To the knowledge of the fauna of geometrid moths (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) of Tajikistan

Abstract

The materials on geometrid moths that were collected by the members of Russian entomological expedition in Tajikistan in 2015–2018 are studied. An annotated list of 83 species of geometrid moths is given. The existing taxonomic problems of morphologically similar species with close barcoding of DNA are discussed: Aplocera hissara Vasilenko, 1995 – A. plagiata (Linnaeus, 1758) and Epirrhoe dubiosata (Alphéraky, 1883) – E. alternata (Müller, 1764). These pairs of species occurring parapatrically have different ecological preferences. Aplocera plagiata is widely distributed in lowlands of Central Asia; sometimes the species occurs in low- and middle-mountains. Most of the mountain systems of this region are populated by close species A. hissara and A. dzungarica Vasilenko, 1995. For example, in Turkmenistan A. hissara inhabits only the isolated Kugitang plateau, while A. plagiata occurs in the surrounding plains and Kopetdag; the second species has not yet been collected in Tajikistan, but can be found in the future. Epirrhoe alternata was collected only in low-mountains, in humid floodplain biotopes, while E. dubiosata inhabits steppe areas in middle-mountains; this data indirectly evidence about the species level of both taxa. The species Rheumaptera montivagata (Duponchel, 1830), Eupithecia subpulchrata Alphéraky, 1882, Idaea obsoletaria (Rambur, 1833), Scopula ansulata (Lederer, 1871) and S. minorata (Boisduval, 1833) are recorded for the region for the first time. Two species, Menophra sp. and Idaea sp., need further studying.

Keywords

• lepidoptera
• geometridae
• new localities
• fauna
• tajikistan