مطالعه فونستیک شب‌پره‌های Noctuoidea) (Lep.: Lasiocampoidea, Bombycoidea , در پارک ملی خبر، همراه با یک گزارش جدید از ایران

Introduction

Khabr National Park, located in Kerman Province, southeastern Iran, lies within the Irano-Anatolian biodiversity hotspot and represents a transitional zone between the Zagros mountain range and the arid central Iranian plateau, a region characterised by high levels of endemism. The park is one of the largest national parks in the country, covering a total area of 178,608 hectares. Within this area, 149,982 hectares include Khabar National Park and the remaining 28,625 hectares belong to Rochun Wildlife Sanctuary. The park is located encompassing the cities of Baft and Orzooieh. Over the years, 730 plant species have been identified in the region, with the most significant plant families being Asteraceae (88 species), Papilionaceae (87 species), Poaceae (74 species), Brassicaceae (52 species), Lamiaceae (45 species), and Caryophyllaceae (38 species). The Alpine zone of the Great Khabr Mountain is situated at an elevation higher than the upper limit of the Juniperus excelsa forest community. The slopes of this zone exhibit distinct vegetation and biodiversity (Pourmirzaie, 2021).

Over the past few decades, several studies have been made in documenting the Noctuoidea fauna of Iran, including comprehensive revisions of the subfamilies Heliothinae (Matov et al., 2008) and Plusiinae (Zahiri & Fibiger, 2008) Furthermore, the recently published Lepidoptera Iranica (Rajaei et al., 2023) provides the first modern catalogue of the country’s Lepidoptera, serving as a baseline for future faunistic studies. New regional records from less-explored areas continue to emerge; for example, the first country record of Anumeta dentistrigata (Staudinger, 1877) together with several other provincial records of Erebidae and Noctuidae highlights the ongoing discovery of Iran’s moths biodiversity (Shahreyari-Nejad et al., 2023; Moghadaszadeh Kermani et al., 2024).

With a specific focus on Kerman Province, a long-term study of Noctuidae recently yielded 14 taxa  as new provincial records for Kerman and one species (Oncocnemis rhodophaea Ebert, 1978) new to the Iranian fauna from Khabr National Park in Kerman (Shahreyari-Nejad et al., 2018, 2020). Despite its biogeographical importance, high plant diversity and ongoing faunistic efforts in the Province, the lepidopteran diversity of Khabr National Park remains poorly understood. To date, only two works have specifically addressed the Noctuoidea of Khabr (Shirvani, 2012, 2023). These works likely represent only a fraction of the area’s actual diversity. Moreover, no species of Lasiocampidae or Sphingidae has ever been formally recorded from Khabr. Given the growing body of knowledge of Iranian Lepidoptera and the urgent need to document biodiversity in protected areas, a systematic survey of Khabr National Park is both timely and necessary. This study, therefore, aims to provide a new inventory of Lasiocampidae, Sphingidae, Erebidae and Noctuidae from this protected area, with special emphasis on new provincial and national records.

Materials and methods

List of sampling localities

Sampling localities in Khabr National Park of Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft are as follows (Fig. 1):

1. 28^°47'30'' N 56^°19'47'' E, 2360 m, 23.ii.2023,
2. 28^°46'17'' N 56^°50'03'' E, 2527 m, 23.iv.2023,
3. 28^°48'04'' N 56^°31'22'' E, 2224 m, 02.ix.2022,
4. 28^°50'55'' N 56^°22'05'' E, 2329 m, 03.x.2024,
5. 28^°55'37'' N 56^°25'00'' E, 2265 m, 31.x.2024,
6. 28^°42'39'' N 56^°12'07'' E, 1588 m, 06.xii.2024,
7. 28^o42’54'' N 56^o24’50'' E, 2438 m, 23.ii.2025,
8. 28^o56’30'' N 56^o29’41'' E, 2147 m, 27.ii.2025.

The specimens were collected from desert areas with sparse vegetation, including low bushes, dry steppe with sparse low bushes, and small trees (Fig. 2).

Sampling Methods

Bucket traps powered by 12 V batteries and 8 W black light UVB tubes were used (Fig. 3). Moths were killed in the traps by chloroform vapors.

Specimen collection and identification

After each collection session, the collected insects were mounted on entomological pins and wings were spread. These specimens were subsequently examined in the laboratory and identified to species level using available taxonomic revisions and identification keys (e.g. Ronkay & Ronkay, 2009, Behounek et al., 2010, Lödl et al., 2012). In cases where external morphological characters were insufficient for reliable identification, genitalia dissections were performed following Fibiger (1997). Adult moths were photographed using Canon PowerShot A495 and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra cameras. Genitalia preparations were photographed with Nikon DS Ri-2 microscope camera attached to Nikon SMZ25 stereomicroscope.

Results

The following list presents the results of the collecting efforts. An asterisk (*) indicates a species newly recorded for Kerman Province, according to Rajaei et al. (2023); while two asterisks (**) indicate a species newly recorded for Iran. Wing patterns of all 28 new provincial records are illustrated. The classification of Lepidoptera follows the Catalogue of Lepidoptera of Iran (Rajaei et al., 2023).

List of species

Family Lasiocampidae Harris, 1841

Subfamily Poecilocampinae Tutt, 1902

Trichiura sapor Wiltshire, 1946 (Fig. 4A)*

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°55'37 N 56^°25'00 E, 2265 m, 31.x.2024, 2♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.; Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°42'39 N 56^°12'07 E, 1588 m, 06.xii.2024, 2♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Subfamily Lasiocampinae Harris, 1841

Lasiocampa eversmanni (Kindermann, 1843)

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°47'30 N 56^°19'47 E, 2360 m, 23.ii.2023, 9♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.; Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park,  28^°50'55 N 56^°22'05 E, 2329 m, 03.x.2024, 7♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Pachypasa hausmanni Prozorov et al., 2022 (Fig. 4B)*

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°47'30 N 56^°19'47 E, 2360 m, 23.ii.2023, 1♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Family Sphingidae Latreille, 1802

Subfamily Macroglossinae Harris, 1839

Rethera brandti O. Bang-Haas, 1937 (Fig. 4C)*

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°47'30 N 56^°19'47 E, 2360 m, 23.ii.2023, 3♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Hyles siehei (Püngeler, 1903)

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°47'30 N 56^°19'47 E, 2360 m, 23.ii.2023, 1♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Hyles euphorbiae (Linnaeus, 1758)

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°50'55 N 56^°22'05 E, 2329 m, 03.x.2024, 1♀, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Theretra alecto (Linnaeus, 1758)

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°47'30 N 56^°19'47 E, 2360 m, 23.ii.2023, 1♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Family Erebidae Leach, 1815

Subfamily Anobinae Holloway, 2005

Plecoptera inquinata (Lederer, 1857)

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°48'04 N 56^°31'22 E, 2224 m, 02.ix.2022, 1♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Subfamily Lymantriinae Hampson, 1893

Ocneria amabilis (Christoph, 1877) (Fig. 4D)*

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°47'30 N 56^°19'47 E, 2360 m, 23.ii.2023, 4♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.; Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°46'17 N 56^°50'03 E, 2527 m, 23.iv.2023, 17♂, 1♀, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.; Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°50'55 N 56^°22'05 E, 2329 m, 03.x.2024, 3♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Ocneria daraba (Wiltshire, 1952) (Fig. 4E)*

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°47'30 N 56^°19'47 E, 2360 m, 23.ii.2023, 3♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.; Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°46'17 N 56^°50'03 E, 2527 m, 23.iv.2023, 17♂, 3♀, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Subfamily Arctiinae Leach, 1815

Eucharia festiva (Hufnagel, 1766)

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°47'30 N 56^°19'47 E, 2360 m, 23.ii.2023, 4♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Nebrarctia semiramis (Staudinger, [1892])

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°47'30 N 56^°19'47 E, 2360 m, 23.ii.2023, 1♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.; Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°46'17 N 56^°50'03 E, 2527 m, 23.iv.2023, 4♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.; Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°50'55 N 56^°22'05 E, 2329 m, 03.x.2024, 1♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Note: Recorded for Khabr by Dubatolov & Zahiri (2005).

Fig. 1. Sampling localities in Khabr National Park (source map © www.topomap.ir).

Fig. 2. View of the mountainous habitat sites in Khabr National Park. A. (steppe habitat) Locality 1, B. (elevation approx.2700m) Locality 2.

Paidia conjuncta (Staudinger, 1891) (Fig. 4F)*

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°48'04 N 56^°31'22 E, 2224 m, 02.ix.2022, 1♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.; Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°50'55 N 56^°22'05 E, 2329 m, 03.x.2024, 1♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Fig.3. Light traps at different sampling sites in Khabr National Park. A. Steppe foothills, approx. 2100 m (locality 1), B. Near Kaht (locality 2).

Dysauxes famula (Freyer, 1836) (Fig. 4G)*

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°48'04 N 56^°31'22 E, 2224 m, 02.ix.2022, 3♀, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.; Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°50'55 N 56^°22'05 E, 2329 m, 03.x.2024, 1♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Subfamily Toxocampinae Guenée, 1852

Lygephila craccae ([Denis et Schiffermüller], 1775)

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°50'55 N 56^°22'05 E, 2329 m, 03.x.2024, 1♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Lygephila subpicata Wiltshire, 1971

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°48'04 N 56^°31'22 E, 2224 m, 02.ix.2022, 3♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.; Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°50'55 N 56^°22'05 E, 2329 m, 03.x.2024, 1♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Autophila depressa (Püngeler, 1914) (Fig. 4H)*

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°47'30 N 56^°19'47 E, 2360 m, 23.ii.2023, 1♀, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Subfamily Erebinae Leach, 1815

Pandesma robusta (Walker, [1858])

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°47'30 N 56^°19'47 E, 2360 m, 23.ii.2023, 1♀, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Drasteria cailino (Lefebvre, 1827)

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°47'30 N 56^°19'47 E, 2360 m, 23.ii.2023, 1♀, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Family Noctuidae Latreille, 1809

Subfamily Plusiinae Boisduval, 1828

Thysanoplusia exquisita (Felder et Rogenhofer, [1874])

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°48'04 N 56^°31'22 E, 2224 m, 02.ix.2022, 3♀, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Note: Recorded for Khabr by Shirvani (2012).

Autographa circumflexa (Linnaeus, 1767)

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°47'30 N 56^°19'47 E, 2360 m, 23.ii.2023, 1♀, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Note: Recorded for Khabr by Shirvani (2012).

Subfamily Acontiinae Guenée, 1837

Drasteriodes limata (Christoph, 1884) (Fig. 4I)*

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°47'30 N 56^°19'47 E, 2360 m, 23.ii.2023, 1♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Drasteriodes leprosa (Brandt, 1938)

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°48'04 N 56^°31'22 E, 2224 m, 02.ix.2022, 3♂, 1♀, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.; Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°50'55 N 56^°22'05 E, 2329 m, 03.x.2024, 12♂, 3♀, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.; Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°55'37 N 56^°25'00 E, 2265 m, 31.x.2024, 1♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Note: Recorded for Khabr by Shirvani (2012).

Subfamily Acronictinae Stephens, 1829

Acronicta rumicis (Linnaeus, 1758)

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°48'04 N 56^°31'22 E, 2224 m, 02.ix.2022, 1♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Subfamily Cuculliinae Herrich-Schäffer, 1845

Cucullia hemidiaphana Graeser, 1892

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°48'04 N 56^°31'22 E, 2224 m, 02.ix.2022, 1♂, 7♀, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.; Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°50'55 N 56^°22'05 E, 2329 m, 03.x.2024, 4♀, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Note: Recorded for Khabr by Shirvani (2012).

Cucullia tecca Püngeler, 1906

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^o42’54 N 56^o24’50 E, 2438 m, 23.ii.2025, 1♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.; Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^o56’30 N 56^o29’41 E, 2147 m, 27.ii.2025, 2♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Shargacucullia thapsiphaga (Treitschke, 1826)

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°47'30 N 56^°19'47 E, 2360 m, 23.ii.2023, 1♀, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Allophyes renalis (Wiltshire, 1941) (Fig. 4J)*

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°42'39 N 56^°12'07 E, 1588 m, 06.xii.2024, 1♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Subfamily Oncocnemidinae Forbes & Franclemont, 1954

Brachygalea miskoi Ronkay, 1996 (Fig. 5A)*

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°47'30 N 56^°19'47 E, 2360 m, 23.ii.2023, 3♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Note: This species was previously recorded from Iran only from Esfahan and Fars provinces (Rajaei et al., 2023).

Sympistis rhodophaea (Ebert, 1978)

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°46'17 N 56^°50'03 E, 2527 m, 23.iv.2023, 1♀, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.; Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°48'04 N 56^°31'22 E, 2224 m, 02.ix.2022, 1♂, 1♀, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Sympistis idioglypha (Brandt, 1938) (Fig. 5B)*

Fig.4. Moths of the species new for Kerman. A. Trichiura sapor, B. Pachypasa hausmanni, C. Rethera brandti, D. Ocneria amabilis, E. Ocneria daraba, F. Paidia conjuncta, G. Dysauxes famula, H. Autophila depressa, I. Drasterioides limata, J. Allophyes renalis.

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°48'04 N 56^°31'22 E, 2224 m, 02.ix.2022, 1♀, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Note: This species was previously recorded from Iran only from Fars province (Rajaei et al., 2023).

Lithophasia quadrivirgula (Mabille, 1888) (Fig. 5C)*

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°55'37 N 56^°25'00 E, 2265 m, 31.x.2024, 13♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Note: This species was previously recorded from Iran only from Bushehr province (Rajaei et al., 2023).

Bryomima carducha Staudinger, 1900

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°48'04 N 56^°31'22 E, 2224 m, 02.ix.2022, 1♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Subfamily Amphipyrinae Guenée, 1838

Amphipyra tetra (Fabricius, 1787) (Fig. 5D)*

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°48'04 N 56^°31'22 E, 2224 m, 02.ix.2022, 1♀, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Ostheldera persa Ronkay et Varga, 1994

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°55'37 N 56^°25'00 E, 2265 m, 31.x.2024, 1♂, 1♀, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Valeria carducha (Wiltshire, 1957)

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°47'30 N 56^°19'47 E, 2360 m, 23.ii.2023, 1♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.; Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°46'17 N 56^°50'03 E, 2527 m, 23.iv.2023, 4♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.; Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^o42’54 N 56^o24’50 E, 2438 m, 23.ii.2025, 3♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.; Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^o56’30 N 56^o29’41 E, 2147 m, 27.ii.2025, 3♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Valeria schreieri Hacker et Ebert, 2002

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^o42’54 N 56^o24’50 E, 2438 m, 23.ii.2025, 1♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Subfamily Aediinae Beck, 1960

Tyta luctuosa ([Denis et Schiffermüller], 1775) (Fig. 5E)*

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°48'04 N 56^°31'22 E, 2224 m, 02.ix.2022, 1♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Subfamily Heliothinae Boisduval, [1828]

Heliothis nubigera Herrich-Schäffer, 1851

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°50'55 N 56^°22'05 E, 2329 m, 03.x.2024, 5♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Note: Recorded for Khabr by Shirvani (2012).

Fig.5. Moths of the species new for Kerman. A. Brachygalea miskoi, B. Sympistis idioglypha, C. Lithophasia quadrivirgula, D. Amphipyra tetra, E. Tyta luctuosa, F. Caradrina pulvis, G. Pseudenargia deleta, H. Sesamia rungsi, I. Sesamia christophi, J. Leucochlaena muscosa.

Subfamily Eriopinae Herrich-Schäffer, 1845

Callopistria latreillei (Duponchel, 1827)

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°48'04 N 56^°31'22 E, 2224 m, 02.ix.2022, 1♂, 1♀, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Subfamily Noctuinae Latreille, 1809

Caradrina pulvis (Boursin, 1939) (Fig. 5F)*

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°48'04 N 56^°31'22 E, 2224 m, 02.ix.2022, 1♂, 1♀, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Note: This species was previously recorded from Iran only from Lorestan and Fars provinces (Rajaei et al., 2023).

Caradrina wiltshirei (Boursin, 1936)

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°48'04 N 56^°31'22 E, 2224 m, 02.ix.2022, 1♂, 1♀, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Caradrina bodenheimeri Draudt, 1934

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°47'30 N 56^°19'47 E, 2360 m, 23.ii.2023, 1♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Note: Recorded for Khabr by Shirvani (2012).

Caradrina clavipalpis (Scopoli, 1763)

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°48'04 N 56^°31'22 E, 2224 m, 02.ix.2022, 1♀, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Boursinia symmicta Brandt, 1938

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°48'04 N 56^°31'22 E, 2224 m, 02.ix.2022, 1♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.; Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°50'55 N 56^°22'05 E, 2329 m, 03.x.2024, 1♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Boursinia oxygramma Brandt, 1938

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°48'04 N 56^°31'22 E, 2224 m, 02.ix.2022, 1♂,  F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.; Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°50'55 N 56^°22'05 E, 2329 m, 03.x.2024, 2♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.; Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°55'37 N 56^°25'00 E, 2265 m, 31.x.2024, 3♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Note: Recorded for Khabr by Shirvani (2012).

Pseudenargia deleta (Warren, 1911) (Fig. 5G)*

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°48'04 N 56^°31'22 E, 2224 m, 02.ix.2022, 1♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.; Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°50'55 N 56^°22'05 E, 2329 m, 03.x.2024, 2♀, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Note: This species was previously recorded from Iran only from Alborz and Fars provinces (Rajaei et al., 2023).

Sesamia rungsi Boursin, 1957 (Fig. 5H, Fig. 6)*

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°47'30 N 56^°19'47 E, 2360 m, 23.ii.2023, 2♀, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Sesamia christophi Hacker, 1998 (Fig. 5I, Fig. 7)**

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^o42’54 N 56^o24’50 E, 2438 m, 23.ii.2025, 2♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.; Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^o56’30 N 56^o29’41 E, 2147 m, 27.ii.2025, 5♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Note: Moths from Kerman have darker coloration of the forewings than moths from Central Asia, but the structure of the male genitalia does not show any significant differences from the male collected in Kyrgyzstan (Gyulai, 2022). In the structure of the male genitalia, Sesamia christophi is easily distinguished from the habitually similar species Sesamia rungsi by narrow and elongated valves and by presence of a large spike (cornutus) in the vesica of Sesamia christophi (Gyulai, 2022).

Leucochlaena muscosa (Staudinger, 1892) (Fig. 5J)*

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°48'04 N 56^°31'22 E, 2224 m, 02.ix.2022, 2♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Maraschia grisescens Osthelder, 1933

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°48'04 N 56^°31'22 E, 2224 m, 02.ix.2022, 1♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.; Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°50'55 N 56^°22'05 E, 2329 m, 03.x.2024, 1♀, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Note: Recorded for Khabr by Shirvani (2012).

Conistra metria Boursin, 1940 (Fig. 8A)*

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^o56’30 N 56^o29’41 E, 2147 m, 27.ii.2025, 1♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Note: This species was previously recorded from Iran only from Khuzestan province (Rajaei et al., 2023).

Pseudohadena magnitudinis Hacker et Ebert, 2002 (Fig. 8B)*

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°47'30 N 56^°19'47 E, 2360 m, 23.ii.2023, 1♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Note: This species was previously recorded from Iran only from Esfahan province (Rajaei et al., 2023).

Polymixis rosinae (Bohatsch, 1909)

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°47'30 N 56^°19'47 E, 2360 m, 23.ii.2023, 1♀, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Polymixis colluta (Draudt, 1934)

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°50'55 N 56^°22'05 E, 2329 m, 03.x.2024, 1♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.; Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°55'37 N 56^°25'00 E, 2265 m, 31.x.2024, 4♂, 1♀, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Note: Recorded for Khabr (as Polymixis apotheina laristana (Brandt)) by Shirvani (2012).

Polymixis hedygramma (Brandt, 1941) (Fig. 8C)*

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°42'39 N 56^°12'07 E, 1588 m, 06.xii.2024, 1♀, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Fig.6. Male genitalia of Sesamia rungsi. A. Genitalia (aedeagus removed), B. Aedeagus.

Note: This species was previously recorded from Iran only from Hormozgan and Sistan-o-Baluchestan provinces (Rajaei et al., 2023).

Polymixis dubiosa (Brandt, 1938)

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°48'04 N 56^°31'22 E, 2224 m, 02.ix.2022, 1♀, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.; Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°50'55 N 56^°22'05 E, 2329 m, 03.x.2024, 1♂, 1♀, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Polymixis crinomima (Wiltshire, 1946)

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°55'37 N 56^°25'00 E, 2265 m, 31.x.2024, 1♀, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Note: Recorded for Khabr by Shirvani (2012).

Karmanica chosroes Brandt, 1938

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^o42’54 N 56^o24’50 E, 2438 m, 23.ii.2025, 7♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.; Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^o56’30 N 56^o29’41 E, 2147 m, 13♂, 27.ii.2025, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Perigrapha giuirani Benedek et L. Ronkay, 2001

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^o42’54 N 56^o24’50 E, 2438 m, 23.ii.2025, 1♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Anarta sabulorum (Alphéraky, 1882)

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°47'30 N 56^°19'47 E, 2360 m, 23.ii.2023, 1♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Hecatera dysodea ([Denis et Schiffermüller], 1775)

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°48'04 N 56^°31'22 E, 2224 m, 02.ix.2022, 1♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Note: Recorded for Khabr by Shirvani (2012).

Nezonycta pusilla (Püngeler, 1906)

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^o42’54 N 56^o24’50 E, 2438 m, 23.ii.2025, 5♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.; Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^o56’30 N 56^o29’41 E, 2147 m, 27.ii.2025, 6♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Saragossa siccanorum (Staudinger, 1870)

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°50'55 N 56^°22'05 E, 2329 m, 03.x.2024, 2♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Note: Recorded for Khabr by Shirvani (2012).

Dichagyris zagroica Hacker et Ebert, 2002 (Fig. 8D)*

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°50'55 N 56^°22'05 E, 2329 m, 03.x.2024, 1♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.; Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°55'37 N 56^°25'00 E, 2265 m, 31.x.2024, 6♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Note: This species was previously recorded from Iran only from Azerbaijan-e Sharghi and Hamadan provinces (Rajaei et al., 2023).

Dichagyris singularis (Staudinger, 1877)

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°48'04 N 56^°31'22 E, 2224 m, 02.ix.2022, 2♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.; Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°50'55 N 56^°22'05 E, 2329 m, 03.x.2024, 3♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Note: Recorded for Khabr by Shirvani (2012).

Dichagyris forficula (Eversmann, 1851)

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°47'30 N 56^°19'47 E, 2360 m, 23.ii.2023, 1♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Note: Recorded for Khabr by Shirvani (2012).

Dichagyris truculenta (Lederer, 1853)

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°48'04 N 56^°31'22 E, 2224 m, 02.ix.2022, 3♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Note: Recorded for Khabr by Shirvani (2012).

Dichagyris strenua (Corti, 1926) (Fig. 8E)*

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°48'04 N 56^°31'22 E, 2224 m, 02.ix.2022, 2♂, 1♀, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Euxoa temera (Hübner, [1808]) (Fig. 8F)*

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°47'30 N 56^°19'47 E, 2360 m, 23.ii.2023, 1♂, 1♀, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.; Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°48'04 N 56^°31'22 E, 2224 m, 02.ix.2022, 1♀, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Euxoa canariensis Rebel, 1902

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°48'04 N 56^°31'22 E, 2224 m, 02.ix.2022, 1♀, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Note: Recorded for Khabr by Shirvani (2012).

Agrotis bigramma (Esper, [1790]) (Fig. 8G)*

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°47'30 N 56^°19'47 E, 2360 m, 23.ii.2023, 1♀, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.; Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°48'04 N 56^°31'22 E, 2224 m, 02.ix.2022, 2♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Agrotis segetum ([Denis et Schiffermüller], 1775)

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°47'30 N 56^°19'47 E, 2360 m, 23.ii.2023, 1♀, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Note: Recorded for Khabr by Shirvani (2012).

Fig.7. Male genitalia of Sesamia christophi. A. Genitalia (aedeagus removed), B. Aedeagus

Fig.8. Moths of the species new for Kerman. A. Conistra metria, B. Pseudohadena magnitudinis, C. Polymixis hedygramma, D. Dichagyris zagroica, E. Dichagyris strenua, F. Euxoa temera, G. Agrotis bigramma, H. Spaelotis senna.

Spaelotis deplorata (Staudinger, 1896)

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°48'04 N 56^°31'22 E, 2224 m, 02.ix.2022, 1♂, 1♀, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Spaelotis senna (Freyer, 1829) (Fig. 8H)*

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°48'04 N 56^°31'22 E, 2224 m, 02.ix.2022, 1♂, 1♀, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.; Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°50'55 N 56^°22'05 E, 2329 m, 03.x.2024, 1♂, 1♀, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Eugnorisma insignata (Lederer, 1853)

Material examined: Kerman Province, vicinity of Baft, Khabr National Park, 28^°47'30 N 56^°19'47 E, 2360 m, 23.ii.2023, 1♂, F. Kamyab leg., A. Matov det.

Note: Recorded for Khabr by Shirvani (2012).

Discussion

Looking at the results, one thing stands out: Khabr National Park supports a surprisingly rich moth fauna. A total of 57 species are new to the park and 28 species are new to Kerman Province. Among these, the first Iranian record of Sesamia christophi is especially remarkable. A comparison with earlier faunistic studies in Iran reveals a few interesting patterns.

The high proportion of new provincial records (approximately one-third of all identified species) highlights the remarkable faunistic richness of this under-sampled region. This finding aligns with the broader conclusions of recent comprehensive works, such as the Lepidoptera Iranica catalogue (Rajaei et al., 2023), which identify several Iranian provinces, particularly in the south and south-east, as having been largely neglected in past taxonomic surveys. The present study, by contributing 28 new provincial records and one new country record, strongly supports the urgent need for more intensive sampling efforts in these biodiversity-rich but poorly explored areas, as also emphasized by recent studies in southern Iran (e.g., Moghadaszadeh Kermani et al., 2024). This suggests that many Iranian protected areas, particularly those in the south and south-east, may have received far less scientific attention than their biodiversity warrants. While the moth fauna of northern Iran is now relatively well documented (Rajaei et al., 2023), our knowledge of southeastern provinces like Kerman remains patchy. The fact that 28 new provincial records including rare species previously known only from one or two provinces here, strongly support this idea.

Another noteworthy finding is the occurrence of Sesamia christophi in Khabr, which noticeably extends its known range noticeably southward. Until now, this species was considered as limited to Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan (Gyulai, 2022). Its presence in southeastern Iran could reflect either a continuous but previously overlooked range or a disjunct relict relic population. Similar range extensions have recently been documented for other noctuids, such as Amphipyra kitti from Kerman (Shahreyari-Nejad et al., 2023), and for several erebids from southern Iran (Moghadaszadeh Kermani et al., 2024). Taken together, these records hint suggest that southeastern Iran may function serve as a biogeographical bridge for Central Asian elements moving southward, though we should admit acknowledge that it this remains a hypothesis, one that will require more intensive sampling to test properly.

Of course, we should be open about the limitations of the present study. Sampling was limited to six months spread across three years, and relied solely on light traps. Consequently, species active in other seasons (e.g. early spring or late autumn), as well as those not attracted to light for instance, some strictly diurnal or crepuscular species that are exceptions within the predominantly nocturnal Noctuidae were almost certainly missed. This means that our checklist, although the most comprehensive for Khabr to date, is still far from complete.

Despite this limitation, the large number of new records and the presence of a species new to Iran clearly place Khabr National Park as an important hotspot for moth diversity in southeastern Iran. The recent description of Polymixis fakherehsabae Shirvani from the same park (Shirvani, 2023) further strengthens this conclusion. Continued sampling in this area, especially if combined with morphological and molecular approaches, will likely uncover additional new species and range extensions for Iran.

Author's Contributions

Fariba Kamyab: conceptualization, methodology, draft preparation, visualization; Mokhtari Azizollah: supervision, project administration and funding acquisition; Alexey Matov: investigation, draft preparation, visualization, final review and edit; Asghar Shirvani: supervision.

Author's Information

Funding

The study of Alexey Matov was performed in the frames of the research project of Russian Academy of Sciences № 125012901042-9 "Systematization of insect diversity in taxonomic, ecophysiological and evolutionary aspects". The research was completed using equipment of the Core Facilities Centre “Taxon” at the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Saint-Petersburg).

Data Availability Statement

The specimens collected were deposited in the insect collections of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Saint Petersburg and the College of Agriculture of the University of Zabol.

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the University of Guilan (Rasht, Iran) for supporting this research.

Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate

Moths were used in this study. All applicable international, national, and institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed. This article does not contain any studies with human participants performed by any of the authors.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Generative AI statement

The authors declare that they used of Gen AI in the translation to English some parts of this manuscript.