Rhodostrophia bahara Brandt, 1938

Rajaei, Hossein, Hausmann, Axel & Trusch, Robert, 2022, Taxonomic review of the genus Rhodostrophia Hübner, 1823 (Geometridae: Sterrhinae) in Iran, Zootaxa 5118 (1), pp. 1-64 : 23-24

Rhodostrophia bahara Brandt, 1938

( Figs 23–24 , 67 , 84 , Map 5 )

Rhodostrophia bahara Brandt, 1938 : Entomologische Rundschau, 55 (49): 573, figs 249–251.

( Iran, Fars, Schiraz, 2300 m) Lectotype ♂, Paralectotypes 2 ♂, 3 ♀, (in the original description a holotype is not mentioned, but the type series is labeled by Brandt as holotype and paratypes, the lectotype is designated here in order to stabilize nomenclature, in NHRS.

Lectotype ♂ (examined, hereby designated, this male was labelled by Brandt as “ holotype ” but is not mentioned as such in the original description): ‘S-Iran, Fars, Umgebung von Chiraz, ca. 2000 m. 24.vi.1937, coll. Brandt’ , ‘ Holotype, Rhodostrophia bahara Brdt. , Brandt’, ‘RMS 93’, ‘slide no. RMS 5766 G. Ebert praep.’ ‘ Lectotype Rhodostrophia bahara design. Rajaei, Hausmann & Trusch’, in coll. NHRS.

Paralectotypes (examined): 1 ♂, with paratype label ‘ Rhodostrophia bahara Brdt. , Brandt’, ‘ Iran, Fars, Strasse Chiraz-Kazeroun, Fort Sine-Sefid , ca. 2200 m, 1. Mai.1937, coll. Brandt’ , NHRD.LEPI 000010258, g.p. 10943 H. Rajaei; 1 ♀, id., 4.v.1937, NHRD.LEPI 000010259, g.p. 10944 H. Rajaei; in coll. NHRS. 1 ♂, 1 ♀, with paratype label ‘ Rhodostrophia bahara Brdt. , Brandt’, ‘ Iran, Fars, Strasse Chiraz-Kazeroun, Fort Sine-Sefid , ca. 2200 m, 4.v.1937,’ [leg. F. Brandt] ’, ‘ Paralectotype Rhodostrophia bahara design. Rajaei, Hausmann & Trusch’; both ex coll. Reisser; 1 ♂, 2 ♀, id., both with det. labels ‘ Rhodostrophia bahara Brdt. ’, g.p. 2374/2020 H. Rajaei; all ex coll. Brandt; in SMNK . 1 ♂ [SW] Iran, Fars, Umgebung von Chiraz, ca. 1600 m, 24.iv.1937, leg. F. Brandt, ex coll. Cl. Hörhammer, GU: G1563, in ZSM .

Records in literature. Rhodostrophia bahara: Viidalepp (1996: 57) ; Scoble (1999: 822); Doğanlar & Hausmann (2003: 317); Scoble & Hausmann (2007); Müller et al. (2019: 844).

Previous records from Iran. Iran, Ardabil, Kuhha-ye-Sabalan, S Meshginshar, Ghotour Sui, 3050–3100 m, 26.vii.2007 ( Lehmann & Zahiri 2011)

Additional material examined. 1 ♂, Iran c., Prov. Esfahan, Kashan-Meymeh, Qorud , N33°39'04", E051°23'53", 2450 m, 11.v.2005, leg. R. Trusch, G. Petschenka & B. Müller ; 10 ♂, id., 12.v.2005, g. p. (♂) 600/2005 R. Trusch, (♀) 595/2005, R. Trusch, (♂) 2375/2020 H. Rajaei , barcode: BC ZSM 33877, BC ZSM 33878, BC ZSM 33879 ; 1 ♂, id., 13.v.2005, leg. R. Trusch, G. Petschenka & B. Müller; 1 ♂, Iran, Hamadan, Avaj (Pass, Südseite ), 2100 m, 15./ 16.v.2002 ; 1 ♀, Iran, Markazi, E Tafresh, vic. Dashtgerd , 1700 m, 3.v.2002, leg. ten Hagen ; 1 ♂, Iran, Zanjan, NE Takab , 10 km E Takht-e Suleyman, 2300 m, 1.–2.vi.2006, leg. ten Hagen ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Iran, Fars, 40 km W Schiraz , 2.v.1975, leg. W. Thomas ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Iran, Prov. Zanjan, 2350 m, W-Alborz range, Tarom vic., 20 km NE of Zanjan, 13.–14.vi.2005, leg. Gyulai & Garai , g.p. 641/2005 R. Trusch; 1 ♂, NW-Iran, 15 km westl. Rezaiyeh [Urmia], 1400 m, Artemisia-Steppe , 11.vi.1975, leg. Amsel , g.p. 2376/2020 H. Rajaei; 3 ♀, N-Iran, Elburs mts., Prov. Teheran, Arangeh , 25 km N Karaj, 1550 m, 1.–6.vi.1972, g.p. (♀) 666/2005 R. Trusch; all leg. Ebert & Falkner ; 1 ♂, Turkey, BItlis, Kuskunkiran geo., 3.viii.1982, leg. W Thomas , g.p. 580/2005 R. Trusch; all in SMNK . 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Iran c., Prov. Esfahan, Kashan-Meymeh, Qorud , N33°39'04", E051°23'53", 2450 m, 11.v.2005, leg. R. Trusch, G. Petschenka & B. Müller ; in SMNS. 1 ♂, Iran, Esfahan, 35 km N Borujen , 2300 m, 11./ 12.v.2002, leg. ten Hagen , in PCJM. 1 ♂, Iran c., Prov. Esfahan, Kashan-Meymeh, Qorud , N 33°39’04’’, E 051°23’53’’, 2450 m, 12.v.2005, leg. R. Trusch, G. Petschenka & B. Müller in PCJG. 1 ♂, Ghom, 8 km S Fordu / Wesb , 7.–8.vi.1984, leg. Paz [uki] & Hash [emi], in HMIM .

Specimen studied total: 26 ♂, 11 ♀.

Differential diagnosis. ( Figs 23–24 ) Wingspan 28–37.5 mm. Wings and body concolorous with yellow-grey to sand-white colour, sprinkled with dark brown scales (wings in R. tumulosa are less sprinkled with dark scales and look slightly lighter). Forewing with antemedial, postmedial and subterminal lines dark brown; hindwing with postmedial and subterminal lines dark brown; all lines are thin, uneven and broken. Discal spot as a dominant dark brown dot or streak on forewing, as tiny dot on hindwing. Underside of the wings lighter than upperside, glossy; subterminal line on both fore- and hindwing visible. Male antennal flagellum ventrally dentated. Male hindtibia with four spurs. This species may be confused with some Iranian species of the badiaria species-group (especially R. iranica and R. tumulosa ). Examination of genitalia enables a confident determination in any case, but also the consideration of the geographic distribution as mapped here.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 67 ) with a long rod-shaped uncus, gradually getting narrower towards base (similar to, but slightly shorter than uncus in R. iranica ) (cf. Fig. 67–68 ), gnathos long, dagger-shaped, curved; valva apically bilobed, not spinulose; sacculus at tip characteristically curved to ventral side, and basally bulbed (see arrow on Fig. 67a ), in contrast to all other Iranian species in the badiaria species-group. Aedeagus slightly S-shaped, with two characteristic horn-shaped projections on its apex (diagnostic to separate R. bahara from R. badiaria and all Rhostrophia species in Iran). Male’s sternite A8 bilobed (octavals very short).

Female genitalia ( Fig. 84 ) with a membranous, small, oval corpus bursae with a pair of band-shaped signa on its posterior part. Ductus bursae characteristically swollen and short (all other species in the badiaria species-group have a long and narrow ductus bursae), strongly sclerotized, antrum wide and funnel-shaped ( Fig. 84b ). Posterior apophyses twice length of anterior apophyses.

Genetic data. BIN: BOLD:ABY4272. Nearest species: R. badiaria (2.3%), R. iranica (2.8%), R. tumulosa (2.2%) ( Fig. 119 , Table 1).

Distribution ( Map 5 ). This species is mainly distributed in Iran (from the Iranian Azerbaijan provinces across the whole Zagros massive to the mountains north of Shiraz). The southernmost localities are “Chiraz”[Shiraz] and “Fort Sine-Sefid”, where it was already known from the original description ( Brandt 1938). Outside of Iran it is known from Azerbaijan ( Viidalepp, 1996), Turkey and Syria ( Doğanlar & Hausmann 2003). Most probably it occurs also in Armenia, but this is not reported so far.

Life history and habitat ( Fig. 113 ). Biology and larval stages are unknown The species was found at altitudes from 1400 m up to near 2500 m. It develops one generation per year. According to Brandt (1938) R. bahara was found in the southern Zagros Mts. (Shiraz region) from late April until early May. According to the material studied here, the species was observed in Iran from mid-April to mid-June. The duration of the total flight period at one place in one year is unknown. The record at the lowest altitude mentioned here are from 11.vi. (1975, leg. Amsel) but moths were also found remarkably late in the year at such low elevation (1550 m): 1.–6.vi. (1972, leg. Ebert & Falkner). This is probably caused by varying weather conditions in different years. Its typical habitat is an Artemisia -steppe with shrubs of Artemisia cf. herba-alba (Asteraceae) (see Fig. 113 ).

Figures

MAP 5. Distribution of Rhodostrophia bahara BRANDT, 1938 in Iran.

FIGURE 119. Neighbour joining tree (COI, 5’; Kimura 2) showing the relationships between different species and subspecies of Iranian Rhodostrophia, including non-Iranian nearest neighboring species R. calabra, R. cinerascens, R. jacularia, R. praecisaria, R. staudingeri and R. skulei added for comparison. Width of triangles refer to sample size, depth of triangles to genetic variation, distance from common nodes to the genetic distance to a hypothetical common ancestor (as inferred by the algorithm); scale bar = 1%.

FIGURES 23-43. Wing coloration and pattern of Rhodostrophia species. Figs 23-24: R. bahara (both from Iran, prov. Fars, 23. Shiraz, Lectotype; 24. Sine-Sefid, Paralectotype); Figs 25-28: R. iranica (all from Iran, 25-26. prov. Tehran, Shemshak; 27. prov. Qazvin, Gardaneh Alamut; 28. prov. Alborz, Gatchsar); Figs 29-30: R. tumulosa (both from Iran, prov. Kohgiluyeva Boyerahmad, Yasuj, Sisakht); Figs 31-34: R. tabestana (all from Iran, 31-32. prov. Fars, Mian Kotal, (31) Holotype; 32 (Paratype); 33-34. prov. Fars, Tange Surkh (both paratype)); Figs 35-37: R. lenis (35.-36. From Afghanistan, Khurd-Kabul, SE Kabul; 37. Iran, prov. Khorasan-e Razavi, Kuhe Surkh); Figs 38-40: R. nesam (38-39. prov. Fars, Tale-Khosrow, both paratypes; 40. prov. Kohgiluye-va Boyerahmad, Sisakht); Figs 41-43: R. nesam syn. fusca (41-42. prov. Sistan-o-Baluchistan, Takhte Malek, both Paratypes; prov. Kerman, Baft).

FIGURES 66-69. Male genitalia of Rhodostrophia species. Fig. 66. R. terrestraria (fig. 66.1, terrestraria farsi ssp. nov., paratype, Iran, prov. Fars, Didegan, g.p. 590 R. Trusch; Fig. 66.2. R. terrestraria terrestraria, Iran, Semnan Shahkuh-e Bala, g.p. 2358 H. Rajaei); Fig. 67. R. bahara, Lectotype (Iran, prov. Fars, Shiraz, g.p. RMS 5766 G. Ebert); Fig. 68. R. iranica (Iran, prov. Tehran, Gachsar, g.p. 585 R. Trusch); Fig. 69. R. tumulosa (Iran, prov. Fars, Tang-e Surkh, g.p. 582 R. Trusch). Abbreviations: a. genitalia capsule; b. aedeagus; c. sternite-8; d. details of different part of genitalia as following: 66-1d and 66-2d, details of apical part of valva; 67d (gn.), gnathos; 59d, apical part of aedeagus; 69d, apical part of valva.

FIGURES 80-85. Female genitalia of Rhodostrophia species. Fig. 80. R. vibicaria (Iran, prov. Ardabil/Gilan, Pass Ardabil- Astara, g.p. 2363 H. Rajaei; 80b. digital drawing of corpus bursae for visualization of the signa; 80c. sternite-8); Fig. 81. R. auctata (Iran, prov. Fars, Tange Surkh, g.p. 655 R. Trusch; 81b. corpus bursae, g.p. 2412 H. Rajaei, from prov. Kordestan, 53 km South Zandjan); Fig. 82. R. sieversi (prov. Teheran, Arangeh, 25 km N Karaj, g.p. 2414 H. Rajaei); Fig. 83. R. terrestraria farsi ssp. nov. (Iran, prov. Kerman, Gardaneh Sarbishan, Shingara vic., g.p. 653 R. Trusch); Fig. 84. R. bahara (prov. Tehran, Arange; g.p. 666 R. Trusch; 84b. details of antrum, g.p. 2374 H. Rajaei, from Iran, prov. Fars, Fort Sine-Sefid); Fig. 85. R. iranica (Prov. Tehran, 3 km NW Shemshak, g.p. 646 R. Trusch; 85b & 85c. details of signum and its digital drawing, g.p. 2373 H. Rajaei, from prov. Tehran, Shemshak).

FIGURES 111-118. Habitats of Rhodostrophia-species in Iran. Fig. 111. Shah-Kuh-mountain range in the eastern Alborz, view from the habitat of the nominotypical subspecies of R. terrestraria at an altitude of approx. 2,900 m to the west (prov. Golestan, above Shah-Kuh-e Pa’in, also known as Shahkuh-e Sofla, 18.vii.2003), where the moth likes to hide in bushes of Astragalus spp. (Fabaceae); note the impressive cushion plants of Acantholimon spp. (Plumbaginaceae). The region is also known as the type locality of the two high-mountain burnet moths Zygaena cacuminum Christoph, 1877 and Z. ecki Christoph, 1882 (Zygaenidae). Fig. 112. Stipa-steppe habitat of R. terrestraria at Shah-Kuh-e Bala, where the species on 19.7.2003 was attracted to artificial light at night together with Zygaena turkmenica Reiss, 1933 (det. A. Hofmann). Fig. 113. Artemisia-steppe at an altitude of 2450 m near Qorud (prov. Esfahan, vic. Kashan-Meymeh), where R. bahara occurred on the 11.v.2005 in high abundance together with the rarely found Dyscia negrama Wehrli, 1953 (Geometridae); in the centre of the photo (from left to right): Georg Petschenka, Bernd Müller and Hossein Rajaei. Fig. 114. In the vicinity of mount Tochal at the altitude of 3,700 m the moths of R. iranica could be observed resting on rocks and flying off from them in case of disturbance (prov. Tehran, 18.7.2006). This area is inhabited by Zygaena cacuminum Christoph, 1877 (Zygaenidae) too. Fig. 115. The Kamaran valley (prov. Esfahan, Fereydun Shahr S., Kamaran vic., 2650 m) is inhabited by R. tabestana and R. terrestraria; other remarkable species observed during 11.-12.vii.2003 were Zygaena haematina Kollar, 1849 and Z. nocturna Ebert, 1974 (Zygaenidae). Fig. 116. The habitat of R. terrestraria pellonaria, R. abscisaria and R. lenis at an altitude of 1240 m south of Izman-e Pa'in (also known as Izman-e Sofla, north of Bojnurd, prov. Khorasan, 19.v.2005) is characterized by mugwort steppe (Artemisia spp., Asteraceae) and the occurrence of further typical geometrid-moth-steppe species such as Dyscia malatyana Wehrli, 1934 and the nominate subspecies of D. innocentaria (Christoph, 1885). Fig. 117. Habitat of the two species R. cuprinaria and R. phaenicearia at an altitude of 1560 m in the vicinity of Astane (Cheshme Ali, prov. Semnan, northwest of Damghan,) is an Artemisia-steppe too. The two species used to be confused in the literature, here both occurring syntopic, observed by us 23.-24.v.2005. Fig. 118. Strongly overgrazed desertic mountain steppe landscape at an altitude of 3200 m at Gardaneh-ye Cheri (prov. Çaharmahal-va- Bakhtiyari, Zardkuh-region, vicinity of Samsami) is the habitat of R. peripheries (observed here 13.vii.2003) and numerous burnets as Zygaena cambysea Lederer, 1870, Z. fredi Reiss, 1938, Z. seitzi Reiss, 1938, Z. naumanni Hille & Keil, 1999 and the unilocal endemic Z. bakhtiyari Hofmann & Tremewan, 2005 (Hofmann & Tremewan 2020).—Photos 111-114, 116-118: R. Trusch, photo 115: G. Ebert.