Eupithecia truschi Ratzel & Mironov

Mironov, Vladimir & Ratzel, Ulrich, 2012, New species of the genus Eupithecia Curtis (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Larentiinae) from Iran, Zootaxa 3580, pp. 56-68 : 58-60

Eupithecia truschi Ratzel & Mironov , sp. n.

( Figs. 3, 4 )

Material Examined. Holotype: Ƥ, Iran, Prov. Esfahan, NE of Naraq, Kuh-e Goran, 2500 mNN, N 34˚05’; E 050˚54’, 0 6.07.2003 (lux), G. Ebert & R. Trusch leg., Iran-Exped. SMNK 2003 E-Lep. 213, Ratzel slide no. GU11109/3w ( SMNK). Paratypes: 1 3, 1 Ƥ, same data as holotype, Ratzel slides nos. GU11109/ 4m, GU11109/1w ( SMNK); 1 Ƥ, Iran, Prov. Esfahan, N of Tarq, Kuh-e Karkas, 2600 mNN, N 33˚24’, E 051˚48’, 0 7.07.2003 (lux), G. Ebert & R. Trusch leg., Iran-Exped. SMNK 2003 E-Lep. 213, Ratzel slide no. GU11109/2w ( SMNK); 1 Ƥ, Iran, Markazi, Naragh vic. (Delijan), 2500 m, 19.6.2002, J.-U. Meineke, A. Hofmann, A. Kallies et al., Ratzel slide no. GU31308/5w ( SMNK); 1 3, Iran, Markazi, Delijan, 10 km E Kuh-e Goran [Kuh-e Belejah], 2600–2800 m, 6.7.2003, A. Hofmann, J.-U. Meineke, G. Tremewan, Ratzel slide no. GU14408/ 1m ( SMNK).

Diagnosis. E. truschi is unlikely to be confused with any other Palaearctic or Asian Eupithecia species except E. laterata Dietze, 1904 . The new species is brighter on the whole than E. laterata , on all wings transverse lines darker and broader, discal dots larger and broader, outer part of terminal areas lighter, ochreous or ochreous orange, and antemedial line touching discal dot on the fore wing in contrast to E. laterata . All characteristics of the male genitalia are very similar to those of E. laterata , such as: the shape of uncus, valve, vinculum and papillae on the anterior arms of the labides, and also cornuti on vesica of aedeagus. The eighth sternite is apically blunt, rounded, and it is without two short pincers-like apical rods as in E. laterata . The female genitalia of E. truschi distinguish from those of E. laterata by the larger and broader bursa copulatrix with larger spiniferous area and more dense spines, as well as by the longer anterior and posterior apophyses.

Description. Wingspan 15.5–19.0 mm; fore wing 9.0–10.0 mm. Labial palpi short, obtuse, shorter than diameter of eye, covered with pale ochreous scales. Frons pale ochreous, with a broad transverse band of brown scales in the front between eyes. Vertex and notum unicolorous pale ochreous. Fore wing triangulate with costal margin slightly arched near base, evenly curved terminal margin and narrowly rounded apex; ground colour bright ochreous orange; transverse lines usually broad, dark blackish brown; basal line narrow, evenly curved; postbasal line broad, broadened from anal to costal margin; double transverse fascias between basal and medial, medial and terminal areas broad; antemedial line much wavy, right angled and broadened onto costa, touching discal dot; postmedial line wavy, narrow, obtuse curved onto costa and formed a dark, blackish brown costal spot; terminal area blackish brown, divided transversally by much indented, ochreous orange subterminal line; terminal line narrow, dark blackish brown, interrupted by vein ends; discal dot large, black, oblique, relatively broad and elongate. Hind wing slightly ovoid, paler coloured, whitish in the costal part and darker, bright ochreous orange in anal and terminal parts; transverse lines distinct, blackish brown; terminal area divided by ochreous orange indented subterminal line; discal dot large and distinct as on the fore wing but not oblique. Fringe on all wings pale ochreous orange, spotted with blackish brown or brown at vein ends. Male genitalia (fig. 10). Uncus narrow, biapical, when viewed laterally. Valve with almost straight dorsal margin, parallel ventral margin from base to the middle and sharply tapered from middle to very narrowly rounded apex; ventral margin rather obtuse angled at the middle; sacculus thickened and lightly sclerotized. Vinculum short and narrow, tapered to apex. Papillae on the anterior arms of the labides medium-size, slightly curved. Aedeagus short, broad, shorter than valve length. Vesica covered with numerous denticules and armed with two small, unisized, apical dentate cornuti and one elongated, narrow, folded, V-shaped cornutus with one pointed and other broadened ends near ductus ejaculatorius base. Sternite A8 small, peg-like, with obtuse, narrowly rounded apex and very shallow basal hollow. Female genitalia ( Fig. 14 ). Bursa copulatrix ovate, slightly tapered to backward, about 2/3 covered with spines in the basal part; marginal spines longer and more sclerotized than other; area between base of ductus seminalis and colliculum heavily sclerotized, with some oblique rows of spines. Ductus bursae very short, sclerotized. Ductus seminalis broadened in basal part, sharply curved backward, attached medium part of corpus bursae. Colliculum collar-like, relatively short, narrow, slightly inclined to one side. Antrum broad, lightly sclerotized. Tergite A8 rectangular, short and broad. Anterior and posterior apophyses short, narrow. Papillae anales broad, rounded, covered with short setae.

Distribution. Central Iran (provinces Markazi and Esfahan).

Habitat ( Figs. 18–21 ). The location at Kuh-e Goran ( Figs 18, 19 ) is a dry stony area (brash) with spherical cushions, similar to Kuh-e Karkas (see below), at which occur globe thistle ( Echinops ) and a spiny umbel flower ( Eryngium ). The Kuh-e Karkas (= Karkas mountain) is part of the Kuhrud mountains in Central Iran. It is mainly composed of plutonic and volcanic igneous rocks, pyroclastic materials and slightly sedimentary rocks; Kuh-e Karkas (3896 m) is the highest mountain there. The location of UV-lights for collecting was on the edge of a stony area near a dried streambed with abundant blooming Perovskia abrotanoides (Lamiaceae) . There were spherical cushions of Astragalus , Acantholimon and Phlomis (figs 20, 21). The arctiid Axiopoena maura /karelini was also observed at light.

Etymology. This species is dedicated to the geometrid specialist Robert Trusch (SMNK, Karlsruhe).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 9. Adults of Eupithecia species (enlarged; scale bar = 10 mm). 1, 2 — E. brandti sp. n. (holotype female and paratype female); 3, 4 — E. truschi sp. n. (holotype female and paratype female); 5, 6 — E. zagrosata sp. n. (holotype female and paratype male); 7 — E. basurmanca sp. n. (holotype female); 8, 9 — E. persidis sp. n. (holotype male and paratype female).

FIGURES 13 – 17. Female genitalia (scale bar = 1 mm). 13 — E. brandti sp. n. (holotype); 14 — E. truschi sp. n. (holotype); 15 — E. zagrosata sp. n. (paratype); 16 — E. persidis sp. n. (paratype); 17 — E. basurmanca sp. n. (holotype).

FIGURES 18 – 23. Habitats of Eupithecia in Iran. 18 – 19 — Kuh-e Goran, Habitat of Eupithecia truschi sp. n.; 20 – 21 — Kuh-e Karkas, Habitat of Eupithecia truschi sp. n.; 22 – 23 — Shahkuh-e Bala, Habitat of Eupithecia persidis sp. n. By courtesy of Dr. R. Trusch (photos 18, 20, 22, 23) and Dr. J. - U. Meineke (photos 19, 21).