Myrmecaelurus trigrammus (Pallas, 1771)

(Fig. 4A)

Myrmecaelurus trigrammus (Pallas, 1771): 469 (Odescr), Aspöck et al. 2001: 203 (Mon), Stange 2004: 275 (Mon).

Material examined: 1♂ IRAQ, Erbil, Choman, Gali Sakran, 36°35’29,6”N, 44°54’43.5”E, 30.VII.2024 leg: Farhad A. Khudhur & Aland Nwab; 1♀ IRAQ, Erbil, Choman, Halgurd Mt., 5 km NW Nawanda Village, 36°42’38,6”N, 44°52’12.5”E, 31.VII.2024 leg: Farhad A. Khudhur & Aland Nwab.

Remarks: The distribution of this species extends from the Atlantic Ocean to central Asia (Kyrgyzstan, Krivokhatsky et al. 2015), and its southern distributional limit is in the Mediterranean areas of Europe and the Middle East (Israel). It is also widespread and sometimes common in the xeromontane area of Asia (Turkey, Iran, and Iraq). Its distribution in Egypt (El Hamouly & Fadl 2011), India (Wachkoo et. al. 2024), and Tunisia (Stange 2004) are uncertain.

The forewing venation is uniformly pale yellow or perhaps with short sections of alternating yellow and pale brown on the subcosta at the origin of the cross-veins. A similar species in the region is Myrmecaelurus solaris Krivokhatsky, 2002 (Fig. 4C). This species is slightly larger than M. trigrammus. In addition, M. trigrammus always has three clearly visible longitudinal black bands on the pronotum (Fig. 4B) and the membrane of the wings is entirely transparent, while M. solaris usually has one pale brown distinct band medially (Fig. 4D), and the wing membrane is yellowish. Although not collected during this study, M. solaris also may occur in Iraq.