Pyropteron minianiformis xerxes Bartsch, Pühringer, Lingenhöle & Kallies ssp. nov.

(Figs 7, 71–74, 81, 89)

This subspecies is the least known of the minianiformis subspecies. It appears to be limited to Armenia, Azerbaijan and the north-western parts of Iran. Specimens from north-eastern Iran differ significantly from Caucasian specimens in their barcodes and some appear darker, with reduced orange coloration. We here include specimens from the Caspian Sea coast and north-eastern Iran provisionally with P. minianiformis xerxes ssp. nov. However, more material is needed to clarify the precise status of the populations from Iran.

Diagnosis. Wingspan of holotype 19.0 mm. This new subspecies is generally somewhat darker than the other subspecies. The orange stripe of the inner margin of the tegulae is reduced, marked only caudally by some orangeyellow scales. In the male, the orange-red areas of the forewings are seamlessly merging into black. The hindwing discal spot is distinctly broader, the margins are slightly broader. Males have the fore coxa predominantly black, only laterally narrow orange-yellow. Despite these distinct differences, we found only small differences in the structure of the genitalia. Compared with the nominal subspecies, the female has the ductus bursae shorter, the corpus bursae rounder, less stretched. This character state is shared with ssp. destituta .

Distribution. Transcaucasia: Armenia, Azerbaijan and northern parts of Iran.

Etymology. This new subspecies is named after Xerxes I., king of the ancient Persian Achaemenid Empire.

Specimens examined. Holotype ♂ (Figs 72–73) with labels: “ Armenia: Syunik prov., vic. / Lernadzor, 1570m, / 39°09’50.0’’N 46°12’22.9’’E, / 18.VII.2013, pheromone / leg. D. Bartsch ”; “ Holotypus / Pyropteron / minianiformis xerxes / ♂ / D. Bartsch, des. 2020” (SMNS) . Paratypes: 1♂, Armenia, Ararat prov., Lanjar, St. Karapet, 1880– 2000m, 7.VII.2013, leg. DB (CDB) ; 4♂, Armenia, Syunik prov., N Schvanidzor, 790m, 17.VII.2013, leg. AL ; 1♂, Armenia, Syunik prov., N Schvanidzor, vic. Kapan, 17.VII.2013, leg. AL (CAL) ; 1♀, Armenia, Vayots-Dsor, vic. Saravan, 1670m, 12.VII.2013, leg. AL (Fig. 74) (CAL) ; 1♂, Azerbaijan, Talysh, Suwand, 1700m, 22. V .1999, leg. Dolin (CCDB-04685-H06); 1♀, same data (CCDB-04685-H06) (CMS); 1♀, ibid., 22. V .2001, leg. Dolin (CCDB- 04686-D05) (CHF); 1♂, Azerbaijan, Talysh, vic. Astara, 22. V .2001, leg. Dolin & Andreeva (CCDB-04609-A11) (ZSM); 1♂, 1♀, same data, (CCDB-02113-F03); 2♂, same data, Isty-Su, 23.–27. V .2001; 16♂, Armenia, Schvanidzor, 1700m, 19. VI .2000, leg. Chuvilin (CCDB-14649-G02); 1♂, Armenia, Kotayk, Garny, 1700m, 11. VI .2000, leg. Chuvilin (CCDB-14649-G04) (CFP); 1♀, same data, leg. V . Dolin & Andreeva (CCDB-02113 F03 = FP Lep 00347); 6♂, Armenia, Kotayk, Garny [= Garni], 1700 m, 11. VI .2000, leg. A. Chuvilin (CCDB-14649 G04); 3♂, Armenia, Ararat, Khosrov Res., 1700 m, 8.–9. VI .2000, leg. A. Chuvilin; 16♂, Armenia, Meghri, Schvanidzor, 1700 m, 18.–20. VI .2000, leg. A. Chuvilin (CCDB-14649 G02) (CFP); 1♀, Iran, Guilan, Rudbar, Amarlu, Damash, 1750m, 13– 15.6.2006, leg. Zahiri & Falsafi (slide DB 2019-21) (Fig. 89) (HMIM) .

Specimens not included in the type series. 1♂, Iran, Mazandaran, Shiragh, Oaroo, 180m, leg. Haj./Gil. (slide DB 2019-20) (Fig. 81) (HMIM); 12♂, Iran, Khorasan, NP Golestan, Shar leq valley, 1200 m, 20.VI .2007, leg. FP (CCDB-02111 F05 = FP Lep 00160, photo 2007/1761-69); 1♂, Iran, NP Golestan, Tange Gol, 790 m, 24.V .2001, leg. C. Wieser (BOX-2219 F04) (CFP); 1♂, same data, 17.V .2001, leg. P. Huemer (TLMF); 1♀ (Fig. 71), Iran, Khorasan, Birdjand, 1300m, 1951, leg. Schäufele (SMNS).