Heliothis maritima Graslin, 1855

Pl. 1, fig. 2; male genitalia Pl. 3, fig. 31; female genitalia Pl. 8, fig. 38.

Heliothis maritima Graslin, 1855, Annls. Soc. Entomol. France, Serie 3, 3: 65-74 (TL.: France: Vendee).

Synonymy: Heliothis adaucta Butler, 1878; Chloridea maritima subsp. angarensis Draudt, 1938; Chloridea maritima subsp. bulgarica Draudt, 1938; Chloridea maritima subsp. centralasiae Draudt, 1938; Heliothis maritima subsp. septentrionalis Hoffmeyer, 1939; Chloridea maritima subsp. hungarica Kovacs, 1950; Chloridea maritima subsp. warneckei Boursin, 1963.

References: Modarres Awal 1999 ( Heliothis maritima).

Bionomics: Bivoltine. Moths flying in two overlapping generations from June to September. Inhabits steppe habitats on elevation 830-2040 m. Larvae are polyphagous, feed on 28 species of herbaceous plants and shrubs of 13 botanical families, prefer Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Chenopodiaceae, Ericaceae and Cucurbitaceae .

Distribution: Transpalaearctic. Europe, Near East, Caucasus, Transcaucasia, Central Asia, Kazakhstan, south Siberia, Far East, Korea, Japan, China and north India. – In Iran it is known from Khorasan, Tehran and Lorestan (Pl. 10, fig. 50).

Material examined: Khorasan: Gonabad, 36 km N, 830 m., 7.VI.1977 (Safavi, Pazuki & Abai). Tehran: Damavand, 1910 m., 7-25.VIII.1986 (Rajabi); Evin, Tehran, 1600 m., 28.VI.1974; 13.VII.1974: 2.VIII.1974 (Light trap); Malard, Karaj, 20.IV.1971 (Sabzevari); Vanak, 15 km N Tehran, 1600 m., 1- 10.VII.1962 (Vartian E.). Lorestan: Kamanda, N, Oshtoran Kuh, 2040 m., 22-24.VII.1971 (Pazuki & Borumand). Schahrud, 1887, leg. O. Herz, 2 females (ZISP).