Pyrausta tatarica Kemal et al., 2020

(Fig. 20C, D)

Pyrausta tatarica Kemal, Kýzýldað & Koçak, 2020: 2–3, figs 1–4, 7, 11, 15.

TL: East Turkey, Van Province, Bahçesaray, Liman (Spindaran), tragacanthic-malacophyllous mountain steppe, 2320 m .

Material examined. 7 ♂♂: Alborz Prov.: 1 ♂, Dizin, 17.viii.1973, Ebert leg. (gen. prep. HA-2500, HMIM) ; East Âzarbâijân Prov.: 1 ♂, Kâghazkonân protected area, Âghkand, Hâjimir vill. to Mendejin vill. Rd., 5.5 km to Mendejin, vill., N 37˚21´19˝, E 48˚11´60˝, 1220 m, 15.vi.2020, Âlipanâh, Falsafi leg. ; Mâzandarân Prov.: 2 ♂♂, Siâhbisheh- Yush Rd., 3 km Kamarbon vill., N 36˚13΄51.7˝, E 51˚24΄45.3˝, 2557 m, 21.-22.vii.2007, Âlipanâh, Falsafi, Zahiri leg. (gen. prep. HA-2472, HMIM) ; Tehrân Prov.: 1 ♂, Tehrân, Evin, 1.ix.1970, no collector is given (gen. prep. HA-2482, HMIM); West Âzarbâijân Prov.: 1 ♂, W Mâku, Ghezelbulâgh, 2220 m, 17.-18.vii.1976, Pâzuki, Borumand leg. , 1 ♂, W Mâku, Ghezelbulâgh, 1910 m, 27.vii.1976, Pâzuki, Borumand leg.

Distribution. East Turkey (Van Province) (Kemal et al. 2020).

Remarks. All the examined specimens are males, with uniformly brownish-olive forewing and slightly paler hindwing; however, there is an intraspecific variation among them in this regard, as some specimens have a clearly lighter hindwing (Fig. 20C, D). This variation is present even among members of a same population (specimens collected in Maku, West Azarbaijan Province). The postmedial line in most of the specimens collected from the north of Iran is hardly visible (Fig. 20C, D), but the specimens with brighter hindwings have a more distinguishable postmedial line.

Comparing the male genitalia of the Iranian specimens revealed that in all of them the fibula is slightly shorter (Fig. 21D, E) than in P. aerealis (Fig. 21A, B), and the shape of the juxta is different from that of P. aerealis (Fig. 21A, C, D, F) and similar to that described and illustrated by Kemal et al. (2020) (Fig. 21A, B; see also Kemal et al., 2020: 2, 4).

This species is newly reported for the fauna of Iran.