Lithostege palaestinensis, Amsel

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 : 21-22

L. palaestinensis Amsel

( Figs. 27 , 53, 72; Map 6)

Lithostege palaestinensis Amsel, 1935: 276 , pl. 14, fig. 9. Syntypes not traced, not in SMNK as stated in Parsons et al. (1999). Type locality: Kiriath Anavin ( Palestine); Tabgha; Kasr el Jehud near Jericho; Jericho.

Lithostege palaestinensis: Prout, 1937: 84 , 239, pl. 8f; Parsons et al., 1999: 547; Hausmann & Seguna, 2005: 11.

Material examined. 23 3, 20 Ƥ: 2 Ƥ: SW Iran, Bushire [Bushehr prov.], 5.2.1950, E. P. Wiltshire, Samml. Reisser, Ka. 2, preps 777/2009 and 778/2009 H. R.; 1 3, 1 Ƥ: [Tehran prov.] Varamin, [Ƥ] 29.IV.1949, [3] 30.IV.1949, Eyff. preps Ƥ 781/2009, 3 782/2009 H. R.; 1 3, 1 Ƥ: Gohreh [or Ghotb-Abad, Hormozgan prov.], [3] 12.3.1972, [Ƥ] 13.3.1972 [leg.] Mirz [ayans], Broom [mand], gen. prep. 3 780/2009 H. R.; 1 Ƥ: [Khuzestan prov.] Ahvaz, 70 km, 8.3.1972, Iran.-Term., gen. prep. 779/2009 H. R.; 1 3, 3 Ƥ: N-Iran, Elburs-Mts. Masandaran, Polur, Damavand, 2500 m, Ebert & Falkner leg., 7.- 10.7.1972; 2 3, 1 Ƥ: S-Iran, Tange-Tchogan, 930 m, 30 km n. Kazerun, 23.3. [19]73, leg. H. G. Amsel; 1 Ƥ: S-Iran, Bandar-Abbas, Kuhe Genou, S-exp. 550 m, 1. u. 5.3.1973, G. Ebert leg.; 4 3: Iran, Zanjan, E Talish, NE Abhar, 500 m, 8.V.2007, leg. W. ten. Hagen, gen. prep. 1082/2010 H. R.; all in SMNK. 3 3, 3 Ƥ: Jran [ Iran], mer. Occ. Kasrun, Kunar Takteh, 240 m, Ende III. [19]38, preps 3 1034/2010 and 1051/2010 H. R.; 1 3, Alep [Aleppo], Syrie, 1909, gen. prep. 1619/2011 H. R.; 1 Ƥ, Syrie, Akbes, 1896, prep: 1620/2011 H. R.; 1 3, Türkei /Prov. Urfa, Img. Urfa, 9.4.1991, gen. prep. 1621/2011 H. R.; all in ZFMK. 1 Ƥ: Iran, Fars, Straße Kazeroun-Bouchir, Tchouroum, ca. 1000 m, 25.März.1937, coll. Brandt, gen. prep. 1014/2010 H. R.; 1 Ƥ: Türkei, Prov. Kars, 40°10' N, 42°40' E, Arag-Tal, 1500 m, 7 km SÖ Karakurt, 4. VI.1986, TF, leg. H. Falkenhahn, ex coll. EMEM, ZSM Genital prp. No. 8111; 1 Ƥ: SO-Türkei, 2 km N-Halfeti, 600 m, 12.IV.1993, leg. Geck; all in ZSM. 2 3: S-Iran, 42 km WnW Djahrom, 1300 m, Astragalus-Steppe, 26.3.1973, [leg.] M. Abai; 1 3: [ Iran, Fras prov.] Borazdjan, 3.3.[19]70, [Leg.] Paz [uoki]; 1 3: [ Iran, Fras prov.] Kazerun, Konar-Takhteh, 4.3.1970, [leg.] Paz [ouki]; 1 Ƥ: [ Iran], Fars, Kazeroun, Konar-Takhteh, 9.3. 1975, 450 m., [leg.] Pazouki, Broumand; 2 3: [ Iran, Ilam prov.] Mehran, 19.3.1970, [leg.] Abai, Hasch [emi]; 1 3, 1 Ƥ: [ Iran, Tehran prov.] Varamin, 29.- 30.4.1949, [leg.] Egh.; 1 3: [ Iran] Khouzestan, 32 km Behbahan, Guenaveh, 6.3.1975, [leg.] Pazouki, Broumand; 1 3, 1 Ƥ: [ Iran, Bushehr prov.], Bouschehr, Schabankareh, 7.3. 1975, 10 m, [leg.] Pazouki, Broumand; all in HMIM. Preparations of genitalia: 6 3, 7 Ƥ.

Description & Diagnosis. Wingspan 28–32 mm, greyish-white, without any wing pattern, except fine dusting with dark grey scales. Very similar to L. farinata , but in palaestinensis also the hindwings are dusted with darker scales ( Fig. 27 ). Male genitalia (Fig. 53) with valve very broad at base, sclerotized costa short, without a free distal process. Harpe rather long, reaching the middle of valve, with rounded apex and almost straight dorsal margin; the dorsal arm rather strong near spined apex, not reaching the tip of the valve; Juxta similar to that of griseata , but distal part a little longer and more strongly bilobed; aedeagus slightly curved, length 2 mm, longer than aedeagus of griseata . Uncus and saccus also longer. Female genitalia ( Fig. 72 ) with apophyses anteriores long (more than half the length of a. posteriores) Sterigma developed as large, lateral plates; ductus bursae membranous; corpus bursae globular to slightly oval, completely spined internally; a membranous anterior diverticulum present.

Bionomics. Host plant: Cruciferae ( Brassicaceae ) ( Wiltshire, 1944). Additional host plant records: Berberis incana , Sisymbrium officinale , Sinapis arvenis , Isatis tinctoria ( Leraut, 2009) . Specimens studied are collected from March to July and at 240–2500 m elevation in different localities.

Additional data on distribution based on literature sources. Brandt (1939) and Prout (1937 – 1939): Tchouroum ( Fars prov., Kazerun-Bushehr road); Wiltshire (1944): Coasts of S Iran; Wiltshire (1942): Palestina, Iraq (Kerbela Desert, Nejef); Wiltshire (1990): N Saudi Arabia; Hausmann (1991): Jordan; Hausmann (1997): Israel.

Distribution. Southern and eastern Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Palestina, N Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Also North and West Iran to the southern foothills of Zagros (SW Iran) (Map 6).

Figures

FIGURES 27 – 31. Adult moths of Lithostege Hübner (left column, a: upperside, right column, b: underside). 27. L. palaestinensis (Ƥ, Ahvaz, SW Iran); 28. L. luminosata (3, Kyzyl-Arvat, Turkmenia); 29. L. luigi (Ƥ, Badkhyz, Turkmenistan); 30. L. infuscata (Ƥ, Karaj, Iran); 31. L. flavicornata (3, Ak-Chehir, Turkey). Scale bar: 10 mm.

FIGURES 72 – 76. Lithostege Hübner: Female genitalia & details of abdominal integument. 72. L. palaestinensis (gen. prep. 781 H. R.; Varamin, N Iran), a: genital organ, b: 7 th tergite; 73. L. luminosata (gen. prep. J. V.; Parhai, Turkmenistan); 74. L. luigi (gen. prep. 3688 J. V; Badkhyz, Turkmenistan); 75. L. infuscata (gen. prep. 1036 H. R.; Erivan, Armenia); 76. L. flavicornata (gen. prep. 1031 H. R.; Ak-Chehir. Turkey). Scale bar: 1 mm.