Lithostege farinata, Hufnagel

Sh, Hossein Rajaei, Stüning, Dieter & Viidalepp, Jaan, 2011, A review of the species of Lithostege Hübner, [1825] 1816 (Lepidoptera: Geometridae, Larentiinae), occurring in Iran and adjacent countries, with description of two new species from Iran and Pakistan, Zootaxa 3105, pp. 1-46 : 18

L. farinata (Hufnagel)

( Figs. 21 , 47 )

Phalaena farinata Hufnagel, 1767: 610 . Types not traced. Type locality: Berlin.

Geometra illibata [ Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775: 116. Types not traced. Type locality: Vienna.

Geometra nivearia Hübner , [1799]: pl. 41, fig. 217. Types not traced. Type locality: Europe.

Phalaena albaria Turton, 1802: 241 . Types not traced. Type locality: Austria.

Lithostege farinata bachmutensis Prout, 1938: 239 , pl. 18, g. Syntypes in BMNH (not examined). Type locality: Bakhmut ( Ukraine).

Lithostege farinata: Prout, 1914: 172 , pl. 6d; Prout, 1937: 83; 1938: 238; Viidalepp, 1996: 47; Parsons et al., 1999: 546.

Material examined. More than 500 specimens from different European countries in SMNK, ZSM, ZFMK. Here we mention just data of specimens with genitalia preparation: 1 3: Falknerstein, Austria inf. 2.V.1951, coll. H. Reisser, Wien, prep: 776/2009 H. R.; in SMNK. 1 3: Hainburg, N. Österr[eich], 24.5.1963, leg. Dr. Sielmann, prep: 1054/2010 H. R.; 1 3: Süd-Frankreich, Provence Le Castellet, 19.5. 1974, 600m, leg. P. Kuhna, prep: 1609/ 2011 H. R.; 1 3: Austria, Burgenland, Neusiedl, 12.7.65, P. Kuhna, prep: 1610/2011 H. R.; all in ZFMK. Preparations of genitalia: 4 3. Determination verified, based on comparison with identified specimen, and the identification key of Amsel (1935).

Description & Diagnosis. Wingspan 27–30 mm. Forewing milk-white to creamy-white, hindwing of a lighter white, fringes white. Pattern elements absent, except some weak dusting with grey scales on forewings. Underside darker, forewing of a brownish-grey, hindwings of a milky white, with a dark discal spot ( Fig. 21 ). Male genitalia ( Fig. 47 ) characterized by an elongated valve, the strongly sclerotized costa reach only half the length of the valve, terminating with a short, pointed, apical projection; harpe a broad, lobe-like process near the centre of the valve, pointed distally, with a narrow basal arm; dorsal arm narrow, elongated, terminally with a few spines, running parallel to valve costa, hardly reaching its tip; uncus shorter than in L. coassata , L. ancyrana , L. griseata and L. palaestinensis ; juxta vase-shaped and elongated (longer than other species of the farinata group); saccus broad, elongated, trucate distally, aedeagus extremely long and narrow (both much longer than all other members of the group, Figs 47 –53).

Bionomics. Hostplants: Sisymbrium officinale , Sinapis arvensis , Alliaria petiolata , Raphanus raphanistrum . The species flies from the beginning of May to July ( Heinicke & Müller, 1976).

Distribution. Reported from many European countries including European Russia; also from Caucasus, Transcaucasus and Turkey ( FAUNA EUROPAEA, 2011; Viidalepp 1996). Not recorded from Iran.

Figures

FIGURES 16 – 21. Adult moths of Lithostege Hübner (left column, a: upperside, right column, b: underside). 16. L. notata (3, Sarkhoun, SW Iran); 17. L. fissurata fissurata (Ƥ, Roche de Sel, Algier); 18. L. fissurata inanis (Ƥ, Baluchistan, E Iran); 19. L. parva (3, Kopet-Dagh, Turkmenistan); 20. L. turkmenica (3, Karakum desert, Uzbekistan); 21. L. farinata (Ƥ, Sarepta, Russia). Scale bar: 10 mm.

FIGURES 45 – 47. Lithostege Hübner: Male genitalia & details of abdominal integument. 45. L. fissurata fissurata (gen. prep. 1608 H. R.; El Mesrane, Algeria), a: genital capsule, b: aedeagus, lateral view, c: 8 th tergite (left margin curved); 46. L. parva (gen. prep. 1021 H. R.; Kopet-Dagh, Turkmenistan), a: genital capsule, b: aedeagus, lateral view; 47. L. farinata (gen. prep. 1054 H. R.; Hamburg, Germany), a: genital capsule, b: aedeagus, lateral view, c: 8 th tergite. Scale bar: 1 mm.