Phaselia phaeoleucaria (Lederer, 1855) 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 : 15

P. phaeoleucaria stat. rev. vs. ( P. erika )

External characters (figs 17–26; 33–42). Forewing ground colour warm white, speckled with tiny light to dark grey-brown dots; antemedial line clearly zigzagged with rounded tips, all three teeth are of similar length; subterminal line continuous, serrate with well-pronounced triangular spikes (ground colour slate grey to light brown, smooth, not speckled; antemedial line irregularly zigzagged with acute tips; subterminal line interrupted, serrate with weakly pronounced triangular spikes).

Male genitalia (figs 73–79; 86–97). Sacculus oblong, rectangular, spines on dorsal tip of sacculus up to four times longer than the other spines (sacculus wide, oval, or oblong, spines on the dorsal tip of sacculus rarely more than two times longer than other spines).

Female genitalia (figs 120–124; 128–135). Antrum wide; lamella antevaginalis with ruffle-like sclerotization (antrum wide or small; lamella antevaginalis more sclerotized laterally or evenly sclerotized throughout its width).

Phenology. Possibly uni- or bivoltine. Investigated specimens have been collected from mid-May to late August (for nominotypical subspecies) or to mid-September (for the subspecies shurensis).

Biology. Unknown.

Habitat. Investigated specimens of the nominotypical subspecies were collected at altitudes from 550 up to 680 m (in Altai Mts. ). Specimens of the subspecies shurensis were collected at altitudes from 130 up to 2500 m (in northern Iran) .

Distribution. The nominotypical subspecies is distributed in East Kazakhstan, South Altai towards central Kazakhstan; the subspecies shurensis is distributed in Southeast Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Dagestan and Northwest to Central Iran (fig. 144).

DNA barcoding. Genetic distances from morphologically most similar species: Phaselia serrularia (9.93%), P. pithana bona sp. (6.43%), P. smettboi sp. nov. (4.76%), P. erika jonubi ssp. nov. (3.36%). Genetically closest species: P. deliciosaria (1.99 %) and P. sp. cf. deliciosaria (2.87 %) (fig. 145, Tab. 1).