Phaselia smettboi, Werner & Hausmann & Kostjuk & Wanke & Rajaei, 2023

Werner, Maria Johanna, Hausmann, Axel, Kostjuk, Igor, Wanke, Dominic & Rajaei, Hossein, 2023, Integrative taxonomic revision of the genus Phaselia Guenée, [1858] (Geometridae: Ennominae) in the Middle East and Central Asia, Zootaxa 5326 (1), pp. 1-66 : 16-17

P. smettboi sp. nov. vs. ( P. joestleinae )

External characters (27–32; 56–58). Forewing ground colour speckled with tiny light to dark grey-brown dots; antemedial line clearly zigzagged, all three teeth of similar length; subterminal line continuous, serrate with well-pronounced triangular spikes (ground colour with smooth dusty pattern; antemedial line irregularly zigzagged, costal tooth reduced to a barely visible curve; subterminal line interrupted in the middle, serrate with weakly pronounced triangular spikes).

Male genitalia (figs 80–85; 107–108). Sacculus oval with many well-pronounced spines on the whole surface; aedeagus with a small claw-like cornutus (sacculus slightly oval, smoothly transitioning to valvula, without or with very small, fine spines on the sacculus; aedeagus with a strong, claw-like cornutus).

Female genitalia (figs 125–127; 142–143). No diagnostic characters.

Phenology. Possibly univoltine. Investigated specimens have been collected from early May to late July.

Biology. Unknown.

Habitat. Investigated specimens have been collected at altitudes from 150 m in Turkey (Bilecik) up to 1575 m in Turkey (Agri) .

Distribution. From Northwest Turkey over Southwest Russia and South Ural Mountains to West Kazakhstan (fig. 144).

DNA barcoding. Genetic distances from morphologically most similar species: Phaselia serrularia (10.78%), P. pithana bona sp. (6.34%), P. phaeoleucaria stat. rev. (4.76%). Genetically closest species: P. phaeoleucaria stat. rev. (4.76%) and P. deliciosaria (4.93%) (fig. 145, Tab. 1).

Etymology. The name smettboi originates from the famous 90s series ‘Pokémon’, which strongly influenced the childhood of the first author (MW) and that of her generation. Smettbo is the german name of a Pokémon (which is a small ‘pocket’ monster), that looks like a butterfly. With the slogan “Gotta Catch 'Em All”, the principle of Pokémon for finding all existing creatures, is a similar target in taxonomy.