Rhodostrophia cuprinaria ( Christoph, 1876 )

Rajaei, Hossein, Hausmann, Axel & Trusch, Robert, 2022, Taxonomic review of the genus Rhodostrophia Hübner, 1823 (Geometridae: Sterrhinae) in Iran, Zootaxa 5118 (1), pp. 1-64 : 39-40

Rhodostrophia cuprinaria ( Christoph, 1876)

( Figs 52–56 , 75 , 92 , 104–105, Map 13 )

Eusarca cuprinaria Christoph, 1876 : Horae Societatis Entomologicae Rossicae , 12: 261, pl. 7, fig. 33. (Nord Persien [ Iran], Schahrud). Lectotype ♂ (examined, hereby designated in order to stabilize nomenclature): ‘ Schahrud’, ‘coll. Erschov. ’, ‘ex. mater. Mus., Acad. Petrop. ’, ‘GU 625/2005 R. Trusch’, ‘ Lectotyus ♂ Eusarca cuprinaria Christoph design. Trusch & Hausmann’ in ZIN.

Rhodostrophia nubifera Brandt, 1941 , syn. nov.

Rhodostrophia nubifera Brandt, 1941 : Mitteilungen der Münchner Entomologischen Gesellschaft, 31 (3): 866, pl. 28, fig. 1. Lectotype ♂ (examined, hereby designated in order to stabilize nomenclature), ‘ Iran Khorassan, Kouh i Binaloud (Meched), 1800 m. 18.Aug.1938, Coll. Brandt’, ‘ Holotype Rhodostrophia nubifera Brdt. Brandt’, ‘47 | 60’, ‘ Preparation 1135 W. P. Wiltshire’, ‘2:75, R.M.prep. 3703’, in NHRS.

Paralectotypes: 1 ♂, id., 16.Aug.1938, NHRS-LEPI 000010264, g.p. 10948 H. Rajaei; 1 ♂, id., 16.Aug.1938, ‘ Allotype Rhodostrophia nubifera Brdt. Brandt’NHRS-LEPI 000010265, g.p. 10949 H. Rajaei, both in NHRS (examined). 1 ♀, Iran Khorassan, Kouh i Binaloud (Meched), 1800 m. 16.Aug.1938, Coll. Brandt’ , ‘ Paratype Rhodostrophia nubifera Brdt. Brandt’, 2 ♀, id., 2500 m, ‘ Rh. nubifera Brdt. ’; all in SMNK. 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Iran Khorassan, Kouh i Binaloud (Meched), 2500 m. 20.Aug.1938, Coll. Brandt’ , ‘ Paratype, Rhodostrophia nubifera Brdt. Brandt’, ex coll. Cl. Hörhammer, in ZSM (all examined) .

Remarks. According to the wing pattern as well as to the genitalia of the lectotype examined here, R. nubifera Brandt, 1941 is a synonym of R. cuprinaria . The misidentification of R. cuprinaria by Christoph in Romanoff (1885: 126 no. 181 and pl. 6 fig. 8a, b) as one of the standard works of Lepidopterology led to the misinterpretation of this species, see above under R. phaenicearia Hampson. Christophs publication in 1885 was used by nearly all later authors as reference for the identification of R. cuprinaria instead of the original description and lead also to the description of R. nubifera syn. nov. by Brandt (1941).

Rhodostrophia nubifera klapperichi Wiltshire, 1966 , syn. nov.

Rhodostrophia nubifera klapperichi Wiltshire, 1966 : Zeitschrift der Wiener Entomologischen Gesellschaft, 51: 135, genitalia fig. 32. (no holotype mentioned in original description and all approx. 80 syntypes listed as paratypes), Afghanistan nr.[near] Kabul, 26. & 27.5.1965, ca. 82 Expl., und Khurd-Kabul, 26.5.1965 and 4.9.1965, leg. Kasy & Vartian; [ Afghanistan] ‘ferner Paghman Mts., 2200 m, 15 km v. Kabul, 29.6.– 8.7.1963, leg. Kasy & Vartian.; In NHMW. 1 ♂, Afghanistan, 10 km NW v. Kabul, 1900 m, 1.6.1965, leg. Kasy & Vartian, Wiltshire coll. B.M. 1979–433, NHMUK (E)972068 ; 1 ♀, Afghanistan, Paghman , 30 km NW v. Kabul, 2450 m, leg. E. & A. Vartian, Wiltshire Coll. B.M. 1979–433, NHMUK (E)972069 ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, O-Afghanistan, Djebel Seratsch , 1650 m, Kohdaman, 13.10.[19]52, [♂ genitalia] Preparation E.P. Wiltshire 9041, Wiltshire Coll. B.M. 1979–433, NHMUK (E) 972070 & 71, all in NHMUK (examined). 1 ♂, Afgh. [anistan], Khurd-Kabul, SO v. Kabul, 1900 m, 26.v.1965, [leg.] Kasy & Vartian, NHRS-LEPI 000010266, g.p. 10950 H. Rajaei, in NHRS .

Records in literature. Rhodostrophia cuprinaria: Staudinger (1901: 279) ; Prout (1913: 42); Prout (1935: 25); Viidalepp (1996: 58); Scoble (1999: 822); Scoble & Hausmann (2007); Müller et al. (2019: 845).

Previous records from Iran. Tarsee [Tar Lake], 2000–2800m ( Schwingenschuss 1939); near Tehran ( Wiltshire 1966). Brandt (1939) reports R. cuprinaria from Fars, which may refer to R. phaenicearia . Wiltshire (1977) mentioned R. cuprinaria from northern Oman which refers to R. skulei (cf. Hausmann, 1998: 94)

Additional material examined. 1 ♂, Iran, prov. Kohkiluyeh-va-Boyerahmad , 30 km S Yassudj, road Abshare-Tange-Tamoradi, 8 km before Abshar (= waterfall), N 30°31'53’’, E 51°25'11", 2254 mNN, 24.5.2009 , leg. Hossein Rajaei, g.p. 2401/2021 H. Rajaei, SMNK E-Lep. 259 . 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Iran, Balutschestan, Khasch , Kuhe Taftan, E-exp., 1800 m, Ebert & Falkner leg. 20.v.1972 , g.p. 576/2005 R. Trusch & 2399/2020 H. Rajaei; 1 ♀, Iran, Prov. South Khorassan, Kuh-e Mirza Arab NW, gorge S Ahangaran, N 33°22'22.1", E 60°07'39", 2.v.2006 , leg. B. Plössl & G. Tarmann, SMNK E-Lep. 239, barcode BC ZSM Lep. 33889 ; 1 ♂, 2 ♀, E-IRAN, Prov. Ostan-e Khorasan, NE Birjand, S Haji Abad , Gomenj vic., Kuh-e Mirza Arab, 2.040 mNN, N 33°16'13.9'', E 060°06'59.7'', 2.v.2008, leg. R. Trusch, M. Falkenberg & B. Müller, g.p. (♂) 2403/2021 H. Rajaei, barcode BC ZSM Lep. 33892, BC ZSM Lep. 33891, BC ZSM Lep. 33890 ; 1 ♀, Iran N, Prov. Semnan, 20 km N Damghan, Cheschme Ali , N 36°15'07'', E 054°04'20'', 1560 m, 23.v.2005 , leg. R. Trusch, G. Petschenka, B. Müller; 1 ♂ id, 24.v.2005; 5 ♂, Iran NE, Kopet Dagh, Prov. Khorasan, ca. 50 km N Bojnurd, S Izmansufla, N 37°44'20'', E 057°25'53'', 1240 m, 17.v.2005 , leg. R. Trusch, G. Petschenka, B. Müller, g.p. (♀) 598, (♂) 626/2005 R. Trusch; 3 ♀, Iran, Khorasan, Kopet Dagh , Rabat 25 km SW Izman soflea [Sufla], 27.5.2008 , J.-U. Meineke & W. Kramer, (♂) 2397/2020 H. Rajaei; 2 ♂, NE Iran, Prov. Ostan-e Khorasan, Kopet Dagh , NW Mashad, N Tschenaran, N Radkan, Dolmeh Olia, 1.560 mNN, N 36°55'56.6'', E 059°02'18.6'', 8.v.2008, leg. R. Trusch, M. Falkenberg & B. Müller ; 4 ♂, 3 ♀, id. 9.v.2008; 5 ♂, id. 10.v.2008; 9 ♂, 1 ♀, id. 11.v.2008, all in SMNK. 1 ♂, id. 11.v.2008, g.p. (♂) 2386 & 2398/2020 H. Rajaei; I ♀, id., 10.v.2008; 1 ♂, Iran, Kerman, Sarbishan, Shingara , 2789 m, 32°17'26"N, 55°27'17"E, 28.iv.2016 , leg. Sh. Feizpour; all in SMNS. 3 ♀, id, in PCMB. 1 ♀ Esfahan, Natanz, Abianeh , 2150 m, 6.vi.1988 , leg. Hash[emi] & Badii, g.p. 674/2005 R. Trusch; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, [ Iran] Bl. [Baluchestan], Taftan, 17.–19.iv.1973, leg. Broum [and], both in HMIM. 1 ♂, 2♀, Iran, prov. Kerman, 5 km S Deh-Bakri , 2350 m, 1.vi.1997 , leg. A, Hoffmann & P. Kautt, barcodes: BC ZSM Lep 08556, BC ZSM Lep 08557, BC ZSM Lep 08558, in ZSM .

Specimens studied total: 36 ♂, 29 ♀.

Differential diagnosis ( Figs 52–56 , 104–105 ). Wingspan 28–32 mm. Forewing with straight termen. Wings with yellow-sandy to reddish ground colour, with varying light to darker hue; medial fascia slightly darker than background. Ante- and postmedial lines of both fore- and hindwings serrate, bordered by a light shadow. Discal spots small, but present on all wings, slightly larger on forewings. Underside of the wings yellow-creamy, only postmedial lines visible. Male antennal flagellum ventrally dentated. Male hindtibia with three spurs.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 75 ). Uncus thumb-shaped ( Fig. 3 ); valva triangular, at apex with a triangular upsidedirected fold; costal part of valva medially swollen; sacculus largely projected and dentated (see the lower arrow in Fig. 75d ) (not dentated in R. peripheres , best diagnostic character between these two species) ( Figs 75d, 76d ). Juxta wide, apically concave (apical part of juxta not concave in R. peripheres ). Aedeagus medially angled to 90° (aedeagus only slightly curved in R. peripheres ); vesica membranous, cornuti developed as a large spines. Male sternite A8 bilobed ( Fig. 75c ), with wide, short octavals (octavals longer in R. peripheres ).

Female genitalia ( Fig. 92 ) with large and wide papillae anales (clear diagnostic character from all other Iranian Rhodostrophia species); corpus bursae spherical, signum developed as large sclerite covering over half of corpus bursae. Ductus bursae cylindrical; its length roughly that of corpus bursae. Posterior apophyses twice length of anterior apophyses.

Genetic data. BOLD:AAE3641. Two additional BINs from specimens of Mazandaran-Baladeh Valley (BOLD: ABY4371; 2.4% from main cluster) and Khorasan-Izmansufla (BOLD:AAB9862; 2.7% from main cluster) requiring further integrative study. Nearest species: R. peripheres (5.1%) and R. vahabzadehi sp. nov. (4.9%) ( Fig. 119 , Table 1).

Distribution ( Map 13 ). This species is distributed in Turkmenistan (Kopet-Dagh), Iran and Afghanistan. Most probably it is present also in Pakistan. In Iran it is recorded from the central and eastern parts of the country (provinces: Khorasan-e Shomali, Razavi, Semnan, Jonubi, Sistan-o-Baluchistan, Kerman, Fars, Esfahan and Kohgiluyeh-va-Boyerahmad).

Due to taxonomical confusion of R. cuprinaria and R. phaenicearia in previous studies, all records of R. cuprinaria from Caucasus ( Georgia) and Transcaucasus ( Armenia and Azerbaijan) ( Viidalepp 1996) and Turkey ( Koçak & Kemal 2018) are under question and could refer to R. phaenicearia .

Life history and habitat ( Figs 109, 110 , 117 ). The species is univoltine, recorded from mid-April to early July. According to the material examined here, it flies at altitudes from 1200 m up to 2800 m.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Schematic comparison of the uncus of Iranian Rhodostrophia species.

MAP 13. Distribution of Rhodostrophia cuprinaria (Christoph, 1876) in Iran.

FIGURE 119. Neighbour joining tree (COI, 5’; Kimura 2) showing the relationships between different species and subspecies of Iranian Rhodostrophia, including non-Iranian nearest neighboring species R. calabra, R. cinerascens, R. jacularia, R. praecisaria, R. staudingeri and R. skulei added for comparison. Width of triangles refer to sample size, depth of triangles to genetic variation, distance from common nodes to the genetic distance to a hypothetical common ancestor (as inferred by the algorithm); scale bar = 1%.

FIGURES 44-62. Wing coloration and pattern of Rhodostrophia species. Figs 44-47: R. abscisaria (both from Iran, 44 & 45. prov. Khorasan-e Razav, Bilanoud Mt., 44 (holotype), 45 (paratype); 46 & 47. Khorasan-e Shomali, Kopet Dagh); Figs 48- 51: R. phaenicearia (all from Iran, 48.-49. prov. Tehran, South Tehran; 50. Prov. Semnan, Damghan; 51. prov. Tehran, Kamard, West Terhran); Figs 52-56: R. cuprinaria (all from Iran, 52-53. Prov. Khorasan-e Shomali, Kopet Dagh; 54. prov. Sistan-o- Baluchistan, Taftan Mt.; 55. Khorasan-e Jonubi, Kuh-e Mirza Arab; 56. „R. nubifera“ (syn. nov.) from prov. Khoarsan-e Razavi, Binaloud Mt.); Figs 57-59: R. peripheres (both from Iran, 57. prov. Mazandaran, Hashtar, Demavand, Lectotype; 58 & 59. Kohgiluye-va Boyerahmad, Yassuj, Sisakht); Figs 60-62: R. vahabzadehi sp. nov. (all paratypes and from Iran, prov. Kerman, 60 & 61. NW Jiroft, Gardaneh Sarbishan; 62. Baft).

FIGURES 75-77. Male genitalia of Rhodostrophia species. Fig. 75. R. cuprinaria (Iran, prov. Sisstan-o-Baluchistan, Taftan Mt. g.p. 576 R. Trusch); Fig. 76. R. peripheres (Iran, prov. Chahar Mahal-o Bakhtiari, NW Samsami, g.p. 631 R. Trusch); Fig. 77. R. vahabzadehi sp. nov. (Iran, prov. Kerman, Gardaneh Sarbishan, Shingara vic., g.p. 2408 H. Rajaei). Abbreviations: a. genitalia capsule; b. aedeagus; c. sternite-8; d. juxta and sacculus part of valva.

IGURES 91-94. Female genitalia of Rhodostrophia species. Fig. 91. R. phaenicearia (Iran, prov. Prov. Semnan, Cheschme Ali, g.p. 2391 H. Rajaei); Fig. 92. R. cuprinaria (Iran, prov. Khorasan-e Shomali, south of Izmansufla, g.p. 598 R. Trusch); Fig. 93. R. peripheres (Iran, prov. Azerbyejan-e Sharghi, 10 km NW Miyane, g.p. 2396 H. Rajaei); Fig. 94. R. vahabzadehi sp. nov. (Iran, Kerman, Gardaneh Sarbishan, Shingara vic., g.p. 2408 H. Rajaei, paratype); 91b, 93b. & 94b: digital drawings of the corpus bursae for visualization of the signa.

FIGURES 95-106. Live Rhodostrophia-imagines in nature at light trapping in Iran. Fig. 95 R. auctata, prov. Lorestan, Noorabad-Nahawand road, 25 km to Nahawand, Gardane-Garrin, 2135 mNN, N 34°02'48", E 48°20'31". Fig. 96. R. terrestraria terrestraria, Elburz mts., S Shah Kuh-e Pain, 2750 m, N 36°33'; E 054°26', 17.vii.2003. Fig. 97. R. terrestraria farsi ssp. nov., prov.Khorasan,Kuh-e Sorkh,N Rivas vic.Akbarabad,2000–2100m, 12.vi.2000.Fig.98. R.tumulosa, prov.Fars,Shiraz-Kazerun road, 5 km before Dasht-e Arjan, N 29°40'34"; E 52°02'18", 2158 m, 23.v.2009. Fig. 99. R. tabestana, prov. Isfahan, rocky steppe near Kelichad, N32.352459°, E51.043501°, 2.135-2.235 m, 29.iv.2018. Fig. 100-101. R. nesam, prov. Esfahan, Natanz- Kashan road, Abiyaneh village, 2300 mNN, N 33°35'55", E 051°35'51", 26.v.2009. Fig. 102. R. abscisaria, prov. Khorasan-e Shomali, N Qochan, Emam Gholi to Kabkan road, After Agh-Mazar, Allah-o Akbar Mt., 1763 m, N37°19'27.2'', E058°43'26.1'', 18.vi.2013. Fig. 103. R. phaenicearia, prov. Kerman, 5 km to Dehbakri from Bamm, near Kuh-e Shir, N29°4'1", E57°28'03", 2158 m, 18.–19.v.2009. Fig. 104. R. cuprinaria, prov. Khorasan-e Shomali, N Qochan, Emam Gholi to Kabkan road, After Agh-Mazar, Allah-o Akbar Mt., 1763 m, N37°19'27.2'', E058°43'26.1'', 18.vi.2013. Fig. 105. R. cuprinaria, prov. Khorasan-e Shomali, 50 km north of Bojnurd, Izmansufla, N 37°44'20'', E 057°25'53'', 1240 m, 17.v.2005. Fig. 106. R. peripheres, prov. Chahar Mahal, Zagros mts., Samsami, 2800 m, N 32°09', E 050°11', 13.vii.2003. (Photos 95, 97-98, 100-104 H. Rajaei, 96 G. Ebert, 99 E. Weigand, 105-106 R. Trusch).

FIGURES 107-110. Reared larvae of Rhodostrophia-species from Iran. Fig. 107a, b. Larva of R. abscisaria, e.o. 18.v.2005 (phot. 4.vii.2005) from prov. Khorasan, Kopet Dagh mts., 50 km N Bojnűrd, vic. Izmansufla (N 37°44'20", E 057°25'53", 1240 mNN), leg. B. Müller, G. Petschenka, R. Trusch. Fig. 108a, b. Larva of R. phaenicearia, e.o. [♀ gen.praep. 596/2005 Trusch], 24.v.2005 (phot. 4.viii.2005), prov. Semnan, 20 km N Damghan, Cheschme Ali (N 36°15'07", E 054°04'20", 1560 mNN), leg. B. Müller, G. Petschenka, R. Trusch. Fig. 109a, b. Larva of R. cuprinaria e.o., ibidem (syntopic with R. phaenicearia!) (photo. 4.viii.2005). Fig. 110a, b. Larva of R. cuprinaria e.o. 2.v.2008, Prov. Ostan-e Khorasan, NE Birjand, S Haji Abad, Gomenj vic., Kuh-e Mirza Arab (N 33°16'13.9'', E 060°06'59.7'', 2040 mNN), leg. B. Müller, M. Falkenberg, R. Trusch. (Photos 107-109 A. Riedel, 110 A. Steiner).

FIGURES 111-118. Habitats of Rhodostrophia-species in Iran. Fig. 111. Shah-Kuh-mountain range in the eastern Alborz, view from the habitat of the nominotypical subspecies of R. terrestraria at an altitude of approx. 2,900 m to the west (prov. Golestan, above Shah-Kuh-e Pa’in, also known as Shahkuh-e Sofla, 18.vii.2003), where the moth likes to hide in bushes of Astragalus spp. (Fabaceae); note the impressive cushion plants of Acantholimon spp. (Plumbaginaceae). The region is also known as the type locality of the two high-mountain burnet moths Zygaena cacuminum Christoph, 1877 and Z. ecki Christoph, 1882 (Zygaenidae). Fig. 112. Stipa-steppe habitat of R. terrestraria at Shah-Kuh-e Bala, where the species on 19.7.2003 was attracted to artificial light at night together with Zygaena turkmenica Reiss, 1933 (det. A. Hofmann). Fig. 113. Artemisia-steppe at an altitude of 2450 m near Qorud (prov. Esfahan, vic. Kashan-Meymeh), where R. bahara occurred on the 11.v.2005 in high abundance together with the rarely found Dyscia negrama Wehrli, 1953 (Geometridae); in the centre of the photo (from left to right): Georg Petschenka, Bernd Müller and Hossein Rajaei. Fig. 114. In the vicinity of mount Tochal at the altitude of 3,700 m the moths of R. iranica could be observed resting on rocks and flying off from them in case of disturbance (prov. Tehran, 18.7.2006). This area is inhabited by Zygaena cacuminum Christoph, 1877 (Zygaenidae) too. Fig. 115. The Kamaran valley (prov. Esfahan, Fereydun Shahr S., Kamaran vic., 2650 m) is inhabited by R. tabestana and R. terrestraria; other remarkable species observed during 11.-12.vii.2003 were Zygaena haematina Kollar, 1849 and Z. nocturna Ebert, 1974 (Zygaenidae). Fig. 116. The habitat of R. terrestraria pellonaria, R. abscisaria and R. lenis at an altitude of 1240 m south of Izman-e Pa'in (also known as Izman-e Sofla, north of Bojnurd, prov. Khorasan, 19.v.2005) is characterized by mugwort steppe (Artemisia spp., Asteraceae) and the occurrence of further typical geometrid-moth-steppe species such as Dyscia malatyana Wehrli, 1934 and the nominate subspecies of D. innocentaria (Christoph, 1885). Fig. 117. Habitat of the two species R. cuprinaria and R. phaenicearia at an altitude of 1560 m in the vicinity of Astane (Cheshme Ali, prov. Semnan, northwest of Damghan,) is an Artemisia-steppe too. The two species used to be confused in the literature, here both occurring syntopic, observed by us 23.-24.v.2005. Fig. 118. Strongly overgrazed desertic mountain steppe landscape at an altitude of 3200 m at Gardaneh-ye Cheri (prov. Çaharmahal-va- Bakhtiyari, Zardkuh-region, vicinity of Samsami) is the habitat of R. peripheries (observed here 13.vii.2003) and numerous burnets as Zygaena cambysea Lederer, 1870, Z. fredi Reiss, 1938, Z. seitzi Reiss, 1938, Z. naumanni Hille & Keil, 1999 and the unilocal endemic Z. bakhtiyari Hofmann & Tremewan, 2005 (Hofmann & Tremewan 2020).—Photos 111-114, 116-118: R. Trusch, photo 115: G. Ebert.