPMM); Ô, Darvaz, Gonishou, Darai-Nazarak, 10–11.VI.2011, leg. A. Zubov, slide G0276 (CPMM); ♀, Darvaz, Khozratishoh, Sary-Chashma, 6–9.VIII.2012. leg. O. Legezin, slide G0267 (CPMM); Ô, Ramit, 11.V.1986, leg. A. Devyatkin (CPMM); Ô, ♀, Darvaz, Khozratishoh, 1400 m, 4–7.V.2012, leg. Zubov (CPMM); 4Ô, Darvaz, Peter I range, Childara gorge, 1790 m, 38°50’12” N, 70°19’9” E, 7–8.VII.2019, leg. R. Yakovlev & H. Sulak, slides G0342, G0344, G0345 (CPMM); 2Ô, Darvaz, Peter I range, Lyulya-Kharvi, 2000 m, 38°51’35” N, 70°48’54” E, 9–10.VII.2019, leg. R. Yakovlev & H. Sulak, slide G0343 (CPMM); ♀, Western Pamir, Vanch range, Torsher village, 2210 m, 38°32’58” N, 71°45’37” E, 15– 16.07.2019, leg. R. Yakovlev & H. Sulak, slide G0348 (CPMM); ♀, Tigrovaya Balka nature reserve, 29.IV.1965, leg. A. Tsvetayev (ZMMU); Ô, Khatlon, Vakhsh river, Tigrovaya Balka nature reserve, 37°01’001” N, 68°30’147” E, 327 m, 20.V.2017, leg. Benedek & Ilniczky, slide G0275 (CPMM); ♀, Khatlon, Vakhsh river, 5 km NNE Tojikabad village, 37°35’780” N, 68°32’330” E, 363 m, 1.VI.2017. leg. Benedek & Ilniczky slide G0276 (CPMM); ♀ Tajikistan, Vakhsh river, Garauti village, near Tigrovaya Balke reserve, 37°36’ N, 68°32’ E, 250 m, tugay forest, 2.VIII.2013, leg. O. Pak (CPMM); 3♀, Tigrowaja Balka, 15.VII–25.VIII.2000, leg. A. Bergmann (CASD); ♀, Tigrowaja Balka, 1–10.VIII.2000 (CASD); 10Ô, 4♀, Dushanbe, 1.V.1965, 7.V.1969, 30.VIII.1963, 25.VII.1963, 5.IV.1970, 17.IV.1969, leg. Schyotkin (CASD); 2Ô, Stalinabad, 28.IV.1968, 29.IV.1968, leg. Schyotkin (CASD); ♀, Anzob, viii. 1991, leg. M. Bouma (CASD); Ô, Kondara, 1100 m, 12. viii. 1959, leg. V. Djegraeva (CASD); 2Ô, ♀, Gissar, Gushary, 1350 m, 14.V.1965, 17.VII.1966, leg. Schyotkin (CASD); Ô, Karategin, Schl. Sangikar, 1700 m, 29.V.1972, leg. Schyotkin (CASD); 8 ÔÔ, Khosratishoh Mts., Shuroabad, 2100 m, 38°08’N, 70°E, 4–6.IX.1999, leg. Yu. Shtetkin, genitalia slide GU 76-100 (CASD). Afghanistan: ♀, N Afghanistan, prov. Badakhshan, Khwakhan (Darvaz), 1000 m, 31.VII.1972, leg. Brade & Naumann, slide Notod-2 (ZSM).