L. senata Christoph

(Figs. 15, 43, 67; Map 3)

Lithostege senata Christoph, 1887 (b): 166. Holotype Ƥ, ZISP (examined). Type locality: Ashkhabat (Turkmenistan). Lithostege senata: Prout, 1914: 174, pl. 13b; Viidalepp, 1996: 47; Parsons et al., 1999: 547.

Material examined. Type material: Holotype Ƥ: ‘[Turkmenistan] Ashkhabat’, ‘100.’, ‘Coll. Great Knjaz Nikolaj Mikhajlovich’, ‘ Lithostege senata Chr. ’; in ZISP. Additional material: 5 3, 4 Ƥ: 1 3: „Turkmeenia” [Turkmenistan] 1977, Repetek, 16–17.04, J.V. leg., gen. prep. 1771, J.V.; 8 3 Ƥ, „Turkmeenia” [Turkmenistan] 1977, Uzboi [river-bed], Yashan, 27.04–02.05, J.V. leg., gen. prep. 3416, J.V.; 8611; in coll. IZBE. Preparations of genitalia: 2 3, 1 Ƥ.

Description & Diagnosis. Wingspan 16–18 mm. Wings light brown with white antemedian and postmedian transverse lines, postmedian projecting outwards at veins R5 and M3; medial area composed of a distal, broad, brown band, accompanying the postmedial line and an even larger proximal part, accentuated with greyish scales (Fig. 15). Male genitalia (Fig. 43) with short, broadly rounded valves and a strong, thorn-shaped harpe arising from its centre; dorsal arm slender and diverging from valve costa; saccus rather narrow, acutely elongated. Aedeagus long, curved at middle. Male genitalia most similar to those of L. dissocyma, but harpe of senata stronger and curved ventrad (dorsad in dissocyma), saccus longer and narrower, aedeagus longer. Female genitalia (Fig. 67) with a cylindrical antrum, with very deeply incised posterior margin; ductus bursae short, extended into a much longer, sclerotized band running across the posterior, hyalinous part of the bursa. Anterior three fourths of the latter densely spined, diverticulum present. Small size, colour, pattern and distinct characters of male and female genitalia render this species unmistakable among the species treated here.

Bionomics. Occurring in sand deserts; specimens studied are collected in April only.

Additional data on distribution based on literature sources. Tsvetajev (1972), Remm & Viidalepp (1981): Turkmenistan; Falkovitsh (1986): Uzbekistan.

Distribution. Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan (Map 3). May also be found in the north-eastern parts of Iran.

MAP 3. bosporaria species group: L. bosporaria; L. usgentaria; L. witzenmanni; L. dissocyma; L. hreblayi sp. nov.; L. samandooki sp. nov.; L. senata .