Kaszab Zoltán (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 74. (Budapest 1982)

Vojnits, A.: A revision of the "Eupithecia innotata group", I. (Lepidoptera, Geometridae)

Eupithecia costisignata DIETZE relaxata DIETZE (PROUT. L. B. : Eupithecia, in : SEITZ, 1915, IV, p. 294). Eupithecia relaxata DIETZE (PROUT, L. B.

: Eupithecia, in: SEITZ, Suppl. ad IV, 1934-39 p. 203). Eupithecia relaxata DIETZE, 1904 (sic!) (VIIDALEPP, J.: Ént. Obozr., 1978, 57:755). Diagnosis. See Remarks. — Genitalia, çf and $ unknown. Biology. First stages and foodplant unknown. Flight period of imagos unrecorded. Distribution. Assumably occurring in Central Asia. — Locus typicus: Schahkuh. Remarks. DIETZE (1903) described "var." relaxata as the "Grundform" (!), „aus welchem die nächst beschriebene (costisignata) hervorgeht, oder Rückbildung derselben". A light, pale silvery grey animal, its pattern nearly vanished from both upperside and underside of wings, discernible only in fine traces; transverse stripes not widened at costa. — A form described on the basis of a single female collected at Schahkuh in Central Asia; the type-specimen ought to be preserved in the DIETZE Collection. — Subsequently, DIETZE (1913) mentioned two further specimens, allegedly preserved in BOHATSCH'S Collection, collected also by FUNKE at Schahkuh, on "1.8.1898". These specimens differ from costisignata only by their larger size. According to DIETZE therefore, the form under discussion is a form of Eupithecia costisignata DIETZE and not the other way round. Later, PROUT (1915) was of the same opinion, but subsequently (PROUT 1939) changed his position.* Concurrently, he referred the characterization of the genitalia by PETERSEN (cit. DIETZE 1913) unequivocally to relaxata, a wholly incorrect standpoint. In a group as difficult as the present one — PROUT (1939) himself declared it to be a "komplizierte Gruppe" — this "grandiose" interpretation of PETERSEN'S presumption is inadmissible. In my opinion, the name "relaxata" is unavailable, save a future reappearance of DIETZE'S type. And even if it were to be found, it is not at all certain that PROUT'S (1939) concept is the right one : if we are in fact dealing with distinct taxa (relaxata and costisignata)

, relationships of wholly different in rank may also be assumed. Eupithecia costisignata DIETZE, 1913 (nec DIETZE, 1903) Eupithecia unedonta MABILLE, var. relaxata DIETZE ab. costisignata DIETZE, 1903 (Dt. ent. Z. Iris, 16: 367-369, PI. 5, Fig. 18, 19). Eupithecia costisignata DIETZE, 1913 (Biologie d. Eupithecien, p. 136, PI. 75, Fig. 542, and PI. 85, Fig 960). Eupithecia costisignata DIETZE (PROUT, L. B.: Eupithecia, in: SEITZ, 1915 IV, p. 294, PI. 25, Fig. e). Eupithecia relaxata DIETZE ab. costisignata DIETZE (PROUT, L. B.: Eupithecia, in: SEITZ, Suppl., ad IV, 1934-39 p. 230). Diagnosis. DIETZE (1903) gave a detailed description of the external features. Genitalia, çf : Valva rather short, dorsum straight, ventrum evenly arched. Uncus uniapical ( !), short, stout, very characteristic. Aedoeagus rather long, finely tapering, with a long chitinous plate and a short, twisted chitinous formation (like a snail-shell). Sternite VIII not found in examined specimen (Fig. 9); $ : bursa copulatrix oval in cross-section, its 4/5 padded with short, evebly but rather sparsely arranged chitinous spines. Anterior section of bursa with merely a few scattered spines and a highly characteristic recurving chitinous plate which ends in two sharp points. Both anterior and posterior apophyses comparatively short and thick. Papillae anales wide (Fig. 10). Biology. First stages and foodplant unknown. Flight period of imagos also unrecorded. Distribution. Occurring in Central Asia. — Locus typicus: Schahkuh. Specific differences. Sharply differring by both the male and female genitalia from all other members of the "innotata group". Remarks. DIETZE (1903) mentions this taxon as the more frequent "accessory form" of "unedonata var. relaxata". He contended as especially characteristic the light silvery grey basic colour, the conspicuous black costal spot, and the discal spot of the fore wing. •PROUT (1939) gave, incorrectly, the date of publication of volume XVI of the Iris as 1904.