Eremohadena afzalipouri sp. nov. from Iran

A new species of the genus Eremohadena Ronkay, Varga and Fabian, Eremohadena afzalipouri Shirvani sp. nov., is described from southeastern Iran. Holotype and female paratype and genitalia of both sexes are illustrated for the new species. A checklist of Iranian species of Eremohadena including nine species and subspecies is provided.


Introduction
The genus Eremohadena Ronkay, Varga and Fábián, 1995 belongs to Xylenini, one of 12 tribes within the subfamily Xyleninae, as defined by Lafontaine and Fibiger (2006). Association of the genus with Xylenini is supported by one synapomorphy from male genitalia: the very large digitus, which forms a sclerotized area along the costal margin of the valva and is often partially or completely fused with the apical portion of the valva (Lafontaine and Fibiger 2006;Fibiger and Hacker 2007). Xylenini comprises five subtribes, of which Pseudohadenina includes six genera, containing Pseudohadena Alphéraky, 1889. The members of Pseudohadena genus-group were later revised and redefined by Ronkay et al. (1995), who suggested its division into three genera, including Eremohadena Ronkay, Varga and Fábián, and Graphantha Ronkay, Varga and Fábián, 1995. The eremic genus, Eremohadena, currently comprises three subgenera, five speciesgroups, and includes 28 total species and subspecies (Fibiger and Hacker 2007). The members of this genus are univoltine (with flight period in late spring and autumn), and occur in lowlands, semi-mountains, and deserts (dry areas with poor vegetation) (Ronkay et al. 1995). Of the three subgenera, the newly discovered species belongs in Eremohadena Ronkay, Varga and Fábián, 1995. It is especially associated with the chenopodiphaga species-group, which currently includes seven species, E. chenopodiphaga (Rambur, 1832), E. eibinevoi Fibiger, Kravchenko, Li, Mooser andMüller, 2006, E. halimi (Milliére, 1877), and E. immunda (Ewersmann, 1842).
The purpose of this study is to describe a new species of the genus Eremohadena. External and genital characteristics of the new species are illustrated, described, and diagnosed compared with its closest congeners. A checklist of nine species and subspecies of Eremohadena from Iran is provided with their provincial distribution in the country.

Materials and Methods
Adult specimens were collected using mobile light trap systems (powered by 12 volt batteries and 8 watt Black light UVB tubes) in Kerman province, Southeast Iran. Genitalia of both sexes were dissected, stained, and mounted following Fibiger (1997). Prepared genitalia slides were examined using binocular stereomicroscope (Olympus SZ60). Photographs of adult specimens and genitalia were taken by a Canon Power Shot A710 Digital Camera, using a stereomicroscope eyepiece for the genitalia. Terminology used for external and genital descriptions follows both Ronkay et al. (1995) and Fibiger and Hacker (2007). All specimens examined were deposited in the collection of Noctuidae, Department of Plant Protection, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Iran.

Results and Discussion
Taxonomy Eremohadena afzalipouri Shirvani sp. nov. (Figures 1, 2) Description Holotype: Male ( Figure 1A). Wingspan 42-50 mm, thorax and abdomen strong, antennae ciliate, basally covered densely with whitecream scales, eye large, globular, palpi porrect, third segment short, one-third the length of the second segment; frons slightly bulged; head, collar, tegula and forewing ochreous light brown to brown-cream, pubescence of collar and tegula well defined, that of tegula outlined with black scales; tarsi ventrally armed with three rows of short and fine spines. Forewing large and triangular, dark brown costal spots present; small and narrow black basal dash present, crosslines well defined, antemedian line double, wedge shape, incomplete, postmedian line double, dentate; noctuid maculation complete, large, all encircled with fine black lines, orbicular stigma ovoid-irregular, lighter than ground color, reniform stigma ventrally filled with dark, darker path between two preceding stigmata, claviform stigma elongate; subterminal area more saturated in color, subterminal line defined as wedge-shape arrowheads, terminal line fine, dark brown, fringes short, as ground color; underside of forewing cream, costal margin dirty light brown, veins well presented, discal spot present. Hindwing light brown-cream, marginal area dark, veins covered with brown scales, discal spot inconspicuous, fringes cream-beige, darker along veins; underside of hindwing dirty cream-white, discal spot present, postmedian line well defined and dark.
Female ( Figure 1B). Same size, wing coloration, and pattern as the male. Differs from the male by its filiform antennae.
Female genitalia (Figure 2 C). Ovipositor moderate, cylindrical, almost weak, papilla anales apically with long hairs, rectangular, gonapophyses slender, posterior apophyses longer than anterior ones; ostium bursa short, sclerotized; ductus bursa slender, very long, distal end constricted and membranous, then slightly dilated and sclerotized, sclerotizsed bands lateral to the ductus bursa, which expand on the posterior end of the bursa sac and extend into the wall of the appendix bursa; appendix bursa elongate-ovoid; bursa sac globular, shorter than appendix bursa with two signum-stripes .

Diagnosis
In comparison with E. chenopodiphaga, the ampulla of the new species is shorter and thicker, juxta and not triangular, and the vesica is thinner, with a complete coiling. Compared to E. eibinevoi, the vesica of E. afzalipouri sp. nov. is shorter and wider, the digitus of the right valve ending in a long, acute process. The characteristics of the female genitalia are even more diagnostic than the male's. The ductus bursa of E. afzalipouri sp. nov. is much longer and more slender, the ostium bursa is more sclerotized compared with E. chenopodiphaga, and the appendix bursa consists of only one sac.

Biology and distribution
As other members of the genus Eremohadena, the new species also has an unusual life cycle, i.e., the presence of an aestivation phase. The moths fly in spring, then aestivate in summer, and then fly again in autumn. The specimens of E. afzalipouri sp. nov. were taken from two locations not far from each other, in the research farm of the College of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, in April and May 2011. The farm is located in a desert-lowland region surrounded by sandy lands with short-grass vegetation and tamarisk trees. One female specimen was collected in mid-November in the second location with similar vegetation. It seems that, like other congeners, this species is local, and not common. Adults are attracted to artificial lights. Immature stages and larval food plants, as for E. eibinevoi, are still unknown; however, the larvae of E. chenopodiphaga feed on foliage of Chenopodium fructicosum, Atriplex portulacoides, and Salaola soda plants   (Ebert and Hacker 2002). syn. roseotincta (Brandt, 1941) (preoccupied) chenopodiphaga species-group chenopodiphaga (Rambur, 1832): Tehran and Fars (Brandt 1938 (Hacker 1990).