Deltote delicatula ( Christoph, 1882 )

Seven, Erdem, Ronkay, László & Ronkay, Gábor, 2019, Description of a new species of Deltote Reichenbach, Leipzig, 1817 (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Eustrotiinae) from Turkey and Turkmenistan, Zootaxa 4576 (1), pp. 171-178 : 173

Deltote delicatula ( Christoph, 1882)

( Figs 1 e–h, 2 a–b, 3 b)

Erastria delicatula Christoph, 1882 , Horae Societatis Entomologicae Rossicae 17: 112. Type locality: [ Azerbaijan, Nakhichevan] Ordubad.

Material examined. Azerbaijan. Two topotype ♂♂ specimens from Ordubad. The first specimen is preserved in the NHMW , its label data are as follows: " ♂ Ordub[ad], 21[.]5[.]83, ˇ" Kol. Vel. Kn. Nikolaia Mikhailovicha " (with Cyrillian letters), "coll. K. Höfer "; slide No. RL 12400m. The second specimen is illustrated on the homepage of the Zoological Institute, St. Petersburg (https://www.zin.ru/Collections/ Lepidoptera / specimen_en.html?Catalog_UID=1345391981073306) as " lectotype ", with the following label data: " ♂ Ordub[ad], 18[.]5[.]83", " Kol. Vel. Kn. Nikolaia Mikhailovicha " (with Cyrillian letters), The collecting date is interpreted as " 18.5.1880 " though the picture clearly indicates that the last number is "3" and not "0". Consequently, this latter specimen cannot be a syntype. Moreover, it is almost certain that these two specimens were collected by the same collector, at the same place within one week. Armenia. 1 ♂, Geghard, 40 km east of Yerevan, 1700 m, 3–11.IX.1975, leg. Vartian (coll. NHMW). Turkey. Siirt. 3♂♂, Akyamaç, 700 m, 5. VI.2015; 1♂, same data, 9. VI.2016; 1♀, Şirvan, Tatlıpayam, 1350 m, 14.VII.2013; 1♂, Botan valley , 700 m, 9.VII.2015; 1♂, 1♀, Şirvan, Tahvan, 625 m, 2.IX.2014; leg. E. Seven (coll. BTU).

Bionomics and distribution. The early stages and the larval food plant are unknown. As the topotypical specimens were collected in May while the eastern Turkish and Armenien moths are in September, the species is considered as bivoltine. The habitat of D. delicatula in eastern Turkey is a steppe area with sparse Quercus (Fagaceae) and Paliurus ( Rhamnaceae ) trees and shrubs ( Figs 4 a–b).

Confirmed records of the D. delicatula are known from eastern Turkey (Prov. Siirt), Armenia (Geghard) and Azerbaijan (Nakhichevan: Ordubad). The published data of Deltote delicatula from northern Iran refer most probably also to the species but we had no opportunity to study Iranian specimens.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Deltote species. a–d. D. turcica sp. n., males; b: holotype, a, c, d: paratypes. e–h. D. delicatula, e–g. males, h. female; f. Ordubad, Azerbaijan, syntype. The specimens shown in figs a–c and e–f. are in coll. NHMW, d. in coll. G. Ronkay, photos G. Ronkay; g–h. in coll. Batman University, photos E. Seven)

FIGURE 4. Habitats of D. delicatula in Turkey: Siirt Province, a. Akgeçit, 700 m, 16.03.2018, b. Botan valley, 700 m, 09.07.2015, photos E. Seven