Problepsis wiltshirei (Prout, 1938)

Wanke, Dominic, Hausmann, Axel, Lee, Kyung Min, Murillo-Ramos, Leidys, Sihvonen, Pasi & Rajaei, Hossein, 2023, Systematics and integrative taxonomic revision of the tribe Scopulini Duponchel, 1845 in Iran (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Sterrhinae), Zootaxa 5359 (1), pp. 1-96 : 9

Problepsis wiltshirei (Prout, 1938)

Somatina wiltshirei Prout, 1938 . In: Seitz, A. (Ed.), Die Grossschmetterlinge der Erde. Supplement zu Band 4, 220. 2 ♁ Syntypes ( Iraq: Kurdistan, Rowanduz [Rawanduz Gorge], Berserini [ Berserini Gorge ]); 1 Syntype specimen [gender is not given in the original publication], [ Iran]: Fars, Ardekan Talochosroe [Tall Khosrow, today in prov. Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad]) (in NHMUK). Transferred to Problepsis by Wanke et al. (2021).

Remarks. This species was described in the genus Somatina , but was recently transferred to the genus Problepsis based on morphological and molecular data (see Wanke et al. 2021b).

Diagnosis. See diagnosis for P. cinerea .

Biology & Habitat. Possible host plants include Fraxinus sp. ( Oleaceae ) and Acer sp. ( Sapindaceae ) ( Wiltshire 1943). The latter is atypical for this genus and needs further investigation ( Wanke et al. 2021b).

Distribution. This species is distributed only in the Middle East ( Iran, Iraq and Turkey) ( Wanke et al. 2021b). It has been recorded from south-western Iran, from the provinces Kohgiluyeh-va-Boyer-Ahmad, Khuzestan, Esfahan and Fars ( Wanke et al. 2021b).

DNA-barcoding. Nearest species: P. ocellata and P. cinerea , both with a genetic distance of 4.2% ( Wanke et al. 2021b).