Laristania taftanella ( Amsel, 1954 ), 2018

Akin, Kesran & Seven, Erdem, 2021, An assessment on genus Laristania Amsel, 1951 (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae Phycitinae) and a new species from Turkey, Zootaxa 4999 (2), pp. 169-180 : 175

Laristania taftanella ( Amsel, 1954)

( Figs 6e–f , 7a–c , 8a–d )

Praeepischnia taftanella Amsel,1954 . Arkiv för zoologi, 6 (16): 307–308. Type (s): Iran, “Kouh-i-Taftan”.

- Laristania taftanella ssp. alvandella ( Amsel, 1961)

- Laristania taftanella ssp. babaella ( Amsel, 1970)

- Laristania taftanella ssp. iranella Amsel, 1954 (see Amsel, 1961, 384–385 pp.)

Distribution: Iran, Turkey ( Koçak & Kemal 2018), Afghanistan ( Amsel 1970), Daghestan ( Russia) ( Poltavsky & Ilyina 2016).

Material examined: Turkey, Bitlis province, Nemrut Caldera ; • 1♂ 1♀ Between Çekmece Village-Hotel, Up- per slope, 21.vii.2017 (G.P. 277-362, K. Akın); • 1♂ Between Çekmece Village-Hotel, Down the slope, 21.vii.2017 (G.P. 361, K. Akın).

Remarks: Populations of Laristania taftanella Amsel, 1954 in Turkey show variation in the external morphology such as different colors, ranging from yellowish, yellowish-orange, and more grayish ( Fig. 7 ). There are also differences in the male genitalia structure with thickness of the spine on the valvae and whether it is close to the tip or not ( Fig. 8 ). Some specimens are similar to ssp. alvandella Amsel, 1961 ( Fig. 8a ), and some to ssp. iranella Amsel, 1954 ( Fig. 8d ), especially in terms of male genitalia. In this case, it is thought that the subspecies populations of the L. taftanella species should be evaluated comprehensively in terms of morphology and molecular of the specimens taken from the type specimens or type localities.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Female genitalia, a–d: Laristania beyarslani sp. nov. (paratype) (G.P. 364, K. Akın) (b–d: from different points during preparation), e–f: L. taftanella Amsel, 1954 (G.P. 362, K. Akın) (f: during preparation, from the back side).

FIGURE 7. Adults of Laristania taftanella Amsel, 1954, (from the Nemrut Caldera) a. Orange-yellow form (male), b. Orangeyellow form (female), c. Gray form (male).

FIGURE 8. Male genitalia of Laristania taftanella Amsel, 1954, a. Total (with a thick thorn near the apex of the valvae), b. Aedeagus, c. coremata, (G.P. 277, K. Akın) d. Total (with a thin thorn before the apex of the valvae) (G.P. 361, K. Akın).