Taxonomic description of Theretra sp. (Hubner, 1819) (: )

Research Project Submitted to the Department of Plant Protection in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of B. Sc. in Agriculture

By Mahmud Hussein Ali

Supervised by Dr. Pshtiwan A. Jalil

May– 2021

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DEDICATION

I dedicate this project to Allah, my strong pillar, my source of inspiration, awareness, and thought. I would better dedicate this project to my father and my mother's great and kind heart; to my supervisor that encouraged me through the study period and finishing this work. To my dear brothers and sisters. Finally, I would like to dedicate this project to my all friends in the plant protection department.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

First, thank Allah for giving me the strength and knowledge of success in resolving all the problems that face me in my life especially in this study. Second, I would like to express my gratitude to the plant protection department of the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences- Salahaddin University, for teaching me principles and subjects in the field of plant protection and their facilities through the study period. Third, appreciation and gratitude to my sincere supervisor Dr. Pshtiwan Abdullah Jalil for his patience and helps, and continuous advice during the study. I must also thank the instructors in the plant protection department, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, Salahaddin University, for their support in the period of my study.

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CONTENT

Title Page number Abstract V Introduction 1 Aims of the study 2 Literature review 3-4 Result 5-11 Discussion 12 Conclusion 13 Refrences 14-17

TABLE OF FIGURES

No. Title Page number

1 adult of Theretra sp. 7 2 adult of male and female of Theretra sp. 8 3 wings of Theretra sp., A- the upper side of fore & 8 hind wing, B- the underside of fore & hind wing.

4 Wings coupling of Theretra sp. 9 5 Male genitalia of Theretra sp. A-Lateral view, B- 10 ventral view, C-Aedeagus.

6 Female genitalia of Theretra sp. 11

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ABSTRACT

The present study included a review of the detailed description of the genus Theretra (Hubner, 1819), specimens were collected from various locations of the Erbil, Kurdistan region-Iraq. Confirmation in the description was on the most important parts of the body including the head and its appendages, wings, wing coupling as well as male and female genitalia. The morphological characteristics under study were enhanced by illustrations and images. Information on the locations and date of the collection was also confirmed. This study aims to identify the most important characteristics of the diagnosis of the genus.

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INTRODUCTION

The family Sphingidae one of the largest family in order Lepidoptera, and commonly known as hawk . They are best represented in the tropics, but their species are found in every region. This family includes about 1450 species (Van et al. 2011). More than 60 species have been recorded under this genus from different parts of the world to date. Adult moths are moderate to large and are distinguished among species for their agile and sustained flying ability, they have narrow fore wings with triangle red hind wings, and are adapted for rapid flying (Scoble,1995). Firstly the family was named by French zoologist Pierre André under the Superfamily Bombycoidea.Latreille in 1802. Some hawk moths, such as the brown colour hawk moth or hummingbird hawk-moth and the white-lined are hovering around flowering plants and ornamentals for feeding and suck nectar from flowers, this hovering capability could be seen at night times only ( Kitching, 2002). economic importance of Sphingid moths has been reported as one of the important pollinators among the order Lepidoptera that benefits not only the natural ecosystem but also the agrarian environment (Riyaza et al. 2018). Taxonomic studies employ not only the morphological characters but also the various anatomical characters as well. The study of genital morphology is the traditional method of lepidopteran which is still being used by many taxonomists even after the emergence of molecular taxonomy.

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The species were identified based on their coloration features, they both shape and size of the wing and the distinguishing color patterns, it is members are characterized by strong bodies with long and narrow fore wings, the hind wings are much shorter than the fore wing, the wings are folded back during rest taking a close look to the shape of the arrowhead Kawahara, et al. (2009), Kitching, et al. (2014).

Aims of the study.

1- Survey grape vine orchards and collecting a sufficient number of the larval and adult . 2- Demonstrating a taxonomic background of the genus Theretra. 3- Morphological description of the adult stage of this genus.

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LITERATURE REVIEW

The genus Theretra can be recognized by their palpi with an apical tuft of scales on the second segment directed ventrally; the apex of the first is densely and regularly scaled on the inner side, with a cavity at the apex on the outer side (Rothschild,1903).

Vaglia et al, (2008). demonstrated that the male and female genital characteristics are specific to all the lepidopterans, and genital morphology had been considered as a specific character for identifying Sphingidae species.

Theretra shendurneensis sp. nov. was also recorded and described from shendurney wildlife sanctuary reserve were located South of Gats West in India as a new species of the genus (Sondhi, et al. 2017). Nine species of this family have been registered in Jordan (Bader-Katbeh, 2014). as in Palestine, the species recorded for moths are 31% of the group of the order: Lepidoptera including the studies species (Dardona et al.2015). In Iraq, this species was recorded by Wiltshier (1957).

Choubey, et al (2017) categorized that the family Sphingidae belongs to a heterocera antenna, Kawahara et al.(2009) reported that the genus Theretra Hübner, 1819; belongs to a tribe: and subfamily: Macroglossinae. Ayberk and Inac (2007) registered that the family has more than 1.450 species in the world, 63 species in the western regions of the ancient world and about 115 species in the United States of America, of which 34 species are endemic or temporary in Turkey, except Antarctica and Greenland, approximately one-third of this moth is due to the tropical group.

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There are more than 1500 species of Sphingid moths worldwide. About 204 species of hawk moths are reported from India. (Hampson, 1894, Bell et al, 1937). In Pakistan 60 species and subspecies of this family had been recorded of which 14 are new recordings within the region's animal group (Rafi et al. 2014).

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RESULTS

Genus: Theretra (Boisduval, 1827)

Material examined. 1 male, 1 female, pupa, 5 larvae, 17- April- 2021, Bin Perz, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.

Bionomics and distribution The specimens were found in horticultural areas, especially in grapevine farms, Erbil government in which they found in nighttime feeding on the night flowers. Female individuals were observed flying and laying eggs one at a time on the underside of leaves of cultivated grapevine (Vitis vinifera). This genus is on the wing in May and June, eggs lying were observed in July, and larvae feed on Vitis vinifera from July to September. Pass winter as a larval and pupal stage. The genus is known from Italy, Romania, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Armenia, Georgia, Russia (Daghestan Republic), Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan (present study), Afghanistan, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Pakistan, China, Nepal, India, SriLanka, Taiwan, Japan, and Indonesia (Krpač et al. 2019; Zolotuhin & Yevdoshenko 2019; Pittaway 2020). Their individuals having been found as far west as Sicily and north to Romania; resident in south-western Bulgaria. It is regularly found in Corfu, where it may be a resident. It is a rarity in Romania. The main distribution stretches from Greece across southern and eastern Turkey, Cyprus to Transcaucasia, the Republic of Georgia, and most of Iran, and south Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, and the more fertile areas of Egypt. The nearest known localities of Thretera in Central Asia are in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, and also found in Central Asia. Clarification of the correct distribution and their population requires further studies.

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Diagnostic features: Body medium-sized, thick and stout, generally dark brown with black and white bands, head with frons broadly rounded, slightly produced, palpi with 2nd segment shorter than basal and much longer than 3rd, proboscis large, antennae incrassate, fore wings large with apical angle sub-rounded, anterior and posterior margin sinuated, Genitalia: Males with tegumen oblongate, saccus cup-shaped, uncus large slightly longer than gnathos, paramere large flipper-like with a spine at the inner lateral margin, aedeagus with theca tubular, thecal appendage serrated, membranous conjunctival lobe very large without cornuti. In females anal papillae bean-shaped, apophyses posteriors longer than apophyses anteriors, ductus bursae large tubular, corpus bursae ballon-like with elongated cornuti

Coloration (Fig.1): Body generally brown except dark brown sub-anterior and sub-posterior bands and abdomen, with dense scale hairs and its color brighter than lateral margins of head and pronotum, lateral margins of 3rd and 4th terga.

Head (Fig.1): Head with frons sub-rounded, vertex raised, proboscis large, galea with basal segment; long and rolled behind the head, eye prominent and dark surrounded by a white line that elongated to end of fore wing.

Antennae:- It's long, thickened, bleached, large scape segment, the pedicel is a small polygon, the flagellum segments a thread and homogeneous thickness, bearing each segment of black fluff from both sides, the 4-5 segments strongly tend to the inside are a hook shape(Fig. 1).

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Figure 1 adult of Theretra sp.

Fore wing: triangle shape and have an italic black line in front margin and elongated to the central margin of wing upperside Identical in both sexes, brown, long, narrowness, the costal margin is straight, the outer margin is convex, inner margin is undulant, apex angle is pointed, the wing base is pale brown, stretch along the apex third of the wing 5- 6 lines of dark brown scales reach between the apex of the wing and the inner margin known as the border marks. Underside:- Similar to the upper side but more paleness (Figs. 2& 3).

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Hind wing: generally small triangle shaped with red color and black spot on the base of the outer margin. upper side identical in both sexes, pink, short, little transversal, the costal margin is slightly undulant, the outer margin convex at; outer third and pointed by a protruding cusp at back third, inner margin is convex, wing base for a flesh color, inner margin is dark brown, front and middle thirds of wings are coated with bright pink scales known as a medial patch, outer wing borders coated with a dark brown stripe known as peripheral strip mark. Underside: Pale yellowish-brown in both sexes (Figs. 2 & 3).

Figure 2 adult of male and female of Theretra sp.

Figure 3 wings of Theretra sp., A- the upper side of fore & hind wing, B- the underside of fore & hind wing.

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Wing coupling: In the male, one strong and long fork is formed at the base of the hind wing coupled with a small hook at a hind third of the fore wing. In the female, a fine of the thistles is formed at the base of the hind wing coupled with a tuft at the inner margin of the fore wing (Fig. 4).

Figure 4 Wings coupling of Theretra sp.

Male genitalia:- (Fig. 5 -A-B) - Uncus:- Elongated plate with a pointed end sharply to the inside, it's base is wide and protruding to the outside, utterly coated with fine forks, it's inner margin is undulating. - Gnathos:- Elongated plate, piggy shape connected with the uncus and opposite for its formed appearance like to the horns. - Tegumen:- Wide plate, it's apex connected to the uncus with a distinguished groove and it's base connected to the vinculum is concave. - Vinculum:- Tubular longitudinal plate, annular shape. - Saccus:- Cross-sectional plate similar to ajar, it has a wide base and stiff apex (Fig. 5-B-). - Valve:- Larger genital plate, prolonged, it has a wide base and round apex, coated with dark brown rough hairs, it's ventral part is coated with fine thistles. - Transtilla:- Pair of small appendages connect the gnathos to the dorsal part of the

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valve (Fig. 5-B). - Costa:- Thickening of the inner margins of the valve with a membrane fold (Fig. 5-B). - Valvular cusp:- Pair of promises, piggy shape, elongated of the ventral part of valve (Fig. 5-B). - Adeagus:- Oversized, consist of three segments, apex segment is largest segments, packed with a collar of forks different in size are oriented outward, middle segment is ribbed and slightly oblique. (Fig. 5-C).

Female genitalia:- (Fig. 6) - Anal papillae:- Pair of soft structures coated with soft hair accurate and length. - Apophysis posterior:- Pair of rigid and thin side valves. - Apophysis anterior:- Pair of valves is longer than the posterior counterpart. - Ductus Bursa:- Long crooked tube, oversized at the apex with sac shape and tapering at the base of contact with the opening of the corpus bursa. - Corpus Bursa:- Balloon appearance, wide and diaphanous. - Cornuti:- Striped appearance, about the rigid and accurate stingy chain, it occupies two-thirds of the corpus bursa.

Figure 5 Male genitalia of Theretra .A-Lateral view, B- ventral view, C-Aedeagus.

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Figure 6 Female genitalia of Theretra.

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DISCUSSION

This is the second published paper about the Sphingidae of Jordan after that of Müller et al. (2005). Nine species are recorded from Jordan collected from 38 different localities across the country. This number is less than half the number of species recorded from Jordan by Müller et al. (2005) (21 species) during a seven years project aimed to study the Middle East Lepidoptera from 1998-2004. They used a total of 850 nights of mobile light traps and several permanent light traps moved annually. The traps used in this study were 6-8 fixed light traps, which were also moved annually. Therefore, the study of Müller et al. (2005) was much more extensive in time and space. However, nine of their recorded species were recorded from Jordan for the first time, more than half of all species were rare, and the majority was found in three or fewer localities. This may explain the low number of species collected in our study.

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CONCLUSION

 All of our specimens come from the horticulture fields that belonged to the Erbil government, Kurdistan region, Iraq.

 Samples were collected in vineyards in the Erbil government, from the end of May, June to July depending on the year with an occasional spring and regular well-pronounced summer peak.

 Most diagnostic characters of the adult stage of Theretra sp. were described in detail.

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