Lithostege amoenata Christoph, 1885

Lithostege amoenata Christoph, 1885 View in CoL ( Figs 5–6 & 14, 17, 21)

Type material. Lectotype ♀, [ Turkmenistan] Askhabat, Coll. Great Knjaz Nikolaj Mikhajlovich, 23.5.82 Amoenata Chr ., Lectotypus Lithostege amoenata Christoph, 1885 , Design. V. Mironov 2017. in ZISP . Paralectotypes, 1 ♀, 1 ♂, same data as Lectotypus, but 5.6.82, in ZISP .

Additional material. ( 9 ♀, 17 ♂): 1 ♂, [ Iran] Khorasan, Kopetdagh- Allahakbar , 1950 m, 16.6.1974, leg. Radj [abi], Paz [ouki], g. prep. 1065/2010 H. Rajaei ; 1 ♀, [ Iran, Khorasan e Shomali] Sarekhs [Sarakhs], 21.v.[19]73, [leg.] Abai ; both in HMIM . 1 ♀, Nord Iran, Elbursgebirge östl. Shemshak , 50 km nördl. Tehran, 2100–2500 m, 8.– 24.6.1973, leg. G. Junge, g. prep. 1024/2010 H. R .; 6 ♂, Iran, Prov. Khorasan [-e Shomali], Kopet-Dagh Mts. , 40 km N of Qucan, 2000 m, 4–5.vi.2010, leg. B. Benedek & T. Hácz ; 1 ♂, Iran, Prov. Khorasan [-e Shomali], Kopet-Dagh Mts. , 65 km N of Qucan, 2000 m, 5.vi.2010, leg. B. Benedek & T. Hácz, g. prep. ( ♂) 2757/2024 H. Rajaei ; 8 ♂, Iran, Prov. Khorasan [-e Shomali], Binalud Mts. , 40 km SW of Mashad, Moghan-Pivejan Site, 2000–2500 m, 6–7.VI.2010, leg. B. Benedek & T. Hácz, g. prep. ( ♂) 2757/2024 H. Rajaei ; 1 ♂, [ Turkmenistan], Merv ; 1 ♂, [ Turkmenistan], Aschabad, 8 Mai ; all in SMNK . 1 ♀, Iran, Prov. Khorasan [-e Shomali], Kopet-Dagh Mts. , 65 km N of Qucan, 2000 m, 5.vi.2010, leg. B. Benedek & T. Hácz, g. prep. 2768/2024 H. Rajaei ; 4 ♂, Iran, Prov. Khorasan [-e Shomali], Kopet-Dagh Mts. , 40 km N of Qucan, 2000 m, 4–5.vi.2010, leg. B. Benedek & T. Hácz, g. prep. 2769/2024 H. Rajaei ; 1 ♂, Iran, Prov. Khorasan [-e Shomali], Binalud Mts. , 40 km SW of Mashad, Moghan-Pivejan Site, 2000–2500 m, 6–7.VI.2010, leg. B. Benedek & T. Hácz, g. prep. 2762/2024 H. Rajaei; all in SMNS . 1 ♂, [ Turkmenistan], Kopet- Dagh, Suljukli , 25.05.1923, Shestoperov leg; all in ZIAT . 1 ♂, [ Turkmenistan], Asia centr. ( Tekke ) ; 1 ♀, [ Turkmenistan] Askhabad ; both in MfN ; 1 ♀, Turkmenia, West Kopet-dagh, gorge Aidere , 1.v.1983, A. Deviatkin [leg.]; in ZMKU .

Taxonomic note. Lithostege amoenata has been consistently misinterpreted in the past (e.g., Rajaei et al., 2011; Viidalepp, 2011; László, 2018), primarily due to highly external similarity to L. hausmanni sp. n. and L. viidaleppi sp. n., as well as the absence of the holotype of L. amseli . Rajaei et al. (2011) suggested that L. amseli might be a synonym of L. amoenata , but deferred the formal act of synonymization pending further studies. László (2018) recognized this misinterpretation, noting that Rajaei et al. (2011) had mistakenly depicted specimens as L. amoenata that were not collected near the type locality of this species. Upon studying the holotype of L. amseli and extensive material from across the Middle East and Central Asia, we have gained a better understanding of the morphology of the amoenata species-group, leading to the discovery of two new species: L. hausmanni sp. n. and L. viidaleppi sp. n. (see below). Here we examine and illustrate the type specimens of L. amoenata , as well as additional specimens from northeastern Iran, particularly the Kopet-Dagh Mountains.

Diagnosis. The wingspan: 28–31 mm. Externally, L. amoenata closely resembles the allied species, L. hausmanni sp. n. and L. viidaleppi sp. n., described herein ( Figs 7–10). These three species have allopatric distribution: L. amoenata is found in southwestern Turkmenistan and northeastern Iran; L. hausmanni sp. n. is known only from central and southeastern Afghanistan and North Iran; and L. viidaleppi sp. n. is distributed in southern Tajikistan. Additionally, they can be easily distinguished in the characters of male and female genitalia. In L. amoenata ( Fig. 14) both the apical and costal valval processes are of the same size; The juxta is elongated, with its apical part is narrower than the basal; the aedeagus is short and not curved (in L. hausmanni sp. n. ( Fig. 15) the apical process of the valva is very long, the costal process is reduced to a series of small teeth; the juxta is elongated, with basal narrower than the apical; and the aedeagus is short and subapically curved; in L. viidaleppi sp. n. ( Fig 16) the apical process of the valva is long, the costal process forms a stout projection, slightly shorter than the apical one; the juxta is elongated, with the basal section narrower than the apical; and the aedeagus is long and subapically curved). The female genitalia of L. amoenata ( Fig. 17) include a very short antrum, with a lip-shaped ventral margin; a tubular and thick ductus bursae; and a spherical corpus bursae fully covered with dense spicules ( L. hausmanni sp. n. ( Fig. 18) has a short, triangular antrum, with a short V-shaped incision into the ventral margin; a curved, narrow ductus bursae; and a spherical corpus bursae half covered with small spicules; L. viidaleppi sp. n. ( Fig. 19) features a bowl-shaped antrum with a Ushaped incision into the ventral margin; a tubular and short ductus bursae; and a spherical corpus bursae, with only the dorsal third covered with loose spicules).

Bionomics. L. amoenata appears to be bivoltine, with specimens collected from May to July and at the end of September, at the altitude ranging from 1950 to 2500 m.

Distribution. This species is distributed in southern Turkmenistan, northern and northeastern Iran ( Fig. 21).