Hydria, HubNER, 1822

Stadie, Dirk, Fiebig, Ralf & Rajaei, Hossein, 2022, Taxonomic review of the genus Hydria H, 1822 (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Larentiinae) in the Middle East, with description of three new species and one new subspecies, Zootaxa 5092 (5), pp. 501-530 : 512

Hydria (cf.) sp. n.

( Figs 16 , 30 , Map 1 )

Examined material. 1 ♂ Azerbaijan, Talysh Zuvand , [N38°41’40”, E48°22’29”], 04.– 08.05.1989, leg[it] A. Danchenko, DS 05/2012, BC ZSM Lep 65433 . 1 ♀ Russia, Daghestan, Khodzhal-Makhi [Khadzhalmakhi] vill[age], [N42°25’12”, E47°10’55”], 05.05.1991, [953m], leg[it] V . Tikhonov , DS 02-2012, BC ZSM Lep 65432, coll. ZMKU .

Remark. Two examined specimen from Zuvand area in the Talysh mountain range show different diagnostic characters and could be hypothetically new species. Due to lack of enough specimens as well as clustering the barcode of both specimens with those of H. schachti , here we decided to postpone an official species description to the future studies. The Zuvand area in the Talysh mountain range is a very dry xero-montane steppe/semi desert dominated by dwarf scrubs like Acantholimon - and thorny Astragalus -species. Scattered trees and bushes only occur at flutes and along seasonal water courses. The habitats around Kadzhalmakhi/ Dagestan receive more precipitation. They are moderately wet mountain steppes with closer forested patches on northwards facing escarpments and along creeks (https://welcomedagestan.ru/dagestan; http://www.plantarium.ru/page/landscapes/point/551.html; Mironov pers. comm.).

Biology. Probably univoltine. More investigation needed here.

Diagnosis. It could be easily diagnosed based on its larger size and pointed apex of forewings from H. schachti (the latter with smaller size and rounded apex). Wings of H. (cf.) sp. n. are large, discal spot very large, patches of the hairscales on hindwing anal margin of males large and reddish-ochre (wings are smaller in H. cervinalis taurica , but discal spot and hairscales are similar to H. (cf.) sp. n.; wings are smaller, discal spot very small, hairscales small and light ochre in H. schachti ). The male of H. (cf.) sp. n. differs from males of H. cervinalis taurica mainly by its whitish terminal area on forewing upper side and by its more arched postmedian fascia on forewing underside. More confidential diagnosis from H. cervinalis taurica and H. schachti is possible with examination of genitalia structure. Apex of uncus is large in H. (cf.) sp. n. and triangular (similar to H. gernoti ; short in H. cervinalis taurica ; short and thin in H. schachti ). The sacculus projection much stronger in H. (cf.) sp. n. (clearly thinner in H. gernoti , H. cervinalis and H. schachti ). Juxta small, with elongated medial fork in H. (cf.) sp. n. (much wider with smaller medial fork in H. gernoti , H. cervinalis and H. schachti ). Aedeagus with two cornuti in H. (cf.) sp. n. (same condition in H. schachti ; more than three cornuti in H. gernoti and H. cervinalis ).

Genetic data. See this section under the previous species.

Distribution. Caspian. So far known from the Talysh Mountains in Azerbaijan and from Dagestan in North- East Caucasus.

Figures

MAP 1. Distribution map of the genus Hydria in the Middle East: H. cervinalis taurica ssp. n.; H. gernoti sp. n.; H. schachti sp. n. and H. (cf.) sp. n.

FIGURES 16–25. Wing pattern. Fig. 16: Hydria (cf.) sp. n., ♂, Azerbaijan, Talysh, Zuvand (g. prep. DS-05/2012); Fig. 17, H. gudarica, ♀, Spain, Andalusia, Sierra Nevada; Figs 18–19: H. hyrcana bona sp., stat. n.: Fig. 18, ♂, Iran, Schakuh, (g. prep. 1556 H. Rajaei); Fig. 19, syntype ♀, Iran, Hadschiabad [Hajiabad], (g. prep. 1555 H. Rajaei); Fig. 20, H. montivagata montivagata, ♂, Switzerland, Zermatt (g. prep.2328/2020 H. Rajaei); Fig. 21, H. montivagata andalusica, ♀, Spain, prov. Cuenca, M. Universales (g. prep.1459 H. Rajaei); Figs 22–23: H. loebeli sp. n.: Fig. 22, ♂, Turkey, prov. Nigde, Aladag West (g. prep. DS-171/2019); Fig. 23, ♀, Turkey, prov. Malatya, Nemrut dagi (g. prep. DS-181/2019); Figs 24–25, H. relicta comb. n. (Kenya, Mt. Kenya), Fig. 24, ♂; Fig. 25, ♀. a = upperside; b = underside.

FIGURES 26–30. Male genitalia. Fig. 26: Hydria cervinalis cervinalis (Germany, Kaiserstuhl, Badberg, g. prep. 2326/2020 H. Rajaei); Fig. 27: Hydria cervinalis taurica subsp. n., Paratype, (Turkey, prov. Antalya, Civizli W Seydisehir, g. prep. DS- 122/2012); Fig. 28: Hydria gernoti sp. n., Paratype, (Turkey, Nigde, Ala Dagi, g. prep. DS 99/2012); Fig. 29: Hydria schachti sp. n. Paratype (Turkey, Ispir, g. prep. DS-112/2012); Fig. 30, Hydria (cf.) sp. n., paratype (Azerbaijan, Talysh, Zuvand, g. prep. DS-05/2012); a = genitalia capsule; b = aedeagus.