Scopula immutata (Linnaeus, 1758)

Wanke, Dominic, Hausmann, Axel, Lee, Kyung Min, Murillo-Ramos, Leidys, Sihvonen, Pasi & Rajaei, Hossein, 2023, Systematics and integrative taxonomic revision of the tribe Scopulini Duponchel, 1845 in Iran (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Sterrhinae), Zootaxa 5359 (1), pp. 1-96 : 33-34

Scopula immutata (Linnaeus, 1758)

( Plate 8, Figs 1–2; Plate 17 , Fig. 4; Plate 25 , Fig. 4)

Phalaena Geometra immutata Linnaeus, 1758 : Caroli Linnaei...Systema naturae per regna tria naturae: secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis (Ed. 10) 1: 528 (Europe). Syntypes (Europe) (LSL).

Synonymies (for more details on nomenclature see Scoble 1999 and Hausmann 2004): Phalaena Geometra pallidata : sensu Borkhausen, 1794 (according to Hausmann (2004: 316): misidentification); Arrhostia immutaria Hübner, 1825 (according to Hausmann (2004: 317): incorrect subsequent spelling and partly misidentification); Acidalia caespitaria Boisduval, 1840 ; Acidalia myrtillata Dadd, 1911 ( Germany: Berlin, Spandau Forest).

For the list of unavailable names, see Hausmann (2004).

Material examined: 2 ♁/ ♀ (see appendix).

Diagnosis. Wingspan ♁ ♀ 22–25 mm (Hausmann 2004). Due to its unique wing pattern, Scopula immutata cannot be confused externally with any other Scopula species in Iran. Ground colour ( Plate 8, Figs 1–2) white to pale yellow.

In the male genitalia ( Plate 17 , Fig. 4) 8th sternite basally convex, cerata curved variable in size, often right ceras shortened.

In the female genitalia ( Plate 25 , Fig. 4) antrum with small circular sclerite. Lamella antevaginalis weakly sclerotized. Signum long and narrow.

Phenology. Uni- or bivoltine species depending on the region (Hausmann 2004).

Biology. Larva polyphagous on a wide range of plant species of different families (e.g., Primulaceae , Asteraceae , Lamiaceae , Rosaceae ) (see Hausmann 2004; Beljaev 2016; Makhov 2023).

Habitat. Generally, at altitudes from 0 m to 700 m, occasionally to 900 m in southern Europe and rarely to 1850 m (Hausmann 2004).

Distribution. Widely distributed in Europe, from France to the Urals, and in the Caucasus, Kazakhstan, Siberia and Mongolia to Far East of Asia ( Viidalepp 1996; Hausmann 2004; Makhov 2023). Reported for Siaret [Ziarat] in the Iranian province Golestan by Bienert (1869), but its occurrence in Iran has not been confirmed by Hausmann (2004). Here we also cannot confirm the occurrence of this species in Iran.

Remarks. Bienert (1869) reported this species as an element for the Iranian fauna. Though during our investigation no specimens from Iran could be traced. It can be assumed that this species does not occur in Iran.

DNA-barcoding. Nearest species: S. hackeri Hausmann, 1999 with 6.1 % (see Supplementary Table S1).

Figures

PLATE 17: Figures 1–4. Male genitalia of Scopula species. 1: S. incanata ([Iran], Tacht i Suleiman, g. prep. 1275/2022 D. Wanke); 2: S. marginepunctata terrigena (Iran, Mazandaran, Gonbad Qabus, g. prep. 0903/2020 D. Wanke); 3: S. luridata (Syria, Marasch, g. prep. 1295/2022 D. Wanke); 4: S. immutata ([Hungary], Bükk̂sd, 1246/2021 D. Wanke). a = genitalia capsule; b = aedeagus; c = 8th sternite. Scale-bar 1 mm.

PLATE 25: Figures 1–5. Female genitalia of Scopula species. 1: S. incanata ([Iran], Tacht i Suleiman, g. prep. 1277/2022 D. Wanke); 2: S. marginepunctata terrigena (N-Iran, Amarlu, Rudbar, g. prep. 0875/2020 D. Wanke); 3: S. luridata ([Israel], Jaffa, g. prep. 1240/2021 D. Wanke); 4: S. immutata ([Hungary], Bükk̂sd, 1247/2021 D. Wanke); 5: S. flaccidaria (N-Iran, Bandar Pahlavi, g. prep. 1054/2021 D. Wanke); 6: S. iranaria syn. nov. of S. flaccidaria (Iran, Kerdej, g. prep. 11061). Scale-bar 1 mm.