Albert Legrain and Edward P. Wiltshire
For the first time, 219 species of Macro-heterocera are recorded from the UAE and adjacent Omani territories.
Introduction
The Macro-heterocera from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman have been studied by E.P. Wiltshire (1977-1994), but no publication has yet dealt exclusively with moths from the UAE.
Thanks to the amiability and the hospitality of Drs. Kamil and Jehanne Al Rustom-Boussard (Sharjah), A.L. had the opportunity to make nine short lepidopterological trips to the UAE specifically to observe Macro-heterocera.
The investigated biotopes are mainly :
– the maritime desert north of Ajman ;
– the sand-desert west of Dhaid (Calligonetum) ;
– the mountains around Masafi (500-600m).
Also visited were :
– the hills south of Dibba ;
– the mangroves near Khor Kalba ;
– Wadi Khabb Shamsi and Aqabat Oso (1100 m) in the Omani enclave of Musandam (N of Dibba) ;
– Shuwaihah and Madha (Oman) in the Hajar Range, south of Hatta.
The dates of the journeys were: 11-17.11.1988, 1-5.4.89, 23.2-2.3.91, 1-6.12.91, 27.4-4.5.92 (with Jacques Plante and Dr Franáois Aulombard), 29.3-4.4.95, 11-19.10.95 (with Eric Stassart), 11-20.4.96 (with Philippe Fastre), and 7-14.11.96; (no observations were made in January or June-September).
Biogeographically, the UAE territories belong to the Hajar sector (=N.Omani sector), approximately NE of a line between Abu Dhabi and Al Ashkhara
Symbols
*** = species or sub-species new to science
** = species new for Arabian fauna
* = species (or ssp.) new for Hajar sector (= N.Oman)
e = species endemic to Hajar sector
o = recorded from N. Omani adjacent territories, but not yet from UAE.