Genus Holcocerus Staudinger, 1884

Staudinger, 1884: 139–140.

Type species: Cossus (Holcocerus) nobilis Staudinger, 1884, by subsequent designation by Kirby (1892).

Holcocerus nobilis Staudinger, 1884 (Figs 11−12, 97)

Cossus (Holcocerus) nobilis Staudinger, 1884: 139 −140.

Type locality: Askhabad, Tekke [Ashkhabad, Turkmenistan].

Type material (lectotype) in MHUB, examined. Designation by Yakovlev (2006a) Distribution: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kirgizstan, Tadzhikistan, Turkmenistan, China (Xinjang), Iran, Afghanistan (Daniel 1969b; Hua et al. 1990; Yakovlev 2006a).

Reported for Herat Prov., Bala Murghab (Daniel 1969).

Habitat and biology. Flight period: June −August. Altitude: 470 m (Daniel 1969). Material examined: male, female, Prov. Herat, Bala Murghab, 10.0 6.1964, coll. O. Jakes (MWM).

Holcocerus tancrei Pungeler, 1898 (Figs 13, 98)

Pungeler, 1898: 58.

Type locality: Merw [Mary, Turkmenistan].

Type material: holotype (male) in MHUB, examined. Distribution: Iran, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan (Yakovlev, 2006a; 2011).

Reported for Registanwüste, Darweshan (Daniel 1964).

Habitat and biology. Flight period: May. Altitude: 500 m (Daniel 1964). Host plant: Haloxylon aphyllum (Amaranthaceae) (Baghestani et al. 2006).

Material examined: 12 females, Masar-Sharif, 31.5.1973, coll. Dr. Liedgens (MWM).

Holcocerus gloriosa (Erschoff, 1874) (Figs 14−15, 99)

Hypopta gloriosa Erschoff, 1874: 35 .

Type locality: „in monte Karak in parte orientali desertorum Kisil-Kum sito“ [Karak Mt., Kizil-Kum desert, Turkmenistan].

Type material: lectotype (male) in ZMMU, examined. Designation by Yakovlev (2006a) Distribution: N. Afghanistan, N. Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, S. Kazakhstan (Yakovlev 2006a). Material examined: 1 male, 1 female, Afghanistan-Iran Grenze, Kohsan, 1000 m, 13.0 5.77, de Freina (MWM).

In southern Afghanistan: subspecies mesopotamicus Watkins & Buxton, 1921 Holcocerus gloriosa mesopotamicus Watkins & Buxton, 1921: 86 .

Type locality: Mesopotamian: Kut, Amara [S. Iraq, Kut el Amara, 125 km SE Baghdad, 45°30’E; 32°30’S]. Type material: holotype (male) in BMNH, examined.

Distribution: Iran, Iraq, S. Afghanistan (Yakovlev 2006a).

Reported for Sarobi (Daniel 1964) and Nimla, 40 km SW Dschelalabad (Daniel 1971). Habitat and biology. Flight period: May −June. Altitude: 1000−1100 m.

Material examined: 2 males, Sarobi, 28.0 6.1956, Amsel (ZSSM).

Holcocerus holosericeus Staudinger, 1884 (Figs 16−18, 100)

Cossus (Holcocerus) holosericeus Staudinger, 1884: 141 .

Type locality: Askhabad [Ashkhabad, Turkmenistan].

Type material: lectotype (male) in MHUB, examined. Designation by Yakovlev (2006a). Distribution: Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Kirgizstan, Uzbekistan, Tadzhikistan, Turkmenistan, NW China, Afghanistan, Iran (Yakovlev 2006a).

Nominative subspecies was reported for Herat, Bala Murghab (Daniel 1969). Material examined: 9 males, Afghanistan, Masar Sharif, 31.0 5.1973, coll. Dr. Liedgens (MWM); female, N. Afghanistan, Prov. Herat, Bala Murghab, 25.5.- 10.06.1964, 470 m, coll. O. Jakes (MWM); female, Kabul, Volk (ZSSM).

In southern Afghanistan: subspecies darwesthana Daniel, 1959

Holcocerus holosericeus darwesthana Daniel, 1959: 138 −139.

Type locality: SW Afghanistan, Darwesthan.

Type material: holotype (male) in ZSSM, examined.

Distribution: SW Afghanistan, S. Iran (Yakovlev 2006a).

Reported for “Registanwüste, Darweshan” (Daniel 1964).

Habitat and biology. Flight period: May −August. Altitude: 470−500 m (Daniel 1964; 1969). Material examined: holotype (male), allotype (female) and paratypes (12 males, 2 females), SW Afghanistan, Darweshan, 500 m, Registanwuste, 18.0 5.1957, G. Ebert leg. (ZSSM); male, Polimchori, 700 m, Amsel (ZSSM).