Systematics of Problepsis wiltshirei (Prout, 1938), comb. nov. (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Sterrhinae) – an endemic species to the Zagros Mountains in the Middle East

By

Wanke, Dominic
Krogmann, Lars
Murillo-Ramos, Leidys
Sihvonen, Pasi
Rajaei, Hossein

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2021-10-5

Original Publication

Nature conservation

Volume

44

Pages

175--192

Subjects

new combination , Scopulini , Somatina , taxonomy

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers 2012-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/nl.44.67345

 

Abstract

Within Iran, the Zagros Mountains show high biodiversity, with a wealth of endemic species. One of these is the geometrid moth Somatina wiltshirei Prout, 1938, originally described from Iran and Iraq. In the present study, one mitochondrial and up to nine protein-coding nuclear gene regions were used along with a comparative morphological examination to investigate the systematic position of this species. The results support the reclassification of this species as Problepsis wiltshireicomb. nov. Since the original species description is superficial, we provide a re-description supported by rich illustrations of morphological characters and distribution. In addition, Problepsis wiltshireicomb. nov. is reported as a new species for the fauna of Turkey. The importance of the habitat for the conservation of this species is discussed.