Eupithecia persidis Mironov & Ratzel

Mironov, Vladimir & Ratzel, Ulrich, 2012, New species of the genus Eupithecia Curtis (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Larentiinae) from Iran, Zootaxa 3580, pp. 56-68 : 62-63

Eupithecia persidis Mironov & Ratzel , sp. n.

( Figs. 8, 9 )

Material Examined. Holotype: 3, Iran, Prov. Mazandaran, Elburs mts., S Shah Kuh-e Bala, 2400 mNN, N 36˚33’; E 054˚36’, 19.07.2003 (lux), G. Ebert & R. Trusch leg. ( SMNK). Paratypes: 3 3, 1 Ƥ, same data, Ratzel slides nos. GU61211/ 1m, GU1108/8w, Mironov slide no. 8763 ( SMNK, ZISP); 1 3, same locality and altitude, 20.07.2003 (lux), G. Ebert & R. Trusch leg. ( SMNK).

Diagnosis. This species is rather similar externally to the Iranian species E. siata Brandt, 1938 from the graphata group. However, E. persidis can usually be easily distinguished by the less distinct transverse lines on all wings, the less broken double medial and also postmedial lines on the fore wing, the absence of narrow whitish, transverse bands between two medial lines and from the outside of postmedial line, the less distinct white subterminal line and presence of a distinct discal dot on the fore wing, as well as the less wavy or indented inner border of dark terminal area on the hind wing. The male genitalia similar to those of E. siata , however, in E. persidis the spine-like part of uncus is longer, its basal plate-like part narrower, the valve shorter with more broadly rounded apex. The male eighth abdominal sternite of the new species is much narrower on the whole but with broader apical half, also with narrower basal lobes and narrower and deeper hollow between them than in E. siata , and without digitiform apical process, for example, as in E. distinctaria Herrich-Schäffer, 1848 . The female genitalia are rather similar to those of E. distinctaria , than to any other species of the graphata group. However, the marginal spines in corpus bursae of E. persidis are longer than in the compared species E. distinctaria . According to the structure of the female genitalia, especially the shape of corpus bursae and disposition of spines, E. persidis rather belongs to the distinctaria group than to the graphata group. Undoubtedly, there are a near relationship and close morphological connection between the both species groups.

Description. Wingspan 16.5–19.0 mm; fore wing 9.0–10.0 mm. Labial palpi light ash grey, short and obtuse, shorter than diameter of eye. Frons, vertex and notum unicolorous, light ash grey. Fore wing triangulate with straight costal and anal margins and slightly curved terminal margin; apex narrowly rounded; ground colour pale grey with a soft yellowish tinge; transverse lines conspicuous, narrow, oblique, blackish grey; postbasal and antemedial lines right or sharply angled onto costa; two medial lines parallel to each other, sharply angled onto costa, one of them touching discal dot; postmedial line slightly wavy, evenly curved onto costa; terminal area divided by indented, whitish subterminal line; inner part of terminal area darker, blackish grey; terminal line narrow, dark, blackish grey, interrupted by vein ends; discal dot distinct, small, black, rounded to narrow, elongate, and with small, longitudinal orange area under it. Hind wing ovoid, slightly paler, pale grey; transverse lines, especially ante- and postmedial lines, distinct, blackish grey; terminal area darker, irrorated with blackish scales; double, lighter transverse fascia between medial and terminal areas broad; discal dot small, rounded, paler. Fringe on all wings distinctly chequered with pale and dark grey. Abdomen ash grey with a row of small, black dorsal spots. Male genitalia ( Fig. 12 ). Uncus slightly elongated, broad, sharply tapered to apex, biapical, when viewed laterally, with small and narrow flat basal part. Valve shaped like on orange segment, tapered to apex from the middle of ventral margin; dorsal margin slightly arched and curved; apex narrowly rounded; sacculus thickened, lightly sclerotized. Vinculum short, narrow, tapered anteriorly. Papillae on the anterior arms of the labides medium sized, slightly curved, apically covered with short setae. Aedeagus stout, short and wide, shorter than valve length. Vesica covered with small denticules; armed with one U-shaped, plate-like and twisted cornutus, which connected anteriorly with broad, irregular, plate-like cornutus and also with elongated, clavate, dentated apical cornutus. Sternite A8 peg-like, sharply tapered from the middle to apex; apex obtuse with narrow, thickened margins; basal hollow relatively deep. Female genitalia ( Fig. 16 ). Bursa copulatrix elongated, fusiform, broadened from one side, about one half covered with narrow, slim spines, which longer along diagonal border. Ductus bursae not expressed but the diagonal zone in spineless area near colliculum sclerotized. Ductus seminalis slightly broadened at base, curved backward, attached spineless area in anterior part of corpus bursae. Colliculum collar-like, short, narrow, slightly tapered and inclined to one side. Antrum campaniform, lightly sclerotized. Tergite A8 rather trapezoid. Anterior and posterior apophyses narrow, medium sized. Papillae anales short, rounded, covered with short setae.

Distribution. Iran (province Mazandaran).

Habitat ( Figs. 22, 23 ). The locality where E. persidis was found is a herb-rich stream valley in a mountainous steppe with feather grass (Stipia sp., see Fig. 23 ). On the almost bare ridge grow scattered shrubs of Juniperus excelsa (see fig. 22). In the dry stream valley this species occurred along with shrubs of Berberis , and cushions of Astragalus species. Other Lepidoptera encountered included Zygaena manlia , Chelis maculosa , Zeuzera sp., Auchmis sp., Ourapteryx sp., Malacosoma sp.

Etymology. ‘From “ Persidis ” (from ‘persis’) an old Greek word (Πέρσις) from Pārs (arabian Fārs), meaning ‘homeland of the Persian people’.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 9. Adults of Eupithecia species (enlarged; scale bar = 10 mm). 1, 2 — E. brandti sp. n. (holotype female and paratype female); 3, 4 — E. truschi sp. n. (holotype female and paratype female); 5, 6 — E. zagrosata sp. n. (holotype female and paratype male); 7 — E. basurmanca sp. n. (holotype female); 8, 9 — E. persidis sp. n. (holotype male and paratype female).

FIGURES 10 – 12. Male genitalia (with eighth sternite, scale bar = 1 mm), aedeagus enlarged. 10 — E. truschi sp. n. (paratype); 11 — E. zagrosata sp. n. (paratype); 12 — E. persidis sp. n. (paratype).

FIGURES 13 – 17. Female genitalia (scale bar = 1 mm). 13 — E. brandti sp. n. (holotype); 14 — E. truschi sp. n. (holotype); 15 — E. zagrosata sp. n. (paratype); 16 — E. persidis sp. n. (paratype); 17 — E. basurmanca sp. n. (holotype).

FIGURES 18 – 23. Habitats of Eupithecia in Iran. 18 – 19 — Kuh-e Goran, Habitat of Eupithecia truschi sp. n.; 20 – 21 — Kuh-e Karkas, Habitat of Eupithecia truschi sp. n.; 22 – 23 — Shahkuh-e Bala, Habitat of Eupithecia persidis sp. n. By courtesy of Dr. R. Trusch (photos 18, 20, 22, 23) and Dr. J. - U. Meineke (photos 19, 21).