Achrus albicosta (Kusnezov, 1929)

(Figs 1a–e, 15a–e & 26)

Symphypyga albicosta Kusnezov, 1929: 343.

Achrus albicosta: Gnezdilov et al., 2021: 581, figs 1–18, 21–35.

Achrus caligonicolus Dlabola, 1981: 223, figs 160–163, syn. nov.

Achrus taghizadehi Dlabola, 1981: 222. figs 156–159, syn. nov.

Type material examined: Kerman province: Rafsanjan, Nough, 19.vi., 30.vii.1974, Safavi/ Barkhordari leg., ♂ Holotype, ♀ Allotype, 14♀ ♂ Paratypes designated by J. Dlabola for A. taghizadehi (HMIM).

Other material examined: Esfahan province: 27♀ ♂ Kavir-e Marnjab, 34°10′10.8′′N, 51°30′15.8′′E, 868m, 19.vi.2011, Mozaffarian leg. (HMIM); 6♀ ♂ near Kavir-e Maranjab, 34°09′22.5′′N, 051°30′40.9′′E, 2.v.2018, Serri leg. (HMIM). Kerman province: 8♀ ♂ 20 km S. Kerman, 22.vi. 2019, 1986 m, 30°12.65′N, 57°15.50′E, Hajiesmailian leg. (HMIM); 104♀ ♂ Nough.—Lab., 6,12,13,17,20,27. viii.1974; 9,18. x.1974,, on Haloxylon and Tamarix (HMIM); 1♂ 1♀ 35 km E. Rafsanjan, Kaboutarkhan, 23.vi. 2019, 1689 m, 30°18.10′N, 56°19.17′E, Mozaffarian leg.(HMIM); 3♀ ♂ Rafsanjan, 9.x.1974 (HMIM). 1♀ Kermanshah province: 30 km Kermansah — Sanandaj Rd., Cham-e Luch, 2.vii.1975, Nuri leg. (HMIM). 57♀ ♂ Khorassan Razavi province: Sabzevar (10 km S.), Hares Abad, 940 m, 15.vi.1977, Pazuki / Abaii leg. (HMIM); 1♂ Taibad, 650m, 19.viii.1993, Ebrahimi / Badii leg. (HMIM). 1♂ Tehran province: Varamin, Abardej, 20.vii.1985, Abaii leg. (HMIM). 6 ♀ ♂ Yazd province: 10 km S.E. Mehriz, 1455 m, 31°31.483′N, 54°35.18′E, Mozaffarian leg. (HMIM); 344♀ ♂ Ashkezar, 1000–1050 m, 3.v.1986, 24.v.1996, Mirzayans / Boroumand / Sarafrazi / Badii leg. (HMIM); 1♀ Chahak, Cotton field, 19.vii.1993, Shamszadeh leg. (HMIM); 41♀ ♂ Khadivak, 29.v.1993, LT (HMIM); 20♀ ♂ Meybod, 1000 m, 3.iii.1986, Mirzayans / Boroumand leg. (HMIM); 6♀ ♂ Sh.Sadughi St., 10.iii.1993, On Haloxylon (HMIM).

Notes: Achrus taghizadehi and A. caligonicolus were described by Dlabola (1981) from the southeast of Iran. Dlabola indicated different colors (green for A. taghizadehi and brown for A. caligonicolus), slight differences in the adult size, different curvature of aedeagal shaft, size and distinctness of aedeagal teeth, the length of teeth row on the aedeagal shaft, shape of stylus apex and some other characters as diagnostic for these species. Our examination of the paratypes of A. taghizadehi deposited in HMIM and other specimens from different parts of Iran, including two specimens from south of Kerman, close to the type locality of A. caligonicolus, showed that only two populations —one in Yazd province in central Iran and another in south of Kerman have brown color, while all other specimens were entirely greenish except for some from Kerman and Yazd provinces with brown apical halves of forewings. Male genitalia structure of 17 dissected specimens showed some structural variation without correlation with coloration of the specimens (figs 1a–d) and the diagnoses provided by Dlabola (1981) were variable in some cases. The material examined matches with the illustration of A. albicosta by Gnezdilov et al. (2021) and confirms the suggested synonymy of Achrus caligonicolus Dlabola, 1981 and Achrus taghizadehi Dlabola, 1981 with A. albicosta (Kusnezov, 1929).

A. albicosta was already recorded from China, Mongolia, Middle Asia and Eastern Anatolia (Mitjaev & Huang, 1995; Gnezdilov et al., 2021). A. taghizadehi and A caligonicolus were recorded from southeast, northeast and central Iran (Chahak, Gorgan, Isfahan, Kerman, Nough, and Yazd Provinces) by Dlabola (1981), Barkhordari et al. (1981), Mirzayans (1995), and Shamszadeh (2002). These records of A. albicosta in Iran, along with more localities recorded here (Fig. 26), fill the gap in distribution of this species from Middle Asia to eastern Anatolia without crossing the wall-like Alborz Mountains in the north of Iran. Mirzayans (1995) recorded this species from Pistacia vera and the material listed above shows the species also occurs on Tamarix and on cotton fields at 940–1689 m a.s.l.