Rhodostrophia tabestana Trusch & Hausmann, 2007

Rajaei, Hossein, Hausmann, Axel & Trusch, Robert, 2022, Taxonomic review of the genus Rhodostrophia Hübner, 1823 (Geometridae: Sterrhinae) in Iran, Zootaxa 5118 (1), pp. 1-64 : 29-30

Rhodostrophia tabestana Trusch & Hausmann, 2007

( Figs 31–34 , 70 , 87 , 99 , Map 8 )

Rhodostrophia tabestana Trusch & Hausmann, 2007 : Nota lepidopterologica, 30 (1), 8; figs 1–11. ( Iran, Fars, Kaserun, Mian- Kotal , 1900 m),

Holotype ♂: ‘S-Iran, Fars, Kaserun, Mian-Kotal , 1900 m, 11.vi.1972, Ebert & Falkner leg. ’, ‘ Holotypus ♂, Rhodostrophia tabestana det. Trusch & Hausmann 2007 ’ in SMNK . Paratypes, 55 ♂, 26 ♀ from different localities in the provinces: Fars, Khuzestan, Kohgiluyeh-va Boyer-Ahmad, Chahar Mahal-o-Bakhtiari, Esfahan and Lorestan deposited in SMNK, HMIM, ZSM, PCJM and PCNP (all examined) (for details see Map 8 and Trusch & Hausmann 2007) .

Additional material examined. 1 ♂, Iran, prov. Kohkiluyeh-va-Boyerahmad, 30 km S Yassuj, road Abshare- Tange-Tamoradj, 8 km before Abshar , N 30°31'53"; E 51°25'11", 2254 mNN, 24.v.2009, leg. Hossein Rajaei ; 13 ♀, Iran, prov. Lorestan, Noorabad-Nahawand road, 25 km to Nahawand, Gardane-Garrin , 2135 mNN, N 34°02'48"; E 48°20'31", leg. H. Rajaei, J.-U. Meineke & A. Hofmann ; 2 ♀, Iran, Esfahan, Yasuj E, Kuh e Dena, Nurabad N, 2450m, 8.vi.2005, leg. A. Hofmann & J.U. Meineke, barcodes: BC ZSM 33873 ; 1 ♂, 3 ♀, Iran, Lorestan, Kuh- e Garin, Gard [aneh]-ye Gema Siab O, 2200 m, 25.6.2009, A. Hofmann, J.-U. Meineke, H. Rayaj [Rajaei]; all in SMNK . 2 ♀, Iran, prov. Lorestan, Noorabad-Nahawand road, 25 km to Nahawand, Gardane-Garrin , 2135 mNN, N 34°02'48"; E 48°20'31", leg. H. Rajaei, J.-U. Meineke & A. Hofmann; in SMNS . 2 ♂, 1 ♀, Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari, Hiregan bei Kuhrang , N 32°21', E 50°27', 2300 m, 5.vi.2005, in PCJG .

Specimens studied total: 61 ♂, 47 ♀.

Differential diagnosis. ( Figs 31–34 ). Wingspan 26–29 mm (on average, females are slightly larger than males). Wings pale ochre with dark brown suffusion, with very low colour variation. Forewing with brown antemedial, medial and postmedial lines; hindwing with medial and postmedial lines concolorous to those of forewing. The presence of a medial line crossing over the discal spot is characteristic in this species and can be used as a good diagnostic character. Discal spot dark brownish, conspicuous on forewing, tiny on hindwing. Underside of wings concolorous to that of upperside, only postmedial lines visible on both fore- and hindwings. Male antennal flagellum ventrally dentated (medially keeled). Male hindtibia with four spurs. Based on wing pattern, this species can be diagnosed from other Iranian Rhodostrophia , however dissection of male genitalia is recommended for gaining a better reliability of identification.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 70 ) with long uncus, apically heart-shape, width of apex more than twice that of base; valva broad, apically slightly spinulose; costa broadly convex (diagnostic character for R. tabestana discriminating it from all other Iranian Rhodostrophia species) ( Fig. 3 ); sacculus slightly curved interiorly. Juxta wide, elongated dorso-ventrally. Aedeagus subapically curved; vesica membranous, without cornuti. Male sternite A8 bilobed, with small octavals.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 87 ) with a membranous, spherical corpus bursae. Signum developed as a characteristically paired triangular sclerite, medially less sclerotized, at the anterior part of corpus bursae ( Fig. 86b ). Ductus bursae with sclerotized posterior part connected to the funnel-shaped antrum. Posterior apophyses twice length of anterior apophyses.

Remarks. Trusch & Hausmann (2007) illustrated the female genitalia of Rhodostrophia vastaria (Christoph, 1877) , and tentatively regarded it as sister species of R. tabestana . Rhodostrophia vastaria is known only from Turkmenistan and south-western Kazakhstan ( Hausmann, 2004) and not yet recorded from Iran.

Genetic data. BIN: BOLD:AAD1541. Genetically heterogeneous, within the same BIN diverging into two clusters at a distance of 1.2% from each other. Nearest species: R. skulei (5.6%) ( Fig. 119 , Table 1).

Distribution ( Map 8 ). Up to now the species has been recorded only in south-western Iran and seems to be an endemic species of the Zagros Mountains.

Life history and habitat ( Fig. 115 ). Biology and larval stages are unknown. The species seems to be univoltine, recorded from early June to late July, flying at altitudes from 1900 m up to 2900 m.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Schematic comparison of the uncus of Iranian Rhodostrophia species.

MAP 8. Distribution of Rhodostrophia tabestana TRUSCH & HAUSMANN, 2007 in Iran

FIGURE 119. Neighbour joining tree (COI, 5’; Kimura 2) showing the relationships between different species and subspecies of Iranian Rhodostrophia, including non-Iranian nearest neighboring species R. calabra, R. cinerascens, R. jacularia, R. praecisaria, R. staudingeri and R. skulei added for comparison. Width of triangles refer to sample size, depth of triangles to genetic variation, distance from common nodes to the genetic distance to a hypothetical common ancestor (as inferred by the algorithm); scale bar = 1%.

FIGURES 23-43. Wing coloration and pattern of Rhodostrophia species. Figs 23-24: R. bahara (both from Iran, prov. Fars, 23. Shiraz, Lectotype; 24. Sine-Sefid, Paralectotype); Figs 25-28: R. iranica (all from Iran, 25-26. prov. Tehran, Shemshak; 27. prov. Qazvin, Gardaneh Alamut; 28. prov. Alborz, Gatchsar); Figs 29-30: R. tumulosa (both from Iran, prov. Kohgiluyeva Boyerahmad, Yasuj, Sisakht); Figs 31-34: R. tabestana (all from Iran, 31-32. prov. Fars, Mian Kotal, (31) Holotype; 32 (Paratype); 33-34. prov. Fars, Tange Surkh (both paratype)); Figs 35-37: R. lenis (35.-36. From Afghanistan, Khurd-Kabul, SE Kabul; 37. Iran, prov. Khorasan-e Razavi, Kuhe Surkh); Figs 38-40: R. nesam (38-39. prov. Fars, Tale-Khosrow, both paratypes; 40. prov. Kohgiluye-va Boyerahmad, Sisakht); Figs 41-43: R. nesam syn. fusca (41-42. prov. Sistan-o-Baluchistan, Takhte Malek, both Paratypes; prov. Kerman, Baft).

FIGURES 70-74. Male genitalia of Rhodostrophia species. Fig. 70. R. tabestana (Iran, prov. Esfahan, Feridun-Shahr, g.p. 583 R. Trusch); Fig. 71. R. lenis (Afghanistan, prov. Kabul, Khurd-Kabul, g.p. WW195 E.P. Wiltshire, Holotype); Fig. 72. R. nesam (Iran, prov. Fars, Kazeroun-Bouchir, Tchouroum, g.p. RMS 5765, G. Ebert, Lectotype); Fig. 73. R. abscisaria (Iran, prov. Khorassan-e Razavi, Binaloud Mt., g.p. 10941 H. Rajaei); Fig. 74. R. phaenicearia (Iran, prov. Semnan, Cheschme Ali, g.p. 601 R. Trusch). Abbreviations: a. genitalia capsule; b. aedeagus; c. sternite-8; d. cornti on vesical; e. details of the valva.

FIGURES 86-90. Female genitalia of Rhodostrophia species. Fig. 86. R. tumulosa (Iran, prov. Esfahan, Semirom vic., Pashme Kuh, 632 R. Trusch; 86b. digital drawing of corpus bursae for visualization of the signa); Fig. 87. R. tabestana (Iran, prov. Chaharmahal-o Bakhtiari, Zard Kuh, 622 R. Trusch; 87b. digital drawing of corpus bursae for visualization of the signa); Fig. 88. R. lenis (Iran, prov. Khorasan-e Razavi, Binaloud Mt., g.p. 2364 H. Rajaei); Fig. 89. R. nesam (89.1. Iran, prov. Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Yasudj, Sisakht, g.p. 687 R. Trusch; 89.2. & 89.3. same locality as latter, g.p. 2365 H. Rajaei); Fig. 90. R. abscisaria (90a. Iran, prov. Khorassan-e Razavi, Binaloud Mt., g.p. 10942 H. Rajaei, Paralectotype, 90b. digital drawing of corpus bursae for visualization of the signa; 90c. corpus bursae, from: Iran, prov. Esfahan, Kashan-Meymeh, Qorud g.p. 2375 H. Rajaei).

FIGURES 95-106. Live Rhodostrophia-imagines in nature at light trapping in Iran. Fig. 95 R. auctata, prov. Lorestan, Noorabad-Nahawand road, 25 km to Nahawand, Gardane-Garrin, 2135 mNN, N 34°02'48", E 48°20'31". Fig. 96. R. terrestraria terrestraria, Elburz mts., S Shah Kuh-e Pain, 2750 m, N 36°33'; E 054°26', 17.vii.2003. Fig. 97. R. terrestraria farsi ssp. nov., prov.Khorasan,Kuh-e Sorkh,N Rivas vic.Akbarabad,2000–2100m, 12.vi.2000.Fig.98. R.tumulosa, prov.Fars,Shiraz-Kazerun road, 5 km before Dasht-e Arjan, N 29°40'34"; E 52°02'18", 2158 m, 23.v.2009. Fig. 99. R. tabestana, prov. Isfahan, rocky steppe near Kelichad, N32.352459°, E51.043501°, 2.135-2.235 m, 29.iv.2018. Fig. 100-101. R. nesam, prov. Esfahan, Natanz- Kashan road, Abiyaneh village, 2300 mNN, N 33°35'55", E 051°35'51", 26.v.2009. Fig. 102. R. abscisaria, prov. Khorasan-e Shomali, N Qochan, Emam Gholi to Kabkan road, After Agh-Mazar, Allah-o Akbar Mt., 1763 m, N37°19'27.2'', E058°43'26.1'', 18.vi.2013. Fig. 103. R. phaenicearia, prov. Kerman, 5 km to Dehbakri from Bamm, near Kuh-e Shir, N29°4'1", E57°28'03", 2158 m, 18.–19.v.2009. Fig. 104. R. cuprinaria, prov. Khorasan-e Shomali, N Qochan, Emam Gholi to Kabkan road, After Agh-Mazar, Allah-o Akbar Mt., 1763 m, N37°19'27.2'', E058°43'26.1'', 18.vi.2013. Fig. 105. R. cuprinaria, prov. Khorasan-e Shomali, 50 km north of Bojnurd, Izmansufla, N 37°44'20'', E 057°25'53'', 1240 m, 17.v.2005. Fig. 106. R. peripheres, prov. Chahar Mahal, Zagros mts., Samsami, 2800 m, N 32°09', E 050°11', 13.vii.2003. (Photos 95, 97-98, 100-104 H. Rajaei, 96 G. Ebert, 99 E. Weigand, 105-106 R. Trusch).

FIGURES 111-118. Habitats of Rhodostrophia-species in Iran. Fig. 111. Shah-Kuh-mountain range in the eastern Alborz, view from the habitat of the nominotypical subspecies of R. terrestraria at an altitude of approx. 2,900 m to the west (prov. Golestan, above Shah-Kuh-e Pa’in, also known as Shahkuh-e Sofla, 18.vii.2003), where the moth likes to hide in bushes of Astragalus spp. (Fabaceae); note the impressive cushion plants of Acantholimon spp. (Plumbaginaceae). The region is also known as the type locality of the two high-mountain burnet moths Zygaena cacuminum Christoph, 1877 and Z. ecki Christoph, 1882 (Zygaenidae). Fig. 112. Stipa-steppe habitat of R. terrestraria at Shah-Kuh-e Bala, where the species on 19.7.2003 was attracted to artificial light at night together with Zygaena turkmenica Reiss, 1933 (det. A. Hofmann). Fig. 113. Artemisia-steppe at an altitude of 2450 m near Qorud (prov. Esfahan, vic. Kashan-Meymeh), where R. bahara occurred on the 11.v.2005 in high abundance together with the rarely found Dyscia negrama Wehrli, 1953 (Geometridae); in the centre of the photo (from left to right): Georg Petschenka, Bernd Müller and Hossein Rajaei. Fig. 114. In the vicinity of mount Tochal at the altitude of 3,700 m the moths of R. iranica could be observed resting on rocks and flying off from them in case of disturbance (prov. Tehran, 18.7.2006). This area is inhabited by Zygaena cacuminum Christoph, 1877 (Zygaenidae) too. Fig. 115. The Kamaran valley (prov. Esfahan, Fereydun Shahr S., Kamaran vic., 2650 m) is inhabited by R. tabestana and R. terrestraria; other remarkable species observed during 11.-12.vii.2003 were Zygaena haematina Kollar, 1849 and Z. nocturna Ebert, 1974 (Zygaenidae). Fig. 116. The habitat of R. terrestraria pellonaria, R. abscisaria and R. lenis at an altitude of 1240 m south of Izman-e Pa'in (also known as Izman-e Sofla, north of Bojnurd, prov. Khorasan, 19.v.2005) is characterized by mugwort steppe (Artemisia spp., Asteraceae) and the occurrence of further typical geometrid-moth-steppe species such as Dyscia malatyana Wehrli, 1934 and the nominate subspecies of D. innocentaria (Christoph, 1885). Fig. 117. Habitat of the two species R. cuprinaria and R. phaenicearia at an altitude of 1560 m in the vicinity of Astane (Cheshme Ali, prov. Semnan, northwest of Damghan,) is an Artemisia-steppe too. The two species used to be confused in the literature, here both occurring syntopic, observed by us 23.-24.v.2005. Fig. 118. Strongly overgrazed desertic mountain steppe landscape at an altitude of 3200 m at Gardaneh-ye Cheri (prov. Çaharmahal-va- Bakhtiyari, Zardkuh-region, vicinity of Samsami) is the habitat of R. peripheries (observed here 13.vii.2003) and numerous burnets as Zygaena cambysea Lederer, 1870, Z. fredi Reiss, 1938, Z. seitzi Reiss, 1938, Z. naumanni Hille & Keil, 1999 and the unilocal endemic Z. bakhtiyari Hofmann & Tremewan, 2005 (Hofmann & Tremewan 2020).—Photos 111-114, 116-118: R. Trusch, photo 115: G. Ebert.