Rhodostrophia tabestana Trusch & Hausmann 2007

Rhodostrophia tabestana Trusch & Hausmann, 2007

(Figs 31–34, 70, 87, 99, Map 8)

Rhodostrophia tabestana Trusch & Hausmann, 2007: Nota lepidopterologica, 30 (1), 8; figs 1–11. (Iran, Fars, Kaserun, Mian- Kotal, 1900 m),

Holotype ♂: ‘S-Iran, Fars, Kaserun, Mian-Kotal, 1900 m, 11.vi.1972, Ebert & Falkner leg. ’, ‘ Holotypus ♂, Rhodostrophia tabestana det. Trusch & Hausmann 2007 ’ in SMNK. Paratypes, 55 ♂, 26 ♀ from different localities in the provinces: Fars, Khuzestan, Kohgiluyeh-va Boyer-Ahmad, Chahar Mahal-o-Bakhtiari, Esfahan and Lorestan deposited in SMNK, HMIM, ZSM, PCJM and PCNP (all examined) (for details see Map 8 and Trusch & Hausmann 2007).

Additional material examined. 1 ♂, Iran, prov. Kohkiluyeh-va-Boyerahmad, 30 km S Yassuj, road Abshare- Tange-Tamoradj, 8 km before Abshar, N 30°31'53"; E 51°25'11", 2254 mNN, 24.v.2009, leg. Hossein Rajaei; 13 ♀, Iran, prov. Lorestan, Noorabad-Nahawand road, 25 km to Nahawand, Gardane-Garrin, 2135 mNN, N 34°02'48"; E 48°20'31", leg. H. Rajaei, J.-U. Meineke & A. Hofmann; 2 ♀, Iran, Esfahan, Yasuj E, Kuh e Dena, Nurabad N, 2450m, 8.vi.2005, leg. A. Hofmann & J.U. Meineke, barcodes: BC ZSM 33873; 1 ♂, 3 ♀, Iran, Lorestan, Kuh- e Garin, Gard [aneh]-ye Gema Siab O, 2200 m, 25.6.2009, A. Hofmann, J.-U. Meineke, H. Rayaj [Rajaei]; all in SMNK. 2 ♀, Iran, prov. Lorestan, Noorabad-Nahawand road, 25 km to Nahawand, Gardane-Garrin, 2135 mNN, N 34°02'48"; E 48°20'31", leg. H. Rajaei, J.-U. Meineke & A. Hofmann; in SMNS. 2 ♂, 1 ♀, Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari, Hiregan bei Kuhrang, N 32°21', E 50°27', 2300 m, 5.vi.2005, in PCJG.

Specimens studied total: 61 ♂, 47 ♀.

Differential diagnosis. (Figs 31–34). Wingspan 26–29 mm (on average, females are slightly larger than males). Wings pale ochre with dark brown suffusion, with very low colour variation. Forewing with brown antemedial, medial and postmedial lines; hindwing with medial and postmedial lines concolorous to those of forewing. The presence of a medial line crossing over the discal spot is characteristic in this species and can be used as a good diagnostic character. Discal spot dark brownish, conspicuous on forewing, tiny on hindwing. Underside of wings concolorous to that of upperside, only postmedial lines visible on both fore- and hindwings. Male antennal flagellum ventrally dentated (medially keeled). Male hindtibia with four spurs. Based on wing pattern, this species can be diagnosed from other Iranian Rhodostrophia, however dissection of male genitalia is recommended for gaining a better reliability of identification.

Male genitalia (Fig. 70) with long uncus, apically heart-shape, width of apex more than twice that of base; valva broad, apically slightly spinulose; costa broadly convex (diagnostic character for R. tabestana discriminating it from all other Iranian Rhodostrophia species) (Fig. 3); sacculus slightly curved interiorly. Juxta wide, elongated dorso-ventrally. Aedeagus subapically curved; vesica membranous, without cornuti. Male sternite A8 bilobed, with small octavals.

Female genitalia (Fig. 87) with a membranous, spherical corpus bursae. Signum developed as a characteristically paired triangular sclerite, medially less sclerotized, at the anterior part of corpus bursae (Fig. 86b). Ductus bursae with sclerotized posterior part connected to the funnel-shaped antrum. Posterior apophyses twice length of anterior apophyses.

Remarks. Trusch & Hausmann (2007) illustrated the female genitalia of Rhodostrophia vastaria (Christoph, 1877), and tentatively regarded it as sister species of R. tabestana. Rhodostrophia vastaria is known only from Turkmenistan and south-western Kazakhstan (Hausmann, 2004) and not yet recorded from Iran.

Genetic data. BIN: BOLD:AAD1541. Genetically heterogeneous, within the same BIN diverging into two clusters at a distance of 1.2% from each other. Nearest species: R. skulei (5.6%) (Fig. 119, Table 1).

Distribution (Map 8). Up to now the species has been recorded only in south-western Iran and seems to be an endemic species of the Zagros Mountains.

Life history and habitat (Fig. 115). Biology and larval stages are unknown. The species seems to be univoltine, recorded from early June to late July, flying at altitudes from 1900 m up to 2900 m.