L. palaestinensis Amsel (Figs. 27, 53, 72; Map 6) Lithostege palaestinensis Amsel, 1935: 276, pl. 14, fig. 9. Syntypes not traced, not in SMNK as stated in Parsons et al. (1999). Type locality: Kiriath Anavin (Palestine); Tabgha; Kasr el Jehud near Jericho; Jericho. Lithostege palaestinensis: Prout, 1937: 84, 239, pl. 8f; Parsons et al., 1999: 547; Hausmann & Seguna, 2005: 11. Material examined. 23 3, 20 Ƥ: 2 Ƥ: SW Iran, Bushire [Bushehr prov.], 5.2.1950, E. P. Wiltshire, Samml. Reisser, Ka. 2, preps 777/2009 and 778/2009 H. R.; 1 3, 1 Ƥ: [Tehran prov.] Varamin, [Ƥ] 29.IV.1949, [3] 30.IV.1949, Eyff. preps Ƥ 781/2009, 3 782/2009 H. R.; 1 3, 1 Ƥ: Gohreh [or Ghotb-Abad, Hormozgan prov.], [3] 12.3.1972, [Ƥ] 13.3.1972 [leg.] Mirz [ayans], Broom [mand], gen. prep. 3 780/2009 H. R.; 1 Ƥ: [Khuzestan prov.] Ahvaz, 70 km, 8.3.1972, Iran.-Term., gen. prep. 779/2009 H. R.; 1 3, 3 Ƥ: N-Iran, Elburs-Mts. Masandaran, Polur, Damavand, 2500 m, Ebert & Falkner leg., 7.- 10.7.1972; 2 3, 1 Ƥ: S-Iran, Tange-Tchogan, 930 m, 30 km n. Kazerun, 23.3. [19]73, leg. H. G. Amsel; 1 Ƥ: S-Iran, Bandar-Abbas, Kuhe Genou, S-exp. 550 m, 1. u. 5.3.1973, G. Ebert leg.; 4 3: Iran, Zanjan, E Talish, NE Abhar, 500 m, 8.V.2007, leg. W. ten. Hagen, gen. prep. 1082/2010 H. R.; all in SMNK. 3 3, 3 Ƥ: Jran [Iran], mer. Occ. Kasrun, Kunar Takteh, 240 m, Ende III. [19]38, preps 3 1034/2010 and 1051/2010 H. R.; 1 3, Alep [Aleppo], Syrie, 1909, gen. prep. 1619/2011 H. R.; 1 Ƥ, Syrie, Akbes, 1896, prep: 1620/2011 H. R.; 1 3, Türkei /Prov. Urfa, Img. Urfa, 9.4.1991, gen. prep. 1621/2011 H. R.; all in ZFMK. 1 Ƥ: Iran, Fars, Straße Kazeroun-Bouchir, Tchouroum, ca. 1000 m, 25.März.1937, coll. Brandt, gen. prep. 1014/2010 H. R.; 1 Ƥ: Türkei, Prov. Kars, 40°10' N, 42°40' E, Arag-Tal, 1500 m, 7 km SÖ Karakurt, 4. VI.1986, TF, leg. H. Falkenhahn, ex coll. EMEM, ZSM Genital prp. No. 8111; 1 Ƥ: SO-Türkei, 2 km N-Halfeti, 600 m, 12.IV.1993, leg. Geck; all in ZSM. 2 3: S-Iran, 42 km WnW Djahrom, 1300 m, Astragalus-Steppe, 26.3.1973, [leg.] M. Abai; 1 3: [Iran, Fras prov.] Borazdjan, 3.3.[19]70, [Leg.] Paz [uoki]; 1 3: [Iran, Fras prov.] Kazerun, Konar-Takhteh, 4.3.1970, [leg.] Paz [ouki]; 1 Ƥ: [Iran], Fars, Kazeroun, Konar-Takhteh, 9.3. 1975, 450 m., [leg.] Pazouki, Broumand; 2 3: [Iran, Ilam prov.] Mehran, 19.3.1970, [leg.] Abai, Hasch [emi]; 1 3, 1 Ƥ: [Iran, Tehran prov.] Varamin, 29.- 30.4.1949, [leg.] Egh.; 1 3: [Iran] Khouzestan, 32 km Behbahan, Guenaveh, 6.3.1975, [leg.] Pazouki, Broumand; 1 3, 1 Ƥ: [Iran, Bushehr prov.], Bouschehr, Schabankareh, 7.3. 1975, 10 m, [leg.] Pazouki, Broumand; all in HMIM. Preparations of genitalia: 6 3, 7 Ƥ. Description & Diagnosis. Wingspan 28–32 mm, greyish-white, without any wing pattern, except fine dusting with dark grey scales. Very similar to L. farinata, but in palaestinensis also the hindwings are dusted with darker scales (Fig. 27). Male genitalia (Fig. 53) with valve very broad at base, sclerotized costa short, without a free distal process. Harpe rather long, reaching the middle of valve, with rounded apex and almost straight dorsal margin; the dorsal arm rather strong near spined apex, not reaching the tip of the valve; Juxta similar to that of griseata, but distal part a little longer and more strongly bilobed; aedeagus slightly curved, length 2 mm, longer than aedeagus of griseata. Uncus and saccus also longer. Female genitalia (Fig. 72) with apophyses anteriores long (more than half the length of a. posteriores) Sterigma developed as large, lateral plates; ductus bursae membranous; corpus bursae globular to slightly oval, completely spined internally; a membranous anterior diverticulum present. Bionomics. Host plant: Cruciferae (Brassicaceae) (Wiltshire, 1944). Additional host plant records: Berberis incana, Sisymbrium officinale, Sinapis arvenis, Isatis tinctoria (Leraut, 2009). Specimens studied are collected from March to July and at 240–2500 m elevation in different localities. Additional data on distribution based on literature sources. Brandt (1939) and Prout (1937 – 1939): Tchouroum (Fars prov., Kazerun-Bushehr road); Wiltshire (1944): Coasts of S Iran; Wiltshire (1942): Palestina, Iraq (Kerbela Desert, Nejef); Wiltshire (1990): N Saudi Arabia; Hausmann (1991): Jordan; Hausmann (1997): Israel. Distribution. Southern and eastern Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Palestina, N Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Also North and West Iran to the southern foothills of Zagros (SW Iran) (Map 6).

Published as part of Sh, Hossein Rajaei, Stüning, Dieter & Viidalepp, Jaan, 2011, A review of the species of Lithostege Hübner, [1825] 1816 (Lepidoptera: Geometridae, Larentiinae), occurring in Iran and adjacent countries, with description of two new species from Iran and Pakistan, pp. 1-46 in Zootaxa 3105 on pages 21-22, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.279200