Elegia iozona (Meyrick, 1937)

Alipanah, Helen & Slamka, František, 2021, On the genus Elegia Ragonot, 1887 (Pyralidae: Phycitinae: Phycitini) from Iran with description of Elegia kharazii sp. nov., Zootaxa 4999 (3), pp. 285-297 : 287-291

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4999.3.8
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:A3957BE1-6B9C-4F32-A48E-A8AC1339A1EC
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03F3A175-FFA6-995C-EAED-BD0EBF5DFBE1
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Elegia iozona (Meyrick, 1937)
status

Treatment

Elegia iozona (Meyrick, 1937) View in CoL

Material examined. 10 ♂♂, 11 ♀♀: Châhârmahâl and Bakhtiâri Prov.: • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, Lordegân, N 31˚32´33˝, E 50˚57´16.92˝, 2352 m, 15.viii.2010, Âlipanâh, Nematiân leg.; Fârs Prov.: • 1 ♀, Kâzerun , 5.vii.1970, Safavi, Hâshemi leg. ; • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Kâzerun , Nowdân, 1250 m, 15.iv.1975, Borumand leg. (gen. prep. HA-2576, HMIM) ; • 2 ♀♀, Kâzerun , Gâw Koshak, 1170 m, 16.iv.1975, Borumand leg. (gen. prep. HA-2593, HMIM) ; • 1 ♂, Tang-e Chogân , 30 km N. Kâzerun, 930 m, 23.iii.1973, Abâi leg. (gen. prep. HA-2629, HMIM) ; Kermânshâh Prov.: • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Mâhidasht , Châhârzebar-e Olyâ, 1500 m, 21.viii.1996, Parchami-Arâghi, Barâri, V. Nazari leg. (gen. prep. HA-2630, HMIM) ; Kohgiluyeh and Boyerahmad Prov.: • 1 ♂, Yâsuj , Tang-e Meymand, 1650 m, 9.ix.1971, Ebrâhimi, Badii leg. ; • 1 ♂, Yâsuj , Tang-e Sorkh, 12–13.vi.1986, Mirzâyâns, Hâshemi leg. ; Kordestân Prov.: • 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Marivân , Shahid Chamrân Campus (Oak forest), N 35˚29´52.6˝, E 46˚10´12.06˝, 1392 m, 11.ix.2011, Âlipanâh, Falsafi leg. ; Lorestân Prov.: • 1 ♀, Tang-e Malâvi, 720 m, 24.iv.1976, Pâzuki, Abâi leg. ; • 1 ♂, Mamasani , Châhchenâr, 3–19.v.1975, Abâi leg. ; • 1 ♀, 24 km Khorram Âbâd , 26.vii.1973, Mirzâyâns, Zairi leg. ; • 1 ♀, Khorram Âbâd , Badr Âbâd, 1200 m, 13.v.1994, Sarafrâzi, Hâshemi leg. (gen. prep. HA-2598, HMIM).

Diagnosis. We examined two males and two females of an Elegia species collected in Fars Province. The female genitalia were exactly the same as in E. iozona illustrated by Slamka (2019: 273). The male genitalia were also very similar to E. saecula , recently described by Kemal, Kýzýldað & Koçak (2020). Additional specimens of this species were found in HMIM collected in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Kermanshah, Kohgiluyeh and Boyerahmad, Kordestan and Lorestan Provinces, indicating the local distribution of this species in W and SW Iran. By examining the photograph of male genitalia of holotype of E. iozona ( Fig. 3I View FIGURE 3 ) and comparing genitalia structures with our examined Iranian males, it was concluded, that male genitalia of E. saecula and E. iozona are similar to each other in many aspects. In both taxa the shape of the valva, small clasper, vinculum, tegumen and labides are almost the same and the uncus in both species is triangular, short, and expanded basally. However, there are differences as follows:

1) Kemal et al. (2020), stated that in E. saecula the sclerotized plate at distal end of aedeagus is dentate and bilaterally serrate ( Fig. 4B View FIGURE 4 ). The shape of this structure is not obvious in the genitalia slide of E. iozona holotype ( Fig. 3I View FIGURE 3 ), but in the Iranian males examined the sclerotized plate has scattered spines throughout the surface ( Fig. 3C View FIGURE 3 ), and under the cover glass it may seem to be dentate at one side ( Fig. 3B View FIGURE 3 ). Therefore, the serrate sides of sclerotized dentate plate at distal end of aedeagus may simply be an artefact of the amount of compression applied to the glass cover slide.

2) According to Kemal et al. (op. cit.), in E. saecula spines at the surface of labides are regularly arranged inward at base and are irregular terminally ( Fig. 4 View FIGURE 4 C-b); however, owing to the poor quality of the genitalia slide of the E. iozona holotype, the position of spines at the surface of labides is unclear ( Fig. 3 View FIGURE 3 I-a). In the Iranian E. iozona males examined, the shape of the labides and its spines ( Figs. 3A, F, G View FIGURE 3 ) were identical to those of E. saecula .

3) In E. saecula the gnathos is ovoid, spoon-shaped distally, with an angular tip ( Fig. 4 View FIGURE 4 C-a) (cf. Kemal et al. 2020: 3, 7). In E. iozona , the holotype gnathos is oval with rounded apex ( Fig. 3 View FIGURE 3 I-b); in the Iranian E. iozona males examined it is oval under the cover slide ( Fig. 3E View FIGURE 3 ), but its real shape is oval and nearly spoon-shaped apically with angular tip ( Fig. 3F View FIGURE 3 ) — more obvious in lateral view ( Fig. 3D View FIGURE 3 ).

4) Kemal et al. (op. cit.) stated that in E. saecula , the tapering median process of the culcita is well developed, and its distinct terminal head has a central tooth. In the male genitalia slide of E. iozona holotype, the median process of culcita is turned right and hence its actual shape is not obvious. In the examined males of E. iozona collected in Iran, there is no tooth here.

Elegia saecula was described based on 19 males and females collected in the South-East Turkey (Mardin Prov.). Despite the presence of females among the specimens, there is no description or illustration of the female in Kemal et al. (2020). The authors asked for the paratype of female of E. saecula , but the material or figures were not sent by the manuscript deadline .

In summary, the only significant difference between the males of E. iozona and E. saecula is the presence of a central tooth at the apex of the median process of the culcita, which is missing in E. iozona . The latter difference may be due to an intraspecific variation. Therefore, here we consider E. saecula Kemal, Kýzýldað & Koçak, 2020 as a junior synonym of E. iozona (Meyrick, 1937) .

Redescription. Male and female are externally similar. Forewing ( Figs. 2A, B View FIGURE 2 ) relatively elongate, with outwardly arched costa and obliquely rounded termen. Length of the forewing 7.0– 9.6 mm (x = 8.21 mm ± 0.69 mm, n = 21); upperside greyish-brown, with a blackish ante-median band slightly widened medially (nearly Oshaped as stated in Slamka (2019)), lined from both sides by off-white lines surrounded by darker scales outwardly, a nearly zigzag grayish-white post-median line surrounded on both sides by dark scales which are slightly darker and more prominent near costal margin, and a pair of dark discal spots. Fringes chequered with brown and cream scales; underside slightly paler than the upperside, with traces of ante-median, and post-median lines, and some specimens with almost pinkish-gray costal margin ( Fig. 2B View FIGURE 2 ). Hindwing pale grayish-brown at margins and paler towards the base. Fringes dirty-cream, with rows of darker short scales basally; underside nearly same as the upperside.

Male genitalia ( Figs. 3A–G View FIGURE 3 ) with short, triangular uncus, broadened basally; tegumen large, broadened medially, its length longer than the length of uncus; gnathos ovoid, terminally spoon-shaped, with nearly angular tip ( Figs. 3F, D View FIGURE 3 ) but almost rounded under cover slide ( Figs. 3A, E View FIGURE 3 ); labides short oval terminally, with basal spines inwarded regularly and irregularly arranged distal spines ( Figs. 3A, D View FIGURE 3 (lateral view), F, G); valva elongate, nearly parallel sided, slightly narrowing near the apex, with a more sclerotized costal margin, and a small apical projection at the end of costa, ventral clasper nearly finger-shaped; juxta trapezoidal, with a small median notch at posterior edge; aedeagus slightly broadened near the distal end, but narrowing distally, with a dentate sclerotized plate at distal end ( Figs. 3B, C View FIGURE 3 ), sometimes appearing as a unilaterally dentate plate under cover-slide ( Fig. 3B View FIGURE 3 ).

Culcita with median process tapering distally and forming a terminal head, four wavy elements on each side, anterior edge with a pointed sclerotized projection medially ( Fig. 3H View FIGURE 3 ).

Female genitalia ( Figs. 2C, D View FIGURE 2 ) with papillae anales sub-triangular, setose; apophyses posteriores almost two times the length of apophyses anteriores; lamina antevaginalis sclerotized, broad, bilobed plates sparsely covered by spines ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 C-a); lamina postvaginalis apically with two rounded projections ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 D-a); antrum sclerotized, with two symmetrical rounded protuberance having a few scattered spines on its surface; ductus bursa sclerotized, shorter than corpus bursae, with longitudinal sclerotized ventral folds concentrated medially at posterior half, but throughout the ventral surface at anterior half; corpus bursae nearly oval, with spinulate surface, except the anterior end at right side (in ventral view), medial spinules conspicuously larger than the others, posterior end of corpus bursae next to the junction with ductus bursa with a slightly sclerotized more or less oval-shaped spiny shield; ductus seminalis arises on a small vesicle at the anterior end of corpus bursae at right side (in ventral view), anterior edge with a nearly triangular and apically rounded protuberance extended to behind the antrum ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 D-b).

Distribution. Iraq (type locality), Iran (Fars Province: W Shiraz, and Shiraz- Kazerun Rd. (Mian Kotal)), Turkey, Lebanon (Meyrick 1937; Amsel 1953; Roesler 1988; Slamka 2019).

Remark 1. Elegia iozona was reported from Iran as Ichorarchis iozona elegiella Amsel, 1953 and collected in Fars Province (Mian Kotal). Ichorarchis iozana elegiella was incorrectly considered as a junior synonym of E. fallax by Roesler (1988). Later it was synonymized with E. iozona by Slamka (2019). Elegia iozona was described by Meyrick (1937) based on a single male collected in Iraq (Diana). Kemal et al. (2020) stated that taxonomic status of this species and its validity is unclear and needs further revision; however, it was proposed as a bona species by Slamka (2019). The photo of the male (holotype) specimen as well as illustrations of a female collected in SE Turkey, and two females collected in Iran (Fars Province) including the paratype of E. iozona elegiella were presented by Slamka (2019).

Remark 2. Huertas-Dionisio et al. (2016) stated that in Turkey and Iran E. fallax has been collected in places where Quercus petraea iberica (Steven ex M. Bieb.) Krassiln. and Q. robur L. grow. In view of the incorrect synonym of I. iozona elegiella with E. fallax by Roesler (1988), these host plants most probably relate to E. iozona .