Scotocampa sheljuzhkoi Gyulai & L. Ronkay, 2002

Volynkin, Anton V., Rudoi, Sergey V. Titov Valentin V., Gabdullina, Aliya U. & Bolbotov, Gleb A., 2024, First record of Scotocampa sheljuzhkoi Gyulai & L. Ronkay (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Noctuinae) from Kazakhstan, Ecologica Montenegrina 77, pp. 124-131 : 125-128

Scotocampa sheljuzhkoi Gyulai & L. Ronkay, 2002

( Figs 1–4 , 8, 9 )

Scotocampa sheljuzhkoi Gyulai & L. Ronkay, 2002 , Esperiana , 9, 423 (Type locality: “ Mongolia, Ömnögovi aimak, 2 klm W Gurvantös, 1650m, 43°24'86''N [sic?], 101°34'38''E ”).

Material examined. KAZAKHSTAN: 5 males, 3–4. V .2024, Alakol Depression, SE shore of Alakol Lake , 392m, 45°45'14.0''N 82°09'05.0''E, V. V. Rudoi, A.U. Gabdullina & G.A. Bolbotov leg. ( CAV) .

MONGOLIA: 7 males, 16–17. V .2015, Khovd Aimag, Dzhungarian Gobi, Bodonchijn-Gol river valley, 36 km SW of Altai somon, 1280m, 45°46'N 92°12'E, Doroshkin V . leg. ( CAV).

Diagnosis. Scotocampa sheljuzhkoi ( Figs 1–4 ) can be superficially distinguished from S. indigesta ( Figs 5, 6 ) by its somewhat more elongate forewing with paler ground colour and more distinct pattern, and the larger claviform stigma. Describing S. sheljuzhkoi, Gyulai & Ronkay (2002) stated that although the male genitalia of S. indigesta and S. sheljuzhkoi are very similar ( Figs 8–10 ), there are two reliable diagnostic characters, namely the shape of the juxta and the shape and the length of the ampulla. Based on a few dissections of the material available performed by the senior author of the present paper, two specimens of S. sheljuzhkoi from Kazakhstan and Southwest Mongolia dissected display no recognisable differences in their ampulla lengths in comparison to S. indigesta . However, the juxta structure was found to be diagnostic in the S. sheljuzhkoi-S. indigesta species pair, and the former species has a gradually tapering dorsal section of the juxta while that of S. indigesta is narrower and has almost parallel lateral margins. Another difference between the two species found during preparation of the present paper but not mentioned by Gyulai & Ronkay (2002) is the phallus shape, which is markedly longer, straighter and distally broader in S. sheljuzhkoi . The differences in the female genitalia of S. sheljuzhkoi and S. indigesta are discussed in detail by Gyulai & Ronkay (2002).

Distribution. The range of S. sheljuzhkoi stretches from the northern Gobi Desert in the east through the Dzhungarian Basin to the eastern limits of the Balkhash-Alakol Basin in the west, and to date found in southern and south-western Mongolia (Ömnögovi, Bayankhongor, Govi Altay and southern Khovd Provinces (Aimags)) ( Gyulai & Ronkay 2002), and East Kazakhstan (shores of Alakol Lake in East Kazakhstan Region) (current study, new record for the country) ( Fig. 12 ).

Bionomics. In Kazakhstan, the species was found on the shore of the bitter salt Alakol Lake, which is occupied by the salt-marsh (‘solonchak’) associations dominated by Nitraria L. The gently sloping elevated part of the lower level shore terrace is overgrown by Halimodendron Fisch. ex DC. and Caragana Fabr. thickets with patches of Achnatherum P.Beauv. , Salsola L., Anabasis L. and other halophytes on saline variegated clays. In Mongolia, S. sheljuzhkoi is found mostly in flat, sandy desert areas dominated by Haloxylon Bunge as well as Haloxylon-Caragana shrubby deserts with salt-marsh and gypsum fragments ( Gyulai & Ronkay 2002) ( Figs 13, 14 ). The moths are on wing in May–early June and in late July ( Gyulai & Ronkay 2002), and the species possibly has two generations a year. The preimaginal stages and food plants are unknown.

Figures

Figure 12. Distribution map of Scotocampa spp.

Figures 1–7. Adults of Scotocampa spp. Depositories of the specimens: 1–6 in CAV; 7 in MfN.

Figures 8–10. Male genitalia of Scotocampa spp. The specimens dissected are deposited in CAV.

Figures 13–14. Habitat of Scotocampa sheljuzhkoi: East Kazakhstan, Alakol Depression, SE shore of Alakol Lake, 392m, 45°45'14.0''N 82°09'05.0''E (photo by G. Bolbotov).