Synopsia phasidaria afghana (Wiltshire, 1966) comb. nov.

(figs 23, 24, 34, 42)

Synopsidia phasidaria afghana Wiltshire, 1966 . Zeitschrift der Wiener Entomologischen Gesellschaft, 51, 145. Holotype ♂ (NHMV). This subspecies is regarded valid at subspecific rank. Due to the lack of material from this region, a further examination in the present study is not possible, and we recommend a more detailed study with a larger series of specimens.

Type material examined. Synopsidia phasidaria afghana: Holotype, ♂, 17.vi.1965, 40km SW von Kabul, 2300 m, Afghanistan, Kasy & Vartian; Paratype, 1 ♂, same locality, Kasy & Vartian, g.prep. WW. 216; all in NHMV (fig. 23) .

Diagnosis. Wings and body (figs 23, 24). Wingspan ♂ 27–35 mm, ♀ 36–41 mm (Wiltshire 1966). Ground co-lour of wings sandy yellow with some brown and orange spots (bright beige to brown and rarely similar forms in S. phasidaria phasidaria and S. centralis; beige to brown, spotted dark in S. sociaria). Transverse lines brown (faint or slightly visible in S. phasidaria phasidaria; brown in S. centralis; strongly black in S. sociaria) (figs 5–22, 25, 26).

Male genitalia (fig. 34). Uncus sclerotized, tip concave (sclerotized, slightly bifurcate or tip only concave in the centre in S. phasidaria phasidaria and S. centralis; sclerotized and strongly bifurcate in S. sociaria). Gnathos well developed, arms fused, forming a tongue-shaped upturned thin plate (similar but upturned plate variable in shape in S. phasidaria phasidaria and S. centralis; almost similar but upturned plate broad in S. sociaria). Costa of valva with central projection bearing one to three spines (similar in S. phasidaria phasidaria; without central projection in S. centralis; central projection bearing one or two spines in S. sociaria). Harpe sickle-shaped (similar in S. phasidaria phasidaria; thumb-shaped in S. centralis; without any harpe in S. sociaria). Aedeagus thick, bearing 5–6 cornuti (number of cornuti variable, from 4 to 8 in S. phasidaria phasidaria; 8 cornuti in S. centralis; vesica with two groups of cornuti, with a total amount of up to 25 spines in S. sociaria) (fig. 27–33, 35, 36).

Female genitalia. Unknown.

Phenology. Type specimens collected in June.

Biology. Unknown.

Habitat. Up to now recorded only at an altitude of 2300 m.

Distribution. So far only known from the type locality in Afghanistan (see fig. 42).

Genetic data. No data available.