Matskási István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 80. (Budapest 1988)
Ronkay, G. ; Ronkay, L.: Taxonomic studies on the Palaearctic Cuculliae (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), Part IV
In the checklist of the North American Noctuidae, FRANCLEMONT & TODD (1983) transferred only a single species placed previously into Copicucullia from this genus to Cucullia, keeping invariably the other North American genera of the tribe Cuculliini. From the results of our studies, based principally on the genital characteristics of the species, we contend with some of the earlier statements. The most important of our results is that the eastern Palaearctic species of "PseudocopicucuUia" —naruenensis, dimorpha, eumorpha ALPHÉRAKY, bona sp. and sublutea —are evidently not closely allied with the species of the syrtana group distributed from NW Africa to Iran and Greece. The presence of claws on the fore tibiae in these groups is only a convergent phenomenon having no unambiguous phylogenetic significance. Such tibial claws, in various appearance, can also be found in some other Cucullia species belonging mostly to the scopariae-splendida lineage, but for example, also in an African species. The pectination of the antennae may also appear in different evolutionary lineages of Cucullia s.l. (see the species of Rancora or Metlaouia). The naruenensis-gvoup represents a transitional stage between the boryphora and the duplicata-tristis groups displaying a continuous developmental line of the asymmetry of harpae. The species of these three groups have similar shape of valvae and configuration of vesica. The main common features of the female genitalia are the less sclerotized ostiai ligula, the sclerotized crests of ductus bursae are restricted to the anterior part and the apex bursae has a relatively small, gelatinous appendage. The distinctive specific characteristics are rather slight in all the three groups in both the male and the female genitalia, are manifested in the shape and size of harpae, the intensity of asymmetry, the shape and width of valvae, the strength of sclerotization of the ductus bursae and the configuration of the appendage of the apex. As there are taxonomic and nomenclatorical difficulties in both the boryphora and duplicata-tristis groups, the analysis of these groups needs more detailed studies and they will discussed in a later part of the series. The syrtana group forms a well-defined group consisting of eremic species distributed in the western Palaearctic desert and semi-desert areas, and syrtana has also been found in Greece. Since the main characteristic features of this group can separately found be in different other groups of Cucullia in the same or modified state (for example the inflated harpe is elongate and curved, relatively flat in the case of melanoglossa BERIO showing an intermediate form between the other PseudocopicucuUia species and the also eremic C. absynthii LINNAEUS, which has a flattened, curved harpe with similarly setose distal part; the less developed, rounded cucullus appears in several forms in the genus; the huge ostiai ligula and the large sterigmae are also typical for the yellow Cucullias, etc.), but the complex of the features is unique, the separation of this group of species is justified within the genus Cucullia at a subgeneric level. It should be noted that the only known species of the genus Metlaouia, in contrary to its very different external appearance, according to the configuration of the male genitalia is closely allied to PseudocopicucuUia, but in this case the generic distinction seems to be reasonable. Finally, it should be pointed out that some of the African species mentioned as Empusada —beside the others evidently belonging to Cucullia s. str. —have a conspicuous distal ventral processus on the valvae (digitus) (JANSE 1939, VIETTE 1962). This structure can also be found in a primitive stage in the dracunculi-virgaureae group and in an extreme form in the case of generosa STAUDINGER, a very special Palaearctic member of the genus Cucullia. The modified, lobular clavus of the discussed "Empusada''' species is also typical for the prenanthis-ar mena pair of species. To sum up, these species can be interpreted as members of a distinct subgenus of Cucullia but the name Empusada is inapplicable for this group since the type species of Empusada is the Palaearctic lactea FABRICIUS, obviously belonging to the genus Cucullia. Consequently the genus Empusada must be considered as a junior synonym of Cucullia.
