Nychiodes subfusca Brandt 1938

Nychiodes subfusca Brandt, 1938

(figs 43, 44, 106, 107, 136; map 3)

Nychiodes subfusca Brandt, 1938. Entomologische Rundschau, 55 (51), 36. Holotype ♂ ([Iran]: Comée, Fort Sine-Sefid) (in NHRS, examined).

Type material examined. Paratypes, 1 ♂, Iran, Fars, Strasse Ardekan-Talochosroe [Tall Khosrow], Comée [Komehr], ca 2600 m, 30.vi.1937, coll Brandt, g.prep. 10932; 1 ♀, same locality, 3750 m, 12.vi.1937, coll Brandt, g.prep. 10933; all in NHRS. 1 ♂, Iran, same locality, (Barm i Firus), ca. 3750 m, 12-20.vii.1937, coll Brandt; 1 ♂, same locality, ca. 2600 m, 5.vii.1937, coll Brandt; all in ZFMK. 1 ♂, same locality, ca. 2600 m, 30.vi.1937, coll Brandt; in ZSM.

Additional material studied: 13 ♂, 6 ♀ (see appendix).

Diagnosis. Wingspan ♂ 36–39 mm, ♀ 36–42 mm (forewing length ♂ 19–21 mm, ♀ 22–24 mm) (figs 43, 44). Ground colour of wings sandy-yellow. The species can be confused with some forms of N. divergaria and N. eberti sp. nov., but N. subfusca differs from these two species by clearly unique male and female genitalia (see below). Male genitalia of N. subfusca with uncus curved, needle-like, broad at the base in lateral view (fig. 107) (kinked, apex broad and pointed in N. eberti sp. nov. and N. divergaria, see figs 116, 121). Additionally, costa of valva in N. subfusca apically tapered and directed to uncus; ampulla superior thin and long, ampulla inferior thick and short, both ampullae located at the centre of valva (see fig. 106) (costa of valva apically digitiform and straight, both ampullae with similar length and located in the distal half of valva in N. eberti sp. nov. (see figs 120, 122); costa of valva broadened towards apex, ampulla superior thick and long, ampulla inferior highly variable, but in most specimens absent in N. divergaria, (see figs 115–119)). N. subfusca in female genitalia with a characteristic narrow ductus bursae and a large bag-shaped corpus bursae; lamella postvaginalis round with foldings (fig. 136) (ductus bursae broad, corpus bursae small, lamella postvaginalis antero-posteriorly extended without foldings in N. eberti sp. nov. and N. divergaria). In N. subfusca apophyses anteriores 1/9 the length of apophyses posteriores (1/ 5 in N. eberti sp. nov.; apophyses anteriores strongly reduced in N. divergaria) (see figs 141–143).

In south-western Iran, in addition to N. divergaria, at least four other species (N. farinosa, N. admirabila, N. leviata, N. subvirida) are sympatric with N. subfusca, but none of them can be externally confused with the latter species (see figs 26, 27, 38–40, 45–51).

Phenology. Flying from June to August. Wiltshire (1943) noted a record of the first brood in mid-June in Fars.

Biology. Larvae bred and described by Wiltshire (1943); feeding on Amygdalus and Prunus.

Habitat. In altitudes from 2000 up to 3750 m.

Distribution. Endemic species in south-western Iran (from Fars to Esfahan) (see map 3).

DNA barcoding. Nearest species (minimum pairwise distances): N. admirabila (5.1%) and N. antiquaria (5.4%) (fig. 145).