Evergestis hyrcanalis Amsel, 1961

Alipanah, Helen, Khodadad, Masoumeh, Rajaei, Hossein & Haseli, Mohammad, 2018, Taxonomic study of the genus Evergestis Hübner, 1825 (Lepidoptera: Crambidae: Glaphyriinae) in Iran with description of a new species, Zootaxa 4420 (1), pp. 1-33 : 21-24

Evergestis hyrcanalis Amsel, 1961

Material examined. SMNK: 1 ♂ 1 ♀, Z-Afghanistan, Koh-i-Baba, S-Seite Panjao, 2650 m, 20.–22.vii.1966, H. G. Amsel leg. (ex coll. H. G. Amsel) (GS: HA-2041, HA-2046).

Remarks. Evergersitis hyrcanalis was described by Amsel (1961) based on one female specimen collected by E. P. Wiltshire from Kuli Kush (Fars Prov.) in 8.vi.1940. Later in 1970, this species was reported by Amsel from Afghanistan based on 22 males and 78 females ( Amsel, 1970); however the male was not sufficiently described, and also, only an illustration was presented for the male genitalia by Amsel (1970). We found one male and one female of this species with the same collecting data (central part of Afghanistan) and similar wing patterns among the specimens of Amsel's collection in SMNK. The male specimen is here redescribed and illustrated in the light of our examination.

Diagnosis. According to Amsel (1961), this species is close to E. desertalis externally but differs in having wider wings, and ante-median line which is more close to the costal margin in E. hyrcanalis rather than E. desertalis . The ante-median line in E. hyrcanalis has also a larger and more pointed dent (see Amsel (1961) for more differences). Later, after examining the males collected in Afghanistan, based on having short ventral ciliae of the antennae, a close resemblance of this species to E. spiniferalis Staudinger, 1900 was discussed by Amsel (1970).

As here revealed, considering the genital structure of males and females, E. hyrcanalis is somehow close to E. forficalis , especillay in the shape of signa of corpus bursae in females and mostly in the shape of cornuti of males. On the other hand, E. hyrcanalis and E. spiniferalis have two unequal clusters of cornuti in the male genitalia, although E. hyrcanalis slightly differs from the latter species in the shape of valvae.

Description of the male. Head and labial palpus same as the female; antennae roofed with dirty-cream scales dorsally and shortly ciliated ventrally; thorax covered with light brown to ochre scales; dorsal abdominal scales cream to light brown.

Forewing ( Figs 13C, D ) similar to the female ( Figs 13A, B ), partly elongated, with rounded apex and obliquely covexed termen; forewing length 13.2 mm; ground color of the forewing light grayish-brown ( Fig. 13C ), both antemedian and post-median lines white and dentate mostly at upper half, with thin brown lines at external and internal sides, respectively, the post-median line slightly sinuate, the ante-median line with a large and pointed dent at the upper three-fourths of its length directed towards the post-median line, a clear brown discal spot present at the upper three-fourths of the forewing, between ante-mediand and post-median lines, and some brown short transverse dash-like lines between the two above mentioned lines at lower half of the forewing; fringes with an interrupted dark brown band at the base and an interrupted light brown thin band exterior to it. Underside of the forewing with the same ground color as the upperside and clear ante-median and post-median lines and discal spot ( Fig. 13D ). Hindwing grayish-light brown, with a distinct post-median line; fringes same as the forewing. Underside of the hindwing nearly same as the upperside but the post-median line more jagged at underside ( Fig. 13D ).

Male genitalia ( Figs 14A–F ). Uncus gradually narrowed towards the apex ( Figs 14A, D, E ) and its tip nearly spoon-shaped dorso-laterally ( Figs 14A, D ); gnathos narrowed and tapered, almost two-thirds of the length of uncus, with 11–12 relatively long and pointed teeth on ventral surface extended from the tip to halfway along the shaft ( Fig. 14F ); valvae slightly widened at base, nearly parallel-sided posteriorly and somewhat obliquely-rounded distally, costal margin thickened especially at base; juxta elongated and slightly narrowed posteriorly ( Figs 14A, B ); distal end of plallus nearly two-thirds of the length with rows of pointed sclerotized spines, the larger row slightly curved ( Figs 14A, C ).

Distribution. Iran: Fars Province (Kuli Kosh), Afghanistan ( Amsel 1961, 1970).

Figures

FIGURE 13. Evergestis hyrcanalis. A–B) Adult female. C–D) Adult male. A, C: upperside. B, D: underside.

FIGURE 14. Evergestis hyrcanalis male genitalia. A) Main body and phallus. B) Anterior end including juxta and vinculum. C) Distal end of phallus. D) Posterior end including uncus and gnathos in ventral view. E) Uncus in lateral view. F) Gnathos in lateral view.