Scopula gracilis ( Brandt, 1941 )

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 : 43

Scopula gracilis ( Brandt, 1941)

( Plate 9, Figs 13–15; Plate 20 , Figs 4+6; Plate 27 , Fig. 6; Map 12)

Glossotrophia gracilis Brandt, 1941 . Mitteilungen der Münchner Entomologischen Gesellschaft 31 (3): 869. Syntype (s) ♁, ♀ ( Iran, Bender Tchahbahar ) (NHRS, examined).

Type material examined. Paratype ♁, Iran, Baloutchistan , Bender Tchahbahar, Dezember 1937, coll. Brandt, NHRS 000010182 , g. prep. 10876 ; Paratype ♀, same data, but Februar 1938, NHRS 000010183 , g. prep. 10877; in NHRS.

Additional material examined: 107 ♁/ ♀ (see appendix).

Diagnosis. Wingspan ♁ ♀ 14–18 mm. In Iran, Scopula gracilis can externally be confused with large specimens of S. alfierii and small specimens of S. chalcographata and S. sacraria . However, these three species can be easily diagnosed based on their genitalia characters.

In the male genitalia 8th sternite, centrally broadened, without cerata (sternite, centrally not broadened, without ceras in S. alfierii ; sternite, with right ceras of medium size, left ceras short or left ceras medium size, right ceras short in S. chalcographata ; sternite basally strongly elongated, both cerata long and narrow in S. sacraria ) (see Plate 20 , Figs 1–7).

In the female genitalia antrum with triangular sclerite (similar in S. alfierii ; long sclerite, posteriorly strongly notched in S. chalcographata ; with long and narrow sclerite, posteriorly notched in S. sacraria ) (see Plate 27 , Figs 3–7).

Phenology. Investigated specimens in Iran were collected from January to June.

Biology. Unknown.

Habitat. Investigated specimens in Iran were collected from 10 m to 1600 m.

Distribution. Restricted to southern Iranian provinces Bushehr, Fars, Hormozgan and Sistan-o-Baluchestan (see Map 12). Reported in the literature also for the provinces Hormozgan and Sistan-o-Baluchestan ( Brandt 1941; Lehmann et al. 2009).

DNA-barcoding. Nearest species: S. harteni with 4.0 % (see Supplementary Table S1).

Figures

PLATE 20: Figures 1–7. Male genitalia of Scopula species. 1: S. chalcographata (Iran, Fars, Mian-Kotal, g. prep. 10875); 2–3: S. sacraria ariana (2: NO Afghanistan, Badakhshan, Baharak, g. prep. 0614/2020 D. Wanke; 3: Iran Boyerahamd-va- Kohgiluyeh, SE Yasuj, g. prep. 0557/2020 D. Wanke); 4+6: S. gracilis (Iran, Baloutchistan, Bender Tchahbahar, g. prep. 10876, 4: in scale, 6: enlarged, out of scale); 5+7: S. alfierii (Yemen, Al Ain, g. prep. 1296/2022 D. Wanke, 5: in scale, 7: enlarged, out of scale). a = genitalia capsule; b = aedeagus; c = 8th sternite. Scale-bar 1 mm.

PLATE 27: Figures 1–7. Female genitalia of Scopula species. 1: S. diffinaria asiatica syn. nov. of S. diffinaria diffinaria (Paratype, Iran, Fars, [Komehr], g. prep. 10873); 2: S. orbeorum (Paratype, [Iran], Tacht i Suleiman, g. prep. 4248 ZSM Hausmann); 3: S. chalcographata (Paratype, Iran, Fars, Mian-Kotal, g. prep. 10874); 4–5: S. sacraria ariana (4: Iran, Fars, Sine- Sefid, g. prep. 0581/2020 D. Wanke; 5: N-Iran, Tehran-Evin, g. prep. 0684/2020 D. Wanke); 6: S. gracilis (Iran, Baloutchistan, Bender Tchahbahar, g. prep. 10877); 7: S. alfierii (Yemen, WSW Al Mukalla, g. prep. 1298/2022 D. Wanke). Scale-bar 1 mm.