Nychiodes rayatica Wiltshire, 1957

Wanke, Dominic, Hausmann, Axel, Krogmann, Lars, Petrányi, Gergely & Rajaei, Hossein, 2020, Taxonomic revision of the genus Nychiodes Lederer, 1853 (Geometridae: Ennominae: Boarmiini) with description of three new species-an integrative approach, Zootaxa 4812 (1), pp. 1-61 : 22

Nychiodes rayatica Wiltshire, 1957

( figs 41, 42, 105 ; map 2)

Nychiodes rayatica Wiltshire, 1957 . The Lepidoptera of Iraq, 111. Holotype ♂, Paratypes 2 ♂ ( Iraq, Haj Omran), (in BMNH, examined).

Type material examined. Holotype, ♂, Iraq, Kurdistan, Rayat, 24.vi.[19]35, E.P. Wiltshire, Geometridae genitalia slide No. 11019 ; Paratype, 1 ♂, Iraq, Rayat , Haj Omran, 5000-6000 ft. [1524-1829 m], larva 2-13.vi.[19]56, hatched 1.vii.[19]56, E.P. Wiltshire; all in BMNH .

Additional material studied: 2 ♂ (see appendix).

Diagnosis. Wingspan ♂ 33–35 mm ( Wiltshire (1957) measured 38–40 mm) (forewing length ♂ 18–21) ( figs 41, 42). Ground colour of wings beige to light brown with slightly darker basal and medial areas. The species can be confused, in external appearance, with several Nychiodes species ( N. antiquaria , N. divergaria , N. leviata , N. convergata sp. nov. and N. eberti sp. nov.), but unique male genitalia of N. rayatica differentiate it from all the others (examination of male genitalia is necessary for reliable identification). The male genitalia of N. rayatica is characterized by a large and broad apical part of the costa of valva, which is exceeding the apex of the valva (see fig. 105 ), this character is similar in N. antiquaria , N. convergata sp. nov. and N. eberti sp. nov., but all these species differ in the shape of ampulla superior and inferior (see figs 100 , 120–123 ). Furthermore, the aedeagus of N. rayatica is very small and short compared to those in N. antiquaria , N. convergata sp. nov. and N. eberti sp. nov. ( figs 100b , 105b , 120 b–123b). Female genitalia of N. rayatica are unknown.

Phenology. Univoltine ( Wiltshire 1957). Specimens collected during June and July.

Biology. Larva recorded on Amygdalus sp. ( Wiltshire 1957).

Habitat. Recorded in altitudes from 1524 up to 2300 m.

Distribution. Wiltshire (1957) suggested an occurrence of this species on neighbouring mountains in northwestern Iran and eastern Turkey, which we confirmed here. Recorded in Iraq, eastern Turkey and here we report this species from north-western Iran as a new element for the fauna of this country (map 2).

DNA barcoding. No data available.

Figures

FIGURES 103-107. Male genitalia of Nychiodes species. 103: Paratype of N. quettensis (Pakistan, Quetta, g.prep. WW223); 104: Paratype of N. admirabila (Iran, Fars, g.prep. 10920); 105: Holotype of N. rayatica (Iraq, Rayat, g.prep. 11019); 106: Paratype of N. subfusca (Iran, Komehr, g.prep. 10932); 107: Uncus, lateral view, N. subfusca (Iran, Dasht-e Arjan, g.prep. 0412/2019 D. Wanke). a = genitalia capsule; b = aedeagus. Scale-bar 1 mm.

FIGURES 96-102. Male genitalia of Nychiodes species. 96: N. amygdalaria (Turkey, Aksehir, g.prep. 2089/2017 H. Rajaei); 97: Uncus, lateral view, N. amygdalaria (Turkey, Maras, g.prep. 0411/2019 D. Wanke); 98: Holotype of N. farinosa (Iran, Fars, g.prep. 10924); 99: Uncus, lateral view, N. farinosa (Iran, Hamadan, g.prep. 0414/2019 D. Wanke); 100: N. antiquaria (Tadjikistan, Kalaishum, g.prep. 0365/2019 D. Wanke); 101: Uncus, lateral view, N. antiquaria (Uzbekistan, Guzar, g.prep. 0408/2019 D. Wanke); 102: Holotype of N. princeps (Afghanistan, Band-i-Amir, g.prep. WW36). a = genitalia capsule; b = aedeagus. Scale-bar 1 mm.

FIGURES 120-126. 120: Paratype of N. eberti sp. nov. (Turkey, g.prep 0464/2019 D. Wanke); 121: Uncus, lateral view, N. eberti sp. nov. (Turkey, Sulucaova, g.prep 0396/2019 D. Wanke); 122: Paratype of N. eberti sp. nov. (Turkey, Kötek, g.prep 0264/2019 D. Wanke); 123: Holotype of N. convergata sp. nov. (Israel, Mt. Hermon, g.prep. 463/2019 D. Wanke); 124: Uncus, lateral view, N. convergata sp. nov. (Israel, Mt. Hermon, g.prep. 463/2019 D. Wanke); 125: Paratype of N. mirzayansi sp. nov. (a: Iran, Kerman, g.prep. 0222/2019 D. Wanke; b: Iran, Kerman, 0315/2019 D. Wanke); 126: Uncus, lateral view, N. mirzayansi sp. nov. (Iran, Kerman, g.prep. 0419/2019 D. Wanke). a = genitalia capsule; b = aedeagus. Scale-bar 1 mm.