First description of the female of Frivaldszkyola elami and change of status for F. sphakiota stat. rev., with an update on the species distribution (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Xyleninae, Xylenini)

The adult female of Frivaldszkyola elami Benedek & Ronkay, 2001 from the mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan is described here for the first time. Along with the female description, the Cretan F. mansueta sphakiota Ronkay, Yela & Hreblay, 2001 is raised to species status as F. sphakiota stat. rev., separate from the widely distributed nominotypical F. mansueta (Herrich-Schäffer, 1850), based on morphological differences, geographic isolation, and COI p-distances ranging from 1.69 to 2.0%. An approximate distribution map for the genus is presented for the first time based on the literature review. Adults of both sexes of F. elami, their dissected genitalia, and a map of all known collection localities and habitats in Iraqi Kurdistan are illustrated.

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