Pyrausta aurata Scopoli, 1763

(Figs 11E, F, 12A)

Phalaena aurata Scopoli, 1763: 227 .

TL: Slovenian mountains [in montanis Carnioliae]

Syn.: Botys purpuralis var. meridionalis Staudinger, 1879: 168 .

Pyrausta deficiens Dufrane, 1957 .

Pyrausta inciae Koçak, 1981: 65 .

Material examined. 61 ♂♂, 40 ♀♀: Alborz Prov.: 1 ♂, Karaj, Sarvdâr, 10.v.1969, Bahreini leg. , 1 ♀, Karaj, Kalhâ, 2000 m, 25.-26.viii.1996, Barâri, Badii, Sarafrâzi leg. , 1 ♀, Tâleghân, Sabzân, 1550 m, 30.viii.-1.ix.1996, Badii, Barâri, Sarafrâzi leg. , 1 ♀, Âsârâ, 40 km N Karaj, 27.vi.1971, Safavi, Borumand, Kâviân, Ghâzioff leg. ; Ardebil Prov.: 1 ♂, Ardebil, 10 km N Namin, 1450 m, 15.viii.1991, Hâshemi, Parchami-Arâghi leg. ; East Âzarbâijân Prov.: 4 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, Kaleybar, Vâyeghân, 1440 m, 5.-6.viii.1992, Parchami-Arâghi, Badii leg. , 1 ♀, Kaleybar, Âinâloo, Alhord, Arasbârân forest, N 38˚55΄1.1˝, E 46˚47΄38˝, 1440 m, 28.vii.2007, Zahiri, Falsafi, Âlipanâh leg. , 1 ♂, Kaleybar, N 38˚50΄33.9˝, E 47˚00΄28.3˝, 1791 m, 22.viii.2014, Afsariân leg. ; Fârs Prov.: 1 ♀, Kâzerun, Nurâbâd, 1550 m, 12.ix.1974, Pâzuki, Hâshemi leg. ; Qom Prov.: 1 ♀, Qom Lake, 21.vi.1975, Abâi leg. ; Gilân Prov.: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Asâlem, Shondol, 950 m, 9.viii.1974, Mirzâyâns, Farahbakhsh leg. , 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Bandar Anzali, 30 km S Asâlem, Punel, 250 m, 12.viii.1974, Mirzâyâns, Ilkhâni leg. , 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Asâlem, Pisâson, 1300 m, 15.-16.viii.1980, Pâzuki, Borumand leg. , 1 ♂, Asâlem, Sheykh Mahal, 160 m, 28.-30.vi.1977, Pâzuki, Mortazavihâ leg. , 3 ♂♂, 15 km Asâlem- Pisâson Rd., 220 m, 30.viii.1975, Mirzâyâns leg. , 1 ♂, 15 km Tâlesh, Rek, 570 m, 31.viii.1975, Mirzâyâns leg. , 1 ♂, Tâlesh, Tulârud, N 37˚45΄12.2˝, E 48˚54΄50.6˝, 144 m, 17.vii.2013, Afsariân, Sarafrâzi leg. , 1 ♀, Eshkevar, Siâkoshân, 320 m, 25.vi.1997, Barâri, Mofidi-Neyestânak leg. , 1 ♂ 1 ♀, Heyrân mountain pass, 1128 m, 10.ix.2004, Moghaddam, Hâjiesmailiân leg. , 1 ♀, Deylamân, Maloumeh vill. Rd., N 36˚51΄40.7˝, E 49˚55΄23.8˝, 1325 m, 3.viii.2008, Âlipanâh, Nematiân leg. , 1 ♀, Amârloo, 28.ix.1970, Ebert, Abâi leg. , 1 ♂, Âstârâ, N 38˚17΄14.6˝, E 48˚52΄22.1˝, 46 m, 18.vii.2013, Afsariân, Sarafrâzi leg.; Golestân Prov.: 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Golestân National Park, Mazârli, 530 m, 19.-20.vi.1977, Pâzuki, Abâi leg. , 1 ♂, Golestân National Park, Tang-e Gol, N 37˚22΄14.7˝, E 55˚56΄00.0˝, 718 m, 6.ix.2009, Âlipanâh, Buszko leg. ; Hamedân Prov.: 1 ♀, Âvaj, 2080 m, 10.viii.1996, Barâri, V. Nazari, Parchami-Arâghi leg. ; Kermân Prov: 4 ♂♂, Jiroft, Esfandagheh, Sargaz, 1650 m, 20.v.1977, Safavi, Pâzuki leg. , 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Bâft, Lâlehzâr, 2800 m, 29.v.1977, Safavi, Pâzuki, Abâi leg. , 1 ♀, Jebâl-e Bârez, 12.vi.1971, Naim, Hâshemi leg. ; Kermânshâh Prov.: 1 ♀, Mâhidasht, Châhârzebar-e Olyâ, 1500 m, 21.viii.1996, Parchami-Arâghi, Barâri, V. Nazari leg. , 1 ♂, 5 km E Kangâvar, 1500 m, 29.vi.1972, Mirzâyâns, Abâi leg. ; Kordestân Prov.: 3 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, Marivân, Kânisânân, 1320 m, 9.viii.2004, Ghayurfar, Nematiân leg. ; Khuzestân Prov.: 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, Minu Isl., 29.iv.1976, Pâzuki, Abâi leg. , 2 ♂♂, Behbahân, 350 m, 3.v.1995, Parchami-Arâghi, Ardeh, Badii leg. ; Mâzandarân Prov.: 2 ♂♂, Kelârdasht, Toydarreh, Mâzichâl, 1400 m, 24.v.2003, Gilâsiân, Nematiân leg. (gen. prep. HA-2480, HMIM) , 1 ♂, Tonekâbon, 22.vii.1980, Hâshemi, Zairi leg. , 1 ♂, Tonekâbon, Dohezâr, 650 m, 29, 30.v.2003, Gilâsiân, Hâjiesmailiân leg. , 1 ♂, Tonekâbon, Dohezâr, N 36˚38΄27.5˝, E 50˚43΄11.5˝, 606 m, 5.x.2007, Âlipanâh, Buszko, Zahiri leg. , 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Tonekâbon, Sehezâr, Âsh Mahalleh, 760 m, 7.ix.1990, Ebrâhimi, Badii leg. , 1 ♀, Malâr, 15.viii.1971, Sabzevâri leg. , 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, Râmsar, Dâlikhâni, 950 m, 1.ix.1975, Mirzâyâns leg. , 2 ♀♀, Zirâb, Palang Darreh, 540 m, 24.-25.vi.1977, Pâzuki, Mortazavihâ leg. , 1 ♀, Sari, Amreh II vill., Amreh forest, 500 m, 10.vi.2005, Nematiân, Âlipanâh, Sinev leg. ; North Khorâsân Prov.: 1 ♂, Âshkhâneh, Mehmânak vill., N 37˚29΄36.5˝, E 56˚52΄27.6˝, 1040 m, 17.vi.2013, Âlipanâh, Falsafi leg. ; Razavi Khorâsân Prov.: 2 ♀♀, 20 km S Mashhad, 1000 m, 3.ix.1980, Hâshemi, Zairi leg. , 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Zoshk, 10.vii.1971, Pâzuki, Âyatollâhi leg. , 3 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, N Binâlud Mt., 1800 m, 11.-12.viii.1993, Ebrâhimi, Badii leg. , 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Neyshâbur, 27.vii.1971, Pâzuki, Âyatollâhi leg. ; Sistân and Baluchestân Prov.: 1 ♂, Khâsh, Taftân Mt., 1800 m, 20.v.1972, Abâi, Ebert leg. ; Tehrân Prov.: 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Damâvand, Âbsard, 1900 m, 3.-7.vii.1978, Pâzuki, Sabzevâri leg. , 1 ♂, Firuzkuh, Zarrin Dasht, 1980 m, 21.viii.1984, Mirzâyâns, Borumand leg. ; West Âzarbâijân Prov.: 2 ♂♂, Orumiyeh, 2, 6.ix.1969, Javân-Moghaddam leg. , 2 ♂♂, Orumiyeh, Kahriz, 23.viii.1976, no collector is given, 1 ♀, Orumiyeh, 23.viii, 23.xi.1976 , no collector is given, 1 ♂, Poldasht- Mâku Rd., 20 km E Mâku, N 39˚16΄58.5˝, E 44˚41΄1.2˝, 996 m, 17.ix.2011, Âlipanâh, Falsafi leg. , 1 ♂, Mâku, Sangar vill., N 39˚18΄37.5˝, E 44˚26΄8.52˝, 1004 m, 16.ix.2011, Âlipanâh, Falsafi leg.

Distribution. Europe including the Canary Islands; Turkey; North Africa; Central Asia; Transcaucasia; Palestine, Syria, Siberia, Zabaykalye, Primorye, Afghanistan, Mongolia (Slamka, 2013), Iran: Alborz (Karaj and Nesa), Fars (Qalat, Komehr, Sepidan, Shiraz), Golestan (Golestan National Park [Tang-e Gol] and Gorgan), Razavi Khorasan (Binalud Mt.) and Yazd (Barfkhaneh) Provinces (Lederer 1871; Amsel 1961; Mirzayans & Kalali 1970; Wieser et al. 2002; Slamka 2013).

Remarks. A large number of specimens of this species were examined in this study. Most of them have an orange-brown to reddish-brown ground colour with yellowish-orange to orange markings (Fig. 11E). Some specimens have distinctly paler ground colour and markings (Fig. 11F), and a few of them are with yellow to yellowish-orange and partly reduced markings on dark brown ground colour (Fig. 12A). These variations frequently occur in specimens of the same population.