Mecyna subsequalis (Herrich-Schäffer, 1855)

Alipanah, Helen & Slamka, František, 2023, A revision of the subfamily Spilomelinae (Lepidoptera, Crambidae) in Iran with description of a new species, Zootaxa 5248 (1), pp. 1-70 : 58-59

Mecyna subsequalis (Herrich-Schäffer, 1855)

( Figs 26D‒F , 27A )

Mecyna subsequalis subsequalis (Herrich-Schäffer, 1855)

Botys subsequalis Herrich-Schäffer, 1851 , Syst. Bearb. Schmett. Eur. 6: 141, pl. 19 fig. 133. TL: Turkey, Amasia [NE Turkey]. Mecyna subsequalis lutulentalis ( Lederer, 1858) syn. n.

Botys lutulentalis Lederer, 1858 , Wien. ent. Monatschr. 2: 148, Taf. 4 fig. 2. TL: Syria: Damascus (syntypes).

Material examined. 47 ÔÔ 62 ♀♀: Alborz Prov.: 2 ÔÔ, Dizin , 4.viii.1973, Ebert leg. , 1 Ô 2 ♀♀, Karaj, Dizin , 2900 m, 20.viii.1978, Hâshemi, Zairi leg. , 1 Ô, Karaj, Shahrestânak, Kil Kolâ fountain, 2400 m, 20.vii.1988, Mirzâyâns, Badii leg. , 3 ÔÔ 4 ♀♀, Karaj, Kalhâ , 2000 m, 25.–26.viii.1996, Barâri, Badii, Sarafrâzi leg. , 4 ÔÔ 6 ♀♀, Karaj, Âzâdbar , 2000 m, 27.–28.viii.1996, Barâri, Badii, Sarafrâzi leg. , 1 Ô, Tâleghân, Dizân , N 36°13ˊ47.9″, E 50°57ˊ6.7″, 2284 m, 28.vii.2015, Mozaffariân leg. ; Ardebil Prov.: 1 ♀, Meshginshahr, Ilându , 1800 m, 3.vii.1997, Barâri, Mofidi-Neyestânak leg. ; East Âzarbâijân Prov .: 1 ♀, Bâsmenj , 27.viii.1974, Damanâbi leg. , 1 ♀, Miâneh, Bozghush , 2250 m, 29.–30.vii.1992, Parchami-Arâghi, Badii leg. ; Esfahân Prov.: 1 ♀, Fereydunshahr, Meydânak, Kamarân , 2750 m, 12.vii.2003, Ghayurfar, Ebert, Trusch, Nematiân leg. , 1 Ô 1 ♀, Semirom, Pâdenâ, Tang-e Bizhan , 2930 m, 12.viii.1978, Pâzuki, Borumand leg. , 1 ♀, Semirom, Pâdenâ, Tang-e Nevel , 2200 m, 12.–13.ix.1991, Ebrâhimi, Badii leg. , 1 ♀, Semirom, Sivar , 2150 m, 9.viii.1978, Pâzuki, Borumand leg. ; Golestân Prov.: 1 ♀, Gorgân, Shâhkuh-e Bâlâ , 2100 m, 19.vii.2003, Âlipanâh, Ebrâhimi leg. ; Hamedân Prov.: 1 Ô 1 ♀, Hamedân, Morâdbeyk valley , 2200 m, 25.–26.viii.1995, Mirzâyâns, Abâi leg. , 2 ♀♀, Âvaj , 2080 m, 10.viii.1996, Barâri, V. Nazari, Parchami-Arâghi leg. , 1 Ô 3 ♀♀, Hamedân, Târik Darreh , 2000 m, 26.vii.1987, Mirzâyâns, Hâshemi leg. , 9 ÔÔ 1 ♀, Hamedân, Asadâbâd , 2180 m, 1.viii.1987, Mirzâyâns, Hâshemi leg. ; Kohgiluyeh and Boyerahmad Prov. : 3 ÔÔ 6 ♀♀, Yâsuj, Sisakht, Kuhgol , 2300 m, 14.ix.1998, Manzari, Mofidi-Neyestânak leg. , 3 ÔÔ 2 ♀♀, Sisakht, Tang-e Kuhgol , 2300 m, 9.ix.1991, Ebrâhimi, Badii leg. , 2 ÔÔ 1 ♀, Sisakht, Bizhan mountain pass, 2700 m, 12.ix.1991, Ebrâhimi, Badii leg. , 1 Ô 1 ♀, Noghol, Pâdenâ , 2200 m, 15.ix.1998, Manzari, Mofidi-Neyestânak leg. , 1 Ô 1 ♀, Meymand, Denâ Mt. , 2200 m, 11.ix.1974, Pâzuki, Hâshemi leg. , 2 ♀♀, 5 km N Meymand, NW Denâ Mt. , 2210 m, 18.–20.viii.1976, Pâzuki, Borumand leg. ; Kordestân Prov.: 1 ♀, 23 km NE Bâneh, Saghez- Bâneh Rd. , 1750 m, 2.vii.1975, Pâzuki leg. ; Lorestân Prov.: 3 ÔÔ 8 ♀♀, Aznâ, Oshtorânkuh, Kamandân , 2050 m, 23.viii.1995, Mirzâyâns, Badii leg. (gen. prep. HA-2807, HMIM) , 1 Ô, Aligudarz, Kamandân , 2000 m, 3.viii.1997, Barâri, Mofidi-Neyestânak leg. , 1 Ô, 38 km E Borujerd, Zâliân mountain pass, 2300 m, 27.vii.1975, Pâzuki leg. ; Mâzandarân Prov.: 1 Ô, Elikâ , 2100 m, 23.ix.1987, Hâshemi leg. , 2 ♀♀, Baladeh, Yush , 1920 m, 13.ix.1996, Badii, Ardeh, Hâshemi leg. , 1 ♀, Châlus, Siâhbisheh , 2.vii.1965, Moayeri leg. ; Tehrân Prov.: 1 Ô, Lâr valley , 2420 m, 24.–25.viii.1992, Ebrâhimi, Badii leg. , 1 Ô, Lâr, Emâmzâdeh , 2500 m, 13.viii.1993, Parchami-Arâghi, Ebrâhimi leg. , 1 Ô, Târ Lake , 2700 m, 24.viii.1992, Ebrâhimi, Badii leg. , 1 ♀, Târ Lake, Palang Darreh , 2000 m, 16.ix.1987, Hâshemi leg. , 1 ♀, Shemshak , 25.vii.1969, Mirzâyâns, Abâi leg. , 1 ♀, Shemshak , 2700 m, 11.–12.viii.1981, Hâshemi leg. , 1 ♀, Fasham , 1450 m, 5.ix.1987, Hâshemi leg. ; West Âzarbâijân Prov.: 1 Ô, Bâzargân , 11.ix.1975, Abâi leg. , 1 Ô 1 ♀, Khoy, Habasheh Soflâ , 1825 m, 19.–20.viii.1994, Sarafrâzi, Ebrâhimi leg. , 1 Ô 2 ♀♀, W Mâku, Ghezelbolâgh , 27.vii.1976, Pâzuki, Borumand leg. (gen. prep. HA-2805, HMIM) , 1 Ô, Mâku, Sangar vill., N 39°18ˊ37.5″, E 44°26ˊ8.52″, 1004 m, 16.ix.2011, Âlipanâh, Falsafi leg. , 4 ♀♀, Orumiyeh , 1.–3.vi.1975, Abâi leg. ; Zanjân Prov.: 1 ♀, Zanjân- Bijâr Rd. , 50 km SW Zanjân, 1700 m, 28.vi.1975, Pâzuki leg.

Diagnosis. This species is represented by two subspecies, M. subsequalis subsequalis and M. subsequalis lutulentalis Lederer, 1858 ( Slamka 2013) , of which the latter subspecies has been reported from Syria and Lebanon. In the former subspecies whitish markings of the wings are reduced; while the latter one has more extensive but less contrastry whitish markings ( Slamka 2013). As stated by Slamka (2013), the nominotypical subspecies is reported from N Iran. We examined large series of this species collected from north, west, and north-western parts of the country.All specimens collected from Kohgiluyeh and Boyerahmad and Zanjan provinces ( Fig. 26D ) match with M. subsequalis lutulentalis . However, those collected from East Azarbaijan, Ardebil and Kordestan provinces resemble the nominotypical form to a large extent. In the remaining areas (i.e., West Azarbaijan, Tehran, Alborz, Mazandaran, Hamedan, Lorestan and Esfahan Provinces), both forms are present, even among the specimens of a same population ( Figs 26E, F , 27A ). There was no genital difference among the examined material. Therefore, we believe that the above mentioned variations can only be considered as intraspecific variations, and hence, here we consider M subsequalis lutulentalis as a junior synonym of M. subsequalis subsequalis .

Distribution. Greece, Crete, Crimea, S Russia; Turkey; Transcaucasia, N Iran, Syria and Lebanon ( Slamka 2013). In Iran it has been reported from Alborz (Elburz, Nesa), Fars (Komehr), Hamedan (Alvand Mt., Soltanabad), Mazandaran (Kandovan Rd., Tarsi Kola), Tehran (Lar valley, Rineh-Damavand, and Tochal), and Golestan (Gorgan) Provinces ( Lederer 1871; Zerny 1940; Amsel 1961).

Unplaced species in the genus

Figures

FIGURE 26. A) Mecyna amasialis (Staudinger), male. B, C) M. marcidalis (Fuchs), both male, Kerman, Pariz. D‒F) M. subsequalis (Herrich-Schäffer), female, Kohgiluyeh and Boyerahmad, Padena (D), female, West Azarbaijan, Ghezelbolagh (E), and female, Tehran, Shemshak (F) (scale bar = 10.0 mm).

FIGURE 27. A) Mecyna subsequalis (Herrich-Schäffer), female, West Azarbaijan, Orumiyeh. B, C) Nomophila noctuella (Denis & Schifferm̧ller), male, Kerman, Fariab (B), and male, Tehran, Evin (C). D) Elbursia stocki Amsel, male. C) Mukia nigroanalis Amsel, male. D) Iranomecyna dimorphalis Amsel, male (scale bar = 10.0 mm).