Phaselia erika sindhi Werner, 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 : 20-21

Phaselia erika sindhi Werner, Wanke, Rajaei ssp. nov.

( Figs 41–42, 134–135 , 144 ).

Type material examined.

Holotype ♀, “ Pakistan, Sindh prov., Thar dist. , Thar., 6.vii.2010, leg. A. Rehman Azeemi ”, g. prep. (♀) 0136/2021 M. Werner (in PCPS).

Paratype, 1 ♀, “ Pakistan, prov. Sindh., Mirpurkhas , 20.iii.2010, leg. A. Rehman Azeemi ”, g. prep. (♀) 0135/2021 M. Werner (in PCPS) .

Taxonomic remark. Our results revealed that the specimen from South Pakistan can be assigned as a new subspecies of Phaselia erika which is described here as P. erika sindhi ssp. nov. Due to the lack of a male specimen, the identification should take into account the geographical data.

Description. Wingspan. Females: 26.5–28.5 mm (no males examined).

Forewing. Ground colour warm white with smooth light and pale brownish dusty pattern; basal area and postmedial area darker than medial area; antemedial line dark brown, irregularly zigzagged with wide serrated tips, middle tooth longer than other teeth; medial line present as a diffuse darker brown shadow close to postmedial line; postmedial line thin, dark brown, well-curved inwards on costal area; subterminal line light to dark brown and interrupted in the middle, serrate with weakly pronounced triangular spikes, distally accompanied by a white shadow; terminal line thin, dark brown, wavy.

Hindwing. Ground colour white, speckled with brown towards terminal area; postmedial line brown, medially projected outwards; sometimes interrupted or even invisible; subterminal line barely visible as a light shadow.

Discal spots usually visible as brown, short streaks or tiny dots on all wings, sometimes faded. Fringes in all wings white and brown, dark at the end of the veins. Ventral side generally paler than dorsal side, pattern of upper side shines through the wings, visible as a shadow (figs 41–42).

Male genitalia. No data available.

Female genitalia. Ovipositor large and wide; apophyses posteriores two times longer than apophyses anteriores; lamella antevaginalis narrow, more sclerotized laterally; ductus bursae small and narrow; corpus bursae membranous, ornamented with a small but well-sclerotized, round, stellate signum (figs 134–135).

Diagnosis. Phaselia erika sindhi ssp. nov. can be confused with the nominotypical subspecies and P. erika jonubi ssp. nov.

For differentiation, see the diagnosis of the respective species above.

Phenology. Possibly bi- or trivoltine. Investigated specimens have been collected from early March to late October.

Biology. Unknown.

Habitat. Investigated specimens of the nominotypical subspecies were collected at altitudes from 900 m up to 1200 m. Specmines of the subspecies jonubi were collected at altitudes from 60 m up to 2360 m. For sindhi there are no precise data available, estimated altitudes of the collecting sites in the region Sindh range from 10 m to 90 m.

Distribution. Investigated specimens of the nominotypical subspecies are distributed in Southeast Afghanistan and Northern Pakistan. The subspecies jonubi ssp. nov. is distributed in South Iran, and North Oman. The subspecies sindhi ssp. nov. is distributed in South Pakistan (fig. 144).

DNA barcoding. Genetic distance of specimens from Southern Iran (subspecies jonubi) from relevant species: P. deliciosaria (3.72%), P. phaeoleucaria stat. rev. (3.36%). Genetically closest species: P. sp. cf. deliciosaria (2.32 %) and P. phaeoleucaria stat. rev. (3.36 %) (fig. 145, Tab. 1).

Etymology. The name sindhi points to the Pakistani province of Sindh, from which the new subspecies originates.

Figures

FIGURE 144: Distribution pattern of Phaselia species in Middle East and Central Asia.

FIGURES 131–135: Female genitalia of Phaselia erika ssp. 131–133: P. erika jonubi ssp. nov. 131: Paratype, from: Iran, Kerman, Baft, Khabr (g. prep. 0164/2021 M. Werner); 132: Paratype, from: Iran, Baluchestan, Khasch, NE Karvandar (g. prep. 0045/2021 M. Werner); 133: Paratype, from: Iran, Bandar-Abbas (g. prep. 0016/2021 M. Werner); 134–135: P. erika sindhi ssp. nov. 134: Holotype, from: Pakistan, Thar (g. prep. 0136/2021 M. Werner); 135: Paratype, from: Pakistan, Sindh, Mirpurkhas (g. prep. 0135/2021 M. Werner). Scalebar = 1 mm.