Cherchera abatesella Dumont, 1932

Cherchera abatesella Dumont, 1932 View in CoL

( Fig. 4B, I–L View FIGURE 4 )

Type locality: North Africa , Tunisia .

Material examined. 4 ♀♀: Hormozgân Province : 1 ♀, Bandar-e Khamir, Environment Ranger Sta., Mangrove forest (protected area), N 26˚58΄17˝, E 55˚37΄40˝, 15 m, 31.x.2021, Âlipanâh, Falsafi leg. (gen. prep. HA-2986, HMIM)/ 1 ♀, SW. Bandar-e Khamir, nr. Sâyeh Khosh vill., Shrimp farming, Mangrove forest, N 26˚47΄4˝, E 55˚21΄17˝, 0 m, 1.xi.2021, Âlipanâh, Falsafi leg./ 1 ♀, Gheshm Isl., Gavarzin dock, Mangrove forest (protected area), N 26˚49΄6˝, E 55˚47΄39˝, 0 m, 2.xi.2021, Âlipanâh, Falsafi leg. (gen. prep. HA-2801, HMIM)/ 1 ♀, Gheshm Isl., Ramkân- Gavarzin Rd., 5 km to Gavarzin dock, N 26˚48΄23˝, E 55˚50΄19˝, 0 m, 3.xi.2021, Âlipanâh, Falsafi leg. (gen. prep. HA-3046, HMIM)

Distribution. Canary Islands, Malta, United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Tunisia ( Asselbergs 2009; Slamka 2019), Iran (new record).

Remarks. Length of the forewing in the examined females is 7.1–7.6 mm (x = 7.37 mm ± 0.22; n = 4). Asselbergs (2010) states that the proximal part of the ductus bursae and the distal part of the egg-shaped corpus bursae are granulated. In the dissected females, granulation is visible in the distal one-third of the corpus bursae, in the proximal two-thirds of the ductus bursae, and in the entire ductus seminalis ( Fig. 4I‒L View FIGURE 4 ). Apparently, the granulation of ductus seminalis is neglected by Asselbergs (2010). In the illustration by Slamka (2019: 322, 142) the longitudinal wrinkles of the anterior half of the funnel-shaped antrum (see Slamka 2019: 322, 142) appear to be weaker than those in our examined females ( Fig. 4I‒K View FIGURE 4 ), however this may be due to the lower pressure applied to the cover slide during the genitalia slide preparation.

Larvae of this species have been reported feeding on Vachellia tortilis (Forssk.) Galasso & Banfi (formerly in Acacia ) in Tunisia ( Dumont 1932). In the United Arab Emirates, they probably also feed on V. tortilis (Forssk.) Galasso & Banfi , V. nilotica (L.) P.J.H.Hurter & Mabb. or V. flava (Forssk.) Kyal. & Boatwr. (= Acacia ehrenbergiana Hayne ) ( Asselbergs 2010). Since the Iranian specimens are collected using a light trap, the host plant is unknown. The genus and species are newly reported for the fauna of Iran.