Agrilus graminis subsp. persicus Jendek & Nakládal 2019, ssp. nov.

Agrilus graminis persicus ssp. nov.

(Figs. 2C, 2J)

Description of holotype. Length: 7.9 mm. The new subspecies shares with the nominotypical subspecies the same morphological characters except for those mentioned in Diagnosis.

Variability. Body length: 6.8–8.5 mm. Without discernible variability except for the size. Sexual dimorphism. The male with the same sexual modifications as those in nominal subspecies.

Diagnosis. Agrilus graminis Kiesenwetter, 1857 is the West Palaearctic species with an extensive range (Jendek 2016a) and extensive spectrum of host plants (Jendek & Polakova 2014). Diverse abiotic and biotic conditions induce noticeable variability in the size, the color, and extent of elytral pubescence of this species. Despite the variability, the new subspecies Agrilus graminis persicus ssp. nov. is very distinctive and from the nominal subspecies differs in the larger size (4.7–7.2 mm versus 6.8–8.5 mm), in the stout body, in the light silky green color (similar to that in A. albogularis Gory, 1841), and mainly in the entire pubescence of elytra.

Type material. Type locality: Southwest Iran, Fars province, 14 km South of Yasuj, altitude 2000 m, 30°32'45”N, 51°36'16”E, beaten from Quercus. Type specimens. Holotype ♂, 1 ♂ PT, 1 ♀ PT (RRPC): “SW Iran, Fars prov., 14 km S Yasuj, 2000 m, 30°32'45”N, 51°36'16”E, beaten from Quercus, 4.5.2016, R. Rejzek ”. Other paratypes. IRAN. Fars. “Iran, N Shiraz, 30°01N, 25°05'E, 2018m, Bint. Sul, 13.v.2005, D. Baiocchi leg.” 1 ♀ PT (EJCB). Khuzestan. “Iran, Húzestán prov., 10km W Ize, 31°45'19”N, 49°48'18”E, 900m, 12.-13.X.1998, leg. P. Kabátek ” 1 ♀ PT (EJCB). Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad. “Iran, Kohgiluyeh and Buyer Ahmad Province, Dena Mountain, 2498 m, GPS: 30.84°N, 51.53°E, 27.5.2009, lgt. R. Ambrus ” 1 ♀ PT (EJCB). Kurdistan. “Iran, Kurdistan province, Marivan-Garan, 1.06.2010, H. Ghobari \ oak forest, green sticky trap ” 1 ♀ PT (EJCB). Lorestan. “W. Iran, Lorestan, 25 km S di Alaštar, 11-5-2002, m 1400, Leg. D. Gianasso \ ex larva Quercus castaneifolia v.2002 ” 1 ♀ PT (EJCB); “ Iran, Lorestan prov., Dorud 52 km SE, Boruqerd, 2- 3.6.2005, F. Pavel leg.” 1 ♂ PT, 1 ♀ PT (EJCB).

Distribution. IRAN: Fars, Khuzestan, Kohkiluyeh va Buyer Ahmad, Kurdistan, Lorestan. The nominal subspecies is known from Iranian provinces Gilan, Golestan, and Mazandaran adjacent to Caspian Sea and from the Kurdistan which makes its southernmost limit.

Host plant. Larval host: Quercus castaneifolia; adult host: Quercus.

Etymology. The specific name refers to the region of Persia (an empire based in Western Asia, founded in the 6th century BC) where the new subspecies occurs.