Zur Morphologie des Flügelgeäders bei der Gattung Antheraea Hübner, 1819 („1816”) - Teil I (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)

"The following contribution to knowledge the wild silkmoths (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) deals exclusively with the wing venation of various species of the genus Antheraea HÜBNER, 1819 (“1816”). This study aims to determine whether the morphology of the wing venation can be used for the classification within the genus Antheraea. Toxopeus (1940) already noted that the venation of the highly variable Antheraea taxa may be a tool for determination because he found that the vein R1 [named R1+2 in this contribution] branch off from the stalk differently. The venation of six taxa was illustrated graphically by Toxopeus (1940). Further examples, Dicky, Erick, Kokko, Barron, Schaalje & Gowen (1992) used image analysis of wings for the identification of ichneumonid wasps (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), Albrecht & Kalia (1997) noted a variation of wing venation in Elachistidae (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea), Nath & Devi (2009) studied the venation pattern and shape variation in A. (Ao.) assamensis (Helfer, 1837) of Assam, India, Warren (1936) demonstrated that the wing venation varies considerably and may even display an asymmetric pattern in Erebia sp. (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), and Sotavolta (1994) recorded a considerable intraspecific variation in the wing venation of Arctiidae (Lepidoptera). Detailed studies on the variation of wing venation in Antheraea are lacking so far.
In Part I and II of this contribution 42 taxa of the genus Antheraea were examined by us to receive a good overview on the morphological structures of the wing venation in Antheraea. Aberrations were observed at two taxa (three wings). As already noted by Toxopeus (1940), the lengths of R1+2 (sensu Paukstadt & Paukstadt 2018) [= R1 sensu Toxopeus 1940] are different in various taxa and therefore arise at the stalk of vein R in different positions. The taxa are grouped according to their morphology of the wing venation, regardless of color, pattern and/or genital morphological or other differences. This contribution will be added later."