Streblote siva (Lefèbvre, 1827)

Fig. 17, female.

Bombyx siva Lefèbvre, 1827, Zool. Journ. 3: 210. TL: India. Holotype: male (probably lost).

References: Mirzayans and Kalali 1970: 19; Rajabi 1986: 169; Modarres Awal 1994 & 1997: 209. Distribution (Map 34): deserts and oases of Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Bahrain, Oman, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. - In Iran: Qazvin, Esfehan, Fars, Khuzestan, Bushehr, Hormozgan, Kerman, Sistan va Baluchestan provinces.

Bionomics. This species is known from lowland areas to 800 m and is on the wing from April to October. Two or occasionally three generations per year. Caterpillars from different localities recorded on Acacia spp . ( Fabaceae = Leguminosae), Terminalia sp. (Comberitaceae), Casuarina sp. ( Casuarinaceae), Zizyphus spinachristi (Rhamnaceae), Populus euphratica and Salix spp . ( Salicaceae), Tamarix (Tamaricaceae), Punica (Punicaceae), Malus and other fruit trees ( Rosaceae), Avicennia (Avicennaceae) and Prosopis stephaniana (Leguminosae= Fabaceae) (Wiltshire 1990: 106). In Bahrain (Wiltshire 1964), the species has been recorded from Casuarina (Casuarinaceae), Zizyphus spina-christi (Rhamnaceae), Prunus armeniacus, Prosopis stephansiana (Leguminosae= Fabaceae); in deserts larvae can be found often on the branches of Acacia and one caterpillar was also found on Nerium oleander . In Iran the following host plants are recorded: Egyptian acacia ( Albizzia lebbeck: Mimosaceae), mudar ( Calotropis procera: Asclepiadaceae), eucalyptus, screw bean ( Prosopis sp.: Papilionaceae), pomegranate ( Punica granatum: Punicaceae), willow, Christ’s thorn ( Paliurus spina-christi (Rhamnaceae), Tamarix, Amygdalus spatiodes, Malus sp. Pupa hibernates in a silky cocoon between leaves or on bank.

MAP 34. Streblote siva (Lefèbvre, 1827) .

Material Examined: male, Mesopotamia, Amara, 27.IX.1916, R.Brewitt-Taylor (BMNH); male, South Persia near Ahwaz, X.1932, Dr. S.W.Pill (BMNH); 7 males, Iran, Belutschistan, Iranshar, 800m, 11–21.V.1954, Richter & Schäuffele (ZSSM); male, SO Iran (Djiroft), Anbar-Abad, 1–18.V.1956, W.Richter leg. (ZSSM); male, Amara, Mesopotamien, 28.IV.1918, P.A.Buxton (BMNH); female, Amara, Tigris R., 7.IV.1918 (BMNH); male, Allachabad (BMNH); male, Persia meridionalis, Bushir-Siahmakan Elil, 18.IV.1977, leg Sojak (ZSSM); 2 males, female, Persia septentrionalis, Elburs-Ziaran, 11.VII.1977, lg.Sojak (MW); male, Iran, Khuzistan, Ahwtaz, 19.V.1938, E.P.Wiltshire (BMNH); male, SW Iran, Bushire, 2.VI.1950, E.P.Wiltshire (BMNH); female, SW Iran, Bushire, e.p. 26.III.1950, E.P.Wiltshire (BMNH); male, Ahwaz, 19.IV.1938 (BMNH); male, SW Iran, Bushire, e.p., 6.IV.1950, E.P.Wiltshire (BMNH); 1 male, S. Iran, 75 km NO Bandar- Abbas, 3.IV 1974, leg. Vartian (NHMW); 1 male, Iran, Belutschistan, Jranshar (?Iranshar), 11–21.IV 1954, leg. Richter u. Schäuffele (SMK); 1 male, Kazvin, 77 [Qazvin]; 18 males, 1 female, Iran, Belutschistan, Iranshar, 800 m, 1954, leg. Richter & Schaeuffele (SMNStuttgart); 1 male, Iran, Khuzistan, Schadegan, 18.III 1956, leg. Richter & Schaeuffele (SMNStuttgart); 4 males, 2 females, SO Iran, [Djiroft], Anbar Abad, 21– 30.IV 1956, leg. W. Richter (SMNStuttgart); 2 males, 1 female, Persis septentrionalis, Elburz-Ziaran, 11.VII 1977, leg. Sojak MWM). (HMIM): Fars: Sarmaschad, Farashband, 1780 m, 9.IV.1975, leg. Borumand H.; Gavkoshak, Kazerun, 26.XI.1975, leg. Abai M. Khuzestan: Ahvaz, 140 m, 11.IX.1967,.; Ahvaz, 140 m, IX.1961; Haft Tappeh, Dezful, 70 m, 17.XII.1973, leg. Danyali; Dezful, 29.X.1948, leg. Serkissian. Bushehr: Shirino, 25 km S Taheri, 20 m, 22.IV.1977, leg. Pazuki & Hashemi; Khormoj, 170 m, 5.XII.1996, leg. Ebrahimi, Parchami & Badii; Jazire-e-Khark, 100 m, 1–2.III.2001, leg. Ghayourfar R. Hormozgan: Dargahan, Jazire-e-Gheshm (Qeshm), 27–28.II.1999, leg. Ghayourfar & Manzari; Kuh-e-Geno, Bagh Tang, 410 m, 8.V.1977, leg. Pazuki A.; Jazire-e-Lavan, 10 m, 16–18.II.1999, leg. Mofidi & Barari; Jazire-e-Lavan, 10 m, 6.V.2002, leg. Mofidi, Gilasian & Ebrahimi; Sirik, 70 m, 18–19.IV.1992, leg. Mirzayans & Badii; Chah Kuh, Bandar-e-Lengeh, 25.IV.1977, leg. Pazuki & Hashemi; Jazireh-e-Kish, 27 m, 23–25.XI.1976, leg. Abai M.; Issin, 130–150 m, 1–6.V.1977, leg. Pazuki A.; Gurband, Minab, 70 m, 18.V.1973, leg. Hashemi & Borumand; Bashagerd, Senderk, 220 m, 12.V.1977, leg. Safavi & Pazuki; Konardan, 36 km E Gawbandi, 210 m, 23.IV.1977, leg. Pazuki & Hashemi. Kerman: Jiroft, 26.X.1950, leg. Salav.; Jiroft, 4.IX.1967,. Sistan va Balouchestan: Iranshahr Lab., 1993, leg. Omara; Rig Kaboud, 18 km W Iranshahr, 500 m, 15.V.1972, leg. Abai & Ebert; Sulden, Pishin, 190 m, 14.XI.1996, Parchami, Sarafrazi & Barari; Taftan, 2.V.1969, leg. Pazuki & Hashemi.