Pyrausta aurata Scopoli, 1763

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 : 30-31

Pyrausta aurata Scopoli, 1763

( Figs 11E, F , 12A )

Phalaena aurata Scopoli, 1763: 227 .

TL: Slovenian mountains [in montanis Carnioliae]

Syn.: Botys purpuralis var. meridionalis Staudinger, 1879: 168 .

Pyrausta deficiens Dufrane, 1957 .

Pyrausta inciae Koçak, 1981: 65 .

Material examined. 61 ♂♂, 40 ♀♀: Alborz Prov.: 1 ♂, Karaj, Sarvdâr , 10.v.1969, Bahreini leg. , 1 ♀, Karaj, Kalhâ , 2000 m, 25.-26.viii.1996, Barâri, Badii, Sarafrâzi leg. , 1 ♀, Tâleghân, Sabzân , 1550 m, 30.viii.-1.ix.1996, Badii, Barâri, Sarafrâzi leg. , 1 ♀, Âsârâ , 40 km N Karaj, 27.vi.1971, Safavi, Borumand, Kâviân, Ghâzioff leg. ; Ardebil Prov.: 1 ♂, Ardebil, 10 km N Namin , 1450 m, 15.viii.1991, Hâshemi, Parchami-Arâghi leg. ; East Âzarbâijân Prov.: 4 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, Kaleybar, Vâyeghân , 1440 m, 5.-6.viii.1992, Parchami-Arâghi, Badii leg. , 1 ♀, Kaleybar, Âinâloo, Alhord, Arasbârân forest , N 38˚55΄1.1˝, E 46˚47΄38˝, 1440 m, 28.vii.2007, Zahiri, Falsafi, Âlipanâh leg. , 1 ♂, Kaleybar , N 38˚50΄33.9˝, E 47˚00΄28.3˝, 1791 m, 22.viii.2014, Afsariân leg. ; Fârs Prov.: 1 ♀, Kâzerun, Nurâbâd , 1550 m, 12.ix.1974, Pâzuki, Hâshemi leg. ; Qom Prov.: 1 ♀, Qom Lake , 21.vi.1975, Abâi leg. ; Gilân Prov.: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Asâlem, Shondol , 950 m, 9.viii.1974, Mirzâyâns, Farahbakhsh leg. , 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Bandar Anzali, 30 km S Asâlem, Punel , 250 m, 12.viii.1974, Mirzâyâns, Ilkhâni leg. , 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Asâlem, Pisâson , 1300 m, 15.-16.viii.1980, Pâzuki, Borumand leg. , 1 ♂, Asâlem, Sheykh Mahal , 160 m, 28.-30.vi.1977, Pâzuki, Mortazavihâ leg. , 3 ♂♂, 15 km Asâlem- Pisâson Rd. , 220 m, 30.viii.1975, Mirzâyâns leg. , 1 ♂, 15 km Tâlesh, Rek , 570 m, 31.viii.1975, Mirzâyâns leg. , 1 ♂, Tâlesh , Tulârud, N 37˚45΄12.2˝, E 48˚54΄50.6˝, 144 m, 17.vii.2013, Afsariân, Sarafrâzi leg. , 1 ♀, Eshkevar, Siâkoshân , 320 m, 25.vi.1997, Barâri, Mofidi-Neyestânak leg. , 1 ♂ 1 ♀, Heyrân mountain pass, 1128 m, 10.ix.2004, Moghaddam, Hâjiesmailiân leg. , 1 ♀, Deylamân, Maloumeh vill. Rd., N 36˚51΄40.7˝, E 49˚55΄23.8˝, 1325 m, 3.viii.2008, Âlipanâh, Nematiân leg. , 1 ♀, Amârloo , 28.ix.1970, Ebert, Abâi leg. , 1 ♂, Âstârâ, N 38˚17΄14.6˝, E 48˚52΄22.1˝, 46 m, 18.vii.2013, Afsariân, Sarafrâzi leg. ; Golestân Prov.: 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀ , Golestân National Park, Mazârli , 530 m, 19.-20.vi.1977, Pâzuki, Abâi leg. , 1 ♂, Golestân National Park , Tang-e Gol, N 37˚22΄14.7˝, E 55˚56΄00.0˝, 718 m, 6.ix.2009, Âlipanâh, Buszko leg. ; Hamedân Prov.: 1 ♀, Âvaj , 2080 m, 10.viii.1996, Barâri, V. Nazari, Parchami-Arâghi leg. ; Kermân Prov: 4 ♂♂, Jiroft, Esfandagheh , Sargaz , 1650 m, 20.v.1977, Safavi, Pâzuki leg. , 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Bâft, Lâlehzâr , 2800 m, 29.v.1977, Safavi, Pâzuki, Abâi leg. , 1 ♀, Jebâl-e Bârez , 12.vi.1971, Naim, Hâshemi leg. ; Kermânshâh Prov.: 1 ♀, Mâhidasht, Châhârzebar-e Olyâ , 1500 m, 21.viii.1996, Parchami-Arâghi, Barâri, V. Nazari leg. , 1 ♂, 5 km E Kangâvar , 1500 m, 29.vi.1972, Mirzâyâns, Abâi leg. ; Kordestân Prov.: 3 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, Marivân, Kânisânân , 1320 m, 9.viii.2004, Ghayurfar, Nematiân leg. ; Khuzestân Prov.: 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, Minu Isl. , 29.iv.1976, Pâzuki, Abâi leg. , 2 ♂♂, Behbahân , 350 m, 3.v.1995, Parchami-Arâghi, Ardeh, Badii leg. ; Mâzandarân Prov.: 2 ♂♂, Kelârdasht, Toydarreh, Mâzichâl , 1400 m, 24.v.2003, Gilâsiân, Nematiân leg. (gen. prep. HA-2480, HMIM) , 1 ♂, Tonekâbon , 22.vii.1980, Hâshemi, Zairi leg. , 1 ♂, Tonekâbon, Dohezâr , 650 m, 29, 30.v.2003, Gilâsiân, Hâjiesmailiân leg. , 1 ♂, Tonekâbon , Dohezâr, N 36˚38΄27.5˝, E 50˚43΄11.5˝, 606 m, 5.x.2007, Âlipanâh, Buszko, Zahiri leg. , 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Tonekâbon, Sehezâr, Âsh Mahalleh , 760 m, 7.ix.1990, Ebrâhimi, Badii leg. , 1 ♀, Malâr , 15.viii.1971, Sabzevâri leg. , 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, Râmsar, Dâlikhâni , 950 m, 1.ix.1975, Mirzâyâns leg. , 2 ♀♀, Zirâb, Palang Darreh , 540 m, 24.-25.vi.1977, Pâzuki, Mortazavihâ leg. , 1 ♀, Sari, Amreh II vill., Amreh forest , 500 m, 10.vi.2005, Nematiân, Âlipanâh, Sinev leg. ; North Khorâsân Prov.: 1 ♂, Âshkhâneh, Mehmânak vill., N 37˚29΄36.5˝, E 56˚52΄27.6˝, 1040 m, 17.vi.2013, Âlipanâh, Falsafi leg. ; Razavi Khorâsân Prov.: 2 ♀♀, 20 km S Mashhad , 1000 m, 3.ix.1980, Hâshemi, Zairi leg. , 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Zoshk , 10.vii.1971, Pâzuki, Âyatollâhi leg. , 3 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, N Binâlud Mt. , 1800 m, 11.-12.viii.1993, Ebrâhimi, Badii leg. , 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Neyshâbur , 27.vii.1971, Pâzuki, Âyatollâhi leg. ; Sistân and Baluchestân Prov.: 1 ♂, Khâsh , Taftân Mt. , 1800 m, 20.v.1972, Abâi, Ebert leg. ; Tehrân Prov.: 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Damâvand, Âbsard , 1900 m, 3.-7.vii.1978, Pâzuki, Sabzevâri leg. , 1 ♂, Firuzkuh, Zarrin Dasht , 1980 m, 21.viii.1984, Mirzâyâns, Borumand leg. ; West Âzarbâijân Prov.: 2 ♂♂, Orumiyeh , 2, 6.ix.1969, Javân-Moghaddam leg. , 2 ♂♂, Orumiyeh, Kahriz , 23.viii.1976, no collector is given, 1 ♀, Orumiyeh , 23.viii, 23.xi.1976 , no collector is given, 1 ♂, Poldasht- Mâku Rd. , 20 km E Mâku, N 39˚16΄58.5˝, E 44˚41΄1.2˝, 996 m, 17.ix.2011, Âlipanâh, Falsafi leg. , 1 ♂, Mâku, Sangar vill., N 39˚18΄37.5˝, E 44˚26΄8.52˝, 1004 m, 16.ix.2011, Âlipanâh, Falsafi leg.

Distribution. Europe including the Canary Islands; Turkey; North Africa; Central Asia; Transcaucasia; Palestine, Syria, Siberia, Zabaykalye, Primorye, Afghanistan, Mongolia ( Slamka, 2013), Iran: Alborz (Karaj and Nesa), Fars (Qalat, Komehr, Sepidan, Shiraz), Golestan (Golestan National Park [Tang-e Gol] and Gorgan), Razavi Khorasan (Binalud Mt.) and Yazd (Barfkhaneh) Provinces ( Lederer 1871; Amsel 1961; Mirzayans & Kalali 1970; Wieser et al. 2002; Slamka 2013).

Remarks. A large number of specimens of this species were examined in this study. Most of them have an orange-brown to reddish-brown ground colour with yellowish-orange to orange markings ( Fig. 11E ). Some specimens have distinctly paler ground colour and markings ( Fig. 11F ), and a few of them are with yellow to yellowish-orange and partly reduced markings on dark brown ground colour ( Fig. 12A ). These variations frequently occur in specimens of the same population.

Figures

FIGURE 11. A) Pyrausta sanguinalis (Linnaeus), female. B) P. despicata (Scopoli), female, North Khorasan, Bojnurd. C) P. despicata (Scopoli), male, North Khorasan, Kopet Dagh. D) P. obfuscata (Scopoli), male. E) P. aurata Scopoli, female, Tehran, Firuzkuh. F) P. aurata Scopoli, male, Kerman, Esfandagheh (scale bar = 10.0 mm).

FIGURE 12. A) Pyrausta aurata Scopoli, male, Kerman, Lalehzar. B) P. purpuralis (Linnaeus), female. C) P. cingulata (Linnaeus), female. D) P. armeniaca Slamka, male. E, F) P. zeitunalis Caradja, females, Zanjan, Sorkhabad (scale bar = 10.0 mm).