Scopula minorata (Boisduval, 1833)

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 : 35

Scopula minorata (Boisduval, 1833)

( Plate 8, Figs 7–9; Plate 18 , Fig. 3; Plate 26 , Fig. 1; Map 9)

Geometra minorata Boisduval, 1833 : Nouvelles annales du Muséum d’histoire naturelle Paris 2: 263. Syntype (s) ( Mauritius).

Synonymies (for more details on nomenclature see Scoble 1999 and Hausmann 2004): Acidalia ochroleucaria Herrich-Schäffer, 1847 (southern Europe); Acidalia inustaria Herrich-Schäffer, 1847 (central Italy); Acidalia colonaria Herrich-Schäffer, 1852 (locality not stated); Acidalia accessaria Herrich-Schäffer, 1852 (locality not stated); Acidalia mauritiata Guenée, 1858 ( Mauritius) (according to Hausmann (2004: 332): unnecessary replacement name for minorata ); Acidalia luculata Guenée, 1858 ( Reunion: Bourbon island); Acidalia recessaria Guenée, 1858 (Europe) (according to Hausmann (2004: 332): unnecessary replacement name for accessaria ); Acidalia ochroleucata Guenée, 1858 (southern Europe, Cyprus); Acidalia consentanea Walker, 1861 ( South Africa: Cape); Acidalia hypochra Meyrick, 1888 ( Australia: Queensland, Duaringa; New South Wales, Sydney; South Australia, Mt. Lofty) (according to Hausmann (2004: 332): synonymy uncertain); Cleta ochroleucata var. inustata Gumppenberg, 1890 ; Acidalia corcularia Rebel, 1894 (Canary Islands); Acidalia holobapharia Mabille, 1900 ( Madagascar: Diego Suarez); Emmiltis (Craspedia) mombasae Warren, 1904 ( Kenya: Mombassa); Acidalia tremula Bastelberger, 1909 ( Mozambique); Acidalia turbidaria cheimerinaria Rebel, 1928 ( Cyprus: Limassol); Ptychopoda medioumbraria Turati, 1930 ( Libya, Tripolitania: Sidi Messri); Acidalia (Ustocidalia) turbulentaria tripolitana Sterneck 1933 ( Libya: Tripoli); Scopula ochroleucaria ab. loc. serrans Prout, 1935 ( Jordan: Ghor el Safieh); Acidalia dresnayi D. Lucas, 1937 ( Morocco: Rabat).

For the list of unavailable names, see Hausmann (2004).

Material examined: 7 ♁/ ♀ (see appendix).

Diagnosis. Wingspan ♁ ♀ 14–20 mm (Hausmann 2004). Ground colour yellowish-beige ( Plate 8, Figs 7–9). Scopula minorata can externally be confused with S. adelpharia and S. lactarioides , but the genitalia of these three species are characteristic and can be used for species identification.

In the male genitalia 8th sternite with left ceras long, right ceras short (right ceras long, left ceras short and curved in S. adelpharia ; both cerata long in S. lactarioides ) (see Plate 18 , Figs 3–4; Plate 19 , Fig. 1).

In the female genitalia antrum with an oval sclerite, apically notched (with half-moon-shaped sclerite in S. adelpharia ; with small rounded sclerite in S. lactarioides ). Signum oval (weakly developed, elongated and narrow in S. adelpharia ; absent S. lactarioides ) (see Plate 26 , Figs 1–2, 5).

Phenology. Plurivoltine species, generally active in all months of the year (Hausmann 2004). Investigated specimens in Iran were collected from March to May.

Biology. Larva polyphagous on a wide range of plant species of different families (e.g., Apocynaceae , Petuniaceae, Fabaceae ) (see Hausmann 2004).

Habitat. At altitudes from 0 m to 200 m , rarely to 700 m (Hausmann 2004). Investigated specimen in Iran was collected in 17 m.

Distribution. Distributed along the Mediterranean coasts in Europe, Africa, Madagascar, Levant, Turkey, Afghanistan and Pakistan (Hausmann 2004). In Iran distributed in the northern province Golestan and the southern province Hormozgan (Map 9). Reported in the literature also for the provinces Khorassan-e Shomali and Qazvin ( Wiltshire 1980; Hausmann 2004; Wieser & Stangelmaier 2005).

DNA-barcoding. Nearest species: S. imitaria with 8.0 % (see Supplementary Table S1).

Figures

PLATE 18: Figures 1–6. Male genitalia of Scopula species.1: S. flaccidaria (N-Iran,Masandaran,Schasavar,g.prep.1053/2021 D. Wanke). 2: S. iranaria syn. nov. of S. flaccidaria (Cotype, Iran, Kerdej, g. prep. 2299/2020 H. Rajaei); 3: S. minorata (Spain, Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, g. prep. 1248/2021 D. Wanke); 4: S. adelpharia (S Iran, Hormozgan, Sirki, g. prep. 1309/2022 D. Wanke); 5: S. albiceraria (Mongolia, Selenge aimag, near Ochron, g. prep. 1305/2022 D. Wanke); 6: S. immistaria (N Iran, Masandaran, Damavand, g. prep. 0830/2020 D. Wanke); a = genitalia capsule; b = aedeagus; c = 8th sternite. Scale-bar 1 mm.

PLATE 19: Figures 1–4. Male genitalia of Scopula species. 1: S. lactarioides (Iran, Baloutchistan, Bender Tchahbahar, g. prep. 11057); 2: S. diffinaria diffinaria (a, b, c1: [Turkey], Akschehir, g. prep. 0574/2020 D. Wanke, c2: Iran, Elbours, Polour, g. prep. 0533/2020 D. Wanke; c3: Iran, Kordestan, NE Baneh, g. prep. 0653/2020 D.Wanke); 3: S. diffinaria asiatica syn. nov. of S. diffinaria diffinaria (a, b, c1: Paratype, Iran, Fars, [Komehr], g. prep. 10872, c2: S Iran, Fars, Tange Surkh, g. prep. 0592/2020 D. Wanke); 4: S. orbeorum (Holotype, [Iran], Tach i Suleiman, g. prep. 1970 ZSM Hausmann). a = genitalia capsule; b = aedeagus; c = 8th sternite. Scale-bar 1 mm.

PLATE 26: Figures 1–7. Female genitalia of Scopula species. 1: S. minorata (Spain, Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, g. prep. 1249/2021 D. Wanke); 2: S. adelpharia (Sudan, Ed Damer, Hudeiba, g. prep. 1270/2022 D. Wanke); 3: S. albiceraria (SW- Mongolia, SSW Zhargalan, g. prep. 1301/2022 D. Wanke); 4: S. immistaria (Iran, Tehran, NNW Shemshak, g. prep. 0832/2020 D. Wanke); 5: S. lactarioides (Iran, Makran, Chahbar Küste, g. prep. 0879/2020 D. Wanke); 6: S. diffinaria diffinaria (Iran, Mazandaran, S Shah Kuh-e Pain, g. prep. 0521/2020 D. Wanke). Scale-bar 1 mm.