Sitochroa verticalis ( Linnaeus, 1758 )

Alipanah, Helen, Asselbergs, Jan, Malm, Tobias & Slamka, František, 2023, Taxonomic study of the subfamily Pyraustinae (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in Iran, Zootaxa 5289 (1), pp. 1-82 : 50

Sitochroa verticalis ( Linnaeus, 1758)

( Fig. 22D‒F )

Phalaena (Pyralis) verticalis Linnaeus, 1758: 533 .

TL: Not stated.

Syn.: Phalaena inversa Fourcroy, 1785: 301 .

Botys cinctalis Treitschke, 1829: 97–99 .

Botys lavalis Herrich-Schäffer , (1847-) 1849 (-1855), vol. 4: 37.

Material examined. 32 ♂♂, 17 ♀♀: Alborz Prov.: 1 ♂, Tâleghân , 26.-31.vii.1976, Kâviân leg. , 1 ♀, Karaj , 5.vi.1969, Abâi leg. , 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Karaj, Sarvdâr , 8, 9.v.1969, Bâbâei leg. ; Ardebil Prov.: 1 ♀, Moghân, Pârsâbâd , 9.v.1969, Abâi leg. , 1 ♂, Meshginshahr , Anzân, N 38˚17΄35.0˝, E 47˚27΄05.2˝, 14.vii.2013, 1824 m, Afsariân leg. ; Qom Prov.: 1 ♂, 1 km S Qom, Qomrud , Seyfâbâd, N 35˚47΄01.8˝, E 51˚23΄33.4˝, 912 m, 18.viii.2007, Âlipanâh leg. ; Gilân Prov.: 1 ♀, Lâhijân , 9.viii.1969, Abâi leg. , 2 ♂♂, Rasht , viii.1971, 30.v.1972, Shenâsi leg. , 1 ♀, Eshkevar, Gilânchâkân , 1820 m, 27.vi.1997, Barâri, Mofidi-Neyestânak leg. ; Golestân Prov.: 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀ , Golestân National Park, Mazârli , 530 m, 19.-20.vi.1977, Pâzuki, Abâi leg. , 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, Gorgân, Aliâbâd, Shirinâbâd , 22.v.2005, Falsafi, Nematiân leg. ; Mâzandarân Prov.: 1 ♂, Siâhbisheh , 20.vi.1974, Abâi leg. , 1 ♀, Zirâb, Palang Darreh , 540 m, 24.- 25.vi.1977, Pâzuki, Mortazavihâ leg. , 1 ♂, Nashtârud, Polsarâ , 250 m, 7.vi.1982, Hâshemi leg. , 2 ♂♂, Pirustâ, Bâyeh Kolâ, 1998, no collector is given, 1 ♂, Kelârdasht , 28.viii.1997, Abâi leg. , 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, Sâri- Kiâsar Rd., Saâdat Mahalleh , 16.vii.2004, Moghaddam, Hâjiesmailiân leg. , 2 ♂♂, 10 km E Baladeh, Kalâ vill., N 36˚09΄52.1˝, E 51˚56΄14.1˝, 2290-2450 m, 5.vii.2005, Moghaddam, Hâjiesmailiân, Serri leg. , 1 ♂, Âmol, 1 km after Jurband vill., N 36˚41΄37.2˝, E 50˚50΄20.6˝, 441 m, 28.vii.2007, Âlipanâh, Nematiân leg. , 1 ♀, Âmol, Chamestân, Vâz vill., N 36˚21΄49.6˝, E 52˚06΄3.1˝, 557 m, 28.vi.2007, Âlipanâh, Nematiân leg. ; North Khorâsân Prov.: 1 ♀, Golestân National Park, Âlmeh , 1650 m, 16.-23.ii.1972, Pâzuki, Badii leg. ; Razavi Khorâsân Prov.: 1 ♂, Mashhad, Torogh , 21.iv.1971, Elâhi leg. , 1 ♂, Mashhad, Torogh , 12.v.1975, no collector is given ; Tehrân Prov.: 2 ♂♂, Rudbâr-e Ghasrân, Garmâbdar , 2370 m, 28.-29.v.1991, Ebrâhimi, Badii leg. , 1 ♀, Robât Karim, Urin, 1050 m, 24.-25.v.1993, Parchami-Arâghi, Badii leg. , 6 ♂♂ 1 ♀, Tehrân, Evin , 9, 10, 11.viii.1971, 30.vi.1973, 31.vii.1974, no collector is given, 1 ♂, Varâmin, Pishvâ, Aliâbâd , 950 m, 3.v.1971, Ebrâhimi, Badii leg. ; West Âzarbâijân Prov.: 1 ♂, Miândoâb , 8.vi.1966, Arghand leg. , 1 ♂, Orumiyeh , 23.ix.1969, Javân-Moghaddam leg. , 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Orumiyeh , 1.-3.vi.1975, Abâi leg.

Distribution. Widespread in Palaearctic region (including Kuril Islands and Japan) except northernmost part. Also in Korea, China, India, Turkey, Syria ( Slamka 2013), Iran including Alborz (Karaj), Golestan (Gorgan, Golestan National Park [Tang-e Gol]), and Hamedan (Hamedan) Provinces ( Christoph 1876 ‒1877; Amsel 1961; Wieser et al. 2002).

Remarks. Two subspecies, S. verticalis verticalis and S. verticalis nigricilialis ( Ragonot, 1895) are presently known. As stated by Slamka (2013), the latter subspecies, which is distributed in Turkey and Syria, has a more intensive yellow-orange forewing with darker fringes compared to the nominotypical subspecies. Among the examined material, the specimens collected in the northwestern, north and central parts of Iran ( Fig. 22D ) are paler than those collected in the northeastern parts ( Fig. 22E ). In Mazandaran Province, the specimens collected in the eastern part (close to the specimens collected in northeast of Iran) ( Fig. 22F ) are darker than those collected in the western parts (close to Gilan Province). However, there is no considerable difference among them in the fringes colour. The northwest, north and central specimens look like S. verticalis verticalis , and northeast specimens are more similar to S. verticalis nigricilialis . Nevertheless, separation of the two subspecies only based on few external characters would not be advisable. Therefore, as stated by Slamka (2013), their status is not clear and must be revised.

Figures

FIGURE 22. A) Pyrausta limbopunctalis (Herrich-Schäffer), female, Gilan, Asalem. B) Sclerocona acutella (Eversmann), male. C) Sitochroa palealis (Denis & Schifferm̧ller), male. D–F) S. verticalis (Linnaeus): male, Tehran, Evin (D), male, Razavi Khorasan, Mashhad (E), female, Mazandaran, Palang Darreh (F) (scale bar = 10.0 mm).