Heliocheilus confertissima (Walker, 1865)

Matov, Alexej, Zahiri, Reza & Holloway, Jeremy D., 2008, The Heliothinae of Iran (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Zootaxa 1763, pp. 1-37 : 22-23

Heliocheilus confertissima (Walker, 1865)

Pl. 2, fig. 16; male genitalia Pl. 7, fig. 34.

Leucania confertissima Walker, 1865 , List. Spec. Lep. Ins. Coll. Br. Mus. 32: 625 (TL.: [ India]: South Indostan).

Synonymy: Heliocheilus hyalosticta Hampson, 1894 , Raghuva perdentata Hampson, 1903 , Heliocheilus mekrana Brandt, 1941 , Heliocheilus designata Brandt, 1941 , Raghuva ennedica Herbulot & Viette, 1952 . References: Brandt 1941 ( Heliocheilus mekrana , Heliocheilus designata ); Ebert & Hacker 2002 ( Heliocheilus confertissima ).

Bionomics: Univoltine. Moths flying from February to April. The species inhabits deserts and semi-deserts on lowlands and medium elevations (200 – 1100 m). Larval host-plants are unknown.

Distribution: Afrotropical-Asiatic. East Africa, Iran, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, India, Myanmar. – In Iran (Pl. 11, fig. 64) occurs in provinces Qom, Hormozgan and Sistan va Baluchestan.

Material examined: Qom: Qom, 20 km S dl., 1100 m, 28.IV.1975, leg. Thomas ( SMNK). Hormozgan: Sarkhoun, 08.III.1972, leg. Mirzayans & Borumand; Sirik, 30 m, 19.III.1991, leg. Mirzayans & Badii; Kuh-e- Geno, 550-650 m, 01-05.III.1973, leg. Ebert; Shirin Rud, 45 km NE, Bandar-e-Abbas, 20 m, 02.III.1973, leg. Ebert ( SMNK); Straße nach Sirjan, km 107, Bandar-e-Abbas, 850 m, 07.III.1973, leg. Ebert ( SMNK); Bandar-Abbas (Düden), 17 km östl., 15.IV.1972, leg. Exped. Mus. Vind. ( NHMW); Bandar-Abbas (Düden), 17 km östl., 05.IV.1974, leg. Vartian ( NHMW). Sistan va Balouchestan: Bandar-e-Chabahar, 1938, leg. Brandt; Bandar-e-Chabahar, 21.II.1938, leg. Brandt (paratype, SMNK). Sharistan: Kuche Makran, 6[19].03.1901, leg. Zarudnyj ( ZISP).