Phymatopus

Phymatopus
Phymatopus hecta
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Suborder: Homoneura
Infraorder: Exoporia
Superfamily: Hepialoidea
Family: Hepialidae
Genus: Phymatopus
Wallengren, 1869 or auctt. nec Wallengren, 1869
Synonyms
  • Hepiolopsis Borner, 1920
  • Phimatopus

Phymatopus (Originally: Noctua Linnaeus, 1758) is a genus of moths belonging to the hepialidae family (commonly referred to as swift moths or ghost moths), which consists of around 500 species and 30 genera.[1] They can be found across Eurasia and North America. Species can be distinguished by the different morphology of male genitalia and different forewing patterns, which vary in stripe colour and size and arrangement of spots. The stripes themselves consist of spots separated by dark veins which are fringed by thin black lines from both inner and outer sides.[2]

Species

Phymatopus auctt. nec Wallengren, 1869

Description

The genus Phymatopus is considered monotypic and species can be distinguished by forewing pattern and male genitalia. Phymatopus lack spurs on the tibiae and like other members of the Hepialidae family, also lack a proboscis or frenulum and have very short antennae.[3]

Gold swift

The gold swift (Phymatopus hectus), originally belonging to the Hepialus genus, is widely distributed across Europe (Central and North) and the Ural mountains, follows the distribution of its foodplant- bracken and roots of Erica, Primula, Rumex, Calluna. The male forewings bear two silvery white stripes consisting of individual spots separated by dark veins, which are fringed with thin black lines. The dorsal process of valvella (part of male genitalia) is almost straight, and the mesosome tip is rounded.[2]

Phymatopus hecta japonicus

Phymatopus hecta japonicus is found located in the Russian Far East: Sakhalin Island and southern Kurils; south of the Daisetsu mountains, Hokkaido, Japan. Its appearance is similar to P. hectus but differs in that the outer strip is usually uninterrupted. It consists of 4-5 silvery spots at the apex (anterior corner), 2-3 small spots moving slightly more inward and the largest one at the inner margin. The morphology of the male genitalia is also different from that of P. hectus, the ventral process of valvella is belt-like, which tapers to a point as it reaches the distal quarter, the dorsal margin of valva is convex. P. japonicus from Sakhalin has a maximum male wingspan of 25-26mm and shows pale or grayish brown colouring on the forewings, whereas the male specimens from Kurilan tend to have a larger wingspan of 30–31 mm- bright, reddish-brown in colour. The male genitalia also differs between specimens of Kurilian population and from Sakhalin, with Kurilian males having shorter mesosomes and a rounded tip of valva distal projection, as opposed to a tapering tip in Sakhalin males. .[2]

Phymatopus hecticus

Phymatopus hecticus is found in eastern Russia. The forewing stripes are usually composed of golden-yellow or whitish coloured confluent spots without metallic luster. In male genitalia, the dorsal process of valvella is strongly curved in the distal part, giving it a hook-like appearance; there is also a clear cavity at the tip of the mesosome.[2]

Phymatopus hecticus albomaculatus

Phymatopus hecticus albomaculatus is found in eastern Russia, North of Primorskii krai. Both forewing stripes have a silvery white appearance, with a metallic tinge, similar into Phymatopus hectus and Phymatopus haponicus, also consisting of separated spots. However, they have differences in male genitalia; the shape of the eighth abdominal sternum and tip of mesosome. The length of forewing is about 14 mm in males, with a curved inner strip. The outer strip consists of 3 separated spots at the apex and 2 smaller spots moving inwards.[2]

Range

Western Asia, North America- north of Mexico, Central and North Europe. The Eurasian range consists solely of Phymatopus hectus, and in North America the genus is represented by three species, which are geographically restricted to the western coastal region of the United States.

Life cycle

Larva

Phymatopus are root and stem borers.[4] It is not uncommon for the larvae to tunnel through the stems, as is the case of the western North American Phymatopus. Tunnels can be found travelling through the base of the stems and also the adjacent stems in contact with leaf litter and soil. Sometimes dead stems can also serve to provide tunnels which are active. As well as tunnelling through stems, some larvae (e.g. P. hectoides) tunnel through the soil and feed on root tissues.[5]

Pupa

In the pupae, one or two fixed basal abdominal segments. On the abdominal segments, there are dorsal spines aligned in rows, similar to some lower members of the Heteroneura[3]

Meiosis

As in other lepidopterans, early prophase I stage of meiosis occurs as normal, but there is no crossing over or chiasma formation in the females at the prophase I stage. The males on the other hand show conventional meiotic recombination.[6]

Mating

In many hepialids, the female releases attractants to draw in males. This is the ancestral condition whereas in Phymatopus, the opposite occurs, with males attracting females [7]

Host plants and food plants

Host plant:

Food plants:

  • Roots of:

Mobility

Mobility is defined as the ability to migrate. According to the metapopulation theory, migration is important for individuals to colonize new areas and recolonize old ones to avoid extinction. Moths, like other insects, are only mobile in the larval and adult stages. Mobility at the larval stage is limited and required mainly to find food and an optimal environment to pupate. According to van der Meulen and Groenendijk’s classification, Phymatopus exhibit area restricted, limited wandering behaviour and small flight range.[8]

References

  1. ↑ Nielsen ES & Robinson GS & Wagner DL (2000). "Ghost moths of the world: a global inventory and bibliography of the Exoporia(Mnesarchaeoidea and Hepialoidea)(Lepidoptera)". Journal of Natural History. 34: 823–878. doi:10.1080/002229300299282. line feed character in |title= at position 35 (help)
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Tshistjakov YA (1996). "TAXONOMIC STUDY OF THE FAR EASTERN HEPIALIDAE (LEPIDOPTERA). RECORD 1. ON SYSTEMATIC POSITION OF THE PHYMATOPUS TAXA DESCRIBED FROM THE EAST PALAEARCTIC". Far Eastern Entomologist. 36: 1–8.
  3. 1 2 Kristensen N.P. (1999). "Evolution, Systematics, and Biogeography. Handbook of Zoology. A Natural History of the phyla of the Animal Kingdom". 1: 41–62.
  4. ↑ Traut W (1977). "A study of recombination, formation of chiasmata and synaptonemal complexes in female and male meiosis of Ephestia kuehniella (Lepidoptera).". Genetica. 47: 135–42. doi:10.1007/bf00120178.
  5. ↑ Wagner, DL (1985). "The biosystematics of the Holarctic Hepialidae, with special emphasis on the Hepialus californicus species group. PhD Dissertation.".
  6. ↑ Traut W (1977). "A study of recombination, formation of chiasmata and syunaptonemal complexes in female and male meiosis of Ephestia kuehniella (Lepidoptera).". Genetica. 47: 135–42. doi:10.1007/bf00120178.
  7. ↑ Wagner DL & Rosovsky J (1991). "Mating systems in primitive Lepidoptera, with emphasis on the reproductive behaviour of Korscheltellus gracilis (Hepialidae)". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 102: 277–303. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1991.tb00003.x.
  8. ↑ van der Meulen J & Groenendijk D (2005). "Assessment of the mobility of day-flying moths: an ecological approach". Proc. Neth. Entomol. Soc. Meet. 16: 37–50.
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