First report of Rhiza laciniosa (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) from Iran

Abstract

Owlet moths (Family Noctuidae) include many important agricultural pest species (e.g. Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner, 1808) and Spodoptera exigua (Hübner, 1808)) which causing intense damages to the crops, annually. Moreover, this family with more than 25000 described species, is the largest family of the order Lepidoptera. Therefore, recognition of the fauna and biodiversity of this family is significant in the management of the agroecosystems. During a study of the fauna of family Noctuidae in South Khorasan province of Iran, Rhiza laciniosa (Christoph, 1887) as a species of the subfamily Xyleninae has been first recorded for the fauna of Iran. Collecting was performed in 2018 from the Bagheran mountain range in the south of Birjand, by using a generator driven mercury vapour (MV) lamp (150 W) which was placed inside a white tent about 1.8 m high with a 8 W UVB tube light. Genitalia of the collected specimens were prepared for study according to Fibiger (1997) with some modifications. The identification was confirmed by Dr. Alexander Poltavsky and the examined materials are deposited in the insect collection of Department of Plant Protection, University of Birjand. R. laciniosa has already been reported from Central Asia in the mountainous areas, above 1000m and moth was reported to flies from May to late July. Similar information was recorded from the collection area in Iran.