CHAPTER 4General patterns of the Lepidoptera fauna of Iran

Abstract

*1 In: Rajaei, H. & KaRsHolt, O. (eds.): Lepidoptera Iranica. – Integrative Systematics 6 (Special Issue): 69–81. The main purpose of this catalogue was to improve our knowledge of the Lepidoptera fauna of Iran and acquire a better knowledge of the patterns of distribution of this large insect order within the country. These patterns not only show the large-scale structure of the faunal elements of this order in Iran, but also highlight research gaps and and other needs in Iranian lepidopterology, which should be addressed before we lose more habitats and species. This chapter addresses questions such as: How many lepidopteran species are reported from Iran? How many of them are truly present in Iran? I.e., how many need further confirmation and how many have been erroneously reported? How many of the reported species are regarded as synonyms today? How are they systematically distributed (e.g., how many species are known per family)? How are they geographically distributed, both horizontally and vertically? Which taxonomic groups are especially in need of additional sampling efforts and taxonomic revisions? Finally, how many are endemic to Iran? Species diversity