Azygophleps larseni Yakovlev & Saldaitis, 2011

Borth, Robert, Ivinskis, Povilas, Saldaitis, Aidas & Yakovlev, Roman, 2011, Cossidae of the Socotra Archipelago (Yemen), ZooKeys 122, pp. 45-69 : 53-54

Azygophleps larseni Yakovlev & Saldaitis, 2011 Figs 16-1925, 29

Azygophleps larseni Yakovlev & Saldaitis, 2011, Neue Entomologische Nachrichten 66: 84, Pl. 8: Figs 28-29.

Description.

Female size and wing pattern similar to the male, however in Socotra specimens the pattern of the forewing is darker and the dorsal margin of hindwing has a reticular pattern. Antennae in females are cup-shaped as in males, but pecten are significantly shorter. Both female specimens from Socotra Island differ from typical Azygophleps larseni from Oman in external appearance. Without opportunity to compare Azygophleps larseni male genitalia we abstained from assigning the Socotra population to a separate taxon. Hampson (1903), Rebel (1907) and Hacker (1999) mistakenly attributed Azygophleps inclusa (Walker, 1856) (Fig. 15) to Socotra Island.

Male genitalia (Fig. 25). Oman’s Azygophleps larseni male paratypus specimen’s genitalia illustrated showing strong aedeagus, apically three times wider than proximally and simple, rounded, short vesica.

Female genitalia (Fig. 29). Papilla analis stretched, rounded apically; apophyses posteriores more than twice longer than apophyses anteriores which are forked at basal part; ductus short, wide, sclerotised basally; corpus sac-shaped, with a small star-like signum; bulla sclerotised, located on the median part of bursa.

Bionomics and distribution.

This species is distributed in Iraq, Iran, Oman and mainland Yemen. Two specimens were caught in Socotra Island, ♀ (collecting date: Yemen, 500 m, Socotra isl., Ayhft riv. valley, 25 November 2008, Saldaitiene & Saldaitis leg.). Azygophleps larseni in Socotra is a very rare and local species. The Ayhft valley is a unique place in Socotra, with 80% of all vegetation found in Socotra Island. This valley is constantly fed by fresh water from the Haghier Mountains and its slopes are densely covered by tropical-type evergreen trees and shrubs: Dracaena cinnabari , Rhus rhyrsiflora , Euryops arabicus , Buxus pedicillata , Gnidia socotrana , Cocculus balourii and many other plants( Miller and Cope 1996).