Scopula immorata (Linnaeus, 1758)

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 : 16-17

Scopula immorata (Linnaeus, 1758)

( Plate 4, Figs 7–9; Plate 12 , Fig. 3; Plate 22 , Fig. 3; Map 3)

Phalaena Geometra immorata Linnaeus, 1758 . Caroli Linnaei...Systema naturae per regna tria naturae: secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis (Ed. 10) 1: 528 (Europe). Syntypes (Europe) (in LSL).

Scopula immorata duercki Sheljuzhko, 1955 : Mitteilungen der Münchner Entomologischen Gesellschaft. 44/45: 289 ( Spain, Castilla : Sierra de Gredos). Holotype ♁ (ZSM). Valid at subspecific rank.

Acidalia immorata L var. riloensis Züllich, 1936 . Zeitschrift der Wiener Entomologischen Gesellschaft, 21: 55. ( Bulgaria: Rilo Mts.) (deposition unknown). Valid at subspecific rank.

Synonymies (for more details on nomenclature see Scoble 1999 and Hausmann 2004): Phalaena contaminata Scopoli, 1763 (Slovenja: Carniolia); Phalaena graminata Hufnagel, 1767 ( Germany: Berlin); Phalaena festucaria Brahm, 1791 (western Germany: near Mainz); Phalaena fuscata Fabricius, 1794 ( Denmark: Seelandia); Geometra immoraria (according to Hausmann (2004: 256): incorrect subsequent spelling); Acidalia serenata Turati, 1905 (type locality not given).

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

Material examined: 9 ♁/ ♀ (see appendix).

Diagnosis. Wingspan ♁ ♀ 22–28 mm. In Iran, Scopula immorata can externally be confused with S. tessellaria , therefore its characters are compared against this species. Wings chequered, ground colour ( Plate 4, Figs 7–9) white to grey, with brown transverse lines; lines diffuse and wavy; bright ground-coloured areas blurred (similar but transverse lines darker and bright ground-coloured areas sharply defined in S. tessellaria ) (see Plate 4, fig 7–11). The male genitalia with a broad and short aedeagus, its tip with lateral spines, vesica with terminal cornutus (similar but aedeagus tip with one lateral spine in S. tessellaria ). 8th sternite with short left ceras and long right ceras (both cerata short in S. tessellaria ) (see Plate 12 , Fig.3; Plate 13 , Fig.1). In the female genitalia lamella antevaginalis large, rounded (small, rounded in S. tessellaria ). Ductus bursae broad (long and slender in S. tessellaria ). Signum small, three times as long as wide, with lateral spines (small, five times as long as wide, with lateral spines in S. tessellaria ) (see Plate 22 , fig 3–4).

Phenology. Bivoltine species, with a first generation from mid-May to early July and a second generation from late July to late August (Hausmann 2004). Investigated specimens in Iran were collected in July.

Biology. Polyphagous, larvae feed on withered leaves of plants from different families e.g., Lamiaceae , Asteraceae , Ericaceae , Polygonaceae and Plantaginaceae (Hausmann 2004; Beljaev 2016; Makhov 2023).

Habitat. From 0 m to 2400 m in Europe , in Turkey and Iran to 3000 m (Hausmann 2004) . Investigated specimens in Iran were collected from 19 m to 3200 m.

Distribution. This species is distributed from western Europe ( Spain) to Russia, as well as in Turkey, the Caucasus, Transcaucasus, Kazahkhstan and Mongolia ( Viidalepp 1996; Hausmann 2004; Makhov 2023). In Iran, this species is represented by the subspecies S. immorata riloensis , which is distributed in northern parts of the country (see Map 3).

DNA-barcoding. Nearest species: S. tessellaria with 1.8 % (see Supplementary Table S1).

Figures

PLATE 12: Figures 1–3. Male genitalia of Scopula species. 1: S. ansulata (Iran, Ostan-e Khorasan, Dolmeh Olia, g. prep. 0696/2020 D. Wanke); 2: S. adulteraria bona sp. (Iran, Ostan-e Khorasan, Izmansufla, a, c: g. prep. 0699/2020 D. Wanke, b: g. prep. 0700/2020 D. Wanke); 3: S. immorata ([Iran], Särdab Tal-Vandarban, g. prep. 1286/2022 D. Wanke). a = genitalia capsule; b = aedeagus; c = 8th sternite. Scale-bar 1 mm.

PLATE 13: Figures 1–3. Male genitalia of Scopula species. 1: S. tessellaria ([Iran], Tacht i Suleiman, g. prep. 1260/2022 D. Wanke); 2: S. nigropunctata (Turkey, Giresun, 1: g. prep. 1236/2021 D. Wanke); 3: S. caesaria (a, b: South Africa, Gauteng, Ezemvelo, g. prep. 1224/2021 D. Wanke; c: Oman, Dhofar, Wadi Sha’ath, g. prep. NHMUK 010317472). a = genitalia capsule; b = aedeagus; c = 8th sternite. Scale-bar 1 mm.

PLATE 22: Figures 1–7. Female genitalia of Scopula species. 1: S. ansulata (Iran, Ostan-e Khorasan, Haji Abad, g. prep. 0697/2020 D. Wanke); 2: S. adulteraria bona sp. (Iran, Ostan-e Khorasan, Izmansufla, g. prep. 1255/2022 D. Wanke); 3: S. immorata (Turkey, Erzurum, N-Askole, g. prep. 1226/2022 D. Wanke); 4: S. tessellaria (Kazakhstan, S Kirgyzsay, g. prep. 1242/2021 D. Wanke); 5: S. nigropunctata (Turkey, Giresun, 1: g. prep. 1235/2021 D. Wanke); 6–7: S. caesaria (6: Paratype, Ceylon, Slide NHMUK 012821272; 7: South Yemen, Lahej Governorate, Al Dhala, g. prep. 1287/2022 D. Wanke). Scale-bar 1 mm.