Palepicorsia ustrinalis (Christoph, 1877)

(Figs 29E, F, 30A, B)

Botys ustrinalis Christoph, 1877: 274–275, pl. 7 fig. 45.

TL: Rubas bei Derbent, Dagestan, Russia.

Syn.: Scopula palmalis Swinhoe, 1884: 525, pl. 48 fig. 11.

Metasia emiralis Oberth ̧r, 1888: 36–37, pl. 6 fig. 33.

Metasia excavatalis Ragonot in Staudinger, 1892: 294, pl. 3 fig. 14.

Material examined. 19 ♂♂, 58 ♀♀: Ardebil Prov.: 1 ♀, Moghân, 5.ix.1969, Damanâbi leg. , 1 ♀, Moghân, Oltân, Aras river, N 39˚36΄17.6˝, E 47˚45΄00.3˝, 138 m, 17.viii.2014, Afsariân leg. , 3 ♀♀, Moghân, Doost Kandi, N 39˚41΄07.4˝, E 47˚57΄58.6˝, 34 m, 18.viii.2014, Afsariân leg. ; Bushehr Prov.: 3 ♂♂, 16 ♀♀, Dâlaki, 130 m, 20.iii.1973, Abâi leg. , 7 ♀♀, Dâlaki, Bureki, 300 m, 21.iii.1973, Abâi leg. , 1 ♀, Jam, 620 m, 19.xi.1997, Barâri, Mofidi-Neyestânak, V. Nazari leg. ; East Âzarbâijân Prov.: 1 ♂ , 1 ♀, Kaleybar, Vâyeghân, 1440 m, 5.-6.viii.1992, Parchami-Arâghi, Badii leg. ; Fârs Prov.: 1 ♀, Dasht-e Arzhan, 10.vi.1973, Abâi leg. , 3 ♀♀, Tang-e Chogân, 30 km N Kâzerun, 930 m, 23.iii.1973, Abâi leg. ; Hormozgân Prov.: 1 ♀, Minâb, 13.iii.1971, Pâzuki, Âyatollâhi leg. , 5 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀, Bandar Abbâs- Minâb Rd. (km 15), 150 m, 1.iv.1973, Abâi leg. (gen. prep. HA-2668, HMIM) , 1 ♂, Bandar Abbâs, Rudân, 400 m, 4.iv.1973, Abâi leg. , 1 ♀, Isin, 240 m, 5.iv.1973, Abâi leg. , 1 ♀, Bandar Abbâs, Jalabi vill., 2.iii.1973, Ebert leg. , 1 ♀, 20 km NE Bandar Abbâs, Bâghu, 50 m, 30.iv.1984, Mirzâyâns, Borumand leg. , 3 ♀♀, Bandar Lengeh, Moghuyeh, 60 m, 20.xi.1997, V. Nazari, Barâri, Mofidi-Neyestânak leg. , 1 ♀, Jâsk-Sirik Rd. (km 7), N 25˚44΄24.8˝, E 57˚47΄37.1˝, 28 m, 21.ii.2012, Falsafi leg. , 1 ♂, 5 km N Bandar Chârak, 70 m, 24.iv.1977, Pâzuki, Hâshemi leg. ; Kermân Prov.: 1 ♀, Jiroft (16 km SW), 820 m, 19.v.1977, Safavi, Pâzuki leg. ; Khuzestân Prov.: 4 ♀♀, Ahwâz, Mollâsâni, 20 m, 16.v.1975, Pâzuki, Borumand leg. , 1 ♀, Dezful, Haft Tappeh, 70 m, 13.v.1975, Pâzuki, Borumand leg. , 1 ♂, Haft Tappeh, 70 m, 26.iv.1976, Pâzuki, Abâi leg. , 1 ♀, Shushtar, Kârun Company., 400 m, 2.vi.1998, Ebrâhimi, Mofidi-Neyestânak leg. (gen. prep. HA-2661, HMIM) , 1 ♀, Âbâdân, Ramileh, 8.v.2002, Moghaddam, Serri, Nematiân leg. , 1 ♂, Minu Isl., 0 m, 4.iii.1998, Barâri, Mofidi-Neyestânak, Âgh-Âtâbây leg. ; Razavi Khorâsân Prov.: 2 ♀♀, Daregaz, 3.viii.1971, Pâzuki, Âyatollâhi leg. , 1 ♀, Sarakhs, Khângirân, Cheshmeh Shur, 300 m, 16.viii.1993, Ebrâhimi, Badii leg. ; Semnân Prov.: 1 ♂, 20 km N Dâmghân, Cheshmeh Ali, N 35˚19΄01˝, E 54˚27΄17˝, 1560 m, 23.-24.v.2005, Falsafi, Nematiân leg. ; Sistân and Baluchestân Prov.: 1 ♂ , 1 ♀, Châbahâr, Tis, 50 m, 12.xi.1991, Mirzâyâns, Badii leg. , 2 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, Châbahâr, Zarâbâd, 26.iv.2003, Moghaddam, Serri leg. , 1 ♂, Châbahâr, Zarâbâd, 400 m, 2.i.2003, Hâjiesmailiân, Mofidi-Neyestânak leg. , 1 ♀, Nikshahr, Tang-e Sarheh, 1100 m, 16.v.1972, Abâi, Ebert leg. , 1 ♀, Sarheh, 9.viii.1967, Abâi leg. , 1 ♂, Khâsh, Taftân Mt., 1800 m, 20.v.1972, Abâi, Ebert leg. ; Tehrân Prov.: 1 ♀, Varâmin, 24.vii.1949, Eghlidi leg.

Distribution. Portugal, Spain (including Canary Islands), French mainland, Lot, Sardinia, Malta, Cyprus, Lower Volga (Astrakhan), North Africa, Transcaucasia, Jordan valley, southern part of Russia (Rubas near Derbent), Iran [Alborz (Karaj), Kerman (Anbar Abad), Khuzestan (Hamidiyeh (near Ahwaz), Shadegan, Shush) and Sistan and Baluchestan (Bandar Chabahar) Provinces], Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Western Sahara, Yemen, United Arab Emirates, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan (Christoph 1876 ‒1877; Amsel 1949b, 1959, 1961; Asselbergs 2008; Slamka 2013; de Jong et al. 2014; De Prins & De Prins 2011 –2021).

Remarks 1. The forewing of examined specimens varies from creamy with brown cross lines and spots, and a slightly darker area between the cross lines (Fig. 29E), to ochreous-brown and brown with darker and sometimes blackish-brown spots, cross lines and a darker area between the cross lines and the white external margin of the postmedial line (Fig. 29F, 30A). A single female collected from Bandar Abbas- Minab Rd., Hormozgan Province has ochreous-creamy forewings with a brown margin and pale brown spots and cross lines (Fig. 30B). The antemedial line of the latter specimen is hardly visible. The forewing colour of the remaining specimens with the same collecting data ranges from creamy to pale ochreous-brown and pale brown.

Remarks 2. “Rubas”, type locality of this species (Christoph 1876 ‒1877), is an area near Derbent in the Republic of Dagestan, Russia. It should not be confused with Darband in north of Tehran, Iran. Contrary to Nuss et al. (2003 –2022), the type locality of this species is located in south of Russia.

Genus Paracorsia Marion, 1959