Scopula flaccidaria
Creators: name: Wanke, Dominic
name: Hausmann, Axel
name: Lee, Kyung Min
name: Murillo-Ramos, Leidys
name: Sihvonen, Pasi
name: Rajaei, Hossein
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2023
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Geometridae
Scopula
Scopula flaccidaria

description: Scopula flaccidaria (Zeller, 1852)   
(Plate 8, Figs 3–6; Plate 18, Figs 1–2; Plate 25, Figs 5–6; Map 9)  
 Geometra (Acidalia) flaccidaria Zeller, 1852. Stettiner entomologische Zeitung, 13 (6): 184. Syntypes (Turkey: Bursa (‘ Brussa’)) (NHMUK, examined).   
 Scopula iranaria Bytinski-Salz & Brandt, 1937. The entomologist’s record and journal of variation, 49: (11). Holotype ♁ (Iran, Keredj) (ZFMK, examined). Here regarded as synonym based on morphological examination and sympatric occurrence of these forms.   
For the list of unavailable names, see Hausmann (2004).  
 Type material examined. Scopula iranaria Cotype ♁, Iran, Keredj, 1400 m, 1933, leg. F. Brandt, Dr. H. Bytinski-Salz, g. prep. 2299/2020 H. Rajaei; in ZFMK.   
Paratypes 1 ♁, 1 ♀, Iran, Elbursgebirge, Keredj, 1400 m, 12.v.1936, coll. Brandt, (♁) NHRS-LEPI 000010317, g. prep. 11060, (♀) NHRS-LEPI 000010318, g. prep. 11061; in NHRS.  
 Additional material examined: 14 ♁/ ♀ (see appendix).   
 Diagnosis. Wingspan ♁ ♀ 18–24mm. In Iran Scopula flaccidaria can externally be confused only with S. nigropunctata in Iran, therefore it is compared here against this species. Ground colour (Plate 8, Figs 3–6) beige, hindwings pointed out (beige, hindwings not pointed out in S. nigropunctata) (see Plate 5, Figs 1–2; Plate 8, Figs 3–6).   
 In the male genitalia 8th sternite not strongly broadened, basally convex, both cerata long (very broad, square-like, basally straight, with thin cerata, left short, right long in S. nigropunctata) (see Plate 13, Fig. 2; Plate 18, Figs 1–2).   
 In the female genitalia lamella antevaginalis ring-shaped, antrum with tulip shaped sclerite (big with irregular folds in S. nigropunctata) (see Plate 22, Fig. 5; Plate 25, Figs 5–6).   
 Phenology. Generally, bivoltine, probably trivoltine, with a first generation from mid-May to mid-June and a second generation from mid-July to late August, the potential third generation from early to late September (Hausmann 2004). Investigated specimens in Iran were collected from March to September.   
 Biology. Larvae feed on Polygonum, Plantago and Taraxacum officinale (Hausmann 2004).   
 Habitat. In Europe at altitudes from 0 m to 300 m, in Turkey to 1200 m (Hausmann 2004). Investigated specimens in Iran were collected from 0 m to 1300 m.   
 Distribution. In Europe from eastern Austria to Ukraine and southern European Russia (Hausmann 2004). In Turkey, the Caucasus, Transcaucasus, Cyprus, Israel, northern Iraq and Central Asia (Wiltshire 1948; Wiltshire 1957; Viidalepp 1996; Hausmann 2004; Makhov 2023). In Iran distributed in the northern parts (Map 9). Reported in the literature also for the provinces Khorasan-e Shomali and Mazandaran (Schwingenschuss 1939; Prout 1912 – 1915; Sutton 1963; Wiltshire 1966; Viidalepp 1988; Hausmann 2004).   
 DNA-barcoding. Nearest species: S. albidaria (Staudinger, 1901) with 4.8 % (see Supplementary Table S1).
description: Published as part of Wanke, Dominic, Hausmann, Axel, Lee, Kyung Min, Murillo-Ramos, Leidys, Sihvonen, Pasi & Rajaei, Hossein, 2023, Systematics and integrative taxonomic revision of the tribe Scopulini Duponchel, 1845 in Iran (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Sterrhinae), pp. 1-96 in Zootaxa 5359 (1) on page 34, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5359.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/10147920