Psammotis pulveralis

Psammotis pulveralis (Hübner, 1796)

(Fig. 2E, F)

Pyralis pulveralis Ḩbner, 1796: 29, pl. 17 fig. 109.

TL: Germany, Leipzig.

Material examined. 9 ♂♂, 12 ♀♀: Alborz Prov.: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Âsârâ, 40 km N Karaj, 1850 m, 27.vi.1971, Safavi, Borumand, Kâviân, Ghâzioff leg., 1 ♀, Karaj, Arangeh, Sarziârat, 1750 m, 10, 11.vii.1996, Barâri, Badii leg.; Ardebil Prov.: 1 ♂, Sabalân, Qotur Suiee, N 38˚21΄53.9˝, E 47˚51΄43.4˝, 2276 m, 25.-26.vii.2007, Âlipanâh, Zahiri, Falsafi leg., 1 ♂, Ardebil- Meshginshahr Rd., Sabalân, N 38˚21΄45.3˝, E 47˚51΄40.0˝, 2306 m, 13.vii.2013, Afsariân, Sarafrâzi leg.; Esfahân Prov.: 1 ♀, Kâshân, Ghohrud, Jevinân, 2000 m, 12.-13.vi.1984, Pâzuki, Hâshemi leg.; Golestân Prov.: 2 ♂♂, Shâhrud, Shâhkuh, 2150 m, 15.vi.1974, Rajabi, Pâzuki leg.; Hamedân Prov.: 3 ♀♀, Sarâb-e Gâmâsiâb, N 34˚05΄56.2˝, E 48˚25΄20.5˝, 1813 m, 11.vii.2014, Afsariân leg.; Kermân Prov.: 1 ♂, Bâft, Ghanât-e Marvân, 2800 m, 23.v.1977, Safavi, Pâzuki, Abâi leg.; Kohgiluyeh and Boyerahmad Prov.: 1 ♀, Kâkân, Hoseinkhâni, 2100 m, 26.-27.v.1995, Badii, Sarafrâzi, Hâshemi leg.; Kordestân Prov.: 1 ♀, 25 km E Bâneh, 1950 m, 4.vii.1975, Pâzuki leg.; Mâzandarân Prov.: 1 ♀, Chamestân, Vâz vill., N 36˚21΄49.6˝, E 52˚06΄03.1˝, 557 m, 28.vi.2007, Âlipanâh, Nematiân leg., 1 ♀, Siâhbisheh- Yush Rd., 3 km Kamarbon vill., N 36˚13΄51.7˝, E 51˚24΄45.3˝, 2557 m, 21.-22.vii.2007, Âlipanâh, Falsafi, Zahiri leg.; Markazi Prov.: 1 ♀, Âshtiân, Âhoo, Bidsukhteh valley, 2000 m, 29.vii.1997, Barâri, Mofidi-Neyestânak leg.; North Khorâsân Prov.: 1 ♂, Âshkhâneh-Bojnurd Rd., 15 km E Bojnurd, N 37˚31΄31.6˝, E 57˚08΄08.4˝, 1058 m, 16.vi.2013, Falsafi, Âlipanâh leg., 1 ♀, Esfarâyen- Jâjarm Rd., 21 km W Esfarâyen, Châhârmarân, Sâluk protected area, N 37˚12΄23.6˝, E 57˚15΄25.7˝, 1463 m, 18.vi.2013, Âlipanâh, Falsafi leg., 1 ♂, N Shirvân, Kopet Dâgh Mt., Sarâni vill., Sarâni protected area, N 37˚48΄22.5˝, E 57˚56΄29.7˝, 1500 m, 22.vi.2013, Âlipanâh, Falsafi leg.; Zanjân Prov.: 1 ♂, Sorkhâbâd protected area, Armaghânkhâneh, Meshkin vill. to Galjin vill. Rd., 12 km to Galjin vill., N 37˚3´29˝, E 48˚22´49˝, 2174 m, 14.vi.2020, Âlipanâh, Falsafi leg.

Distribution. Europe, European Russia, south of Siberia, Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Syria, Iran [Alborz (Elburz Mt., Kandovan Rd. and Nesa), Fars (Sepidan and Sineh Sefid), Golestan (Gorgan and Shahkuh), Hamedan (Hamedan), Hormozgan (Hajiabad), Sistan and Baluchestan (Taftan Mt.), and Yazd (Barfkhaneh) Provinces], Kazakhstan, Afghanistan (Lederer 1871; Zerny 1939; Amsel 1961; Slamka 2013; de Jong et al. 2014).

Remarks. This species is represented by two subspecies: P. pulveralis pulveralis (Ḩbner, 1796) and P. pulveralis grisealis (Staudinger, 1870) (Slamka 2013), of which the latter is reported from Iran (Elburz Mt., Sepidan, Sineh Sefid, Hamedan, Taftan Mt., and Barfkhaneh) (Amsel 1961). The nominotypical subspecies varies from pale ochreous to ochreous with pink to red tint while in P. pulveralis grisealis the ground colour is more or less fuscous with weak cross lines (Slamka 2013).

In the examined material, the ground colour of the wings varies from pale ochreous-brown to pale greyish-brown and is slightly darker in some specimens. Cross lines are normally visible, but their width varies even among specimens with the same collecting data (Fig. 2E, F).

Genus Pyrausta Hübner, 1825

Subgenus Pyrausta Hübner, 1825