Scopula flaccidaria (Zeller, 1852)

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 : 34

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5359.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:11CC5175-7CCE-453F-88EB-3490E82F4972
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10167969
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/D52D6D50-FFA2-FFE1-FF6F-FCB3FA48D889
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Scopula flaccidaria (Zeller, 1852)
status

Treatment

Scopula flaccidaria (Zeller, 1852) View in CoL

( Plate 8, Figs 3–6; Plate 18 View PLATE 18 , Figs 1–2; Plate 25 View PLATE 25 , Figs 5–6; Map 9)

Geometra (Acidalia) flaccidaria Zeller, 1852 . Stettiner entomologische Zeitung, 13 (6): 184. Syntypes ( Turkey: Bursa (‘ Brussa’ )) (NHMUK, examined).

Scopula iranaria Bytinski-Salz & Brandt, 1937 . The entomologist’s record and journal of variation, 49: (11). Holotype ♁ ( Iran, Keredj ) (ZFMK, examined). Here regarded as synonym based on morphological examination and sympatric occurrence of these forms.

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

Type material examined. Scopula iranaria Cotype ♁, Iran, Keredj , 1400 m, 1933, leg. F. Brandt, Dr. H. Bytinski-Salz, g. prep. 2299/2020 H. Rajaei; in ZFMK.

Paratypes 1 ♁, 1 ♀, Iran, Elbursgebirge , Keredj, 1400 m, 12.v.1936, coll. Brandt, (♁) NHRS-LEPI 000010317, g. prep. 11060, (♀) NHRS-LEPI 000010318, g. prep. 11061; in NHRS .

Additional material examined: 14 ♁/ ♀ (see appendix).

Diagnosis. Wingspan ♁ ♀ 18–24mm. In Iran Scopula flaccidaria can externally be confused only with S. nigropunctata in Iran, therefore it is compared here against this species. Ground colour ( Plate 8, Figs 3–6) beige, hindwings pointed out (beige, hindwings not pointed out in S. nigropunctata ) (see Plate 5, Figs 1–2; Plate 8, Figs 3–6).

In the male genitalia 8th sternite not strongly broadened, basally convex, both cerata long (very broad, square-like, basally straight, with thin cerata, left short, right long in S. nigropunctata ) (see Plate 13 View PLATE 13 , Fig. 2; Plate 18 View PLATE 18 , Figs 1–2).

In the female genitalia lamella antevaginalis ring-shaped, antrum with tulip shaped sclerite (big with irregular folds in S. nigropunctata ) (see Plate 22 View PLATE 22 , Fig. 5; Plate 25 View PLATE 25 , Figs 5–6).

Phenology. Generally, bivoltine, probably trivoltine, with a first generation from mid-May to mid-June and a second generation from mid-July to late August, the potential third generation from early to late September (Hausmann 2004). Investigated specimens in Iran were collected from March to September.

Biology. Larvae feed on Polygonum , Plantago and Taraxacum officinale (Hausmann 2004) .

Habitat. In Europe at altitudes from 0 m to 300 m, in Turkey to 1200 m (Hausmann 2004) . Investigated specimens in Iran were collected from 0 m to 1300 m .

Distribution. In Europe from eastern Austria to Ukraine and southern European Russia (Hausmann 2004). In Turkey, the Caucasus, Transcaucasus, Cyprus, Israel, northern Iraq and Central Asia ( Wiltshire 1948; Wiltshire 1957; Viidalepp 1996; Hausmann 2004; Makhov 2023). In Iran distributed in the northern parts (Map 9). Reported in the literature also for the provinces Khorasan-e Shomali and Mazandaran ( Schwingenschuss 1939; Prout 1912 – 1915; Sutton 1963; Wiltshire 1966; Viidalepp 1988; Hausmann 2004).

DNA-barcoding. Nearest species: S. albidaria (Staudinger, 1901) with 4.8 % (see Supplementary Table S1).