Achyra nudalis (Hübner, 1796)

(Fig. 27D‒F)

Pyralis nudalis Ḩbner, 1796: pl. 14 fig. 90.

TL: Not stated.

Syn.: Pyralis interpunctalis Ḩbner, 1796: 11, pl. 19 fig. 128.

Nymphula unipunctalis Duponchel, 1831: 166, pl. 221 fig. 5.

Nymphula bipunctalis Duponchel, 1832: 167–168, pl. 221 fig. 6.

Botys lacunalis Zeller, 1852: 42 .

Botys pauciferalis Walker, 1866: 1413 .

Aplographe fulvalis Warren, 1892: 301 .

Pionea xanthalis Fawcett, 1916: 736 .

Achyra nudalis brunnealis Caradja, 1916: 25–26 ( Loxostege nudalis var.)

Achyra nudalis sepialis Caradja, 1935: 8 ( Loxostege nudalis var.)

Material examined. 28 ♂♂, 31 ♀♀: Ardebil Prov.: 2 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, Meshginshahr, Âlni, N 38˚26΄20.46˝, E 47˚43΄38.81˝, 1340 m, 13.vii.2013, Afsariân, Sarafrâzi leg., 1 ♂, Moghân, Oltân, Aras river, N 39˚36΄17.6˝, E 47˚45΄00.3˝, 138 m, 17.viii.2014, Afsariân leg. (gen. prep. HA-2596, HMIM) ; East Âzarbâijân Prov.: 1 ♂, Marand, 1050 m, 4.vi.1975, Abâi leg. (gen. prep. HA-2433, HMIM) , 3 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀, 42 km N Marand, 1100 m, 7.vi.1975, Abâi leg. , 1 ♂, Marand, Zenuz, N 38˚36΄24˝, E 45˚48΄40˝, 1620 m, 13.vii.2005, Zahiri, Golmohammadzâdeh-Khiâbân leg. , 1 ♂, Miâneh, Bochogli, 1450 m, 26.v.2004, Gilâsiân, Ghayurfar leg. , 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Jolfâ, 8.vi.1975, Abâi leg. , 2 ♀♀, Jolfâ, Nourduz, Aras river, N 38˚53΄59˝, E 46˚17΄53˝, 520 m, 14.vii.2005, Zahiri, Golmohammadzâdeh-Khiâbân leg. , 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀, Khodââfarin, Jânânlu, 360 m, 20.v.2004, Ghayurfar, Gilâsiân leg. ; Gilân Prov.: 1 ♀, Bandar Anzali, 15.vii.1966, Mirzâyâns leg. , 1 ♀, Tâlesh, Asâlem, 1250 m, 6.ix.1972, Borumand, Zairi leg. , 1 ♀, Rasht, 0 m, 22.vi.2001, Ghayurfar leg. ; Golestân Prov.: 2 ♂♂, Gorgân, 3.ix.1963, Dararâghi leg. (gen. prep. HA-2541, HMIM) , 1 ♀, Gonbad Kâvus, 11.vi.1967, Bayât Asadi leg. , 1 ♀, Âghghalâ, Chinsivly, 0 m, 2.vii.2001, Ebrâhimi, Osten, Mofidi-Neyestânak leg. , 1 ♀, Golestân National Park, Tang Râh Ranger Sta., N 37˚23΄54.06˝, E 55˚47΄52.68˝, 476 m, 30.viii.2009, Âlipanâh, Buszko, Falsafi leg., 1 ♂, Golestân National Park, Tang-e Gol, N 37˚22΄14.7˝, E 55˚56΄00.0˝, 718 m, 3.ix.2009, Âlipanâh, Buszko leg. ; Hormozgân Prov.: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Minâb, 11.iii.1971, Pâzuki, Âyatollâhi leg. , 3 ♂♂, Hormoz Isl., 7.iii.1999, Ghayurfar, Manzari leg. , 2 ♂♂, Hengâm Isl., Ghir, 3.iii.1999, Ghayurfar, Manzari leg. ; North Khorâsân Prov.: 1 ♂, Âshkhâneh- Bojnurd Rd., 15 km E Bojnurd, N 37˚31΄31.6˝, E 57˚08΄08.4˝, 1058 m, 16.vi.2013, Falsafi, Âlipanâh leg. ; Khuzestân Prov.: 1 ♂, Ahwâz, Mollâsâni, 16.v.1975, Borumand, Pâzuki leg. , 1 ♀, Dezful, Haft Tappeh, 100 m, 5.v.1996, Sarafrâzi, Hâshemi leg. ; Mâzandarân Prov.: 1 ♂, Baladeh, Razan, 1000 m, 22.vii.1988, Mirzâyâns, Badii leg. , 1 ♀, Marzanâbâd, 400 m, 6.vii.1995, Badii, Sarafrâzi, Linnavori leg. ; Razavi Khorâsân Prov.: 1 ♀, Sarakhs, Tajan, 250 m, 17.viii.1993, Ebrâhimi, Badii leg. ; Semnân Prov.: 1 ♂, Abbâsâbâd, Miândasht Rd., Khârturân protected area, 6 km N Abbâsâbâd Ranger Sta., N 36˚23΄18.7˝, E 56˚19΄09.6˝, 1089 m, 11.vi.2016, Âlipanâh, Falsafi leg. ; Sistân and Baluchestân Prov.: 1 ♀, Nikshahr, Tang-e Sarheh, 1100 m, 16.v.1972, Abâi, Ebert leg. , 1 ♀, Châbahâr, Tis, 10 m, 17.v.1972, Abâi, Ebert leg. ; Tehrân Prov.: 1 ♀, Evin, 22.viii.1971 , no collector is given, 1 ♀, Robât Karim, Urin, 1050 m, 24.-25.v.1993, Parchami-Arâghi, Badii leg. ; West Âzarbâijân Prov.: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 15 km S Mâku, 1050 m, 4.vi.1975, Abâi leg. (gen. prep. HA-2434, HMIM) , 5 ♂♂, 15 km NE Mâku, 6.vi.1975, Abâi leg. (gen. prep. HA-2501, HMIM) , 1 ♂, Mâku, Cheshmeh Sorayyâ, 900 m, 22.viii.1994, Ebrâhimi, Sarafrâzi leg. , 1 ♂, Gharah Ziâoddin, Hâj Ahmad Kandy, 1050 m, 25.v.2004, Gilâsiân, Ghayurfar leg.

Distribution. Southern Europe from the Iberian Peninsula to Anatolia (majority of modern-day Turkey) and Transcaucasus, Mongolia, Armenia, Russia including Astrakhan area and Dagestan (Chechen, Karaman, Primorsky, Terekli-Mekteb); Cape Verde, Egypt, Niger, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gambia, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Oman, Sierra Leone, South Africa; India; Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Syria, Palestine, Iran including Alborz (Karaj), Esfahan (Esfahan), Fars (Shiraz, Cherom), Gilan (Bandar Anzali), Golestan (Golestan National Park: Ghaleh Palangan), Kerman (Anbar Abad and Putab: Kahuran) and Khuzestan (Shadegan) Provinces (Amsel 1959, 1961; Mirazayans & Kalali 1970; Wieser et al. 2002; Slamka 2013; Poltavsky & Ilyina 2016; De Prins & De Prins 2011 –2021), and Afghanistan (Amsel 1970).

Remarks. In the examined specimens, the ground colour of the wings varies from pale yellowish-creamy (Fig. 1D) to ochreous-creamy, pale ochreous-brown (Fig. 1E) and greyish-brown (Fig. 1F). The cross lines and markings are pale brown to dark brown, depending on the intensity of the ground colour. In some specimens the cross lines are hardly visible (Fig. 1D). The hindwing of some specimens is darker than the forewing (Fig. 1E), and some others have a paler hindwing (Fig. 1E, F), but these variations occur in the specimens with the same collecting data (Fig. 1E, F).