The Ophiusa tirhaca (Cramer, 1775) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) new record from Southern Iraq

This study documents the first morphologically ‎confirmed and geographically precise record of the moth ‎Ophiusa tirhaca (Cramer, 1775) in southern Iraq, specifically in ‎the Basrah Province. Specimens were collected from an ‎agricultural orchard in the Shatt Al-Arab district and ‎subsequently underwent comprehensive morphological ‎evaluation‎‏.‏‎ The studied morphological characteristics (total body ‎length, wingspan, forewing and hindwing length, antennae ‎length and type, larval length at maturity, pupa length, wing color ‎and spot patterns, and reproductive characteristics) were ‎compared with established taxonomic references to confirm the ‎species identity. This is the first record of O. tirhaca in southern ‎Iraq. Its presence on eucalyptus trees in the southern regions is ‎also concerning, as it could become a major pest of other, more ‎economically important hosts than the larger eucalyptus species. ‎