Lithostege usgentaria, Christoph

Sh, Hossein Rajaei, Stüning, Dieter & Viidalepp, Jaan, 2011, A review of the species of Lithostege Hübner, [1825] 1816 (Lepidoptera: Geometridae, Larentiinae), occurring in Iran and adjacent countries, with description of two new species from Iran and Pakistan, Zootaxa 3105, pp. 1-46 : 10-11

L. usgentaria Christoph

( Figs. 9 , 40 , 62 ; Map 3)

Lithostege usgentaria Christoph. 1885: 131 , pl. 6, fig. 11. Syntypes (not traced). Type locality: “Mergelhügel” near Krasnowodsk [now Turkmenbashi] ( Turkmenistan).

Lithostege usgentaria: Prout, 1914: 173 , 11b; Prout, 1938: 241, pl. 18k; Viidalepp, 1996: 47; Parsons et al., 1999: 547.

Material examined. 6 3, 11 Ƥ: 1 Ƥ, 1 3: ‘[ Turkmenistan], Tura’, ‘Coll. Great Knjaz Nikolaj Mikhajlovich’, ‘455’; in ZISP. 1 3, 1 Ƥ: Turkmenistan, 50 km N of Ashkhabad, 100 m, 17.IV.1993, No. L88, 58 °33'E, 38°22'N, leg. M. Hreblay, Gy. Laszlo, A. Podiussany, preps 3 1017/2010, Ƥ 1016/2010 H. R.; both in ZSM. 2 3, 2 Ƥ: „Turkmeenia” [ Turkmenistan] 1977, Repetek 16–17.04, gen. prep. 3 7548, J.V.; 1 Ƥ: „Turkmeenia” [ Turkmenistan], Kyzyl-Arvat, 27.04.1984, Martin & Talve leg.; 1 3: Turkestan mer., Iolotanj, 14.04.[19]77, lum., terr. psamm., Kozakevitsh leg., gen. prep. 7548, J.V.; in IZBE. 3: Turkmenistan: Central Karakum desert; Murgab; Badkhyz; Kopet-Dagh: Germob, in IZAT. 1 Ƥ, USSR, Uzbekistan, Buchara, 25.4.[19]82, gen. prep. 1078/2010 H. R.; 3 Ƥ, Afghanistan, Herat, 970 m, 15.4.1956, H. G. Amsel leg., gen. prep. 1079/2010 H. R.; in ZFMK. 1 Ƥ: same data, gen. prep. 1061/2010 H. R., in SMNK. Preparations of genitalia: 3 3, 3 Ƥ.

Description & Diagnosis. Wingspan 21–25 mm. Wings light grey or brownish-grey, dark grey distal half of medial band edged by smoothly curved white lines (gently incurved below CuA2). Antemedial line oblique, a double until lower vein of cell, simple, whitish and sharply angled in cell. Hindwings grey or brown, almost without pattern ( Fig. 9 ). Fore-tibia with epiphysis (inner distal projection) shorter than in L. bosporaria . Male genital armature ( Fig. 40 ) smaller than in L. bosporaria , valves distally evenly rounded, harpe similar, a little longer, dorsal process of harpe parallel to valve costa, distinctly longer and a little narrower than in bosporaria ; saccus triangular, in bosporaria rather elongate and distally rounded; uncus longer and narrower than that in L. bosporaria . Female antrum broad and cup-shaped, its posterior margin with a U-shaped notch ( Fig. 62 ); apophyses posteriores 2 times longer than apophyses anteriores; ductus bursae long, broad, strongly sclerotized; corpus bursae globular, interiorly spiculate; anterior diverticulum present.

Bionomics. Specimens studied are collected in April.

Additional data on distribution based on literature sources. Shchetkin (1965a): South Tajikistan; Falkovitsh (1986): Uzbekistan and South Kazakhstan.

Distribution. S and SE of Turkmenistan to southern and eastern parts of Uzbekistan, W Tajikistan, S Kazakhstan and W Afghanistan. May also occur in NE Iran (Map 3).

Figures

FIGURES 6 – 10. Adult moths of Lithostege Hübner (left column, a: upperside, right column, b: underside). 6. L. stadiei (3, type locality, NW Iran); 7. L. obliquata (3, Karakumi, Turkmenistan); 8. L. bosporaria (3, Kirikkale, Central Turkey); 9. L. usgentaria (Ƥ, Herat, W Afghanistan); 10. L. witzenmanni (Ƥ, Ghotor, NW Iran). Scale bar: 10 mm.

FIGURES 39 – 41. Lithostege Hübner: Male genitalia & details of abdominal integument. 39. L. bosporaria (gen. prep. 1088 H. R.; Ankara), a: genital capsule, b: aedeagus, lateral view, vesica everted, c: tympanal organs & anterior sternites; 40. L. usgentaria (gen. prep. 1017 H. R.; N Ashkhabad), a: genital capsule, b: aedeagus, lateral view; 41. L. witzenmanni (gen. prep. 1037 H. R.; Hamadan, W Iran), a: genital capsule, b: aedeagus, lateral view, vesica everted, c: 8 th tergite. Scale bar: 1 mm.

FIGURES 60 – 65. Lithostege Hübner: Female genitalia. 60. L. excelsata (gen. prep. 7646 J. V.; Repetek, E Turkmenistan); 61. L. obliquata (gen. prep. 7645 J. V.; Repetek, E Turkmenistan); 62. L. usgentaria (gen. prep. 1016 H. R.; Askhabad); 63. L. witzenmanni (gen. prep. 1027 H. R.; Hamadan, W Iran); 64. L. dissocyma (gen. prep. 1074 H. R.; Kazerun, S Iran); 65. L. hreblayi sp. nov. (gen. prep. 1085 H. R.; type locality, N Pakistan). Scale bar: 1 mm.