Nota lepidopterologica

A journal devoted to the study of Lepidoptera

Published by the Societas Europaea Lepidopterologica e.V.

Volume 29 No. 1/2 Dresden, 14.08.2006 ISSN 0342-7536

Editor

Dr Matthias Nuss, Staatliches Museum fuer Tierkunde Dresden:

Koenigsbruecker Landstr. 159, D-01109 Dresden;

e-mail: matthias.nuss@snsd.smwk.sachsen.de

CCD

Editorial Board =

Dr Enrique Garcia-Barros (Madrid, E), Dr Roger L.H. Dennis (Wilmslow-U Rn:

Dr Axel Hausmann (Munich, D), Dr Peter Huemer (Innsbruck, A), Ole Karsholt (Copenhagen, DK),

Dr Bernard Landry (Genève, CH), Dr Yuri P. Nekrutenko (Kiev, UA),

Dr Erik van Nieukerken (Leiden, NL), Dr Thomas Schmitt (Trier, D),

Dr Wolfgang Speidel (Bonn, D), Dr Niklas Wahlberg (S)

Contents

Joël Minet

Obituary-to Claude Herb lot, 2... een 3-4

A. R. Pittaway, T. B. Larsen, A. Legrain, J. Majer, Z. Weidenhoffer & M. Gillet

The establishment of an American butterfly in the Arabian Gulf:

Brephidium exilis (Boisduval, 1852) (Lycaenidae) .............::ccccccsesssteeeeeeeees 5-16

John G. Coutsis

Additional revisionary actions and corrections in the Turanana endymion

SPECIES TOU P(e yCACMIAC) a nennen ne nee eher 17-25

Georg Petschenka, Majid Tavakoli & Robert Trusch

Description of the unknown female of Agriopis beschkovi Ganev, 1987

(Geometridae: Ennominae), and illustration of the larvae ...................00...... 27-35

Matthias Nuss, Thomas Sobczyk & Rolf Bläsius

The taxonomy and life history of Epimetasia monotona (Amsel, 1953)

comb. n. from Northwest Africa (Pyraloidea: Crambidae:

Odonminae2Odontuine re nee ee ee 37-47

Sjaak (J.C.) Koster & Paul Sammut

Faunistic notes on Momphidae, Batrachedridae, Stathmopodidae and

Cosmopterigidae from the Maltese Islands .............cccccceceesccceesseeeeesseeeeneees 49-6°

Gaden S. Robinson, Reinhard Gaedike, Rolf Bläsius & Erich Bettag

Xerantica tephroclysta Meyrick, 1930 (Tineidae),

a new member of the Palaearctic fauna, with description

of its life history and early Stases Sn eee eee

Peter Hättenschwiler & Hassan Alemansoor

A new species of Amicta Heylaerts, 1881 from the south of Iran

(Lepidoptera, Psychidas).... eu. U eee eee

Rene Herrmann

Penestoglossa pyrenaella Sp. n. aus den Pyrenäen (Psychidae) ..............

Alberto Zilli & Andrea Grassi

When disrupted characters between species link: a new species

of Conistra from Sicily (Noctudae) nuit merde eee

Erik J. van Nieukerken & Ole Karsholt

The validity of the family name Roeslerstammiidae (Lepidoptera) ........

Jozef Razowski

Notes on Cochylimorpha Razowski, 1959 with description

of one new species from Tibet (Tortricidacé) ana ee

Thomas Fartmann & Kim Timmermann

Where to find the eggs and how to manage the breeding sites

of the Brown Hairstreak (Thecla betulae (Linnaeus, 1758))

in Central FUrope? sense entame Ne eee eee

Microlepidoptera of Europa, vol. 4: Correction .......u...ee....2e

. 125-132

BOOK TE VIEWS ee Nee meee ae See ee 26, 36, 64-66, 78

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 3-4 3

Claude Herbulot

19 February 1908 — 19 January 2006

In the afternoon of 25 January 2006, a ceremony was organized in St. Bruno’s church,

Issy-les-Moulineaux (Hauts-de-Seine) in the memory of Claude Herbulot, the well-

known French lepidopterist, who passed away a few days earlier in a Parisian hospital

(after a rather short stay for heart troubles). The ceremony was attended by his nearest

and dearest — in particular his daughters Christiane and Hélène, and his second wife

Colette —, also by a number of close colleagues (Claude’s first wife, Thérèse, had

alas died several years ago). Among the notable absentees were those Geometridae

enthusiasts who, at that time, were in Tasmania on the occasion of the 4" “Forum

Herbulot”... hence also paying homage to Claude Herbulot, though in a different,

entomology-oriented, way (see the obituary notice written by Axel Hausmann &

Manfred Sommerer, 2006, Spixiana 29 (2): 97-98).

Claude Herbulot was indeed among the best specialists in the world for the family

Geometridae. In this short note, I will not insist on this obvious aspect, already

emphasized in other obituary notices, namely the above-mentioned one and those

written, in French, by Georges Orhant (2006, Lambillionea 106 (1): 125; Bull. Soc.

ent. Mulhouse 62 (1): 12-15) and Philippe Darge (2006, Bull. Soc. ent. Fr. 111 (3)).

This last notice enumerates the ca. 290 publications of Claude Herbulot and, thanks

to Axel Hausmann, a similar list is also available on the Web (www.herbulot.de). For

his impressive achievement Claude was honoured with the Spix Medal (1999) of th

Friends of the ZSM (Zoologische Staatssammlung München) and with the Jacob Hii’ er

Award (2002) of the Association for Tropical Lepidoptera (Gainesville, Florida).

+ Obituary to Claude Herbulot

In fact Claude Herbulot had shown an interest in various groups of Lepidoptera,

not only in geometrid moths. He was born in Charleville-Mézières (Ardennes), on

19 February 1908, and several of his early papers dealt with the lepidopteran fauna of

the Ardennes. Two of his first notes were even devoted to the taxonomy of a micromoth

genus, namely Agdistis Hübner, 1825 (Pterophoridae). His most general works are the

volumes 2 and 3 (moths) of an excellent popular guide to the Lepidoptera of France,

Belgium and Switzerland (1948 and 1949, respectively. Nouvel Atlas d’Entomologie,

n° 6. Editions N. Boubée & Cie, Paris). With a judicious selection of species and nice

aquarelles made by three artists (R. Metaye, A. Moreau & R. Préchac), these two

volumes were rewarded, in 1950 (for year 1949), with a prize — Prix Constant — of the

SEF (Société Entomologique de France). I remember having often used these books in

my young days, even in Madagascar when I tried to identify, with Herbulot’s key (vol.

2, pp. 7-10), the families of the macromoths I caught in that country. Usually I did this

exercise successfully, even though a few strictly tropical families were, of course, not

included in this dichotomous key. The second work of Herbulot that I managed to get

early in my life was a paper headed “Nouveaux Geometridae malgaches” (1954, Mem.

Inst. scient. Madagascar (E) 5: 81-123, 2 pls): thanks to its black-and-white plates,

I was able to identify to species certain of my Malagasy Geometridae. Actually, Claude

Herbulot took a strong interest in the study of the fauna of Madagascar. He described,

during his life, about one-third of the geometrid species currently recorded from this

island.

In search of his favourite insects, Claude Herbulot has explored, besides Madagascar,

many exotic countries, often in the oriental and afrotropical regions (see Darge’s

above-mentioned article). In addition to the material collected in these missions, he got

thousands of specimens from various colleagues and/or insect dealers, and also bought

a number of historical types of Geometridae. He has thus constituted one of the best

worldwide collections of geometrid moths (more or less comparable to that of Prof.

Hiroshi Inoue), as well as a very rich entomological library. The former was sold to the

ZSM and is now under the well advised cure of Axel Hausmann. Claude Herbulot used

to visit the MNHN (Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, in relation to which

he was “Attaché”), often to see his colleagues and friends (e.g. H. de Toulgoët and P.

Viette), sometimes to see the collections or to discuss with me the possible systematic

position of any enigmatic geometrid-like moth: thanks to his generosity, the MNHN

has got many interesting non-geometrid moths, especially among the Hedyloidea,

Drepanoidea and Geometroidea. Like many colleagues, I have very pleasant memories

of Claude Herbulot, a nice, clever, cultured person and an active, highly competent

lepidopterist.

For various reasons I am indebted to Philippe Darge, Hélène Decaux (CH’s daughter), Axel Hausmann

(who gave me the photo of CH - see also Spixiana 29: 98), Colette Herbulot, Gilbert Hodebert (who made

so many line drawings for CH), Matthias Nuss, Christiane O’Keefe (CH’s daughter), Georges Orhant,

Gertraud and Manfred Sommerer, Paul Thiaucourt, Hervé de Toulgoët, and Pierre Viette.

JoEL MINET

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 5-16 5

The establishment of an American butterfly in the Arabian Gulf:

Brephidium exilis (Boisduval, 1852) (Lycaenidae)

A. R. Pirraway !, T. B. LARSEN’, A. LEGRAIN *, J. MAIER *, Z. WEIDENHOFFER > &

M. GIiLLET °

! CAB International, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 8DE, UK; e-mail: t.pittaway@cabi.org

2 358 Coldharbour Lane, London SW9 8PL, UK; e-mail: torbenlarsen@compuserve.com

> Quai du Halage 10, 4681 Hermalle-sous-Argenteau, Belgium; e-mail: legrain@lepido.net

* Nad Zamecnici 18/2777, 15000 Praha 5, Czech Republic; e-mail: Jindrich.majer@quick.cz

> Vyzlovska 36, 10000 Praha 10, Czech Republic; e-mail: wff@chello.cz

° 16 Dominic Drive, Kings Norton, Birmingham B30 1DW, UK; e-mail: mptgillett@hotmail.co.uk

Abstract. This paper documents the successful establishment and spread in the Arabian Gulf of the North

American butterfly Brephidium exilis (Boisduval, 1852) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). First recorded from

Sharjah in 1995, it can now be found throughout the United Arab Emirates, in northern Oman and in

eastern Saudi Arabia feeding on exotic as well as native Chenopodiaceae and Aizoaceae. The possible

mode of entry into the region is discussed, as is the potential final range.

Key words. Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae, Brephidium exilis, introduced species, invasive species, spread,

geographical distribution, establishment, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Saudi Arabia, host plants, Cheno-

podiaceae, Aizoaceae.

Introduction

In November 1999, Larsen [then in Manila] received an e-mail from Legrain, who had

just returned from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He had caught a tiny Lycaenid that

could not be identified from existing works on Arabian butterflies (Benyamini 2002;

Brown 1992; Larsen 1974, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1990; Larsen & Larsen 1980; Pittaway

1979, 1980, 1981, 1985; Walker & Pittaway 1987; Wiltshire 1957, 1964). He thought it

might belong to the genus Brephidium Scudder, 1876, a taxon known only from South

Africa and the Sonoran dry zone of Mexico and the USA. A good photograph was

attached to the e-mail. Larsen was convinced it was a species new to the region, and

that nothing like it occurred in the Oriental Region.

At the same time Legrain also contacted Gillet in the UAE. He knew the butterfly

well, identifying it as the Western Pygmy Blue (Brephidium exilis (Boisduval, 1852)),

a common butterfly in southern California, Arizona and Texas; he had even written a

small note for a local newspaper about its discovery at Al-Ain in 1998. Larsen contacted

Pittaway, who was of the opinion that the species had probably been imported along

with exotic plants from North America. Larsen (2000, 2004) documented its presence

and asked — ‘What was it doing in the Emirates?”

In 2005, when Weidenhoffer contacted Larsen with a 2004 record of B. exilis from

eastern Saudi Arabia, it became evident that the colonization of the Arabian Gulf by

this alien butterfly had never been properly documented.

Such firm establishment of exotic butterflies is a very rare event. There are not mo:

than 20-30 similar cases — and there are more than 18,600 recorded butterfly spe .es

worldwide (Larsen 2005).

Nota lepidopterologica, 14.08.2006, ISSN 0342-7536

6 PıTTaway et al.: The American Brephidium exilis in the Arabian Gulf

MR u EN ae

x Sane Ss = MP) 2

Fig. 1. Halophyte-dominated breeding locality for B. exilis, ‘

Saudi Arabia (Photo: J. Majer).

Present distribution in the Arabian Gulf

The butterfly seems to be quite common — though local — in the UAE and northern

Oman, particularly in and near urban areas in association with Sesuvium verrucosum.

In February 2004, further examples were collected by J. Majer from farther north, near

Dhahran and Al Qatif, Saudi Arabia.

The Dhahran locality was a small sandy coastal strip with tufts of halophytic plants at

“Half Moon Bay’, 15 km southwest of Dhahran (Fig. 1). At 14.00h, in strong sunshine

and with the temperature around 30°C, B. exilis was the only butterfly present, either

sitting inside the tufts or flying just above the ground around the plants. When disturbed

they took refuge inside the plants and were very difficult to catch. Six specimens were

secured — 5 males and | female.

One week later Majer collected one male 3 km west of Al Qatif (15 km northwest of

Dammam) on a sandy strip between embankments of oil pipelines partly covered with

grass, small yellow-bloomed flowers and several bushes (Fig. 2). Also present were

Spialia doris doris Walker, 1870 (the first record for eastern Saudi Arabia), Colias

crocea (Geoffroy, 1785) and Cynthia cardui (Linnaeus, 1758).

In another recent reference Jongbloed (2003) writes: “It /B. exilis] is a very small, but

very beautiful butterfly that can be observed in large numbers around the Sesuvium

verrucosum plants that grow profusely on the dumpsite near the American University

of Sharjah”.

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 5-16 gl

> Fr; 3 HT |

an 2 UE (aoa Gree

Fig. 2. Locality for B. exilis, 3 km west of Al Qatif, eastern Saudi Arabia (Photo: J. Majer).

Specific details are: UAE: Ajman (April 1999 (A. Legrain)), Al-Ain (April 1998 (M.

Gillet)), Dubai (M. Gallagher; G. Feulner), Das Island (R. Western), Fujairah (April

2000 (A. Legrain)), Merawwah Island (M. Gallagher), Sharjah (5-7 December 1995

(E. Rutjan); (M. Jongbloed); 1998 (A. Legrain); April 1999 (A. Legrain)); OMAN:

Buraimi & Mahdan (M. Gallagher); SAUDI ARABIA: Dhahran (26°10’N 50°00’E,

13 February 2004 (J. Majer)); Al Qatif (26°32’N 49°59’E, 20 February 2004

(J. Majer))

Pittaway (1979, 1980, 1981) is almost certain that he could not have overlooked this

butterfly during his extensive collecting in eastern Arabia. Brown (1992) did not record

it from the UAE. Given that the first records are from 1995 and that the present range

is relatively limited, the establishment of B. exilis in the region probably took place

sometime during the early 1990s.

Native range of B. exilis

This species — the smallest butterfly in North America — is a native resident of the

dry regions stretching from the southern USA (Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada.

California) down through Mexico and Belize (Jan Meerman, pers. comm. 2005) :

Venezuela. It is also found on many Caribbean islands, such as the Bahamas, ( a,

Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Hispaniola, the Turks & Caicos, Aruba and Bonaire (Riley

8 Pittaway et al.: The American Brephidium exilis in the Arabian Gulf

Fig. 3. Underside of B. exilis, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia (Photo: Z. Weidenhoffer).

1975; Miller, Debrot & Miller 2003). Around 1979 it was accidentally introduced

into Hawaii, where it seems to be thriving (on introduced host plants).

In the USA this species also ranges (apparently as a wind-blown summer migrant)

north to south-eastern Oregon and southern Idaho, and east to the prairie areas of

Nebraska, Arkansas, and Missouri (Pyle 1981); however, the full status of these northern

populations needs further study.

There is some confusion, however, as to the status of the Brephidium species found

in the south-eastern USA, namely B. isophthalma (Herrich-Schäffer, 1862). Lycaena

pseudofea was described by Morrison in 1873 (without figures) from three specimens

collected at Key West, Florida, where it is a local, but common, butterfly. However,

its proper taxonomic status is still unsettled. Scott (1986) treats pseudofea as a

subspecies of Brephidium exilis. Calhoun (1997) treats pseudofea as a subspecies of

B. isophthalma, but states that it may be a subspecies of B. exilis. Opler & Krizek

(1984) treat B. i. pseudofea and B. exilis as separate species. Pavulaan & Gatrelle (1999)

are of the opinion that all these taxa are probably part of the same species — B. exilis.

We are grateful to B. Walsh of the University of Arizona for confirming that Arabian

material conforms to that of typical B. e. exilis.

Ecology and habitat preferences

Although it can be found in deserts and prairies in North America, the Western Pygmy

Blue is most abundant in lowland coastal areas rich in halophytic Chenopodiaceae,

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 5-16 9

such as washes, salt marshes, alkali flats, railroad tracks, disturbed places and vacant

lots (Pyle 1981). Such habitats are also common in the Arabian Gulf. In California it

ranges across San Diego County wherever the alien Atriplex semibaccata is to be found;

however, although the larval host plants in coastal California are primarily Atriplex and

Sueda, Salsola is more typically utilized farther inland during the summer months.

In the Turks & Caicos it is most commonly found in marshy areas in association with

the low-growing succulent Trianthema portulacastrum (Aizoaceae). On Jamaica it has

been reported as utilizing Batis maritima (Riley 1975) — a possibly erroneous record

as this species belongs to a totally unrelated family and order of plants (Capparales:

Bataceae) than do its other hosts.

This butterfly is almost always seen fluttering weakly about one of the low-growing

larval host plants in a manner similar to Chilades trochylus (Freyer, 1844). Even though

the species often occurs in large numbers, many people probably walk right by these

delicate blues because of their tiny size and dainty, low-to-the-ground flight (Pyle

1981).

This is one butterfly whose populations have probably increased greatly in North

America since the coming of Europeans and the introduction of alien weeds (such as

tumbleweed (Salsola spp.)), which have been utilized to a great extent as larval host

plants (Graves & Shapiro 2003). This rapid spread and exploitation of new hosts has

no doubt been aided by the ability of B. exilis to disperse using strong summer winds

and weather fronts — a mechanism used by other desert species in many parts of the

world — to found new, if mainly ephemeral, colonies, e.g. Anaphaeis aurota (Fabricius,

1793) (Pittaway 1980, 1985). Many of the populations established in new areas during

the summer months die out with the onset of winter as their annual host plants die, or

the weather gets too cold, or the habitat floods (Thacker 2004).

Biology and life history

The Western Pygmy Blue is a small butterfly, with a wingspan of 10-15mm. The upper

side is chocolate-brown, with blue shading at the base of the white-fringed wings.

Underneath, the wings are grey-brown, blending to bluish-grey at base. The forewing

underside is shaded with orange across the outermost half; the hind wing is marked

with brown patches in the middle and is edged marginally with a row of small iridescent

blue-green centred black spots; there are whitish striations across the wings (Fig. 3).

Females are larger than males and less blue on the upper side.

Males actively patrol for receptive females. The latter lay their blue-green eggs singly on

all parts of the host plant, with most placed on the topsides of leaves and near flowering

stems. These hatch into light green caterpillars; however, larval coloration can vary, but

generally it is yellowish green to tan and shaded or striped with yellow on the back and

sides. Alternatively, it may be green, shaded or striped with dark green or dark pink,

or it may be green with a dark coloured head and lacking stripes altogether. Often it is

covered with brownish or whitish bumps. Its average, full-grown length is 11mm.

This species has no diapause and continues breeding throughout the year where resi: nt

(Thacker 2004).

10 Pirraway et al.: The American Brephidium exilis in the Arabian Gulf

Larval hosts plants

Caterpillars eat the leaves, flowers and fruits of many Chenopodiaceae and Aizoaceae,

including goosefoot (Chenopodium spp.), orache/saltbush (Arriplex spp.), glasswort

(Salicornia spp.) and Sesuvium spp. (Pyle, 1981)

In the USA it has been recorded from Arriplex canescens, A. coulteri, A. serenana,

A. leucophylla, A. patula, A. patula var. hastata, A. semibaccata, A. rosea, A. cordulata,

A. hymenelytra, A. lentiformis var. breweri, Suaeda fruticosa, S. californica, S. moquinii,

S. torreyana, Salicornia virginica, Chenopodiumalbum, C.leptophyllum, Salsolaiberica,

S. kali var. tenuifolia, Halogeton glomeratus, Tetragonia tetragonioides, Trianthema

portulacastrum and Sesuvium verrucosum. A fuller list is given by Shapiro (1973).

The most important host in the USA ıs the fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens (Pursh.)

Nutt.). This shrublet is the most widely distributed native woody plant in North America,

its native range extending north-south from southern Alberta to central Mexico and

east-west from the Missouri River to the Pacific Coast. It is widely planted in temperate

regions of North America as an ornamental, and has become locally naturalized east of

the plains grasslands (its native boundary). In the Sonoran deserts, fourwing saltbush

may dominate or co-dominate salt-desert scrublands and alkali flats.

This shrub has been planted worldwide (as has the Australian A. semibaccata) to

increase forage production on arid rangelands. It has become naturalized in deserts and

arid regions throughout the world, including many Arabian Gulf states.

Many countries around the Gulf have extensive areas of salt-desert scrublands and

alkali flats dominated by numerous native and alien Chenopodiaceae and Aizoaceae.

Thus the potential host plants in the Gulf are several species of Anabasis, Atriplex,

Arthrocnemum, Bienertia, Chenopodium, Halopeplis, Salsola and Suaeda, as well as

Sesuvium and Trianthema (Collenette 1985; Al-Turki, Omar & Ghafoor 2000). The

genus Salsola is particularly well represented.

Possible mechanism of introduction into the UAE

Two possible routes of introduction are envisaged. The first — and least likely — 1s that

one of the many US expatriates working in the UAE brought back some ‘infested’

ornamental succulents from Texas/Arizona/California to brighten up their garden.

The other, and much more likely scenario, is that this butterfly was introduced by

accident during one of the many documented trials of North American halophytes

as potential fodder plants or for degraded land reclamation (Khan 1981; Riley 1989;

Glenn et al. 1994; Lieth & Al Massoum 1991-1992; Dakheel, Alhadrami & Peacock

2001; Peacock et al. 2002).

Land reclamation and fodder plant projects in the UAE

Starting in the 1970’s, it was realised by the UAE governments that something needed

to be done about the severe overgrazing and land degradation afflicting the region.

Khan (1981) reviewed the progress of several afforestation and agricultural develop-

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 5-16 11

ments during 1975-80. Forest areas managed by the Forest and Agriculture Departments

were extensively interplanted with fodder shrubs such as Arriplex.

In 1990 an international symposium was held at the UAE University in order to draw

together the worldwide experience in this field (Lieth & Al Massoum 1991-1992).

Parallel to this activity, Mr. Armin Lieth was asked to collect a large number of

halophytic species in the Caribbean and trial them in the UAE desert environment.

Some scientists invited to participate in the above mentioned symposium were also

asked to provide plant material (see Lieth & Al Massoum (1991-1992) for more detail).

A quarantine station was erected near Mussafah from where the surviving specimens

were later transferred to an experimental farm near Nahshallah.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) initiated a multinational project in

1997 — known as the ‘Sustainable Utilization of Saline Groundwater and Wastelands

for Plant Production’ — in order to introduce and domesticate halophytes for commercial

crop production throughout North Africa and the Middle East. This project was

subsequently expanded to include large tracts of ‘wasteland’, new species and other

regional habitats throughout Africa and the Middle East. Several species of Atriplex

were an important component.

In 1999 the International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) was established at

Dubai. Its brief was to develop sustainable management systems to irrigate food and

forage crops (and ornamental plants) with saline water and to provide a source of salt-

tolerant plants for socio-economic development in arid and semi-arid areas.

Wakabayashi (2000) gives details of a major project to use seawater as irrigation for

halophyte plantations on the Arabian Peninsula. Planting halophytes was proposed as

a way to re-establish vegetation along the periphery of the Rub Al Khali desert and the

coastline of the UAE. The five species suggested as most suitable were Batis maritima,

Atriplex canescens, Salicornia bigelovii, Suaeda esteroa and Sesuvium verrucosum.

Peacock et al. (2002), outlined research undertaken to identify forage halophytes that

were tolerant of saline soils, with research sites being located in Oman, in the UAE

and at the ICBA in Dubai. Research at the UAE University in Al-Ain looked at the salt

tolerance of several Sporobolus and Atriplex species.

The pan-tropical Sesuvium portulacastrum has been extensively used throughout

the Arabian Peninsula in landscaping and land reclamation projects since its first

introduction to Abu Dhabi in 1989 (Böer 2002). It has become widely naturalized and

its presence has probably aided the establishment and spread of B. exilis.

Including the above, a large number of halophyte research and development projects

have been carried out in the Arab Gulf States over the last 25 years, mainly in the UAE

(in particular Abu Dhabi and Dubai) and Saudi Arabia. These projects involved exotic

and indigenous species. Most of these projects imported plants directly from North

America for evaluation (Böer 2002).

Potential new range of B. exilis

The overall climate of the UAE is subtropical, warm and arid. Midday air tempera* .es

range between 35° and 50°C from May to October, and from 20° to 35°C during the

12 Pitraway et al.: The American Brephidium exilis in the Arabian Gulf

winter months. In the desertic interior the highest ground temperatures during summer

reach 70°C, but may fall to freezing in winter. The average rainfall over the Emirates

is less than 100 mm per annum, but this is very spasmodic and up to 50% of the annual

total may fall in a single day. Some monsoon-like showers are also received during the

summer months on the east coast, and in the mountain belt which forms the watershed

between the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Moisture also condenses in the form

of fog and dew, especially along the coastal belt. Strong winds and sand storms are

common throughout the Emirates, being especially frequent and severe in summer.

Sand dunes are a dominant landscape feature. These conditions are very similar to

those found across much of the natural North American range of B. exilis.

Soils are generally coarse, sandy and undeveloped. They are deficient in organic matter,

nitrogen, available phosphorus, and trace elements such as zinc, iron and manganese.

Non-calcareous soils may also be deficient in potassium. Soils in the ‘subkha’ coastal

belt and low-lying depressions in the interior of the desert are highly saline.

To a greater or lesser extent, these conditions can be found across the arid regions of

North Africa and into Spain, parts of eastern Africa, the Levant and Arabian Peninsula,

southern Iran and large areas of India. This is thus the potential range of Brephidium

exilis. Benyamini (2000) predicts it will reach Israel in the near future.

Biogeography of Brephidium

There is a very similar species to B. exilis resident in southern Africa, namely B. metophis

(Wallengren, 1860) (confined to South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique and

Zimbabwe). The genitalia and external features show clearly that they belong to the

same genus. Another related taxon, namely Oraidium barberae (Trimen, 1868) (which

also has very similar genitalia), is also endemic to South Africa. This New World/Old

World distribution is odd, but not unknown for other plant and animal taxa.

H. Stempffer (discussions with Larsen 1974) considers Brephidium to be a true

Gondwanaland relict genus, its evolution preceding the split up of Africa, Antarctica

and South America. This reflects the thoughts of Miller & Miller (1997), who believe

that some Biblidinae from the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean are so close to

African species as to indicate a common Gondwanaland origin. In the same paper they

also make the comment — “A similar situation exists [in the Lycaenidae] where one

genus, Brephidium, is represented in both hemispheres and its sister genus, Oraidium,

in southern Africa ... these butterflies are not vagile and their intercontinental

dispersal is highly unlikely.” Clench (1963) also comments on this African/New World

connection. However, in the absence of supporting molecular data this Gondwanaland

hypothesis remains pure conjecture. Butterflies as a whole appear to be mid- to late

Cretaceous in origin. Whether a Polyommatine genus is as old as the Africa/Americas

split is debatable. As B. exilis exhibits what is known as ‘waif dispersal’ (a form of

wind dispersal), the trans-Atlantic split in the genus may well have occurred some

time in the Tertiary when the Atlantic Ocean was more narrow. This discussion need

not concern us here, but it would be very interesting to observe the interaction of

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 5-16 13

B. exilis with B. metophis should the former reach southern Africa. Considering its

ecology and method of dispersal, this is not an impossibility.

Discussion

From the data we have it seems clear that the Sonoran butterfly, Brephidium exilis,

has irreversibly established itself in the Arabian Gulf on exotic as well as native hosts

since its probable introduction in the early 1990s, and that there is a very real possibility

that it will spread farther. The introduction and use of several known New World host

plants in landscaping and land reclamatıon projects has facilitated this, and may have

even been the route of entry. Although a number of such establishment events are

known, it is never-the-less a very rare occurrence. There are some 18,600 butterfly

species worldwide and only a few have managed to establish themselves away from

their natural ranges.

There are several ways in which this has occurred, nearly all of them human-assisted.

The introduction and use of host plants beyond their natural ranges can facilitate natural

range expansion in butterfly species which can utilize those plants. This has occurred

in North America with B. exilis, which utilizes both native and exotic weeds. Graves

& Shapiro (2003) and Thacker (2004) have documented the use of many alien hosts

in California by native butterflies, including B. exilis. Another good example is the

natural spread of Danaus plexippus (Linnaeus, 1758) across the Pacific Ocean, and

subsequent colonization of Australia in 1871, using already established weed species

of Asclepiadaceae (Zalucki & Clarke 2004).

Alternatively, the transplantation by humans of host plants to new regions of the world

(as ornamentals or crops) can ‘prime’ these areas for colonization should a suitable

butterfly accidentally or intentionally be introduced there. Such butterfly species, in

effect, are ‘chasing’ their host plants. This is the case with B. exilis in both Hawaii and

the Arabian Gulf.

Over the last 100 years, with increasing international trade and travel, several butterflies

have managed to hitch lifts to new regions. The most recent parallel to B. exilis has

been the establishment of Cacyreus marshalli Butler, 1897 in southern Europe. This

South African butterfly feeds on wild geraniums (Pelargonium spp.) in South Africa,

cultivated forms of which are/were widely grown throughout the Mediterranean region.

This butterfly was first recorded from Mallorca in 1989, having probably been brought

in by some nice blue-rinse lady from Cape Town visiting friends or relatives and bearing

a cutting of her favourite geranium, or perhaps via the ornamental flower trade. It has

since spread around the coast of Morocco, Spain and France, and down Italy as far as

Rome. Vagrants have even been found as far north as Belgium and the UK (Baufeld

1993).

Others are Pieris rapae (Linnaeus, 1758), which was introduced to North America

in the 1860s (and into Australia around 1937); Thymelicus lineola (Ochsenheimer

1808), introduced into Ontario, Canada in 1910 and now found as far west as Brit 4

Columbia; Pieris brassicae (Linnaeus, 1758), which established itself in Chile iu the

14 Prrraway et al.: The American Brephidium exilis in the Arabian Gulf

early 1980’s and then in Cape Province, South Africa, in 1994. The banana skipper

(Erionota thrax (Linnaeus, 1767)) has been accidentally introduced into Guam (1956),

Mauritius (around 1970), Hawaii (1973) and New Guinea (1983), where it is a serious

pest of bananas. Many species have been introduced to Hawaii, including B. exilis. Two

butterflies were deliberately established to control the exotic weed Lantana camara,

namely Strymon bazochii (Godart, 1824) (in 1902) and Tmolus echion (Linnaeus, 1767)

(in 1902), and butterfly enthusiasts took advantage of the widespread establishment

and cultivation of Passiflora and Citrus to introduce both Agraulis vanillae (Linnaeus,

1758) (around 1977) and Papilio xuthus Linnaeus, 1767 (around 1971).

The most recent exotic colonisations that have come to our attention are Papilio

demoleus Linnaeus, 1764 in the Caribbean (Guerrero et al. 2004) and Dryas iulia

(Fabricius, 1775) in Thailand (Pittaway, pers. obs. 2005). The latter Neotropical

species has established itself in Phuket (in 2004) and is now spreading on Passiflora

foetida, itself an alien which can grow in profusion on any derelict site. The invasive

nature of this plant has also helped Acraea violae (Fabricius, 1775) extend its range;

Larsen saw huge numbers in the centre of Bangkok in 2004.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the following for their help, records and comments: Dubi Benyamini, Gary Feulner,

Mike Gallagher, Marijke Jongbloed, Eugeny Rutjan, Vadim Tshikolovets, Bruce Walsh and Rob Western.

Thanks are also due to Paul Opler, who supplied Weidenhoffer with a photo of dissected male genitalia so

as to confirm identification.

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Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 17-25 17

Additional revisionary actions and corrections in the Turanana

endymion species-group (Lycaenidae)

JOHN G. CouTsis

4 Glykonos Street, 10675 Athens, Greece; e-mail: kouts@otenet.gr

Absract. The separation of Turanana taygtica micrasiatica ssp. n. from Turanana taygetica endymionoides

Coutsis, 2005 is effected on the basis of their having constant external differences between them and of

their being geographically isolated from one another. The sympatric occurence of Turanana endymion

endymion (Freyer, 1850) and Turanana endymion ahasveros (Bytinski-Saltz & Brandt, 1937) in Iran is

discussed.

Key words. Lycaenidae, Turanana endymion, T. taygetica, taxonomy, typification, new subspecies,

Greece, Turkey, Iran, Israel.

Introduction

In the revision of the Turanana endymion (Freyer, 1850) species-group (Coutsis 2005)

the following were effected: the separation at species level of T. taygetica (Rebel,

1902) from T. endymion; the re-description of T. endymion endymion, T. endymion

ahasveros (Bytinski-Saltz & Brandt, 1937) and T. taygetica taygetica; the description

of T. taygetica endymionoides ssp. n., as well as the tentative placement of Turkish

T. taygetica under ssp. endymionoides; and lastly the necessary typifications for all the

above mentioned species-group taxa.

Later on (Coutsis 2006), a correction was carried out in respect of the true identity of

Turanana material from Kopetdagh, Turkmenistan, originally wrongly assumed to be

T. endymion ahasveros, and eventually correctly identified as T. dushak Dubatolov,

1989.

The recent obtainment of a large number of T. taygetica from Turkey, as well as of

a few fresh individuals of T. endymion from Iran, led to a better and more detailed

comparison between, and understanding of the various T. endymion species-group

taxa, while at the same time it revealed the need for carrying out further revisionary

actions within this species-group, as well as of making a few necessary corrections to

the original revision (Coutsis 2005).

Abbreviations

ZMAN Zöologisch Museum, Universiteit van Amsterdam

RMNH Naturalis, National Museum of Natural History, Leiden

TL type locality

FW forewing

HW hindwing

Vv vein

S space

Nota lepidopterologica, 14.08.2006, ISSN 0342-7536

18 Coutsis: Additions to the Turanana endymion species group

A comparison between Turkish and Mt. Helmös Turanana taygetica

The original placement of both Turkish and Mt. Helmös T. taygetica under one ssp.,

i.e. endymionoides, was done because of insufficient comparative material from

Turkey, because of the lack of material from a good many geographically intermediate

areas between Greece and central Asia Minor that might have conceivably revealed

the existence of an external character cline, and because of the occasional external

character overlap between the Turkish and the Mt. Helmös populations.

The extensive material of Turkish T. taygetica now at hand suggests that the overlap

in external characters is not present in a collective way, but rather involves the single

character of the width of the upperside blackish marginal border of the wings.

Furthermore, the rather pronounced external differences between the geographically

extremely close nominotypical T. taygetica and topotypical ssp. endymionoides (Coutsis

2005), suggests that it is highly improbable that a character cline should exist between

the geographically distant and disjunct Mt. Helmös and Turkish T. taygetica.

The main external differences now known to exist between Turkish and Mt. Helmös

T. taygetica are as follows:

In Turkish T. taygetica the hindwing upperside blackish marginal border may have a

maximum width of up to about 2.0 mm (in Mt. Helmös T. taygetica this width never

surpasses 1.3-1.4 mm), the forewing upperside blackish marginal border always

invades the post-discal area of the wing basad from its apex (in Mt. Helmös T. taygetica

this is never the case), the wings on their upperside have the veins more extensively

lined in black, and the orange sub-marginal spotting on hindwing underside is as a rule

more extensive.

For all the reasons mentioned above, as well as because of the geographic isolation

between Greek and Turkish populations of T. taygetica, it is now deemed appropriate

to separate Turkish T. taygetica from the Greek ssp. endymionoides and to describe it

as a good ssp. in its own right.

Turanana taygetica micrasiatica ssp. n.

Material. Holotype © (Figs. 2, 3), Turkey, Isparta province, 15 km S of Aksehir, Sultandagları,

1800 m, st. 323, 4.vii.1986 (gen. prep. no. 3931), W. O. De Prins leg., ZMAN. — Paratypes: 29 (Figs. 7,

8) Afyon province, 8 km SW of Derecine, Sultandaglari, 2200 m, 19/20.vii.1981, H. & Th. v. Oorschot

& H. v. d. Brink leg., ZMAN. 70 Isparta province, 15 km S of Aksehir, Sultandagları, 1800 m, st. 323,

4.v11.1986, W. O. De Prins leg., ZMAN. 40° Isparta province, 15 km S of Aksehir, Sultandagları, 1500

m, 12/21.vii.1981, H. & Th. v. Oorschot & H. v. d. Brink leg., ZMAN. 19 Konya province, Aksehir,

Sultandaglari, 1100 m, 17/26.vii.1980, H. v. Oorschot leg., ZMAN. 10 Afyon province, 20 km SE of

Cay, Sultandaglari, 2000 m, 14.vii.1981, H. & Th. v. Oorschot & H. v. d. Brink leg., ZMAN. 19 Afyon

province, 8 km SW of Dereçine, Sultandaÿlari, 2200 m, 19/20.vii.1981, H. & Th. v. Oorschot & H. v. d.

Brink leg., ZMAN (figured in Hesselbarth et al. 1995: pl. 97, fig. 58). — Additional specimens: 30° Konya

province, Aksehir, Sultandaÿlari, 1100 m, 17/26.vii.1980, Fam. H. v. Oorschot leg., ZMAN; 39 Konya

province, 22 km SE of Aksehir, Sultandagları, 1600-1900 m, 29.vii.1995, H. A Coene & J. H. H. Felten

leg., ZMAN; 20 Konya province, 6 km S of Cankaturan, 23 km SSE of Aksehir, Sultandaglari, 1700 m,

20.vii.1995, H. A Coene & J. H. H. Felten leg., ZMAN; 19 Konya province, Aksehir, Sultandagları, 1100

m, 13/20.vii.1981, st. 0100, H. & T. v. Oorschot & H. v. d. Brink leg., ZMAN; 29 Konya province, 15 km

S of Aksehir, Sultandaglari, 1500 m, 16./19.vii.1980, H. v. Ooorschot leg., ZMAN; 40° Afyon province,

10 km S of Cay, Sultandagları, 1300 m, 18/25.vii.1980, H. v. Ooorschot leg., ZMAN; 19 Afyon province,

8 km SW of Dereçine, Sultandaglari, 1700-2200 m, 19/20.vii.1981, H. & Th. v. Oorschot & H. v. d. Brink

leg., ZMAN; 20 Afyon province, 8 km SW of Derecine, Sultandagları, 2200 m, 19./20.vii.1981, H. &

Th. v. Oorschot & H. v. d. Brink leg., ZMAN; 130 Isparta province, 15 km S of Aksehir, Sultandagları,

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 17-25 17

1500 m, 12./21.v11.1981, H. & Th. v. Oorschot & H. v.

d. Brink leg., ZMAN; 19 Afyon province, 15 km SE

of Cay, Sultandagları, 1400-1600 m, 14./18.vii.1981,

H. & Th. v. Oorschot & H. v. d. Brink leg., ZMAN;

20 Isparta province, 15 km S of Aksehir, Sultandaßları,

1800 m, st. 323, 4.v11.1986, W. O. De Prins leg.,

ZMAN; 20 Isparta province, 10 km NE of Gelendost,

Sultandasları, 1000 m, 15.vii.1980, H. v. Oorschot

leg., ZMAN; 20° Karaman province, Sertavul Gecidi,

1500 m, 1.v111.1995, H. A. Coene & J. H. H. Felten leg.,

ZMAN; 19 Antalya province, Irmasan Gecidi, 12 km

N of Akseki, 1500-1900 m, 24./27.vii.1981, H. Coene,

J. Lucas & H. v. Oorschot leg., ZMAN; 19 Asia Minor,

Taurus, coll. Snellen RMNH; 19 Anatolien, Ak-Chehir,

1900 m, Korb, ZMAN, 19 Konya province, Aksehir,

Sultandasları, 1100 m, 17./26.vii.1980, H. v. Oorschot

leg., ZMAN; 19 Isparta province, 15 km S of Aksehir,

Sultandaglan, 1500 m, H. & Th. v. Oorschot & H. v.

d. Brink leg., ZMAN; 19 Asia Minor, Taurus, Lederer

leg., coll. Snellen RMNH.

Description. Holotype (Figs. 2, 3). Fore-

wing length 10.9 mm. Upperside ground-

colour blue; blackish marginal borders aver-

Fig. 1. Diagram of the wings of a butterfly, aging 1.8 mm in width; blackish border on

defining “forewing length’, and showing the forewing invading post-discal area basad

cell, the veins and the inter-venal spaces of the . : ; : 5

fore- and hindwing. from apex; wing veins thinly lined in black;

apex of cell on both forewing and hindwing

marked by a fine, black stria, shaped like shallow crescent, which ıs weakly-defined

in the former, and narrower, shorter and barely visible in the latter; fringes pure white.

Underside ground-coiour light grey-brown, giving impression of ‘dirty and rough’

texture; basal area of hindwing with faint, shiny, whitish-blue dusting; post-discal

black spots on forewing large and surrounded by off-white rings; post-discal spot in s3

conspicuously displaced distad; apex of cell on forewing with fine, well-defined black-

brown stria shaped like shallow crescent; both wings with double row of well-defined

black-brown sub-marginal markings, the darkest (almost black) and most conspicuous

being situated nearest wing margin in s2 of hindwing; space between outer and inner

row of dark sub-marginal markings of hindwing filled with macroscopically conspi-

cuous orange scaling in sic, s2 and s3, and microscopically discernible orange dusting

also in s1b and s4; post-discal black spots on hind-wing likewise surrounded by off-

white rings, but smaller than their forewing counterparts; apex of cell on hindwing

underside with black-brown stria shaped like shallow crescent as in forewing, but

narrower and shorter than its forewing counterpart; single black spot enclosed by off-

white ring also present in cell of hindwing, just basad from and slightly diagonally to

dark stria of cellular apex; fringes pure white. Valva (Figs. 5, 6) 1.23 mm in length, with

14 terminal spikes present, that extend all along the valval distal margin, reaching its

apex; most proximal spike decidedly the longest.

Q paratype (Figs. 7, 8). (Due to the unavailability of fresh material, the description

that follows is that of a worn specimen, and cannot be considered as being accurate n

all details. The specimen chosen is from Sultandaglar, a locality where only taygetica

20 Coutsis: Additions to the Turanana endymion species group

15km 3 AKSEHIR

or 1800m, Sultandagları. WW Prep. No, 3931

. ; hi à

WO. de Prins [ct so5 Ä Turanana taygetica

Figs. 2-6. Turanana taygetica micrasiatica ssp. n., holotype ©. 2. Upperside. 3. Underside. 4. Data labels.

5, 6. Right valva. 5. View of mesal wall of valva. 6. Flat view of distal part of mesal wall of valva.

flies, thus excluding the possibility of a misidentification due to a mix-up with endymion).

Forewing length 10.8 mm. Upperside ground-colour dark brown; blue basal scaling

not evident macroscopically, but scattered blue scales in evidence when viewed

microscopically; outer margin of wings thinly lined black-brown; black-brown stria at

apex of cell clearly evident on forewing, less so on hind-wing; remnants of fringes pure

white. Underside as in male, but ground-colour slightly browner.

Variation. This is expressed in the males by their overall size (forewing length from

about 9.0 mm to about 12.5 mm), by the width and degree of definition of the upperside

blackish marginal border, by the extent or absence of black spotting within this border,

by the degree of definition of the black stria at the apex of the cell on the hindwing,

and by the degree of intrusion of the blackish marginal border into the post-discal area

of the forewing, basad from its apex. On the underside it is expressed primarily by the

extent of sub-marginal orange scaling and of the basal, shiny, whitish-blue dusting on

the hindwing, as well as by the distance from the wing’s outer margin of the hindwing

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 17-25 21

Paratype ®

| Turanana laygetica TÜRKIYE Afyon

micrasiatica ssp. nov. H.&Thiv,Gorschot 448@ 2200 m

Designated by John . &H v.d.Brink 19/20-V1I1-4 984

G. Coutsis, 2006 |

Sultandaglari 8 km

SW of DERECINE

Figs. 7-9. Turanana taygetica micrasiatica ssp. n., paratype 9. 7. Upperside. 8. Underside. 9. Data

labels.

post-discal row of black spots. Variation in the females cannot be defined due to lack

of sufficient material.

Male genitalia. Identical to those of nominotypical T. taygetica and of ssp.

endymionoides (Coutsis 2005); right and left valvae roughly symmetrical to one

another; number of valval terminal spikes varying from 11 to 25, even within a single

locality, and always spreading the whole length of valval distal margin irrespective of

their number; length of valva from about 1.03 mm to about 1.23 mm, proportionate to

overall size of the butterfly.

Distribution. Turanana taygetica micrasiatica has only been found so far in the

southern part of central Asia Minor, as well as in part of the western half of Asia Minor,

and namely in the Turkish provinces of Isparta, Afyon, Konya, Antalya, Kayseri, Nigde

and Karaman. In one particular site, on Bolkardagları, Nigde province, it has been

recorded as syntopic and synchronous with T. endymion endymion (Coutsis 2005). On

Sultandaglari it appears to be the sole Turanana taxon or ssp. present there.

Derivatio nominis. The name being given is derived from the latinized version of

the Greek term ‘Mikrä Asia’, meaning Asia Minor, and its derivative ‘Mikrasiatik?’,

meaning ‘from Asia Minor’.

Diagnosis. T. taygetica micrasiatica may be distinguished from both nominotypical

T. taygetica as well as from ssp. endymionoides by the fact that the forewing upperside

blackish border always invades the post-discal area of the wing basad from its apex; :

may also be distinguished from nominotypical taygetica by the darker upperside ° .id

underside ground-colours, by the wider, darker and more sharply defined upperside

22 Coutsis: Additions to the Turanana endymion species group

Figs. 10-19. Right valva of Turanana endymion species-group taxa. 10, 12, 14, 16, 18. View of mesal wall

of valva. 11, 13, 15, 17, 19. Flat view of distal part of mesal wall of valva. 10, 11. T. endymion ahasveros

from Iran, Tehran province, Resteh Ye Alborz, Ab Ali, 2500 m, 28.vii.1974, Blom leg., RMNH, specimen

no. 3927. 12-21. T. endymion endymion. 12, 13. Turkey, Van province, 8-32 km N of Catak, 1500-2200

m, 13.-19.vii.1990, Riemis & v. d. Poorten leg., ZMAN, specimen no. 3929. 14-19. Iran, Mazandaran

province, Khosh-Yeylaq, 2000-2500 m, Blom leg. 14.-17. 15./21.v1.1973, ZMAN. 14, 15. Specimen no.

39.5. 16, 17. Specimen no. 3926. 18, 19. Gorgan, 28.vi.—2.vii.1971, RMNH, specimen no. 3944.

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 17-25 23

Figs. 20-21. Right valva of Turanana endymion endymion, Israel, Hermon, 2000 m, 23.vi.1973, Benyamini

leg., coll. Coutsis, specimen no. 3828. 20. View of mesal wall of valva. 21. Flat view of distal part of mesal

wall of valva.

blackish borders, by the fact that the underside black post-discal spots are as a rule

placed more basad, and by the orange sub-marginal scaling on hindwing, which

is substituted by yellowish-beige in nominotypical faygetica. From nominotypical

T. endymion it differs only in the male genitalia, there being no apparent external

character differences between the two. From 7. endymion ahasveros it differs both

structurally as well as by external characters, in the latter case much in the way as does

nominotypical 7. endymion differ from T. ahasveros (Coutsis 2005). It is also worth

noting that T. endymionoides appears to be closer externally to the geographically distant

micrasiatica than it does to the geographically proximate nominotypical T. taygetica.

T. endymion species-group taxa from Iran and Israel

In Coutsis (2005) it is mentioned that specimens from Mazandaran province, Iran,

though externally similar to T. endymion ahasveros, possess genitalia that are identical

to those of nominotypical endymion. These specimens were referred to as ‘endymion

?ahasveros’. The assumed external similarity between T. ahasveros and T. ?ahasveros

was based on a misjudgment caused by the worn condition of the Mazandaran material

and the faded ground-colour of the relevant specimens.

A single recently acquired male specimen from Iran, Tehran province, Resteh Ye Alborz,

Ab-Alı, 2500m, 28.vii.1974, W. L. Blom leg. agrees with T. endymion ahasveros both

in external characters, as well as in genitalia (Figs. 10, 11), these being identical to

those of T. ahasveros figured in Coutsis (2005). Two recently acquired male specimens

in fresh condition, both from Mazandaran province, Khosh-Yelaq, 2000-2500 m,

15./21.v1.1973, W. L. Blom leg., as well as one recently acquired male, likewise in

fresh condition, from Mazandaran province, Khosh-Yelaq, Mt.Gorgan, 2000—2600m,

28.v1.—2.v11.1971, W. L. Blom leg., were found to possess nominotypical T. endymion-

like genitalia (Figs. 14-19), agreeing fully with those of T. ?ahasveros in Coutsis

(2005), and to exhibit external characters that appear closer to those of nominotypic?’

T. endymion, than to those of ahasveros (darker blue uppersides, darker undersides nd

purer orange underside spotting).

Coutsis: Additions to the Turanana endymion species group

BLACK SEA

Fig. 22. Map indicating sampling localities of T. mme Ani T. taygetica, based both on ua (2005),

as well as on present paper. [| = T. endymion endymion. M = T. endymion ahasveros. O = T. taygetica

taygetica. @ = T. taygetica micrasiatica. À = T. taygetica endymionoides.

In view of this it can now be said with a degree of certainty that in Iran T. endymion 1s

represented by two structurally distinct subspecies, which in the future may conceivably

prove to be separate species. The only reason for not adhering at present to this last

position is that in Turkey there are rare instances whereby specimens with external

characters that are similar to those of nominotypical endymion possess genitalia

(Figs. 12, 13) that are somewhat reminiscent of those of T. ahasveros.

A single specimen from Israel, Hermon, 2000m, 23.v1.1973, D. Benyamini leg.,

which was found to possess genitalia that are identical to those of nominotypical

T. endymion (Figs. 20, 21), is presently tentatively placed under this ssp.

Proposed taxonomic arrangements

With all present evidence at hand it is proposed that the following taxonomic

arrangements be put to effect within the Turanana species-group.

Turanana endymion endymion (Freyer, 1850). TL: Turkey, Amasya province, 10 km

SW of Ladik. Distribution: eastern half of Asia Minor, Iran (Mazandaran province),

Lebanon and Israel.

Turanana endymion ahasveros (Bytinski-Saltz & Brandt, 1937). TL: Iran, Elburs Mts.,

Keredj. Distribution: Iran (Tehran & Fars provinces).

Turanana taygetica taygetica (Rebel, 1902). TL: Greece, Pelopönnisos, Mt. Taiyetos.

Distribution: Greece, Mt. Taiyetos only.

Turanana taygetica endymionoides Coutsis, 2005. TL: Greece, Pelopönnisos, Mt.

Helmés. Distribution: Greece, Mt. Helmés only.

Turanana taygetica micrasiatica ssp. n. TL: Turkey, Isparta province, Sultandagları.

Distribution: so far known from south-central Asia Minor, as well as from parts of the

western half of Asia Minor.

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 17-25 25

Corrections

The following corrections should be carried out in Coutsis (2005): p. 258, under heading Description, line

3: ‘post-distal’ should read ‘post-discal’; p. 260, line 4, ‘distad’ should read ‘basad’; p. 260, line 5, ‘1.26

mm’ should read ‘1.03 mm’; p. 263, line 9, ‘1.27 mm’ should read ‘1.04 mm’; p. 267, line 12, ‘1.59 mm’

should read ‘1.28 mm’; p. 270, line 12, ‘1.48 mm’ should read ‘1.16 mm’. The last four errors were caused

by an inadvertent scale calibration mistake; the scale bars that appear in the plates, however, are correct.

Acknowledgments

I would like to extend my sincerest thanks and express my gratitude to Harry van Oorschot of the Zöologisch

Museum, Universiteit van Amsterdam, to Dr. Rienk de Jong of the Naturalis, National Museum of Natural

History, Leiden, to Dirk van der Poorten and to Jos Dills from Belgium, for directly or indirectly providing

me with all the Turkish and Iranian material necessary for carrying out this endeavour. Many thanks are

also due to Dubi Benyamini who had the kindness to give me the Turanana from Mt. Hermon, Israel.

References

Bytinski-Salz, H. & W. Brandt 1937. New Lepidoptera from Iran. — Entomologist’s Records & Journal of

Variation 49 (Supplement): (1)-(15).

Coutsis, J. G. 2005. Revision of the Turanana endymion species-group (Lycaenidae). — Nota

lepidopterologica 27 (4): 251-272.

Coutsis, J. G. 2006. Revision of the Turanana endymion species-group (Lycaenidae) — a correction. — Nota

lepidopterologica 28 (3): 193.

Freyer, C. F. 1831-1858. Neuere Beiträge zur Schmetterlingskunde mit Abbildungen nach der Natur 6

(81-100): 195 pp, 120 pls. (1846 — 1852).

Hesselbarth, G., H. van Oorschot & S. Wagener 1995. Die Tagfalter der Türkei. Vols. 1-3: 2201 pp. -

Bocholt.

Rebel, H. 1902. Lepidopteren aus Morea gesammelt von Herrn Martin Holtz im Jahre 1901. — Berliner

entomologischer Zeitschrift 47: 83-110.

26 Book reviev

Torben B. Larsen 2005. Butterflies of West Africa. — Apollo Books, Stenstrup. — Text-Volume:

595 pp.; Plate-Volume: 125 pls. Size 28 x 217 cm. Hardcover (ISBN 87-88757-43-9). DKK

1280.00 (excluding postage). (In English).

Regarding systematics, butterflies are certainly the best studied large group of lepidopterans although many

questions remain for future generations, for example to answer sibling species problems or well supported

phylogenetic relationships. In contrast, the number of species seems to have reached an equilibrium

as descriptions of new species are well balanced by synonymisations. One remaining problem is that

taxonomic knowledge is usually scattered over uncountable publications, and syntheses to summarize

this information and make it available to a broader public are still wanting. Torben Larsen already did so

for the Butterflies of Lebanon (1974), the Butterflies of Egypt (1990), and the Butterflies of Kenya (1991),

for example, and now he adds his comprehensive Butterflies of West Africa to the list of his contributions.

What makes his books so outstanding is the fact that, among others, Torben Larsen knows the butterflies

himself from the field, and, incidentally, one can read about his field experience in his Hazards of Butterfly

collecting (2004), a joyful and humorful reading. The Afrotropical region is home to about 4000 butterfly

species, or 21% of the world fauna. However, a much higher proportion, 32%, of all lycaenid species

occurs in this region and the Lipteninae (Lycaenidae), with 599 species, are endemic to this region. More

than one third of the entire afrotropical butterfly fauna can be found in West Africa. These are about 1,450

butterfly species, which are treated by Torben Larsen in Butterflies of West Africa. The book starts with

three pages of contents, which are necessary to use the book efficiently. This is followed by a foreword by

Steve Collins, a preface by Dick Vane-Wright, an “About this Book” by the author, and three full pages of

acknowledgements. The introduction starts with a detailed description of the geography ofthe area covered,

which comprises 15 countries from the south of Mauritania in the West to the northwest of Cameroon in the

East. For the same area, the biogeography, biodiversity, history of collecting, ecology, migration, threats

and extinctions, as well as butterfly conservation issues are treated in detail. In addition to descriptions

of the main habitats, the reader learns that the rain forests in West Africa declined to between 4 and 43%

(average 13.2%) of their original area depending on country — but this was the state of the losses in 1986!

Happily, Torben Larsen shows by his own observations that this habitat loss probably did not lead to the

extinction of any butterfly species yet. However, further destruction would evidently increase the risk of

extinctions. Monitoring this process is a necessary prerequisite to discover species that are in danger and to

develop programmes for their conservation and that of their habitats. This requires expertise in systematics,

which is the subject of the next chapter in Butterflies of West Africa: it starts with an introduction into

terminology (unfortunately, the author still uses a numerical system for the wing venation) and a list of

Afrotropical butterfly genera indicating the distribution of the species included in every genus as well as

the number of species occurring in West Africa. Then, the taxa are treated hierarchically, from superfamily

to genus, with the species in each genus arranged systematically. Each taxon is shortly described. For each

supraspecific taxon the numbers of species and general distribution are indicated, and some diagnostic

characters are given. For species the text is divided in sections on identification, habits, early stages, and

distribution, with detailed information on the occurrence in West Africa, habitat preferences and behavior

of the butterflies, and host plant records of early stages (altogether, about 2000 host plant records are given

in the book). Sometimes a paragraph of additional information and illustrations, e.g. images of butterflies

or genitalia structures, are included in the text. The text-volume is completed with the reference section,

which contains about 600 references — an important pool for further study! — and an index to scientific

names. The plate-volume starts with the contents of the 125 plates, which enables the reader to find the

first plate of each subfamily, while generic and species group names can be found via the index at the end

of this volume. About 1450 species (3900 specimens) are figured in colour, some of them for the first time!

This book provides a unique, comprehensive, and illustrative source to the butterflies of West Africa. It

enables the user to identify the species and to learn about their occurrence and host plants. It is perfectly

suitable as a basic tool to study West African butterflies, but also to use butterflies as indicators for habitat

management; hence, it is certainly worth its price. Let’s hope that it will find a wide distribution and use in

favour of West African nature and particularly its butterflies.

MATTHIAS Nuss

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 27-35 21

Description of the unknown female of Agriopis beschkovi Ganev,

1987 (Geometridae: Ennominae), and illustration of the larvae

GEORG PETSCHENKA !, MAJID TAVAKOLI* & ROBERT TRUSCH !

' Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Karlsruhe, Erbprinzenstraße 13, 76133 Karlsruhe, Germany;

e-mail: g.petschenka@smnk.de, trusch@smnk.de

* Lorestan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center Khorramabad, P.O. Box: 348, Iran;

e-mail: majide322 @ yahoo.com

Abstract. We describe the unknown female of Agriopis beschkovi Ganev, 1987 (Geometridae, Ennominae),

a species so far only reported from Bulgaria and Iran. The findings are based on material collected in oak

forests of the West-Iranian provinces Lorestan and Kermanshah where A. beschkovi can cause calamities.

Apart from the distinctive habitus the long antennal setae and morphological details of the genitalia are

diagnostic features of the females. The female’s genitalia and habitus, the reduced tympanal organ, male

specimens, the male genitalia and the two colour forms of the hitherto unknown larvae are illustrated.

Observations on the biology of A. beschkovi are given. The female genitalia of the related species

Agriopis leucophaearia, Agriopis aurantiaria, Agriopis marginaria and Agriopis bajaria are illustrated

for comparison.

Zusammenfassung. Wir beschreiben das unbekannte, fltigellose Weibchen von Agriopis beschkovi

(Geometridae, Ennominae), einer Art, die bislang nur aus Bulgarien und dem Iran bekannt ist. Die

gewonnenen Ergebnisse basieren auf Material, das in Eichenwäldern der westiranischen Provinzen

Lorestan und Kermanshah gesammelt wurde, wo A. beschkovi Kalamitäten verursacht. Neben dem unver-

wechselbaren Habitus des Weibchens stellen die langen Setae auf den Antennen und morphologische

Details des Genitalorgans diagnostische Merkmale dar. Wir bilden das weibliche Genitalorgan sowie den

Habitus und das reduzierte Tympanalorgan des Weibchens ab. Neben einem lebenden männlichen Exemplar

zeigen wir die männlichen Genitalorgane und die beiden Farbvarianten der bislang nicht bekannten Larve.

Die Arbeit enthält außerdem Angaben zur Biologie von A. beschkovi. Weiterhin zeigen wir die weiblichen

Genitalorgane der verwandten Arten Agriopis leucophaearia, Agriopis aurantiaria, Agriopis marginaria

und Agriopis bajaria.

Key words. Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Ennominae, Agriopis, apterous female, genitalia morphology,

tympanal organ, winter moths, larvae, pest, Iran.

Introduction

Members of the genus Agriopis Hübner, 1825 (Scoble et al. 1999) are generally active

during the cold season as it is well known for A. leucophaearia ([Denis & Schiffermüller],

1775), A. aurantiaria (Hübner, 1799), A. bajaria ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775), and

A. marginaria (Fabricius, 1776). A. beschkovi Ganev, 1987 displays a similar activity

pattern as indicated by the collection dates mentioned by Ganev (1987) and the dates of

the material investigated here. The species was described by Ganev in 1987 on the basis

of Bulgarian specimens. Until now the species has only been recorded from Bulgaria

and Iran (Ganev 1987; Müller 1996; Hausmann pers. comm.). However, the female of

A. beschkovi has remained unknown and is described here by external characters and

genitalia morphology.

Material

The investigated specimens were reared from larvae collected in 2004 and 200° ın

West-Iran (Lorestan: Ghelaie, Shor-abe, Evandar and Kermanshah: Gahvareh) by the

Nota lepidopterologica, 14.08.2006, ISSN 0342-7536

28 PETSCHENKA et al.: On Agriopis beschkovi

Fig. 1. Female of Agriopis beschkovi Ganev, 1987 from W-Iran, 2004-2005, ex larva, leg. M. Tavakoli;

a. dorsal view of a female, b. right antenna of another specimen, c. lateral view of the female shown in

picture a before mounting.

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 27-35 29

second author. The biological observations were also made at these locations. For the

investigation of external characters four female specimens were used. The description

of the female genitalia relies on further five specimens. The illustrated and dissected

males were also reared from these larvae. In habitus (Fig. 3c, 4) and male genitalia

(Fig. 5) we could not observe any noteworthy differences from the illustrations given

in Ganev (1987). We compared the female genitalia of A. beschkovi with those of

other Agriopis species. For thıs purpose we dissected the following material (citations

as written on the labels): A. leucophaearia. 229 Austr. inf., Wien, Kahlenberg,

4.11.1923., A. Ortner. A. marginaria. 19 Austria Inferior, W.-Wald 4.iv.1920, coll.

H. Reisser, Wien; 19 Austria Inferior, Mauer 12.11.1937, coll. H. Reisser, Wien; 19

Neubau-Kreuzstetten, Austr. Inf. 14.1v.1940, coll. H. Reisser, Wien. A. aurantiaria.

299 Austr. inf., Neuwaldegg, 2/11 1930, Ing. Kautz, Wien; 19 [Germany, Baden-

Württemberg], Ettlingen, Stadtgeb., 22.x1.1956.; 19 Austr. inf., Wien, 3-markstein,

10.x1.1946, A. Ortner. A. bajaria. 19 E Larva, [Austria], Muellendorf, Burgenld

2.x1.1933, coll. H. Reisser. Wien; 19 E Larva, [Austria], Muellendorf, Burgenld

19.x1.1933, coll. H. Reisser. Wien; 299 [Germany, Bayern], Ingolstadt, el. 20.x.1959,

Schlusche leg. The investigated material is deposited in the Staatliches Museum fiir

Naturkunde Karlsruhe (SMNK); the images of figs. 1, 2, 5, 6 were taken with the

automontage technology.

Description of the female

Habitus. The habitus of an A. beschkovi female is shown in Fig. 1 (a, c). Length

(distance from frons to the tip of abdomen) ranges from 7 to 8.5 mm (n=5).

Head. Proboscis present but strongly reduced, palps whitish. Vertex greyish, frons

bearing a black tuft of long hair-like scales. Parts of the antennae chequered (annulated)

dark and light, covered with long setae (Fig. 1b).

Thorax. Wings completely reduced, tegulae present. Legs with white femora; ventral

side of tarsi light brown-coloured; apical scales of tibia and tarsomeres pale.

Pregenital abdomen. Dorsal side of abdomen grey with a light medial line;

ventral side white, separated from the darker upperside by a pleural, black, zigzag line

(Fig.1c). The tympanal organ of males seems to be regularly developed as it has a large

tympanal cavity. In the females the tympanal organ is reduced to a conspicuous hook

(Fig. 2c). The bulla tympani is largely reduced and only a small residue of the former

cavity is present. Genitalia. Apophyses posteriores long and slender, proximal

end curved and flattened, hockey-stick-shaped (Fig. 2). Apophyses anteriores about

60% length of apophyses posteriores, proximal end similarly flattened but less curved.

Tergum A8 weakly sclerotized, lamella antevaginalis crescent-shaped. Posterior part of

ductus bursae membranous and funnel-shaped. Anterior part of ductus bursae curved,

long and slender, more strongly sclerotized and three to four times longer than the funnel-

shaped posterior part (measured from the proximal border of lamella antevaginalis to

origin of ductus seminalis and from origin of ductus seminalis to junction with corpus

30 PETSCHENKA et al.: On Agriopis beschkovi

Fig. 2. Female genitalia and tympanal organ of A. beschkovi, a. female genitalia, with blind sac of the

basal ductus seminalis (arrow), b. corpus bursae (stronger magnified), with small signum bursae (arrow),

c. reduced left tympanal organ (slides: G-1307 (genitalia), G-1283 (tympanal organ), SMNK).

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 27-35 31

Fig. 3. Larvae and live male adult of A. beschkovi from W-Iran, 2004-2005, leg. M. Tavakoli, a. grey-

greenish form of the larva, b. grey-brown form of the larva, c. resting specimen of a male A. beschkovi.

Differences in colouration between the specimen shown above and the specimen shown in Fig. 4 are due

to artificial light photography.

bursae). Ductus seminalis entering ductus bursae at the border between the funnel

shaped and the stronger sclerotized part of the ductus bursae. The basal part of ductus

seminalis bears a blind sac (Fig. 2a, arrow). Corpus bursae membranous and hyaline,

approximately as long as the curved part of ductus bursae, oval shaped, with only one

small signum in the posterior part of corpus bursae (Fig. 2a, b, arrow). The signum

bursae varies considerably in shape. In one case it can be described as a pyramıdal

structure the tip of which is projecting into the lumen of corpus bursae.

Diagnosis. Apart from the characteristic habitus (Fig. la, c), the long setae on the

antennae can serve as a diagnostic character of the females of A. beschkovi. The related

species A. marginaria, A. bajaria, A. leucophaearia and A. aurantiaria lack these long

setae.

The morphology of the female genitalia organ of A. beschkovi is clearly different

from those of the females of the other investigated species (see Fig. 6). Apart from the

unmistakable overall shape (compare Figs. 2a, 6a—d) there are several morphological

character states which allow an easy identification of A. beschkovi. The crescent-

32 PETSCHENKA et al.: On Agriopis beschkovi

Fig. 4. Males of A. beschkovi from W-Iran, 2004-2005, ex larva, leg. M. Tavakoli, a. upperside,

b. underside.

shaped lamella antevaginalis is unique to A. beschkovi within the investigated species.

Furthermore the strongly curved (hockey-stick-shaped) apophyses posteriores and the

curved, long anterior part of ductus bursae are characteristic.

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 27-35 33

Fig. 5. Male genitalia organs of A. beschkovi, a. genitalia, b. aedeagus (gen. prep. G-1328, SMNK).

Life history. The formerly unknown larvae of A. beschkovi are presented in Figs. 3a—b.

One form has a grey-greenish (Fig. 3a) another has a grey-brown habitus (Fig. 3b).

The larvae feed exclusively on trees and shrubs of Quercus brantii and Quercus

infectoria (Fagaceae). They are active at night and show reduced activity during

daytime. The larval period spans about 55-65 days under laboratory conditions. In

nature, larvae hatch from early March to early April, depending on the weather

conditions. They are found until mid-May. Observed parasites are Hymenoptera

(Ichneumonidae) and fungi. The adults occur in December and January in the forests.

In Iran, A. beschkovi causes calamities with economic importance due to the defoliation

of oaks by larvae. The species inhabits subtropical oak forests with an average altitude of

1.100 to 1.750 m above sea-level and snow in the winter. The mean annual temperature

is about 15-20 °C and the mean annual precipitation is estimated at 450-650 mm.

A. beschkovi is a dominant species compared with other oak-feeding moth species

occurring in these habitats (Catocala spp., Dicycla 00, Malacosoma sp., Porthesia

melania, Tortrix viridana and others).

Discussion

Wing reduction in female winter moths is a well known phenomenon (cf. Sattler 1991).

The females of all Agriopis species are wingless (concerning A. dira, cf. Inoue et al.

1982). So it is not surprising that the female of A. beschkovi is wingless, too. Another

interesting feature of winter moths is the usual reduction of mouthparts (Sattler 1991)

which is also the case in A. beschkovi females as well as in the males. The reduction of

the tympanal organs is observed in a considerable number of wing-reduced females of

geometrid moths. In the species formerly included into the genus Hibernia (Agriopis

34 PETSCHENKA et al.: On Agriopis beschkovi

Fig. 6. Female genitalia of Agriopis species, a. A. leucophaearia, Austria (gen. prep. G-1339, SMNK),

b. A. aurantiaria, Germany (gen. prep. G-1402, SMNK); c. A. marginaria, Austria (gen. prep. G-1398,

SMNK), d. A. bajaria, Germany (gen. prep. G-1403, SMNK).

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 27-35 35

marginaria, Agriopis bajaria, Agriopis leucophaearia, Theria rupicapraria, Erannis

defoliaria) male tympanal organs are well developed whereas those of the females are

reduced (Heitmann 1954). This applies also to A. beschkovi. In reduction of wings and

tympanal organs the females of A. beschkovi match the characteristics of other Agriopis

females.

An interesting feature of the female genitalia of A. beschkovi ıs the blind sac at

the basal part of the ductus seminalis which is also present in the female genitalia

of A. marginaria. In A. leucophaearia the structure could not be observed. The blind

sac seems also to be absent in the remaining two species A. aurantiaria (in three of

the four investigated specimens the blind sac was absent, in one case the ductus

seminalis was ruptured during dissection) and A. bajaria (two of four investigated

specimens did not possess a blind sac; in the other two specimens it was not possible

to decide whether a blind sac is present or not due to the poor quality of the material).

However, further study is needed to examine if this character is really homologous

in A. beschkovi and A. marginaria.

Acknowledgements

We are greatly indebted to Christiana Klingenberg and Alexander Riedel (both Karlsruhe) for their

valuable help with photography and image processing and Axel Steiner (Wöschbach) who revised our

English. Furthermore we would like to thank N. Poll (Bad Ischl) and an anonymous referee for valuable

comments.

Literature

Ganev, J. 1987. Eine neue Geometriden-Art aus Bulgarien Agriopis beschkovi sp.n. (Lepidoptera, Geome-

tridae, Boarmiinae). — Entomofauna 8 (18): 273-275.

Heitmann, H. 1954. Die Tympanalorgane flugunfahiger Lepidopteren und die Korrelation in der Ausbildung

der Flügel und der Tympanalorgane. — Zoologische Jahrbücher (Anatomie) 59: 135-200.

Inoue, H., S. Sugi, H. Kuroko, S. Moriuti & A. Kawabe 1982. Moths of Japan, Vol. 2. pp. 1-552. — The

Kyodo Printing Co. Ltd., Tokyo.

Müller, B. 1996. Geometridae. Pp. 218-249. — In: O. Karsholt & J. Razowski (eds.), The Lepidoptera of

Europe. A distributional checklist. — Apollo Books, Stenstrup.

Sattler, K. 1991. A review of wing reduction in Lepidoptera. — Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural

History) Entomology 60 (2): 243-288.

Scoble, M. J. (ed.) 1999. Geometrid moths of the world — a catalogue, 2 vols. — Apollo Books, Stenstrup.

1016+129 pp.

36 Book reviev

Eliasson, C. U., N. Ryrholm, M. Holmer, K. Jilg & U. Gärdenfors 2005. Nationalnyckeln till

Sveriges flora och fauna. Fjärilar: Dagfjärilar. Hesperiidae-Nymphalidae. — ArtDatabanken,

SLU, Uppsala. 407 pp. — 28 x 23 cm. Hardcover (ISBN 91-88506-51-7), distributed outside

Sweden by Apollo Books, Stenstrup, DKK 280.00 (excluding postage). (in Swedish)

This is the first published volume of the National Encyclopedia of the Swedish Flora and Fauna. This

Encyclopedia is part of the ambitious "Svenska artprojekt" which aims at scientifically describing and

illustrating all the metazoans, plants, and fungi living in Sweden, and at popularizing the collected

information. The protection of biodiversity depends on the cooperation of everybody, and knowledge of

the problems should stimulate people to become active in this field. For this reason, the Swedish parliament

finances the "Nationalnyckeln" as the educational tool to promote knowledge of biodiversity and interest

in biological sciences in all Swedes, regardless of age. The books are available at a relatively low price

thanks to this generous funding. The butterfly volume includes all the Papilionoidea and Hesperioidea

distributed in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland, with keys for the identification of all

140 species found in the region. The keys are illustrated and bilingual (Swedish and English); a short

abstract in English is provided for each species and English vernacular names can be searched for in

the index; the rest of the text is in Swedish. A table at the end of the book indicates the correspondance

between scientific names and vernacular names in Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, and Icelandic.

Here the entry names are the Latin ones, although the Swedish ones would have been preferable, since

in the text they are often used alone. A political map shows the subdivisions of the Nordic countries and

their provinces. Maps illustrate the distribution of each butterfly species in the Nordic countries before

and after 1980. This is generally an interesting idea, but the choice of year 1980 as borderline is however

curious, since the most dramatic changes in distribution are said to have happened in the Sixties. Coming

to the text in Swedish, the introductory chapter is very well made, including suggestions to recognize all

life stages of butterflies from those of moths and other insects, and information on butterfly phylogeny,

anatomy, intraspecific variability, ethology, ecology, and distribution patterns. The section on ecology is

particularly ample and focused on the environmental conditions typical of Nordic countries. It includes

a history of land-use in Sweden, where the causes of the dramatic decline of butterfly populations are

analyzed and possible solutions are suggested, both at a small scale (practicable by single citizens) and

at a large scale. The reader is encouraged to get practical experience on butterflies, including rearing and

butterfly watching; collectors are warned about the presence of protected species. All citizens are invited

to enter their observations on species distribution on the national web page "Artportalen." In the special

part, information about morphology, ethology, and world distribution is given for each family and lower-

rank taxon. For each species, information is also given on habitat, life cycle, food plants, present trends

in geographical distribution, synonymy, reference to the original description, and meaning of the Latin

name. The “correct” (Swedish) pronunciation of Latin names is indicated. The whole book is illustrated in

colour; photographs of different biotopes from all regions of Sweden were taken by the authors themselves.

The drawings of the species are well-made, very big (for the joy of children!) and provided with a bar

to indicate natural size. However, in some cases additional illustrations would have been desirable, for

example to show the underside of the wings in Thymelicus spp. and the larvae of Colias alfacariensis and

C. hyale. Some of the butterflies illustrated in resting position have the head to the right, others to the left,

which does not facilitate comparison in difficult genera such as Pyrgus. The information given in the text

is generally up-to-date, although the recently re-established synonymy of Pontia edusa with P. daplidice

has been missed. I noticed a few excessive simplifications; for example, the head is counted as the first

segment of a caterpillar’s body. Moreover, wing coupling without hooks or hairs is considered a good

character to recognize a butterfly from a moth, without mentioning the existence of macro-moths without

a frenulum. I checked the key with specimens belonging to ten species and to all the five families treated

in the book, encountering only two minor problems. In my (German) specimens of Hamearis lucina, the

submarginal dots are isolated from the dark border of both pair of wings, and not fused to it as illustrated

in the book. This may cause some troubles at point 17 of the main key, although such light-coloured

specimens may not occur in Nordic countries. At point 3 of the key to Heliconiinae, it might be wise to

replace “a large number of... spots” with a more precise “20 or more... spots”. For the rest, this is a very

good popular book, from which professional entomologists can learn something new as well... provided

that they can read Swedish!

FRANCESCA VEGLIANTE

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 37-47 37

The taxonomy and life history of Epimetasia monotona

(Amsel, 1953) comb. n. from Northwest Africa (Pyraloidea:

Crambidae: Odontiinae: Odontiini)

MATTHIAS Nuss !, THOMAS SoBczyKk ? & ROLF BLÀSIUS *

! Museum für Tierkunde, Königsbrücker Landstr. 159, 01109 Dresden, Germany;

e-mail: matthias.nuss@snsd.smwk.sachsen.de

> Diesterwegstr. 28, 02977 Hoyerswerda, Germany; e-mail: ThomasSobczyk@aol.com

3 Schwetzinger Str. 6, 69214 Eppelheim, Germany; e-mail: RolfBlaesius@web.de

Abstract. The genus Thyridopsis Amsel, 1953 (originally established in Pyralidae: Schoenobiinae) is

synonymised with Epimetasia Ragonot, 1894 (Crambidae: Odontiinae) and the type-species of Thyridopsis,

Thyridopsis monotona Amsel, 1953, is transferred to Epimetasia. A description of larvae, pupae and adults

of Epimetasia monotona (Amsel, 1953) comb. n. is given and information on the life history, including

larval food plant and habitat is provided. A catalogue is given for the genus Epimetasia. Pionea vestalis

Hampson, 1900 syn. n. is regarded as a junior subjective synonym of Epimetasia vestalis (Ragonot, 1894:

173) (Metasiodes) and therefore becomes a junior secondary homonym of the latter.

Resume. Les auteurs synonymisent le genre Thyridopsis Amsel, 1953 (décrit dans les Pyralidae

Schoenobiinae) avec Epimetasia Ragonot, 1894 (Crambidae: Odontiinae) et transferent l’espèce type de

Thyridopsis, T. monotona Amsel, 1953 dans Epimetasia. En outre, ils decrivent la chenille, la chrysalide,

ainsi que l’adulte d’Epimetasia monotona et ajoutent des informations concernant la plante-höte et

l’habitat. Ils fournissent aussi un catalogue du genre Epimetasia. Pionea vestalis Hampson, 1900 syn.

n. est considéré comme un synonyme subjectif plus récent de Epimetasia vestalis (Ragonot, 1894: 173)

(Metasiodes) et donc aussi comme un homonyme secondaire de ce nom.

Key words. Insecta, Lepidoptera, Morocco, Mauritania, larval host plant, Trichodesma calcarata,

Boraginaceae.

This paper is dedicated to Mr. Abdelkader, forester in Telouet (High Atlas), for his

untiring efforts for the reforestation of the region south of the Tizi-n-Tichka (a pass

between Marrakech and Quarzazate).

Introduction

Our knowledge of the pyraloid fauna of Morocco is scattered in numerous taxonomic

publications (e.g., Rebel 1896; Oberthür 1922; Rothschild 1925; Le Cerf 1933;

Schmidt 1934; Lucas 1937; Amsel 1952, 1953, 1956, 1966; Asselbergs 1998). Though

Charles Rungs (1979) wrote a synthesis on this knowledge (for all Lepidoptera), our

understanding of the pyraloid fauna of Morocco is still limited due to the need of

taxonomic revision of many pyraloid taxa which have representatives in Northwest

Africa. These problems came into focus when Rolf Bläsius returned from Morocco

with pyraloid specimens reared from a boraginaceous plant. Investigation of male

genitalia structures undoubtedly refer this species to the Odontiinae, but for this taxon,

the same situation holds true as mentioned for the pyraloid fauna of Morocco as a

whole: there is no review available to enable ready identification. After searching the

literature and museum collections, and discussions with colleagues, we find close

Nota lepidopterologica, 14.08.2006, ISSN 0342-7536

38 Nuss et al.: Epimetasia monotona from Northwest Africa

affinities of this species with the odontiine genus Epimetasia Ragonot, 1894. However,

there was no species included in this genus which could be regarded as conspecific with

“our” species from Morocco. Surprisingly, our investigations of further taxa described

from north-western Africa showed conspecifity with a taxon described by Amsel

(1953) in the Schoenobiinae, Thyridopsis monotona. This species is certainly a close

relative of two species placed in the genus Epimetasia, E. abbasalis Amsel, 1974 and

E. rufoarenalis (Rothschild, 1913). Because of this taxonomic situation, we herewith

synonymise Thyridopsis Amsel, 1953 with Epimetasia Ragonot, 1894 and transfer

Thyridopsis monotona Amsel, 1953 to the latter genus. However, a phylogenetic study

remains necessary to test whether Epimetasia with its current constituent species is

monophyletic. Here, we provide a re-description of the adults of E. monotona Amsel,

1953 comb. n. including a differential diagnosis and publish our observations on the life

history and some morphological characters of the larvae and pupae of E. monotona.

Catalogue of Epimetasia

Epimetasia Ragonot, 1894: 226 (objective replacement name for Metasiodes Ragonot, 1894). Type species:

Metasiodes vestalis Ragonot, 1894, by original designation (for Metasiodes Ragonot, 1894).

Metasiodes Ragonot, 1894 (July 30): 172-173. Type species: Metasiodes vestalis Ragonot, 1894, by

original designation. Metasiodes Ragonot, 1894 (July 30) is a junior homonym of Metasiodes

Meyrick, 1894 (May 11): 8 (Pyraloidea).

Thyridopsis Amsel, 1953: 1441 syn. n. Type species: Thyridopsis monotona Amsel, 1953, by original

designation.

Epimetasia abbasalis Amsel, 1974: 197-198, fig. la, Abb. 2 fig. 4. Type locality: South Iran, Issin,

240 m.

Epimetasia albalis Amsel, 1959: 54. Type locality: Iraq, Shaqlawa.

Epimetasia eoa (Meyrick, 1936: 28) (Neoschoenobia). Type locality: Iraq, Rayat. Amsel 1959:

54 (Epimetasia).

Epimetasia gregori Amsel, 1970: 56-58, text-fig. 20, pl. 3 figs. 41, 42. Type locality: Afghanistan, Band-

i-Amir, 2900 m.

Epimetasia gregori gulbaharalis Amsel, 1970: 58, pl. 3 fig. 46. Type locality: Afghanistan, Straße

Gulbahar-Sarobi, 1600 m.

Epimetasia gregori panjaoalis Amsel, 1970: 58, pl. 3 fig. 45. Type locality: Afghanistan, Mullah-Jacub-

Paß, Oberlauf des Helmand, 3000 m.

Epimetasia monotona (Amsel, 1953: 1442, figs. 1, la). comb. n. Type-locality: Mauritania, Oum el

Ahmar.

Epimetasia rhodobaphialis (Ragonot, 1894: 173-174) (Metasiodes). Type locality: [Uzbekistan]

Samarkand.

Epimetasia rufoarenalis (Rothschild, 1913: 140-141) (Calamochrous). Type locality: [Algeria] central

western Sahara, north of Ain Guettara. Speidel & Hassler 1989: 33, pl. 5 fig. 7 (Epimetasia).

Pionea simplicealis Rothschild, 1915: 401-402. Type locality: [Algeria] Hoggar mountains, Oued

Ag’elil. Speidel & Hassler 1989: 33, pl. 5 fig. 7 (syn.?).

Epimetasia vestalis (Ragonot, 1894: 173) (Metasiodes). Type locality: [Turkey] Mardin.

Pionea vestalis Hampson, 1900: 395, syn. n. Type locality: [Turkey] ‘Armenia, Mardin’. Pionea vestalis

Hampson, 1900 is regarded here as a junior subjective synonym of Metasiodes vestalis Ragonot,

1894 and therefore a secondary junior homonym of Epimetasia vestalis (Ragonot, 1894). It is evident

from Hampson’s (1900) description that he described a new species, which is originally indicated by

“p. sp. (Ster. MS)”.

Epimetasia vestalis rubrilinealis Zerny, 1939: 173, pl. 11 fig. 9. Type locality: Iran, Elburs-Gebirge,

Tarsee Gebiet, 2100—2200 m.

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 37-47 39

Figs. 1-4. Adult specimens of Epimetasia. 1. E. monotona comb. n., dorsal view. from Morocco,

15 km northeast Agadir, Asif Tamrhakht river, 300-600 m, Bläsius leg., coll. MTD. 2. E. monotona comb.

n., ventral view (same specimen as in Fig. 1). 3. E. abbasalis Amsel, 1974, holotype 9, with labels:

“Holotypus Q | Epimetasia | abbasalis Amsel”, “S-Iran, Issin 240 m | 5.4.1973, Periploca- | aphylla-Steppe

| leg. H. G. Amsel”, SMNK. 4. E. rufoarenalis (Rothschild, 1913), syntype 9, with labels: “Type”, “N.

Rotsch.“, BMNH. 19 India, BMNH.

Methods

In the field, the larvae were found in the roots of the food plant. The infested roots

were cut off and transported in plastic bags to preserve a certain amount of humidity.

At home, the roots containing larvae were planted in plastic pots with a mixture of

sand and soil. This was regularly sprinkled with water to prevent total dehydration of

the roots. The larvae collected in late April presumably were fully grown and did not

feed much more, whereas the larvae collected on 27.11.2004 presumably starved in the

dying roots.

The larval morphology is described on the base of one exuvia of the last larval stage.

Description of colours is based on the dry specimen. For further investigations, the

exuvia was macerated in 10% KOH, subsequently neutralised in water, stained with

Chlorazol Black and finally investigated in 70% Ethanol. After investigation, the

larval exuvia was mounted on a slide in Euparal. The chaetotaxy is described using the

nomenclature of Hasenfuss (1960) and Hasenfuss & Kristensen (2003).

Nuss et al.: Epimetasia monotona from Northwest Africa

Fig. 5. The habitat of E. monotona on the road from Tamrhakht to Imouzzer-des-Ida-Ouatanane in

the Asıf Tamrhakht river valley, 15 km northeast of Agadir at 300-600 m. Fig. 6. The flower of

Trichodesma calcarata, the host plant of the larvae of E. monotona.

The description of pupal morphology is based on two pupal exuviae which were

investigated dry. After investigation, both specimens were mounted on two separate

slides in Euparal. The description of pupal morphology follows the nomenclature of

Patocka (1999, 2001). Most parts of the pupal head are not described because they were

lost during ecdysis.

Few data are available on preimaginal stages of Odontiinae. For comparison, we

investigated larvae of Cynaeda dentalis ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) (6 larvae

(L3-L5?), Germany, Brandenburg, Janschwalde/Ost, 24.1v.2000, leg. Stübner), which,

however, might not be a close relative of Epimetasia.

For the investigation of all exuviae, a stereo-microscope with a maximum magnification

of 56x was used and, as in Hasenfuss (1960), only the macrosetae were investigated.

All specimens listed below were investigated by the authors with the exception of the

holotype of Thyridopsis monotona, for which we have seen a digital colour image taken

by Patrice Leraut (MNHN).

The catalogue of Epimetasia was compiled using the online database GlobIZ (www.

pyraloidea.org).

Abbreviations

Ci clypeal setae

Frl frontolateral setae

GlobIZ Global Information System on Pyraloidea

MNHN Museum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris

MTD Museum für Tierkunde, Dresden

SMNK StaatlichesMuseum für Naturkunde, Karlsruhe

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 37-47 41

Figs. 7-10. Genitalia of Epimetasia specimens. 7. E. monotona, © (prep. Nuss 1065). 8. E. monotona,

9 (prep. Nuss 1049, same specimen as Fig. 1). 9. E. rufoarenalis (prep. Nuss 1055, BMNH 22021). 10.

E. abbasalis, Q paratype from S-Iran, Bandar-Abbas, Kuhe-Genau, 550 m, 1. and 5.11.1973, Ebert leg.,

SMNK (prep. Nuss 1066).

Epimetasia monotona (Amsel, 1953) comb. n.

Material. Holotype (by monotypy): 9, ‘Type’, ‘P. de Miré leg | 1.1.1949 | Oum el Ahmar |

Ams.’, ‘Thyridopsis | monotona’, MNHN. — 19 Morocco, 15 km northeast Agadir, Asif Tamrhakht

river, 300-600 m, 22.iv.2001 (larva), 12.vi.2001 (adult), Bläsius leg., coll. MTD. 40°, 79, 1 larva, 1 pupa,

same data, but 1.-15.v., 8., 10., 12., 13.vi.2001 (adults) (gen. prep. Nuss © 1065, 9 1049), Blasius leg.,

coll. Bläsius and coll. MTD. 19 Maroc Saharien, Maader Asfer, 10.v.1969, Rungs leg. (gen. prep. Leraut

6040), MNHN.

Adults (Fig. 1). Head. Head capsule globular; frons not protruded as typical for

many odontiines; compound eyes about 1 mm in diameter; maxillary palpi upright,

about 400 um long; labial palpi porrect, about 1 mm long; flagellum filiform, ventrally

densely setose; flagellomeres of basal half of flagellum about as long as their diameter

(10 um). Head dorsally, maxillary and labial palpi light ochreous, with protruding

scales at frons; ventrally contrasting, white.

Thorax. Forewing length ¢ 11-12 mm (N=2), ç 10 mm (N=1). Costa remarkably

straight, sc, rl and r2 distally approximate; r2 basally close to r3+r4; r5 free from

42 Nuss et al.: Epimetasia monotona from Northwest Africa

II-VI. Abdseg VII. Abdseg VIII. Abdseg IX. Abdseg X. Abdseg

Fig. 11. Chaetotaxy of larva of E. monotona (prep. and drawing by Thomas Sobczyk).

cell; m2 and m3 close to each other; discoidal cells of fore- and hindwings distally

open; hindwing sc+rl fuse with rs for some distance along discoidal cell; m2 and m3

close to each other. Male and female frenulum with one bristle; male retinaculum with

hamus. Forewings light ochreous, with inconspicuous antemedian and postmedian

lines, approximated at dorsum; entire wing surface with scattered white, spatulate

scales; underside uniform ochreous, but paler than dorsally and dorsum creamy white-

scaled; hindwing brownish white, darker towards termen; fringe of fore- and hindwings

brownish white, with a dark line.

Tympanal organ. Tympanum placed nearly vertically in body cavity; fornix

conspicuously exceeding venula prima in lateral view; praecinctorium present; saccus

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 37-47 43

Figs. 12-15. Larval characters of E. monotona. 12. Prothoracic shield. 13. Foreleg. 14. Proleg. 15. Head:

a. frontal view, b. lateral view, c. mandible (prep. and drawing by Thomas Sobczyk).

well developed; venulae secundae absent, but post-tympanal area with a pair of

sclerotised lines medially.

Male genitalia (Fig. 7). In lateral view, uncus directed ventrally at an angle of

about 45°, tegumen convex, conspicuously exceeding uncus. In caudal view, uncus

distally conspicuously bilobed, each lobe rounded; gnathos arms basally fixed to

tegumen, medio-distal extension short; vinculum semicircular, narrow; juxta rectan-

44 Nuss et al.: Epimetasia monotona from Northwest Africa

gular, lateral edges bent anteriorly; valvae medio-ventrally convex, caudally radially

fluted and strongly setose (characteristic for Odontiinae); sacculus strongly sclerotised,

with numerous stiff setae of different length. Phallus without cornuti; opening for ductus

ejaculatorius at anterior tip; caudally with a one-sided elongation of phallic apodeme.

Absent are the ‘structurae squamiformes’ and the riffled membrane, which assigns this

species to the Odontiini (cf. Nuss & Kallies 2001).

Female genitalia (Fig. 8). Corpus bursae and ductus bursae membranous, very

fragile, entire length 2300 um; corpus bursae ovoid, with appendix bursae inserted

postero-laterally; ductus bursae straight, up to 200 jm in diameter, insertion of

ductus seminalis close to ostium; segment VIII sclerotised with apophyses anteriores

860-940 um long; papillae anales lobiform with apophyses posteriores 800 um long.

Larva (Figs. 11—15). Exuvia 17 mm long, whitish grey, head brown, prothoracic shield

slightly paler brown than head, wrinkled, posterior area with two low crests, each

forming acute angle with midline; stigmata black. Frons Frl 1 and Frl 2 close to each

other, F,-F, closer to each other than the longer and thicker Cl,-Cl,. Mandibles with

4 (5) teeth. Prothorax with paired, strongly melanised thorns at anterior ventral edge;

prestigmatal shield weakly sclerotised; prothoracic stigmata about twice as large as

following stigmata; prestigmatal setae horizontally directed. Stigmata of abdominal

segments H-—VI larger than pinaculum III. Prolegs III-VI ovate, with hooks of crochets

uniordinally arranged in full circle, each circle with 33-38 hooks. Abdominal segment

VII in dorsal view with setae I-I and II-II equidistant; seta IV distant from stigma

by about two times stigmatal diameter. Pinacula of all segments weakly sclerotised.

Anal prolegs with 15 hooks each.

Pupa (Fig. 16). Exuviae 15.0 mm long, diameter 4.0 mm. Integument pale brown,

weakly sclerotised. Compound eyes large, round; proboscis short; forelegs reaching

tips of antennae; midlegs reaching tips of forewings; hindlegs situated dorsally of

median legs (only distal tips visible), only slightly exceeding tips of forewings. Wings

terminating at anterior part of segment V; ventrally, only the forewings are visible.

Abdominal segments V—VI with rudimentary proleg insertions. Segments V-IX with a

pair of two tiny thorns. Segment X with two pairs of tiny thorns ventrally, and 6 thorns

distally. Anal sulcus posteriorly bifurcated. Cremaster reduced to small protuberance.

Abdominal segments VIIT-IX with transverse rows of tiny thorns; segment X with two

thorns only.

Differential diagnosis. Epimetasia monotona is similar to E. rufoarenalis (Fig. 4) and

E. abbasalis (Fig. 3) in having ochreous forewings, with scattered white spatulate scales

on the dorsal side. E. monotona differs by the uniform and darker ground colour and

the inconspicuous pattern elements of the forewings. Contrastingly, E. rufoarenalis and

E. abbasalis have paler forewings and more contrasting pattern elements. They differ

from each other in the antemedian and postmedian lines, which meet at dorsum in E.

abbasalis, but remain separate at dorsum in E. rufoarenalis. Also, the postmedian line

meets the dorsum vertically in E. rufoarenalis, but in a pointed angle in E. abbasalis.

Other species of Epimetasia, e.g. its type-species E. vestalis and E. gregori have a

dominant pale yellow forewing colouration and lack the white spatulate scales on the

dorsal forewing surface. Thus, a phylogenetic study remains necessary to test whether

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 37-47 45

Fig. 16. Pupa of E. monotona: a. dorsal view, b. ventral view, c. cremaster, ventral virew, d. cremaster,

dorsal view. (prep. and drawing by Thomas Sobczyk)

Epimetasia with its current constituent species is monophyletic. In the female genitalia,

the corpus bursae is not divided in E. rufoarenalis and E. abbasalis, but it is divided

into one larger and one smaller corpus in E. monotona. In contrast with Epimetasia

monotona, the larvae of Cynaeda dentalis have the head and pinacula black (brown

in E. monotona); the pinacula are conspicuously sclerotised and elevated; the head is

prognathous (orthognathous in E. monotona); the prolegs are round (each circle with

35 hooks). According to Patocka (2001), the pupae of C. dentalis bear a conspicuous

cremaster with two pairs of hooks.

Distribution. Known from Oum el Ahmar in Mauritania and from lower montane

western Morocco near Agadir and Maader Asfer.

Life history. The larvae feed in the stout (thumb-thickness) roots of Trichodesma

calcarata Batt. (Boraginaceae). Infested plants are characterised by a reduced growth

and parts of the plant becoming dead. Knee high plants along the road were rarely

infested. During April and May, only full grown larvae have been found. It might be

interesting to mention that the ground colour of the moths camouflages them well on

the brown calcareous soil surface.

Boraginaceae are used as larval host plants by other odontiine species also. For example,

larvae of Epascestria pustulalis (Hübner, 1823) are leaf miners in Anchusa officinalis

and larvae of Cynaeda dentalis are miners in Echium vulgare (Hasenfuss 1960).

Habitat. The locality at 15 km northeast Agadir in the Asif Tamrhakht river valley is

situated on the road from Tamrhakht to Imouzzer-des-Ida-Ouatanane and belongs to the

46 Nuss et al.: Epimetasia monotona from Northwest Africa

westernmost foothills of the High Atlas. The annual precipitation in this area is about

200 mm. The habitat is within the Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels forest, which is endemic

to southwestern Morocco. This forest is associated with succulent spurges, such as

Euphorbia officinarum beaumierana (Coss. & Hook.f.) J.Vindt and E. regisjubae

Webb & Berthel. The foodplant of the larvae of E. monotona, T. calcarata, grows on

an embankment that has been repeatedly disturbed by construction work on the road

during recent years. It is not known yet to what extent these disturbances may favour

or damage this plant population.

Remarks. In the original description of Epimetasia abbasalis, Amsel (1974: 197,

fig. 4) describes and figures the female genitalia with the corpus bursae horseshoe-

shaped and at both tips with a small, streak-like appendage. This structure is probably

a gland, which is larger in size than the corpus bursae of E. abbasalis, which is figured

here and is a simple, globular sac (Fig. 10).

Acknowledgements

We very much acknowledge the advise given by Wolfgang Speidel, which taxa within the Odontiinae

might be checked first to identify the specimens reared on Trichodesma calcarata. Without his help it

would probably have taken much more time to solve this taxonomic problem. Our thanks also go to the

curators Robert Trusch (SMNK) and Kevin Tuck (BMNH) of the museum collections we have visited

for this study. We are delighted to thank Michael Shaffer and Klaus Sattler (BMNH) for interesting and

helpful discussions. After reading the description of Thyridopsis monotona, we were especially happy

that Patrice Leraut (MNHN) provided a digital image of the holotype of this species and thus supported

a fast completion of the manuscript. Last but not least, we thank Camille Peyre (Bram, France) for the

determination of the host plant Trichodesma calcarata and Andreas Stübner (Jänschwalde-Ost, Germany)

for providing immature specimens of Cynaeda dentalis. Francesca Vegliante (Dresden), Bernard Landry

(Genève) and Martin Corley (Faringdon) provided useful comments on the manuscript.

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lepidopterologica 21 (2): 111-118.

Hampson, G. F. 1900: New Palaearctic Pyralidae. — Transactions of the Entomological Society of London:

369-401, pl. 3.

Hasenfuss, I. 1960. Die Larvalsystematik der Zünsler (Pyralidae). - Akademieverlag Berlin, 263 pp.

Hasenfuss, I. & N. P. Kristensen 2003. Skeleton and muscles: Immatures. Pp. 133-164. — In: N. P. Kris-

tensen, Lepidoptera, moths and butterflies. Vol. 2: Morphology, physiology, and development. — In:

M. Fischer, Handbook of Zoology. Vol. 4 (36). — Berlin, Walter de Gruyter.

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 37-47 47

Le Cerf, F. 1933: Lépidoptères Hétérocères nouveaux du Maroc. — Bulletin de la Société entomologique

de France, Paris 38: 213-219.

Lucas, D. 1937: Contribution à l’étude des Lépidoptères de |’ Algérie et du Maroc. — Bulletin de la Société

entomologique de France, Paris 42: 159-160.

Meyrick, E. 1894: On a collection of Lepidoptera from Upper Burma. — Transactions of the Entomological

Society of London: 1-29.

Meyrick, E. 1936: Exotic Microlepidoptera 5 (1). — Taylor & Francis, [London]. 1-32.

Nuss, M. & A. Kallies 2001. Titanio caradjae (Rebel, 1902) comb. n., transferred from Brachodidae

(Sesioidea) to Crambidae (Pyraloidea). — Nota lepidopterologica 24 (3): 33-39.

Oberthür, C. 1922: Liste des Travaux qui jusqu’ici ont été publiés sur les Lépidoptéres du Maroc. — Etudes

de Lépidoptérologie Comparée 19 (1): 1-402.

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Bestimmungstabelle der Überfamilien und Familien. — Beiträge zur Entomologie 49 (2): 399-445.

Patocka, J. 2001. Die Puppen der mitteleuropäischen Zünsler (Lepidoptera: Pyraloidae, Pyralidae).

Unterfamilien Acentropinae, Odontiinae, Evergesterinae und Pyraustinae. — Linzer biologische

Beiträge 33 (1): 347-405.

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ou inédites. — Annales de la Société Entomologique de France, Paris 63: 161-226, pl. 1.

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Gesellschaft in Wien 46: 174-176.

Rothschild, L. W. 1913: Expedition to the central western Sahara by Ernst Hartert. VII. Lepidoptera.

— Novitates Zoologicae, London 20: 109-143.

Rothschild, L. W. 1915: On the Lepidoptera collected in 1913-1914 by Herr Geyr von Schweppenburg

on a journey to the Hoggar mountains (Sahara). — Annals and Magazine of Natural History, including

Zoology, Botany and Geology, London (ser.8) 16: 392-402.

Rothschild, L. W. 1925. List of the Lepidoptera collected April to end of june 1925 by E. Hartert and

F. Young in Morocco. — Bulletin de la Société des Sciences Naturelles du Maroc, Rabat 5: 324-345.

Rungs, C. E. E. 1979. Catalogue raisonné des Lépidoptères du Maroc. Inventaire faunistique et observations

écologiques. Tome I. — Travaux de l’Institut Scientifique, Ser. Zoologie, Rabat 39: [i]-[x], 1-244,

2 maps.

Schmidt, A. 1934: On the Pyralidae collected by Messrs. F le Cerf and G. Talbot in the Great Atlas of

Morocco. — Annals and Magazine of Natural History, including Zoology, Botany and Geology, London

(ser. 10) 14: 533-546, pl.17.

Speidel, W. & M. Hassler 1989: Die Schmetterlingsfauna der südlichen algerischen Sahara und ihrer

Hochgebirge Hoggar und Tassili n‘Ajjer (Lepidoptera). — Nachrichten des entomologischen Vereins

Apollo, Frankfurt a. M. suppl. 8: 1-156.

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Wiener Entomologen-Vereins 24 (12): 171-175, pl. 11.

48 Correction

Correction

Goater, B., M. Nuss & W. Speidel, 2005. Pyraloidea I (Crambidae: Acentropinae,

Evergestinae, Heliothelinae, Schoenobiinae, Scopariinae). — /n: P. Huemer & O.

Karsholt (eds): Microlepidoptera of Europe 4: 1-304. Apollo Books, Stenstrup.

We have been informed about a printing error in the numbering of the specimens in

Plate 2 of the above mentioned book. The illustrations on the Plate are in the correct

order, but the numbers of some figures on the Plate are incorrect. Fig. 40 (politalis)

should be 39c, Fig. 41a (marocana) should be 40, and Fig. 41b (dumerlei) should be 41.

The information in the captions to plate 2 is correct, and is compatible with the text.

We are grateful to Martin Corley and Norman Hall for bringing this error to our

attention.

(Editors of Microlepidoptera of Europe)

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 49-63 49

Faunistic notes on Momphidae, Batrachedridae,

Stathmopodidae and Cosmopterigidae from the Maltese Islands

SJAAK (J.C.) Koster ! & PAUL SAMMUT”

! National Museum of Natural History Naturalis, PO Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands;

e-mail: Sjaak.Koster@planet.nl

> ‘Fawkner’, Dingli Road, Rabat RBT 07, Malta; e-mail: farfett@onvol.net

Abstract. An annotated list of Momphidae, Batrachedridae, Stathmopodidae and Cosmopterigidae

(Lepidoptera) collected on the Maltese Islands is provided. Sixteen species are recorded (1 Momphidae,

1 Batrachedridae, 1 Stathmopodidae, 13 Cosmopterigidae), one of them is new to the Maltese Islands and

Europe: Bifascioides leucomelanellus (Rebel, 1917) and three of them are new to the Maltese Islands:

Mompha subbistrigella (Haworth, 1828), Anatrachyntis badia (Hodges, 1962), and Ascalenia echidnias

(Meyrick, 1891). Mompha subbistrigella (Haworth, 1828) and Eteobalea serratella (Treitschke, 1833) are

mentioned as new for Sardinia.

Key words. Lepidoptera, Momphidae, Batrachedridae, Stathmopodidae, Cosmopterigidae, Maltese

Islands, new records.

Introduction

The Maltese Islands are a group of small, low-lying islands situated almost at the centre

of the Mediterranean, from 35°48’28”to 36°0’0”N and 14°11’04” to 14°34°37”E.

They are 92 km south of Sicily and 252 km north of the Libyan coast. The total area of

the archipelago is 320 km/sq. The Maltese archipelago is composed of three inhabited

islands, Malta, Gozo and Comino and a number of smaller, uninhabited islets and rocks.

From the ecological point of view, the most important of these are Cominotto, Filfa, St.

Paul’s Island and Fungus rock. Malta is the main island. The highest point is at Dingli,

on the west side of Malta and is 253 m above sea level. Lakes and rivers are lacking and

only a few permanent freshwater springs are to be found.

The islands are composed of sedimentary rocks, mostly limestone which were laid

down in the sea during the Oligo-Miocene period. The five principal types of rock

exposed, listed in order of decreasing age are, Lower Coralline Limestone, Globigerina

Limestone, Blue Clay, Greensand and Upper Coralline Limestone.

The Maltese climate is typically Mediterranean, with mild, wet winters and hot dry

summers. Annual rainfall is variable and the average for the last forty years is about

500mm. Most of the rain falls between October and March and the period between April

and September constitutes the dry season. The mean temperature for the last 45 years

was 18.7 °C. The average for February, the coldest month is 12.36 °C, while that for

August, the hottest month is 26.39 °C. Snow never falls Relative humidity is generally

high (65-80%) all the year round. Windy conditions are the norm. About 92% of the

days of the year have a minimum of 1.85 km per hour of wind and the prevailing wind

is the mistral or the north-westerly wind.

The islands have been settled since Neolithic times. In 2000, the population was 388,

613 and the population density reached approximately 1240 inhabitants per km?. These

Nota lepidopterologica, 14.08.2006, ISSN 0342-7536

50 KosTER & SAMMUT: On some Microlepidoptera from Malta

Comino

Cominotto

Pantelleria

Filfla

The Maltese Archipelago

Fig. 1. Map of the Maltese Archipelago with the location of the collecting sites: 1. Gozo, Kercem, San

Raflu, 2. Gozo, Wied il-Lunzjata, 3. Gozo, Xlendi, 4. Malta, Bahrija, Fomm ir-Rih, 5. Malta, Bahrija, Wied

tal-Bahrija, 6. Malta, Buskett, Wied 1l-Luq, 7. Malta, Delimara, 8. Malta, Gharghur, 9. Malta, Mdina, 10.

Malta, Mellieha, Ghadira, 11. Malta, Naxxar, 12. Malta, Paradise Bay, 13. Malta, Pembroke, 14. Malta,

Rabat [including Dwejra, Ta’ Koronja & Wied ta’ Liemu], 15. Malta, Salina, 16. Malta, Siggiewi, Ghar

Lapsi, 17. Malta, Zabbar, 18, Malta, Zebbug, Wied il-Kbir.

figures do not take into account the number of tourists who visit the islands every year.

In the same year the estimated number of tourists who visited Malta was 1,216,000.

Agricultural land accounts for 46.8% while built up areas and roads account for 30.6%

of the land area. Only about 20% of the land is still in its natural state (Schembri et al.

11999):

The natural vegetation of the Maltese Islands is dominated by the Mediterranean

scrub communities of which the best representatives are the various types of garigue

typical of rocky ground and characterized by such species as Coridothymus capitatus,

Anthyllis hermanniae, Teucrium fruticans, Erica multiflora and the endemic Euphorbia

melitensis (Lanfranco 1995). Garigue ecosystems, such as at Ras il-Pellegrin, Il-Kortin

tal-Mellieha and Ta’ Cenc in Gozo, make up to about 10% of the natural environment.

(Lanfranco 2002). In favoured situations, such as under cliff faces, scrub community

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 49-63 51

occurs as maquis, with Ceratonia siliqua, Olea europaea, Pistacia lentiscus, Rhamnus

oleoides, Teucrium flavum, Prasium majus, Lonicera impexa, Smilax aspera, Acanthus

mollis, Capparis orientalis and others (Lanfranco 1995). Less than 3% of the natural

environment is of this type (Lanfranco 2002).

No natural woods occur, although remnants of a few Quercus ilex woods, such as at

Buskett, near Dingli, at Wardija and Mellieha still remain or are reduced to maquis.

The semi-artificial woodland at Buskett is fairly characteristic of a Mediterranean

evergreen wood (Lanfranco 1995). Wooded areas account to only 1.4% of the natural

environment. (Lanfranco 2002).

Freshwater habitats are scarce in Malta, especially during the summer months.

Permanent streams, such as at Wied il-Luq in Buskett, Wied tal-Bahrija in Bahrija and

Wied il-Lunzjata in Gozo are dominated by plant communities comprising Arundo

donax, Cyperus longus, Holoschoenus vulgaris, Populus albus, Salix pedicellata,

Ulmus canescens, sometimes accompanied by Laurus nobilis.

Dune communities are also very rare and are largely degraded. These are characterized

by species belonging to Salicornia, Suaeda, Crithmum, Limonium, Phrgamites

australis, Juncus acutus, Pancratium maritimum, Euphorbia, Salsola, Medicaga, and

others (Lanfranco 1995). Dune areas still exist at Ghadira Bay and Rdum il-Hmar in

Mellieha, at Armier Bay and Ramla in Gozo.

The fauna of the Maltese Islands, like its flora is numerous, varied and very interesting.

Considering the insects alone, no less than 4200 species have been recorded so far

from the Maltese Islands (Schembri 1996), of which about 600 species belong to

the Lepidoptera. There exists a large literature on Lepidoptera. Notable summaries

include the contributions of Valletta (1972, 1973), and Sammut (1982, 1983, 1984,

1985, 2000). The first mention of lepidoptera from the Maltese Islands is by De Reville

(1750) of a larva feeding on the vine, later named by Stainton as Antispila rivellei in

1855. Other important works on Maltese Lepidoptera and which also contain references

to microlepidoptera are those of Gulia (1858), De La Garde (1892), Andres (1916),

Fletcher (1904-1905), Caruana Gatto (1905), J. Borg (1922), P. Borg (1932), Amsel

(1950, 1954, 1955), DeLucca (1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1965, 1969), Valletta

(1950, 1951, 1953, 1955, 1973) and Sammut (1984, 2000).

The first publication about Microlepidoptera belonging to the families mentioned in

the title of this paper was made by DeLucca (1949). Later followed by Amsel (1955)

and DeLucca (1950, 1956). Faunistic lists of Lepidoptera of the Maltese Islands were

published by Karsholt & Razowski (1996), Sammut (1984, 2000) and Valletta (1973).

The present contribution is a compilation of old records from the literature and many

new ones from collected material from the second author and others.

Material and methods

The recent material has been collected by A. Catania, P. Sammut and A. Seguna (Malta)

and H. Hendriksen, B. Petersen, U. Seneca and B. Skule (Denmark). Most material

has been collected by a mercury vapour light source (120W) or by a moth trap with an

52 KOSTER & SAMMUT: On some Microlepidoptera from Malta

actinic tube (15W) as source of light. All of the material examined, except Cosmopterix

pulchrimella which was reared from its food plant, was collected at light as explained

above.

Taxonomy and nomenclature follow Koster & Sinev (2003), and additional references

to the life histories of the single species can also be found in that work.

Abbreviations

AC coll. A. Catania

AS coll. A. Seguna

AV coll. A. Valletta

DL coll. DeLucca

PS coll. P. Sammut

ZMUC The Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen

Results

MOMPHIDAE

Mompha subbistrigella (Haworth, 1828)

Material. Malta, Naxxar, 28.v.2001, leg. A. Seguna, (AS).

Life history. Larvae feed in the seed pods of small species of Epilobium-species like

E. montanum L., E. palustre L., E. parviflorum Schreb., and E. tetragonum L. They eat

the unripe seeds and the seed pods become distorted by these activities and have a small

hole in the side. The moths are on the wing throughout the year and are most frequently

found in spring after hibernation (Koster & Sinev 2003). Both Epilobium parviflorum

and E. tetragonum occur on the Maltese Islands.

Distribution. The species has a wide range of distribution in Europe and is found

in most countries including in the Mediterranean area (Koster & Sinev 2003). The

most nearby location of Malta is Sicily, and recently it has also been established from

Sardinia: Sardegna merid., Musei, 120 m, 7.vi.[19]72, coll. Hartig (coll. Baldizzone)

(Koster, pers. det.).

Remarks. This is the most southern location of this species so far. New to the

lepidopterofauna of the Maltese Islands.

BATRACHEDRIDAE

Batrachedra parvulipunctella Chrétien, 1915

Eustaintonia phragmitidella Mariani, 1936

Material. Gozo, Xlendi, 9.1x.1953, 8.ix.1954, leg. C. DeLucca (DL). Malta, Buskett, Wied il-Luq,

6.v11.2004, 2 exx., leg. P. Sammut (PS).

Life history. Larvae live in white silky cases, feeding on the waxy secretions of the

coccid-species Aclerda berlesii Buffa (Homoptera: Aclerdidae) or other species of

coccids, which occur on Phragmitis australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. and Arundo donax

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 49-63 53

L. (Poaceae). The moths are on the wing in two generations from May-June and again

in July-September.

Distribution. Southern Europe and Northern Africa (Koster & Sinev 2003).

References. DeLucca 1956: 256; DeLucca 1965: 514; Valletta 1973: 90; Mariani 1936:

97, Sammut 1984: 17; Riedl 1996: 84; Sammut 2000: 51.

Remarks. The occurrence of Aclerda berlesii as well as Phragmitis australis and

Arundo donax on the Maltese Islands demonstrates that Batrachedra parvulipunctella

is a resident species here.

STATHMOPODIDAE

Neomariania partinicensis (Rebel, 1937)

Material. Malta, Mellieha Bay, Ghadira, 19.-31.vii1.1992, leg. B. Petersen, det. S. Yu. Sinev (ZMUC);

Rabat, Dwejra, 21.vi.2002, 31.v111.2001, 13.v11.2004, at light, 6 exx., leg. Sammut (PS).

Life history. Biology unknown. Adults have been collected from the end of June till

mid-September.

Distribution. Mediterranean area.

References. Riedl 1996: 83; Sammut 2000: 51; Parenti 2000: pl. 72/8.

Remarks. The systematic position of the genus Neomariania ıs uncertain. Rebel

(1937) placed it in Momphidae. Later the genus was transferred to Oecophoridae (Riedl

1986) and then to Stathmopodidae (Riedl 1990) and it still remains there in most recent

catalogues.

Sammut (2000) stated that the species does not occur in Malta, despite the publication

in Karsholt & Razowski (1996). At that time he was not aware of the single specimen

mentioned above, collected by a Danish hymenopterist.

COSMOPTERIGIDAE

Cosmopteriginae

Cosmopterix pulchrimella Chambers, 1875

Cosmopteryx parietariae M. Hering, 1931

Material. Malta, Gharghur, 29.vii.1953, leg. A. Valletta (AV); Salina, 19.1x.1949, leg. C. DeLucca

(DL); Zabbar, 20.i11.1995, reared from Parietaria judaica, leg. C. Farrugia (PS).

Life history. In Europe the larvae are leaf miners on Parietaria officinalis L. (Urticaceae).

The mine starts as a gallery that soon widens to an irregular blotch. The larva constructs

a web inside the mine which often contracts the leaf. The frass is partly removed from

the mine and the larva makes several of these mines. Pupation takes place inside the

mine. Adults fly in several overlapping generations from spring to autumn.

Distribution. Holarctic. In Europe in the Mediterranean area north to the south of

England, Switzerland and Hungary, also on the Canary Islands and Madeira.

References. DeLucca 1950: 233; Amsel 1955: 28; Valletta 1973: 90; Sammut 1984:

17; Riedl 1996: 103; Sammut 2000: 57.

Remarks. Parietaria judaica L. has not been mentioned before as food plant of this

species.

54 KOSTER & SAMMUT: On some Microlepidoptera from Malta

Cosmopterix coryphaea Walsingham, 1908

Cosmopteryx donatellae Mariani, 1932

Cosmopteryx formosa Amsel, 1935

Material. Gozo, Wied il-Lunzjata, 19.1x.1953, 2 exx., leg. C. DeLucca (DL). Malta, Mellieha,

Ghadira, 80 m, 10.1v.2004, (southern storm), leg. B. Skule, (ZMUC).

Life history. The larvae are leaf miners on Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud.

(Poaceae). The mine starts as a gallery and widens into an elongate blotch, frass is piled

in the lower, narrower part and is partly ejected. Pupation inside the mine. Adults fly

from the end of February till June. The specimens from Gozo have been collected in

September, indicating a second generation.

Distribution. Mediterranean area and Northern Africa towards the Near East, also on

the Canary Islands.

References. Amsel 1955: 28; DeLucca 1956: 256; Valletta 1973: 90; Sammut 1984:

18; Riedl 1996: 103; Sammut 2000: 57.

Remarks. A recent addition to the fauna of the island Malta.

Pyroderces argyrogrammos (Zeller, 1847)

Pyroderces goldeggiella Herrich-Schäffer, 1853

Material. Gozo, Kercem, San Raflu, 15.vi.2001, leg. A. Seguna (AS); Malta, Bahrija, Fomm ir-Rih,

3.v111.2001. leg. A. Seguna (AS); Bahrija, Wied tal-Bahrija, 23.vi11.2003, leg. A. Seguna (AS); Buskett,

Wied il-Lugq, 6.vii.2001, 27.v111.2001, leg. P. Sammut (PS); Delimara, 22.vi.2001, leg. A. Seguna (AS);

Gharghur, 18.v11.1993, leg. A. Seguna (AS); Mellieha, Ghadira, 20.-25.v.1994, 3 exx., leg. U. Seneca,

(ZMUC); Naxxar, 28.1v.1992, 14.v.1998, 22.iv.1999, 13 and 30.v, 25.vi, 2.vil. and 10.v111.2001, 18.v.2002,

leg. A. Seguna (AS); Paradise Bay, 15.v.1999, leg. P. Sammut (PS); Paradise Bay, 19.vi.1998, leg. A.

Seguna (AS); Pembroke, 26.x.1984, 5 and 27.iv and 25.1x.1990, 4 exx., leg. A. Catania (AC); Rabat, 3.vi

and 30.vii.1983, 15.v., 4.vi., 20.vii.1999, 16.vii.2001, leg. P. Sammut (PS); Rabat, Dwejra, 13.vi1.2004, leg.

P. Sammut (PS); Rabat, Ta’ Koronja, 14.vi.2002, leg. A. Seguna (AS); Siggiewi, Ghar Lapsi, 23.iv.1999, 2

exx., leg. P. Sammut (PS); Zebbug, Wied il-Kbir, 21.iv.1999, leg. A. Seguna (AS).

Life history. Larvae in the seed heads of Asteraceae like Carlina spp., Centaurea spp.

and Carduus spp. where they eat from the seeds. Pupation takes place in between the

down of the seeds in a light cocoon. The moth flies in two generations from the end of

April to the end of Sepember, but a third generation is possible in warm seasons.

Distribution. From Central Europe (Mid-Germany) southwards to the Mediterranean

area, Canary Islands, Northern Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia. Recently also

found in Great Britain on the Channel Islands (Sterling et al., 2004).

References. DeLucca 1950: 250; Valletta 1973: 90; Sammut 1984: 18; Riedl 1996:

103; Sammut 2000: 57.

Remarks. According to DeLucca (1950) the species on Malta can be very common at

light in many places.

Pyroderces wolschrijni Koster & Sinev, 2003

Material. Malta, Mellieha, Ghadira, 30.iv., 3., 4., 5.vii.2002, leg. H. Hendriksen (ZMUC); Naxxar,

30.iv.2001, leg. A. Seguna (AS); Rabat, 1.x.2001, 11.vi.2004, 2 exx., leg. P. Sammut (PS); Rabat, Dwejra,

13.vii.2004, leg. P. Sammut (PS).

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 49-63 55

Life history. Biology unknown. Adults fly from mid-April to mid-May and again from

early July to mid-October, indicating two generations.

Distribution. So far the species has only been found in Spain, Morocco and Malta.

Remarks. Appears to be widely distributed on the island of Malta.

Anatrachyntis badia (Hodges, 1962)

Material. Malta, Mellieha, Ghadira, 80 m, 9., 10.1.2004, (southern storm), 2 exx., leg. B. Skule,

(ZMUC).

Life history. Larvae on a variety of material such as lime, grapefruit, banana, cabbage,

blossoms of coconut, elm leaves and also on pine cones infested by Dioryctria sp.

(Pyralidae) and rust infected cones of several pine trees. The adults fly in two, in the

south maybe three, generations and can be found in most months of the year.

Distribution. Originally described from North America. Recently also found outdoors

in southern Europe (Canary Islands, Spain and France) and introduced in Great Britain

and Holland.

Remarks. The species may have been introduced to Malta and may have established a

population due to the subtropical climate. New to the lepıdopterofauna of the Maltese

Islands.

Coccidiphila gerasimovi Danilevsky, 1950

Material. Malta, Buskett, Wied il-Luq, 27.v111.2001, leg. P. Sammut (PS); Mellieha, Ghadira, 2.,

4., 5.v11.2002, 4 exx., leg. H. Hendriksen, (ZMUC); Naxxar, 6.111.2001, leg. A. Seguna (AS); Rabat,

26.vill.1983, 15.v.1999, 6., 8.v11.2001, 4 exx., leg. P. Sammut (PS); Rabat, Dwejra, 31.vili.2001, leg. P.

Sammut (PS); Rabat, Wied ta Liemu, 17 Vill. 2001, leg. P. Sammut (PS); Siggiewi, Ghar Lapsi, 3.viil. 1.2001,

2 exx., leg. P. Sammut (PS).

Life history. Immature stages not described. The larvae feed on the eggs of Coccidae

(Homoptera). The adults fly from early March to October, probably in more than one

generation

Distribution. Mediterranean area, Canary Islands, Northern Africa towards the Near

East.

Remarks. The species is well established and widely distributed on the island of Malta.

Coccidiphila ledereriella (Zeller, 1850) has also been reported from the Maltese Islands

(Koster & Sinev), but since validation of this record is not possible the species will be

excluded from the list of the Maltese Lepidoptera. The species is externally very similar

to C. gerasimovi, but the yellowish colour on the forewing is more prominent.

Eteobalea intermediella (Riedl, 1966)

Material. Gozo, Kercem, San Raflu, 15.vi.2001, leg. A. Seguna (AS). Malta, Bahrija, Fomm ir-Rih,

3.v111.2001. leg. A. Seguna (AS); Bahrija, Wied tal-Bahrija, 23.viii.2003, leg. A. Seguna (AS); Buskett,

Wied il-Luq, 6.vii., 27.viii.2001, leg. P. Sammut (PS); Delimara, 22.vi.2001, leg. A. Seguna (AS);

Gharghur, 18.vii.1993, leg. A. Seguna (AS); Mellieha, Ghadira, 20.-25.v.1994, 3 exx., leg. U. Seneca,

(ZMUC); Naxxar, 28.1v.1992, 14.v.1998, 22.iv., 13.v.1999, 30.v, 25.vi, 2.vii.10.viii.2001, 18.v.2002, leg.

A. Seguna (AS); Paradise Bay, 19.vi.1998, leg. A. Seguna (AS); Paradise Bay, 15.v.1999, leg. P. Sammut

56 KOSTER & SAMMUT: On some Microlepidoptera from Malta

(PS); Pembroke, 26.x.1984, 5., 27.1v., 25.1x.1990, 6 exx., leg. A. Catania (AC); Rabat, 3.vi., 30.vii.1983,

15.v., 4.vi., 20.vil.1999, 16.vii.2001, leg. P. Sammut (PS); Rabat, Ta’ Koronja, 14.vi.2002, leg. A. Seguna

(AS); Siggiewi, Ghar Lapsi, 23.iv.1999, 2 exx., leg. P. Sammut leg (PS); Zebbug, Wied il-Kbir, 21.iv.1999,

leg. A. Seguna (AS).

Life history. Larvae in the roots of Linaria vulgaris Mill., L. pontica L., L. genistifolia

(L.) Mill., L. dalmatica (L.) Mill., and Anarrhinum bellidifolium (L.) Willd. (Scrophu-

lariaceae). The immature stages are very similar to Eteobalea serratella. Adults fly

from late April till early November in two generations (one generation in the north and

east of its distributional area).

Distribution. Central and Southern Europe, eastwards to the Caucasus, Asia Minor,

Near and Middle East towards Central Asia. Northern Africa (Morocco, Algeria,

Tunesia)

Remarks. DeLucca (1949) reported the occurrence of Eteobalea serratella (Treitschke,

1833) on Gozo, Xlendi, at light, summer of 1953 and Malta, Salina, 6.1x.1953. This

was followed by Amsel (1955). These only known records of E. serratella cannot be

validated and the species should be removed from the list of Maltese Lepidoptera.

In that time Eteobalea intermediella and the very similar looking E. anonymella

(Riedl, 1965) have not been described for science yet. Therefore it is very well possible

that these records also refer to E. intermediella. However it cannot be excluded that

E. serratella is native on the Maltese Islands for both E. serratella and E. anonymella

occur on Sicily, and recently E. serratella has also been established from Sardinia:

Sardegna, Nuoro, 10 km W Dorgali, 26.vii.[19]99, Triberti (coll. Baldizzone) (Koster,

pers. det.).

It is recommendable that in future all collected material of the “E. intermediella-

complex” be carefully checked because it is possible that besides E. serratella,

E. anonymella, E. beata and E. sumptuosella will be found on the Maltese Islands since

these last three species also occur in the Mediterranean area.

Chrysopeleiinae

The subfamily Chrysopeleiinae is a very recent addition to the fauna of the Maltese

Islands. The four species mentioned here are widespread from Northern Africa to the

Middle East and further eastwards. They all occur in dry or desert-like habitats. For two

of them, Ascalenia acaciella and Gisilia stereodoxa, the foodplants of the larvae are

known, they both live on Acacia-species (Mimosaceae). The biology of the remaining

two species, Ascalenia echidnias and Bifascioides leucomelanellus, is unknown. It

cannot be excluded that the larvae of these two species also feed on Acacia. During

the last 25 years several species of Acacia has been introduced to the Maltese Islands

and planted often in large quantities for landscaping. Before that time Acacia were not

present on the islands. As the Maltese Islands are situated relatively close to the coast

of North Africa, the species involved could have migrated by southern winds. There

is more or less evidence for this because in 2004 two new species for the fauna of the

islands could be added, collected at nights with a strong southern wind. In the past

it was not possible for these species to settle because of lack of food plants, but this

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 49-63 57

Figs. 2-5. Watercolours of spreaded adults. 2. Mompha subbistrigella (Haworth, 1828). 3. Anatrachyntis

badia (Hodges, 1962). 4. Ascalenia echidnias (Meyrick, 1891). 5. Bifascioides leucomelanellus (Rebel,

1917).

Fig. 6. Bifascioides leucomelanellus, sitting inside

the light trap (photo: J. J. Borg).

lepidoptera from Malta

1cro

On some Mi

KOSTER & SAMMUT

ith Arundo donax. 8. Mellieha, Garigue at

Figs. 7-8. Habitats on Malta. 7. Bahrija, Wied tal-Bahrija, w

Ghadira Bay.

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 49-63

Figs. 9-10. Habitats on Malta. 9. Mdina, with shrubs of Acacia karroo. 10. Malta, Paradise Bay, Garigue

with Acacia in the background.

60 KOSTER & SAMMUT: On some Microlepidoptera from Malta

situation has been changed now. Although the Chrysopeleiinae are treated as a family

in Microlepidoptera of Europe, Volume 5 (Koster & Sinev 2003), we follow here the

more widely accepted opinion (Hodges 1999; Kaila 2004; Sinev & Koster 2004) that

Chrysopeleiinae are a subfamily of Cosmopterigidae.

Ascalenia acaciella Chretien, 1915

Scythris tergipunctella Turati, 1924

Scythris maculatella Lucas, 1937

Tischeria noviciata Gozmäny, 1960

Material. Malta, Buskett, Wied il-Luqg, 27.viii.2001, 4 exx., leg. P. Sammut (PS); Mdina, 16.vii.,

13., 15., 16., 27., 29.v111.2004, 17 exx., leg. P. Sammut (PS); Mellieha, Ghadira, 2., 3., 4., 5.vii.2002, 11

exx., leg. H. Hendriksen (Z MUC); Mellieha, Ghadira, 80 m, 10.1v.2004, (southern storm), leg. B. Skule

(ZMUC).

Life history. Larvae in the flower heads of Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd., A. karroo

Heyne, and A. tortilis (Forsk.) Hayne (Mimosaceae). Pupation amongst flowers in a

transparent cocoon covered with frass. Adults fly almost throughout the year, probably

in several generations.

Distribution. Not on the European mainland. From the Canary Islands (Gomera), Malta,

Northern Africa, Near and Middle East, eastwards to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Remarks. Most probably introduced with Acacia trees which are not native to Malta

but which are widely used in landscaping. In the locality from where the Mdina

specimens were collected are numerous trees of Acacia karroo Hayne. New to the

lepidopterofauna of the Maltese Islands.

Ascalenia echidnias (Meyrick, 1891)

Ascalenia acaciella var. signatella Chretien, 1915: 352.

Ascalenia oranella Lucas, 1939: 209.

Ascalenia satellite Gosmäny, 1960: 420.

Material. Malta, Mellieha, Ghadira, 80 m, 9.1v.2004, (southern storm), 7 exx., leg. Skule, (ZMUC).

Life history. Biology unknown. Adults have been collected from April to June and in

September-October.

Distribution. From Madeira and the North African countries to Asia Minor.

Remarks. Malta is the second locality of this species in Europe. New to the

lepidopterofauna of the Maltese Islands.

Bifascioides leucomelanellus (Rebel, 1917)

Ascalenia pirastica Meyrick, 1936

Material. Malta, Mdina, 13, 15, 16, 26 and 27.viii.2004, 55 exx., leg. P. Sammut (PS); Rabat,

1.v111.2001, 24.v111.2003, 3 exx., leg. P. Sammut (PS);

Life history. Biology unknown. Adults have been collected in February and from May

till the end of August. There is probably more than one generation.

Distribution. So far only mentioned from Libya and Egypt.

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 49-63 61

Remarks. If the larvae feed on Mimosaceae like many of these desert species in

Chrysopeleiinae do, Acacia karroo is most likely the foodplant. It is the only species of

this plant family that is available on the site where most of the specimens of Bifascioides

leucomelanellus under study have been collected. New to the lepidopterofauna of the

Maltese Islands and Europe.

Gisilia stereodoxa (Meyrick, 1925)

Ascalenia evitans Meyrick, 1925

Stagmatophora alfieriella Rebel, 1926

Material. Malta, Mdina, 16., 26., 29.viii.2004, leg. P. Sammut (PS); Pembroke, 20.1x.1990, leg.

A. Catania (coll. Sauter).

Life history. Larvae on the inflorescences of Acacia nilotica (L.) Dell. (Mimosaceae).

Adults have been collected in January-February, April-May and July till October.

References. Riedl, 1996: 101; Sammut 2000: 56.

Distribution. Along the coast of the Mediterranean area, Sardinia, Malta, Egypt

towards Iran and India.

Remarks. Acacia nilotica does not occur on the Maltese Islands. Acacia karroo

has been widely introduced, but also A. saligna (Labille) H.L. Wendl. and A. cyclops

A. Cunn. ex G. Don. On the collecting sites only both latter Acacia-species occur, so

the food plant of the larva can either be one of them or both.

Acknowledgements

We thank Ole Karsholt (ZMUC) for the loan of material recently collected on the Maltese Islands, we also

thank Aldo Catania (Zebbug, Malta) and Anthony Seguna (Naxxar, Malta) for making their collections

available for study, John J. Borg (Rabat, Malta) for providing us with the photograph of Bifascioides

leucomelanellus and Bjarne Skule (Veks¢, Denmark) for providing additional data. We also thank Peter

Huemer (Innsbruck, Austria) and Ole Karsholt (Copenhagen, Denmark) for their contructive comments

on the manuscript.

References

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Amsel, H. G. 1954. Neue Pterophoridae, Gelechiiden und Tineiden aus Palastina und Malta. — Bulletin de

la Société Fouad ler. d’ Entomologie, Cairo 38: 51-57.

Amsel, H. G. 1955. Uber Mediterrane Microlepidopteren und Einige Transcaspische Arten. — Institut

Royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique, Bulletin 31 (83): 1-64.

Andres, A. von 1916. Verzeichnisdar wahred meiner Kreigsgefangeschaft von mir auf Malta gesammelten

(Lepidoptera) — Entomologische Rundschau. 33 (9): 43-45, (10): 48-49, (11): 50.

Borg, J. 1922. Cultivation and Diseases of Fruit Trees in the Maltese Islands. - Government Printing Press,

Malta. 622 pp.

Borg, P. 1932. The Lepidoptera of the Maltese Islands. - Goverment Printing Press, Malta. 25 pp.

Caruana Gatto, A. 1905. Seconda Contribuzione alla Fauna Lepidotterologica dell’Isola di Malta —

Eteroceri. — Tipografia del ‘MALTA’, Valletta. 32 pp.

De La Garde, P. 1892. Mediterranean Lepidoptera. — Mediterranean Naturalist 1 (9): 133-135, (10):

147-148.

DeLucca, C. 1948. Some species of Crambidae (Lepidoptera, Heteroneura, Pyralina) observed in Malta.

— The Entomologist 81 (1025): 228.

62 KosTER & SAMMUT: On some Microlepidoptera from Malta

DeLucca, C. 1949. Microlepidoptera new to the Maltese Islands. — The Entomologist 82 (1034): 148-149.

DeLucca, C. 1950. Additional records of Micro-lepidoptera from Malta. — The Entomologist 83 (1050):

249-251.

DeLucca, C. 1951. New additions to the Lepidoptera of Malta. — The Entomologist 84 (1062): 258-259.

DeLucca, C. 1953. Additions to the list of Maltese Microlepidoptera. — Entomologist’s monthly Magazine

89: 129.

DeLucca, C. 1956. New additions to the Lepidoptera of the Maltese Islands. - The Entomologist 89 (1121):

253-256.

DeLucca, C. 1965. The Place of the Lepidoptera in the Zoogeography of the Maltese Islands. Extrait des

Rapportes et Proces-verbaux de reunions de la C.I.E.S.M.M. 18 (2): 511-515.

DeLucca, C. 1969. Lepidoptera from the Maltese Islands. — Entomologists’s Record 81: 137-140.

De Reville, M. G. 1750. Histoire d’une Chenille mineuse des feulle de vigne, extraite d’une lettre écrite de

malte à M. de Reaumur. — Mémoires de mathématique et de Physique, Présentes a l’ Académie Royale

des Sciences par divers Scavans, & lus dans ses Assemblées, 1: 177-191.

Fletcher, T. B. 1904-1905. A Preliminary List of the Lepidoptera of Malta. - The Entomologist 37:

273-276, 315-319, 38: 18-20.

Gulia, G. 1858. Corso elementare di Entomologia Maltese dato nel Palazzo di Sant’ Antonio. — Lezione

quarta. Classe sesta: 46-56.

Hodges, R. W. 1999. The Gelechioidea. — Jn: N. P. Kristensen (ed.), Lepidoptera: Moths and Butterflies 1:

Evolution, Systematics and Biogeography: 131-158. De Gruyter, Berlin and New York.

Kaila, L. 2004. Phylogeny of the superfamily Gelechioidea (Lepidoptera: Ditrysia): an exemplar approach.

— Cladistics 20: 303-340.

Koster, J. C. & S. Yu. Sinev 2003. Momphidae, Batrachedridae, Stathmopodidae, Agonoxenidae,

Cosmopterigidae, Chrysopeleiidae. — /n: P. Huemer, O. Karsholt & L. Lyneborg (eds), Microlepidoptera

of Europe 5: 1-387. Apollo Books, Stenstrup.

Lanfranco, E. 1995. — In: F. Giusti, G. Manganelli & P. J. Schembri, 1995: The non-marine molluscs of the

Maltese Islands. Monografie XV. — Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali, Torino. 607 pp.

Lanfranco, S. 2002. Kullana Kulturali 45 — L-Ambjent Naturali tal-Gzejjer Maltin. Pubblikazzjonijiet

Indipendenza. Malta. 196 pp.

Parenti, U. 2000. A Guide to the Microlepidoptera of Europe. Vol.1. Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali,

Torino. 426 pp.

Rebel, H. 1937. Neue europäische Tortriciden und Tineiden. — Zeitschrift des österreichischen entomologen-

Vereins Wien 22 (5): 4647.

Riedl, T. 1986. Revue des lépidoptères Gelechioidea de Grèce conserves au Musée Zoologique de

Copenhaque, y compris la redescription de femelle de Ramphis libanoticus Riedl (Cosmopterigidae).

— Nota lepidopterologica 9: 227-228.

Riedl, T. 1990. Sur quelques Gelechioidea conservés au Musée Zoologique de Copenhague (Lepidoptera)

(Partie II). — Nota lepidopterologica 12: 319-327.

Riedl, T. 1996. Batrachedridae, Cosmopterigidae, Stathmopodinae. — Jn: Karsholt, O. & J. Razowski (ed)

1996: The Lepidoptera of Europe — A Distributional Checklist. — Apollo Books, Stenstrup. 380 pp.

Sammut, P. 1982. Eine Revision über die Tagfalterfauna (Lepidoptera — Rhopalocera) der maltesischen

Inselgruppe. Entomologische Nachrichten 81: 71-78

Sammut, P. 1983. Die Geometriden der Maltesischen Inseln (Lepidoptera: Geometridae). Neue Ento-

mologische Nachrichten 6: 61-64.

Sammut, P. 1984. A Systematic and Synonymic List of the Lepidoptera of the Maltese Islands. — Neue

Entomologische Nachrichten 13: 1-124.

Sammut, P. 1985: Further Additions to the Lepidoptera of the Maltese Islands. - SHILAP Revista de

Lepidopterologia 13 (52): 304-306.

Sammut, P. 2000. Kullana Kulturali. 12 — Il-Lepidoptera. Pubblikazzjonijiet Indipendenza, Malta. 246 pp.

Schembri, S. 1996. Insects. — In: J. Sultana, & V. Falzon, (eds.), Wildlife of the Maltese Islands. —

Environment Protection Departiment, Malta. 336 pp.

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 49-63 63

Schembri, P. J., A. E. Baldacchino, A. Camilleri, A. Mallia, Y. Rizzo, T. Schembri, D. T. Stevens, & C.

Tanti 1999. Living resources, fisheries & agriculture: 109-283. — In: State of the Environment report

for Malta 1998. Environment Protection Department, Malta. 448 pp.

Sinev, S. Yu & J. C. Koster 2004. Fauna Europaea: Cosmopterigidae — Chrysopeleiinae. — Jn: O. Karsholt

& E. v. Nieukerken (eds.), Lepidoptera. — Fauna Europaea version 1.1, http://www.faunaeur.org

Sterling, P. H., J.C. Koster & P. D. M. Costen 2004. Pyroderces argyrogrammos (Zeller, 1847) (Lepidoptera:

Cosmopterigidae) new to the Channel Islands. — Entomologist’s Gazette 55: 161-165.

Valletta, A. 1950. Recent additions to the known Lepidoptera Heterocera of the Maltese Islands. —

Entomologist 83: 252-254.

Valletta, A. 1951. Additions to the list of Lepidoptera Heterocera of of the Maltese Islands. — Entomologist

84: 64-66.

Valletta, A. 1953. Additions to the known lepidoptera of the Maltese Islands. — The Entomologist 86:

8-9.

Valletta, A. 1955. Further additions to the list of Lepidoptera of the Maltese Islands. — Entomologist’s

monthly Magazine 91: 246-247.

Valletta, A. 1972. The Butterflies of the Maltese Islands. — Progress Press, Malta. 64pp.

Valletta, A. 1973. The Moths of the Maltese Islands. — Progress Press, Malta. 120 pp.

64 Book reviev

Giorgio Baldizzone, Hugo van der Wolf & Jean-François Landry 2006. Coleo-

phoridae, Coleophorinae (Lepidoptera). — In: B. Landry (ed.), World Catalogue

of Insects 8. — Apollo Books, Stenstrup. 215 pp. — Hardcover (ISBN 87-88757-76-5).

DKK 360.00 (excluding postage). (In English)

The taxon Coleophorinae is known to most European lepidopterists as Coleophoridae (Vives

1988; Karsholt & Razowski 1996). The moths have narrow forewings with a conspicuous,

pointed apex and a characteristic resting position with the antennae held straight forward. The

larvae initially feed internally on leaves, flowers, or seeds of their host plants. Later on they feed

externally and usually construct a protective case. For this reason, the group is often known

as case-bearers, a term which is also in use for Psychidae. Coleophorinae are present on all

continents, but the majority are found in temperate areas of the Northern Hemisphere. There

are numerous coleophorine species and the descriptions of new species still continues. All but

16 coleophorine species are treated in the genus Coleophora Hübner, 1822. Within this genus,

species have been treated in artificial groups within a numerical system introduced by Toll

(1953), which makes the subfamily difficult to handle even for specialists of Microlepidoptera.

First attempts for a more rigorous system of species groups are probably those by J.-F. Landry

& B. Wright (1993) and Emmet et al. (1996). A cladistic study by Bucheli et al. (2002)

investigated the architectural and ecological characters of the larval cases and supported for the

first time some monophyletic groups within Coleophora according to their case architecture,

which correlates with the exploitation of certain plant tissues (seeds versus leaves) and growth

forms (herbaceous versus woody) rather than preference for certain plant taxa. However, most

Coleophorinae species are still placed in an artificial system and much revisionary work remains

necessary to overcome the present situation. A useful prerequisite for such a work would be an

easy-to-use catalogue of all available names of the Coleophorinae. The last available catalogue

for these insects was published by Vives (1988) and included 1009 species in 14 genera. Since

that time, the number of described species increased by 25% to 1343 species in 5 genera (the

reduction in the number of genera is due to the exclusion of tropical taxa from the subfamily).

Therefore, the publication of a new world catalogue of Coleophorinae by G. Baldizzone, H.

van der Wolf and J.-F. Landry was well justified. The introduction of this book provides a brief

review of the history of the family—group classification, until Lauri Kaila’s cladistic analysis of

the Gelechioidea in 2004, and of the systematic treatment of the genus Coleophora, which has

105 synonyms. The catalogue gives full synonymy of the family-, genus-, and species-group

names and provides full bibliography of original descriptions and type designations. For each

species the distribution is indicated with the relevant zoogeographical region and each country

of occurrence is listed. An appendix includes unavailable names, incorrect spellings, and taxa

excluded from the Coleophorinae. The reference section lists about 1500 citations. The book is

well completed with an index to all genus- and species-group names. The catalogue includes a

number of nomenclatural changes: three type species fixations, seven new synonyms of family-

group names, four new synonyms of genus-group names, eight new synonyms of species-

group names, eight new generic combinations, as well as the protection of two more recent

names against nomina oblita. With all this information, the world catalogue of Coleophorinae

is a comprehensive, easy-to-use guide to coleophorine names and bibliography. However, with

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 64-66 65

regard to completeness, its standard is behind that of other volumes of the “World catalogue of

insects” series, such as the volume on Gracillariidae by W. & J. De Prins (2005). In summary,

Baldizzone and co-authors do not give the references for the synonymisation of names and

generic transfers nor for the distribution of the species. Furthermore, they do not give the known

host plants of the species because of much “errors and unverified” data in the literature. Even

though this might be true, the aim of a catalogue is to be a guide to published information and

the lack of this information will certainly not contribute to verify or correct already published

host-plant records. In reading the new catalogue itself we found eight missing names (1 missing

valid species), five misspellings, and one wrong authorship:

missing taxa

Coleophora tiliella Schrank, 1801: 107, a junior subjective synonym of C. bernoulliella (Goeze,

1783) (see Patzak 1974a; Leraut 1997).

Coleophora herniariae Baldizzone, 2001a: 132, 133 (Distribution. Palearctic: Turkey).

Coleophora praeposita Toll, 1952b: 43, pl. 4 fig. 35, a junior subjective synonym of C.

involucrella Chrétien, 1905 by Baldizzone (1981c: 71).

Ornix argyropennella Treitschke, 1835: 221, a junior subjective synonym of C. laricella

(Hübner, 1817) by Baldizzone (1991a: 160), who also designated the lectotype of O.

argyropennella.

Coleophora annulipes Herrich-Schäffer, 1855b: 230, a junior subjective synonym of C.

lithargyrinella Zeller, 1849 (see Vives 1988).

Coleophora frischella aurata Toll, 1960a: 249. Vives (1988: 122) treated aurata as a subspecies

of C. trifolii (Curtis, 1832).

Coleophora nivifera Meyrick, 1930b: 625, a junior subjective synonym of C. versurella Zeller,

1849: 352 by Baldizzone, 1989e: 207.

Coleophora amarantivora Oku, 1965: 122, a junior subjective synonym of C. atlanticella Rebel,

1896 by Baldizzone, 1982a: 384.

misspellings (corrections are indicated in red)

Phalaena Linnaeus, 1758 (not ‘Phalena’) can be found on pages 25, 34, 73, and 105.

Coleophora asieaeminoris Toll, 1952 (not ‘asiaeminoris’). The continuation of the original

description on page 27 is not mentioned in the catalogue.

Coleophora schaeuffeleella Toll, 1959 (not ‘schauffeleella’).

Coleophora zofodella Baldizzone, 2001 (not ‘zophodella’).

Coleophora frankii Schmid, 1886 (not Schmidt)

wrong authorship

Coleophora adjectella Herrich-Schäffer, 1861: 142. “Coleophora adjectella Schmid” is an in

litteris name, made nomenclaturally available by Herrich-Schäffer (1861). The authorship

“E. M. Hering, 1937” as given by Baldizzone et al. (2006) is invalid.

Despite the above criticisms, we want to add that this catalogue shows an improvement in some

details, such as spellings of author names and localities, over the Tortricidae or Pterophoridae

volumes of the World Catalogue of Insects. We highly recommend this world catalogue to

anybody interested in Coleophorinae. There is no comparable comprehensive source available

on these fascinating moths and we are convinced that it will be of great help to study the

Coleophorinae in greater detail, e.g. their phylogeny, evolution, and ecology.

66 Book reviev

References mentioned in this book review generally refer to those given in the catalogue by

Baldizzone et al. (2006). The references given in full detail below are not listed in the catalogue,

with the exception of Herrich-Schäffer (1860-1861), for which the dates of publication have

been given unprecisely - the hard-to-obtain orginal was verified by Andreas Segerer (Munich).

Bucheli, S. R., J.-F. Landry & J. W. Wenzel 2002. Cladistic analysis of larval case architecture

and implications of host-plant associations for North American Coleophora (Lepidoptera,

Coleophoridae). — Cladistics 18: 71-93.

Emmet, A. M., J. R. Langmaid, K. P. Bland, M. F. V. Corley & J. Razowski 1996. Coleophoridae.

pp. 126-338, pls. 1-8, 12-15. — In: A. M. Emmet (ed.), The moths and butterflies of Great

Britain and Ireland, vol. 3. — Harley Books, Colchester.

De Prins, W. & J. De Prins 2005. Gracillariidae. 502 pp. — In: B. Landry (ed.), World catalogue

of insects 8. — Apollo Books, Stenstrup.

Herrich-Schäffer, G. A. W. (1860-1861): Revision der europäischen Schmetterlingsfauna. —

Correspondenzblatt fiir Sammler von Insekten, insbesondere von Schmetterlingen. 1860:

25-28, 52-54, 59-61, 67-69, 76-79, 85-87; ibidem 1861: 100-103, 106-107, 119, 133-135,

142-144, 158-160, 163-168, 173-174.

Schrank, F. von P. 1801: Fauna Boica. Durchgedachte Geschichte der in Baiern einheimischen

und zahmen Thiere. 2. Band, 1. Abteilung. — Johann Wilhelm Krill, Ingolstadt. 274 [recte:

374] pp.

ANDREAS ‘KARL’ STUBNER & MATTHIAS Nuss

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 67-77 67

Xerantica tephroclysta Meyrick, 1930 (Tineidae), a new member

of the Palaearctic fauna, with description of its life history and

early stages

GADEN S. ROBINSON !, REINHARD GAEDIKE ?, ROLF BLAsius * & ERICH BETTAG 4

Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK; e-mail: gsr@nhm.ac.uk

FlorusstraBe 5, 53225 Bonn, Gemany; e-mail: tinagma@msn.com

Schwetzinger Str. 6, 69214 Eppelheim, Gemany; e-mail: RolfBlaesius@ web.de

Kilianstraße 44, 67373 Dudenhofen, Gemany

+ © NH —

Abstract. Numerous specimens of a tineid species were reared from larvae found in the stems of Capparis

spinosa in Morocco. It has been determined as Xerantica tephroclysta Meyrick, 1930, the first record of

this species from the Palaearctic region. Larva, pupa and adult are described together with the male and

female genitalia, and the systematic position of the genus is discussed.

Zusammenfassung. Aus Larven, die im Stamm von Capparis spinosa in Marokko gefunden wurden,

konnten zahlreiche Falter einer Tineide gezogen werden, die als Xerantica tephroclysta Meyrick, 1930

determiniert wurde. Es handelt sich hierbei um den Erstnachweis dieser Art für die paläarktische Fauna. Es

wird eine Redeskription des Falters sowie eine erstmalige Beschreibung der männlichen und weiblichen

Genitalien gegeben. Die systematische Stellung der Art im System der Tineidae wird diskutiert.

Key words. Lepidoptera; Tineidae; Xerantica; Capparis; palaearctic; Atlas Mountains.

Introduction

At the end of February 2004 Rolf Bläsius examined capers (Capparis spinosa,

Capparidaceae) growing on the roadside cliffs of the southern slopes of Tizi-n-Test,

south-west Morocco (Fig. 1). The stem base of one caper was riddled with holes and

these holes spun with silvery threads mixed with expelled frass. The stem-base was

malformed and appeared to have been subject to fungal attack. When the stem was cut

open it was found to contain several whitish larvae. Examination of the larval prolegs

showed they were not the expected Sesiidae, and in early summer of the same year,

specimens of Tineidae emerged. On 18 May 2005, in the same locality, more Capparis

was sampled and, as in the previous year, numerous moths emerged, a total of 48

specimens. Capers examined on the northern slopes of the High Atlas near Asni and

Demnate did not show any trace of infestation.

The vegetation of the southern slopes of Tizi-n-Test suffers from heavy grazing. The

capers on the cliffs are out of reach, however. In winter, snow sometimes reaches as

low as the collecting-locality (1500 m) and on 23 February 2004, the snow line was at

1800 meters. In the dry period, coastal mists often envelop the roadside cliffs bringing

considerable humidity.

Tizi-n-Test on the southern slope of the High Atlas, is a remarkable locality where the

terrain rises from 300 m in the Sous Valley to 3600 m on the peaks to the north-west

and to over 4000 m in the north-east. The Sous Valley divides the mass of the African

continent (and the comparatively low Anti Atlas) from the folds of the High Atlas.

Nota lepidopterologica, 14.08.2006, ISSN 0342-7536

RoBINSON et al.: On Xerantica tephroclysta

The tineid reared from Capparis

was unfamiliar within the Palae-

arctic context and was eventually

submitted to GSR who identified

it by comparison with specimens

in the Natural History Museum,

London (BMNH), as Xerantica

tephroclysta Meyrick. Xerantica

is a monobasic genus. X. tephro-

clysta was described by Meyrick

(1930) from a single male speci-

men from Uganda and it has

never hitherto been illustrated;

Gozmany & Vari (1973: 183)

listed Xerantica among their

“taxa incertae sedis” and noted

that “The holotype has lost its

abdomen ... the species may

belong to the Hapsiferinae”.

Robinson (2001, 2005) placed

Xerantica in the Tineinae.

The purpose of this paper is to

draw attention to this large and

colourful tineid, record its first

a occurrence in the Palaearctic

wi 7 de region, note its biology, and pro-

N | BANANE vide an illustrated redescription

Fig. 1. Moroccan biotope of Xerantica with Capparis spinosa. that includes early stages and

adult genitalia.

Its occurrence in North Africa raises the question whether it may have crossed the

Mediterranean and may be found, for example, in Capparis vegetation in south-eastern

Spain.

Xerantica Meyrick, 1930: 553

Type-species: Xerantica tephroclysta Meyrick, 1930, by monotypy.

Xerantica tephroclysta Meyrick, 1930: 553

Material. Holotype (Fig. 10) 9 [not © as stated by Meyrick], Uganda: Madi, v.1927 (G.D.H.

Carpenter) [abdomen missing] (BMNH). — (A) tropical West Africa (BMNH) (30°): 19, N. Nigeria: Zaria,

Samaru, 10.x.1975 (J.C. Deeming) (genitalia slide no. 1353; BMNH); 19, similar data but 15.-22.v1.1970

(PH. Ward) (BMNH); 10‘, S. Nigeria: U[niversity] C[ollege] Ibadan, 19.iv.1958 (H.J. Sutton) [abdomen

missing] (BMNH). (B) North Africa (48+ adult specimens, 1 larva, 30° and 29 pupal exuviae): Morocco,

Haute Atlas, Tizi-n-Test, larvae in Capparis spinosa, e.l. 17.vi.—18.vii.2004 and 10.vi—18.vii.2005

(R. Blasius); specimens are in the following collections: E. Bettag (Dudenhofen), R. Bläsius (Eppelheim),

D. Bartsch (Stuttgart), DEI (Miincheberg), BMNH (London).

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 67-77 69

Figs. 2-3. Xerantica tephroclysta. 2. Adult. 3. Adult head.

Description

Imago (Figs. 2-3). Wingspan. 14-22 mm.Coloration. Head and palpi yellow

ochre, underside of palpi with some darker scales; tegulae and thorax with similar

coloration, tegulae at base and thorax in first half overlaid with fuscous scales; fore-

and mid-legs fuscous, the ends of the legs ochreous yellow, posterior legs fuscous only

on outer surface, posterior tibiae with long dense scales. Ground colour of forewing

yellow-ochre, dusted with darker greyish scales, especially towards apex, and with

conspicuous rhomboidal blackish brown patch extending from costa to posterior

margin and extending in a broad, irregular streak towards tornus; extent of dark patch

somewhat variable; with small scattered groups of 4-10 raised scales especially in

distal and posterior areas; cilia dull yellow. Hindwings grey, cilia pale yellow.

Head. Eye moderate, interocular index: 1.0. Epicranial suture strongly developed.

Occiput with transverse band (divided medially by narrow, scale-free area) of erect

piliform scales forming a pair of whorls; scale-bases of each whorl traversed by oblique

scale-free line, with few scale-bases anterior to the line; occipital suture well developed.

Vertex with scaling similar to occiput forming untidy whorls and tufts. Frons with

similar scaling; transfrontal sulcus present, broad; scaled medial area oval, one-third

width of frons; scale-bases forming a continuous U-shaped field adjacent to margins

of eyes and across lower half of frons. Pilifers triangular, conspicuous, with elongate

medially-directed yellow scales. Mandible rudiment large and conspicuous, club-

shaped. Maxillary palpus small, short and inconspicuous, elongately conical, probably

three-segmented [description based on denuded head — head preparation not made].

Galea not visible, possibly rudimentary or absent. Labial palpus -1.5x height of head,

second segment with at least six or seven lateral bristles and a sparse terminal (dorsal)

whorl of seven or eight bristles. Antenna reaching 0.75 x length of forewing; scape with

pecten of at least 15 stout bristles; flagellar segments each completely covered by one

row of narrow, elongate appressed scales; cilia in male -0.75x flagellar diameter, but

most of this length obscured by scales, in female shorter and more sparse.

ROBINSON et al.: On Xerantica tephroclysta

Thorax. Forewing index: 0.30; hind-

wing index: 0.38. Retinaculum in male

absent, but base of Sc swollen. Forewing

with all veins present and unmodified; R5

toapex;cell0.55 x lengthofforewing, with

traces of chorda and (?)unbranched M

[venation description based on super-

ficial examination]. Hindwing of male

with frenulum of one very stout, thick

composite bristle comprised of numerous

acanthae fused but distinct for their

entire length; female frenulum similar

but larger and flatter with oblique apex;

cell 0.6x length of wing, containing

well developed branched M; all other

veins present and unmodified, strong 3A

present.

Pregenital abdomen. Unremar-

kable, without specialized structures;

à apodemes broad-based, tapered and

Fig. 4. Pupa protruded from the stem of Capparis convetpent hon une u] Dean

spinosa. area occupying anterior half of S Il;

T I without sclerotization within frame,

coincident with but probably not fused

medially with T II; T If to T VII more strongly sclerotized anteriorly, trapezoidal,

T VII (male) elongately trapezoidal, as long as broad, more strongly sclerotized

than preceding segments. Segments II and III with free dorsal sclerite close to spiracle,

VIII without coremata in male.

Male genitalia (Figs. 5-8). Uncus broad at base, narrowing to blunt apex, the two

uncus lobes appressed but clearly differentiated. Tegumen narrow, margins thickened,

tapered towards vinculum. Gnathos arms strongly curved caudad, with acute apices, a

short serrate length on inner surface of curve [in specimen from Nigeria]. Vinculum with

triangular medial process; saccus elongate. Valva subovate with ridged protuberance

bearing a shallow, lobate process at base of costa, and with ridge running from this

parallel to anterior margin; apodeme broad, with subquadrate process directed ventrally

[as seen in situ]. Phallus as long as saccus, with rounded base that is sclerotized only

distally; with two cornuti, one thin and lanceolate, at one-half length of phallus when

vesica is retracted, the other resembling a length of fretsaw blade with 7-9 teeth,

straight and occupying caudal half of phallus when vesica retracted. Juxta very small,

trapezoidal, with a pair of elongate posterior processes.

Female genitalia (Fig. 9). Eighth tergite shield-shaped, anterior margin rounded;

ostium mushroom-shaped, together with the ductus bursae highly sclerotized, ductus

merging gradually with corpus bursae; corpus with numerous small, irregular linear

sclerotizations.

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 67-77 71

Figs. 5-8. Xerantica tephroclysta, male genitalia. 5. Uncus-tegumen-vinculum-complex, one valva

removed. 6. Phallus. 7. Valva separated. 8. Tip of phallus with partly protruded vesica.

Larva (Figs. 11-12). [Described from a single damaged specimen, presumed to be

of final instar, in which many setae are wholly or partially broken. A supernumerary

(?pathological) AF seta is present on the left of the head.] Length -18 mm; head capsule

width 1.7 mm. Head strongly sclerotized but thoracic and abdominal segments with

little or no sclerotization, though margins of pinacula are usually well-defined. Head

with six small, poorly defined, shallowly convex pale stemmata. Ventral prolegs with

>28 crochets. Coxae well-separated with V1 distant from coxal plates. Spiracles nearly

round, with those of prothorax and A8 slightly larger than anterior abdominal spiracles.

12 RoBINSON et al.: On Xerantica tephroclysta

Chaetotaxy. Head with setae ge-

nerally elongate, O2, Al and SO3 rea-

ching apex of mandible; AF2, AFa

and AFI roughly equidistant; V and P

setae and pores roughly linear except

for Pb which is almost level with P3;

L1 well below A3. Prothorax with L

group trisetose; SV setae in a horizontal

line; XD2 and SDI on the prothoracic

plate. Mesothorax and metathorax with

SV group unisetose. First abdominal

segment with D2 setae more widely

separated than D1 setae, and SD1 above

SD2; L3 posterior to L2; SV2 vertically

above SV1. Sixth abdominal segment

with DI setae more widely separated

than D2 setae; SD2 dorsal to SD1 which

is On common pinaculum with L1; L2

anterior to spiracle; SV group trisetose.

Eighth abdominal segment with D2

setae slightly below D1; SD group

unisetose with SD2 apparently absent;

L1 posterior to spiracle; L3 level with

L2; SV group bisetose. Ninth and tenth

abdominal segments as illustrated.

Pupa (Figs. 4, 13-19). [Based on 30° and

29 exuviae.] Antennae almost reaching

Fig. 9. Xerantica tephroclysta, female genitalia. wing-tips; wing-tips reaching middle

of fourth abdominal segment, hind legs

reaching middle of fifth segment in both

sexes. Facial plate comprised of eye-plates and frons with, posteriorly, galeae (centrally)

and, laterally, short maxillary palpi reaching only one-half length of galeae; mandibular

rudiment large, remaining attached to fore leg on eclosion. Anterior bands of transverse

spines present on abdominal segments 3-8 in both sexes but represented by only a

narrow, inconspicuous, rugose ridge on third segment; eighth segment in females with

additional coarse rugosity anterior to band of spines; posterior band of spines (present

in most tineid pupae) represented only by a thin, narrow, inconspicuous, denticular

ridge on segments 3-7 in males and 3-6 in females; segments 9+10 rugose/spinose

dorsally, ventrally with cremaster comprised of a pair of small, shallow, anteriorly-

directed hooks surrounded by rugosity similar to but finer than that of dorsal region.

Distribution. Uganda; Nigeria; Morocco.

Life history. Larva feeding within stems of Capparis spinosa (see above).

Remarks. Xerantica tephroclysta is a conspicuous and distinctive species, and its

superficial appearance is such that it cannot be confused with any other tineid known

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 67-77 15

Fig. 10. Holotype female of Xerantica tephroclysta, Uganda.

to us. However, its systematic position is more of a puzzle. Superficially, adults bear

some resemblance to large, pale Tineinae such as Ceratophaga. There are no significant

derived characters apparent in the head structure or the wing venation, though the

labial palpus has an apical whorl of bristles in addition to lateral bristles, a feature

typical of Tineinae and several other groups. The frenulum is not markedly dimorphic

between the sexes, being a very stout, thick composite bristle comprised of numerous

acanthae fused but distinct for their entire length; the retinaculum is absent in the male.

Comparable but not entirely similar frenular modifications are scattered throughout the

Tineidae, for example Coryptilum (Myrmecozelinae) and Edosa (Perissomasticinae)

(Robinson, submitted); in Ceratophaga (in which a retinaculum is present) the male

frenulum is stout but with the acanthae entirely fused; in females the acanthae are fused

to form a stout, sinuous spine and a smaller, slender accessory spine.

The structure of the uncus is strongly suggestive of tineine affiliations; the paired

uncus lobes present in many Tineidae are more or less fused in Tineinae to form a

single articulated hook. “The bilobed origin of the tineine uncus is invariably obvious,

however, betrayed by a medial suture and, frequently, a distinctly (if minutely) bifid

apex” (Robinson & Nielsen, 1993). In the case of Xerantica the lobes are distinct and

the uncus structure is reminiscent of some species of Acridotarsa. There are no further

features of the male or female genitalia to suggest positive associations with any non-

tineine groups. It is much easier to exclude Xerantica from particular groups than to

include it!

Absence of various adult synapomorphies precludes membership of most subfamilies,

as they are currently defined, other than Tineinae. The saccus is not articulated,

precluding membership of Siloscinae. Lack of a corethrogyne rules out most Myrme-

74 RoBINSON et al.: On Xerantica tephroclysta

left lateral

left ventral

Fig. 11. Larval head of Xerantica tephroclysta: setal maps as frontal, left lateral and left ventral views.

cozeline subgroups (the subfamily itself is probably paraphyletic), Hapsiferinae and

Perissomasticinae. The simple antenna precludes Euplocaminae. Lack of a piercing

ovipositor rules out Teichobiinae. Symmetrical male and female genitalia rule out

Dryadaulinae or Stathmopolitinae. Full wing venation and the antennal scaling

pattern probably preclude membership of the Meessiinae, not a proven monophyletic

group. Lack of any combination of the suites of synapomorphies for Setomorphinae,

Nemapogoninae or Hieroxestinae noted by Robinson & Nielsen (1993) and Robinson &

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 67-77 75

® spiracle

NUS

‘ be

\ W

ts a8 —

LEA

es “u Pthx

Fig. 12. Larva of Xerantica tephroclysta: setal maps of prothorax (Pthx), mesothorax (Msthx), and

abdominal segments 1, 6, 8, 9 and 10 (Abd 1 — Abd 10).

Tuck (1997) rule out these subfamilies. Absence of a juxtal pouch rules out Erechthiinae.

The posterior margin of abdominal tergite I is not thickened, the mid-tibia is not striped,

and the uncus is not broad and distinctly bilobed as in Scardiinae.

Larval structure is not particularly illuminating and there are very few detailed

descriptions of tineid larvae available for comparison. However, the presence of a full

complement of albeit poorly-defined stemmata is unusual if Xerantica were to be atineine

ROBINSON et al.: On Xerantica tephroclysta

Figs. 13-19. Pupae of Xerantica tephroclysta. 13. Male, lateral view. 14. Female, lateral view. 15. Male,

abdominal apex, dorsal view. 16. Female, abdominal apex, dorsal view. 17. Male, abdominal apex, ventral

view. 18. Female, abdominal apex, ventral view. 19. Facial plate. Abdominal segment 6 is labelled for

orientation purposes.

— the stemmata are usually reduced to one or none in this subfamily. The prothoracic

L-group is trisetose, unlike all known Scardiinae in which it is bisetose (Robinson,

1986). The meso- and metathoracic SV group is unisetose (as in Nemapogoninae and

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 67-77 i

Scardiinae, bisetose in Tineinae); the D1 setae on the anterior abdominal segments

are less widely separated than the D2 setae, as in Tineinae and Nemapogoninae. The

unisetose SD group on the eighth abdominal segment is a feature otherwise unknown

in any tineid, as far as we can discover. On the ninth abdominal segment the L-group is

bisetose, as it is in Scardiinae and unlike all Tineinae known (trisetose) except Tineola;

however, the SV group is unisetose as in Tineinae.

The pupa exhibits one typical feature: the posterior band of dorsal spines usually present

on abdominal segments 3-6 in females and 3-7 in males is reduced to a narrow and

inconspicuous denticular ridge. This reduction occurs in all Tineinae known, and in

most the posterior spine-band is completely absent.

In conclusion, Xerantica does not fit comfortably within any currently recognised

tineid subfamily with the exception of Tineinae. Even then, several larval characters

make it atypical. However, the paucity of comparable, detailed descriptions of early

stages of Tineidae make dubious any predictions of taxonomic placement based upon

the morphology of the early stages.

The larval feeding of Xerantica makes it unusual in the tineine context. Practically all

Tineinae of which the biology is known feed on dead animal tissue — a substrate list

dominated by keratin or chitin. The only exceptions we can find are the few fungivorous

Monopis species described and discussed by Powell (1967).

Most Tineidae other than Tineinae feed on lichen or on plant material that is dead, dying

or moribund and has been invaded by fungal mycelia, or on the fungus itself (Robinson

& Nielsen, 1993). Xerantica conforms to the second trophic pattern by stem-boring in

moribund Capparis, and as such it is a notable exception if, indeed, it is a tineine.

References

Gozmäny, L. A. & L. Vari 1973. The Tineidae of the Ethiopian Region. — Transvaal Museum Memoir 18:

vi + 238 pp., 570 figs.

Meyrick, E. 1930. Xerantica tephroclysta. — Exotic Microlepidoptera 3: 553-554.

Powell, J. A. 1968. Taxonomic status and descriptions of some fungus-feeding Tineidae (Lepidoptera).

— Pan-Pacific Entomologist 43: 292-307.

Robinson, G.S. 1986. Fungus moths: a review of the Scardiinae (Lepidoptera: Tineidae). — Bulletin of the

British Museum (Natural History), Entomology 52 (2): 37-181.

Robinson, G.S. 2001. Global taxonomic database of Tineidae (Lepidoptera). — http://www.nhm.ac.uk/

entomology/tineidae/index.html

Robinson, G.S. 2005. Global taxonomic database of Tineidae (Lepidoptera). — In: F. Bisby et al., Species

2000. ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2005 Annual Checklist. -CD-ROM; Species 2000: Reading, UK.

Robinson, G.S. [submitted]. Hidden diversity in small brown moths — the systematics of Edosa (Lepidoptera:

Tineidae) in South-East Asia. — Systematics and Biodiversity.

Robinson, G.S. & E. S. Nielsen 1993. Tineid Genera of Australia (Lepidoptera). — Monographs on

Australian Lepidoptera 2. xvi + 343 pp, 734 figs. CSIRO, Melbourne.

Robinson, G.S. & K. R. Tuck 1997. Phylogeny and composition of the Hieroxestinae (Lepidoptera:

Tineidae). — Systematic Entomology 22: 363-396.

78 Book reviev

Patocka, J. & M. Turtäni 2005. Lepidoptera Pupae. Central European species. — Apollo

Books, Stenstrup, Text volume: 542 pp., Plate volume: 321 pp. — Hardcover (ISBN 87-88757-

47-1). DKK 960.00 (excluding postage) (in English).

Most of our current knowledge on the pupal morphology of European Lepidoptera has been the

result of years of research by Prof. Patoëka and his collaborators, who published a huge series

of papers in German on this topic. In this book, Prof. Patoëka and Dr. Turéani summarize their

results and make them available in English for the great benefit of the scientific community.

The two volumes are an illustrated key to the identification of the pupae and pupal exuviae

of more than 2500 species of Lepidoptera (approximately 2/3 of the Central European fauna).

Some families, for which the pupal morphology is still almost unknown, are not included;

they are the Opostegidae, Lypusidae, Deuterogoniidae, Pterolonchidae, Autostichidae, and

Lecithoceridae. Other families, such as the Micropterigidae, Eriocraniidae, Nepticulidae,

Douglasiidae, Coleophoridae, and Blastobasidae, are only superficially treated, with no keys

to the species. To each of the treated families a paragraph is dedicated, with information on

morphology, life habits, and food plants. A short introduction on pupal morphology and biology,

including methods for collecting and studying lepidopterous pupae, is given at the beginning

of the book. This introduction is essential to become familiar with the terminology used in the

keys, but it is not recommendable as a standard reference for pupal terminology. In fact, the

authors use a series of uncommon terms (like „oculi“ for the eyes and „ommata“ for the ocelli),

and there is some confusion about Latin terms, culminating in the substitution of meanings

between decticous and adecticous pupae. The plate volume fully illustrates the text, with more

than 8000 line drawings. Unfortunately, the legends to some figures are missing and some

abbreviations used in the plates are not explained in the list. Figures A1-BS, essential for the

understanding of the introductory part, are strangely never cited in the text. I tested the keys

with 14 specimens from the collection of the Museum fiir Tierkunde in Dresden. Most of the

specimens were pupal exuviae identified by Staudinger and Bang-Haas, who reared the pupae

to adults. The correct identification to family or species level was easily possible in nine cases,

while in five cases problems occurred in assigning a species to the correct family. In Cepphis

advenaria (Geometridae), for example, the mandibles are located caudo-laterally to the labrum,

which may lead to an erroneous identification (point 29 of the key). Moreover, psychid ,,pupae

semiliberae can be misidentified as Heterogynidae due to the absence of maxillary palpi in

many of them (point 8 of the key). The extent to which the forewings cover the abdomen, often

used as a character in the key, may be altered by dehydration in dead, non-obtect pupae. For

example, in two dried pupae of Synanthedon spheciformis (Sesiidae), the forewings reached

the border between the 5th and 6th abdominal segments, while in theory (point 24 of the key)

they should not extend beyond the 4th. Some variability is to be taken into account even in the

obtect pupae of drepanids, as regards the extent to which the forewings cover the hindwings

(point 81 of the key). A visible labium is an essential character to identify a specimen as a

zygaenid (point 21 of the key). However, as correctly stated in the paragraph dedicated to this

family, in most zygaenid pupae the labium is concealed; only in a few cases a very small part of

it is visible. A common problem in this publication is represented by typesetting errors. Some

of them are likely to generate confusion, like the ,,Lb“ (= labium) that appears instead of „Pb“

to indicate the proboscis in fig. 14.20. This figure is cited at point 18 of the key to illustrate the

absence of a labium! Moreover, at point 98 of the key to geometrid species, one is redirected

to point 33, instead of 99. In spite of the above-mentioned problems, this book discloses the

surprising diversity of lepidopterous pupae to non German-speaking scientists. I would suggest

all lepidopteran morphologists to use it. They would find interesting ideas for their research

and the chance to help the authors with improving the key. In this way, Patocka’s and Turéani’s

key may soon become a useful tool also for non-specialists, like ecologists or hymenopterists

interested in pupal parasitoids.

FRANCESCA VEGLIANTE

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 79-87 79

A new species of Amicta Heylaerts, 1881 from the south of Iran

(Psychidae)

PETER HATTENSCHWILER ! & HASSAN ALEMANSOOR ? (HA)

! Seeblickstrasse 4, 8610 Uster, Switzerland; e-mail: peter.haettenschwiler@swissonline.ch

2 Hassan Alemansoor Research Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources of Fars Province,

P.O. Box 71555-617, Shiraz, Iran; e-mail: alemansoor@farsagres.ir

Zusammenfassung. Amicta sericata sp.n. wird beschrieben, abgebildet und ihr Status diskutiert. Sie

lebt an verschiedenen Büschen und Sträuchern im klimatisch sehr unwirtlichen Sandheidegebiet der

Provinz Fars im Süden des Zagros Gebirges im Iran. Die Raupen leben ın einem gegen die grossen

Temperaturschwankungen im Lebensraum auffallend gut isolierten Sack.

Abstract. Amicta sericata sp.n. is described, illustrated and its systematic status is discussed. It feeds on

several species of bushes and shrubs in a climatically most inhospitable sand heath or desert of the Fars

province, in the south of the Zagros mountain chain of Iran. The larvae live in a bag that is exceptionally

well insulated against the high temperature variations of the area.

Résumé. Les auteurs décrivent, illustrent et discutent de la position systématique d’Amicta sericata sp.n..

L'espèce vit aux dépens de plusieurs arbrisseaux et arbustes dans un milieu désertique très inhospitalier

de la province de Fars, au sud des Monts Zagros, en Iran. Les larves construisent un fourreau les isolant

parfaitement des grandes variations de température ambiantes.

Key words. Lepidoptera, Psychidae, Amicta sericata, Iran, Fars Province, host plants

Introduction

In the eastern part of Fars province, south of Iran, HA and Seyed Asghar Alehoseni

discovered an unknown species of Amicta Heylaerts, 1881 feeding on several species

of bushes and shrubs. The host plants are desert adapted with needle or fleshy like

leaves; they are native to western Asia and distributed through Afghanistan, the

Arabian Peninsula, Iran, and Pakistan (temperate and tropical regions) (Wiersema &

Leon 2004). In the literature, no Psychidae species have previously been reported from

these plants. The adult males were recognized to belong to the genus Amicta Heylaerts,

1881 (Oiketicinae Herrich-Schäffer, 1850: Acanthopsychini Tutt, 1900). However, the

larvae do not build the known square-shaped bags typical of Amicta species, but bags

with a circular cross section and a thick silk coating on the outside.

In the same area there were also bags of an Oiketicoides Heylaerts, 1881 (species not

identified) with a circular cross section and with plant material arranged lengthwise,

and bags of Amicta murina Klug, 1832, which have a square-shaped cross section.

Material and Methods

All the material was collected by HA and Seyed Asghar Alehoseni on June 14, 2000,

June 1-4, 2004, and between June 3 and mid September 2005, in Qatrouyeh, Neyriz, Fars

Province, Iran. This locality averages 1640 meters above sea level and its coordinates

are 54°42’E and 29°8’N. A smaller population of the species was also found at Abadeh,

in the northwestern part of Fars Province at 1580 m. Most bags still contained larvae

Nota lepidopterologica, 14.08.2006, ISSN 0342-7536

80 HATTENSCHWILER & ALEMANSOOR: À new Amicta from south Iran

and some had started to fix their bags to branches and were preparing for pupation. The

bags with active larvae were kept in cages and the larvae were fed with Artemisia sp.

and Zygophyllum sp. until pupation.

The male type material is pinned and mounted. The wingless females were taken out of

their bags and preserved in 70% alcohol. All specimens and bags are labelled with the

date and location on a white label and with the name on a red label.

Amicta sericata sp. n. Figs. 1-4, 5a, b, d, 6, 7a, b, 8a, 9a, 10

Material. Holotype: ©, Iran, Qatrouyeh, Neyriz, Fars province, 1640 m, 5.1x.2004, ex larva, 29°8’N

54°42’E, coll. Naturmuseum Luzern (together with the respective bag). — Paratypes: same data, but 30

1.1x.2000; 10° 25.vili., 29 31.viii, 159 17.-20.1x.2004, ex larva or ex pupa with bags, 7 larvae 18.vi.

and 25 additional bags as well as 400 29.viii., 209 29.viil., 99 10.-16.i1x. 2005, and 60 additional bags;

deposited in the following collections: Hayk Mirzayans Insect Museum, Insect Taxonomy Research

Department, Plant Pest & Disease Research Institute, Teheran, Iran (HMIM); Natural Resources Insect

Museum, Plant Protection Department, Research Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources of Fars

Province, Shiraz, Iran (NRIM); The Natural History Museum, London; Naturmuseum Luzern, Switzerland;

Museum d’ Histoire Naturelle, Genève, Switzerland; Collection Willi Sauter, Illnau, Switzerland; Museum

fiir Tierkunde, Dresden, Germany; Naturhistorisches Museum, Wien, Austria; Collection Erwin Hauser,

Wolfern, Austria; Collection Thomas Sobczyk, Hoyerswerda, Germany; Collection R. & P. Hattenschwiler,

Uster, Switzerland.

Diagnosis. Male with a strong structure, all wings transparent. Anal veins in forewings

cup separate not merging with anl, sc and rr in hindwings fused over large part of the

wing. Body with dark brown to black hairs, thorax mixed with whitish hairs. Male

genitalia long and slender saccus short, tegumen trapezoid, phallus longer than the

whole genitalia. Bag round in cross section coated with a thick layer of gray silk.

Description. Male. Wing expanse: 25-28 mm, average 26.6 mm (n = 32); forewings

wide, with rounded apex (Fig. la), with 10 veins off discoidal cell (Fig. 2a); r3, r4,

and r5 extremely variable, normally with one stem and divided in various ways, can

differ on left and right wings of same specimen (Fig. 2b); m2+m3 stalked. Wing scales

hair-like, pointed, short, class 1 (Sauter & Hättenschwiler 1999), dark brown, mixed

with longer, whitish scales, loosely attached and set widely separated from one another

(therefore wings appear light colored), easily lost with first wing movements (therefore

wings become naked and fully transparent). All wing margins with dark brown, nearly

black scales or hairs remaining attached during flight; narrow, hair-like scales located

on front and rear margins and wide, toothed scales on apex and outer margin. Hindwing

with 6 veins off discoidal cell, m2+m3 stalked, rr fused with sc over a large part of

wing; scales and fringes as on forewing. Antenna (Fig. 2c) with 40-45 segments; except

for 2-3 basal segments, all segments pectinated with sensory hairs and few individual

scales; on basal flagellomeres pectinations arise from base of flagellomeres, in middle

of antenna arising from middle of flagellomeres, and near apex arising from apex of

flagellomeres. Large, round eyes as large as height of head itself, distance between

eyes as long as half eye diameter. Ocelli absent. Labial palps strongly reduced. Face

with long, brown hair tuft; forehead and thorax with mixture of brown and gray hairs.

Foreleg longest, with long epiphysis; mid and hind legs without spurs or only very small

apical spurs; all legs coated with appressed dark hairs. Abdomen dark brown to black.

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 79-87 81

(Ke

ff Ss

{MM Mh ly dd.

REEL EE LES

NER

4 f

Mh ih,

LM,

Kd,

à N \

‘

7) ff

Figs. 1-4. Amicta sericata sp. n. 1a. Freshly emerged male, b. Male with abdomen extended for mating

(photos by H. Alemansoor). 2. Characters of wings and antenna, ©. a. Shape and venation of fore- and

hindwing. b. Forewing variation in veins r3—5. c. Antenna with enlarged details on the right. 3. Female.

a. Lateral view. b. Head enlarged. c. Legs. d. Genitalia, ventral view. 4. Larva. a. Lateral view. b. Ventral

side of labrum.

Genitalia (Fig. 8a) long and slender; saccus short; tegumen trapezoid; valves inserted

into vinculum with moveable joint; phallus very long, longer than whole genitalia.

Female. Vermiform, thin skinned, whitish to faded yellow, or with pastel greenish

shade, 20-24 mm long, 5-6 mm in diameter (n = 20) (Figs. 3a, b). Ocelli missing.

With 3-segmented, unfunctional legs (Fig. 3c). Antennae represented by small studs;

HÄTTENSCHWILER & ALEMANSOOR: À new Amicta from south Iran

Seide / Silk

SX 1,5-2mm Holzstücke /

> Plant material

NE /)

Z'DITTIITA |

0.2mm Seide /Silk

NLZLZIZITLE LEE PT LT TILL LILI 272

Figs. 5-6. 5. Bags of Amicta species. a, b. A. sericata sp. n. with silk coating removed on the right (a: ©,

b: ©). c. A. murina, male on the left, female on the right (photo by S. Parpan). d. Cross section of wall of

A. sericata sp. n. bag showing the three layers: silk — wood - silk. Fig. 6. A. sericata sp. n. head plate of

female pupa (only the leg sheaths can be recognized clearly).

eyes by few dark dots. Head, first three thoracic segments and first abdominal segment

more thickly sclerotized dorsally; following abdominal segments often with small dark

plates larger on each subsequent segment until segment 6; segment 7 with complete

circle of brown hairs. Genitalıa (Fig. 3d) strongly sclerotized; ovipositor long, reaching

twice its diameter.

Egg. Slightly oval, without clearly visible structures, whitish when fresh, but gradually

changing to dark gray during development.

Larva. Prior to pupation, 20-30 mm long; whole body light gray-brown; head and

thorax with dorsal and lateral, irregularly arranged, dark brown markings (Fig. 4a);

arrangement of setae on ventral side of labrum as shown on fig. 4b.

Bag. Male 32-38 mm long, round in cross section, 10-12 mm in diameter; female

35-48 mm long with diameter of 11-16 mm (Fig. 5a, b), round, slightly tapered to

nearly cylindrical. Foreign matter attached to bag consisting of short, thin sections of

branches of food plant cut to proper length by larva and attached to front end of bag.

Outside of bag coated with layer of silver-gray silk. Wall of bag composed of three

layers (Fig. 5d): First layer inside silk cushion of approx. 0.2 mm thickness; second

layer of foreign plant material for approx. 1.5—2 mm and third layer silk coating of

another 0.2 mm thickness.

Pupa. Male pupa 13-16 mm long (average 14.9 mm), 3.5-4.5 mm in diameter

(average 4.1 mm, n = 59); female 16-21 mm long, 4.5—6 mm in diameter. Dark brown

prior to hatching; empty exuvia light brown. Head plate with 4 pairs of bristles, one

of them near neck. Female head plate with individual sheaths not clearly demarcated

only leg sheaths can clearly be recognized (Fig. 6). Abdominal segments and inter-

segmental membranes in both sexes equipped with thorns allowing pupa to move

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 79-87 83

Figs. 7-9. 7-8. Males of Amicta and Hyalopteronia species. 7. Adults. a, b. A. sericata sp. n. (a: freshly

emerged ©; b: worn © after mating flight). c. A. murina, the abdomen (partly removed) is lighter in

color. d. A. quadrangularis (photo by S. Parpan). 8. Genitalia. a. A. sericata sp. n. b. A. murina (from

Dierl 1964). c. A. quadrangularis (from Bourgogne 1949). d. Hyalopteronia davarica (from Solyanikov

2002). 9. Hairs and scales of forewing anal area of. a. A. sericata sp.n. b. A. murina. c. A. quadrangularis.

d. Hyalopteronia davarica.

forwards or backwards within bag or out of it. Long rows of thorns directed forward on

anterior edges of inter-segmental membranes 1-2, 2-3, 3-4, and 4-5 allowing to move

back ward. Dorsal plate of segment 5 with row of 20-23 strong thorns, segment 6 with

row of 12-15 thorns, and segment 7 with 4-6 thorns all directed backward and serving

to move forward.

Life history. Larva. The young larvae hatch from the eggs after 2-4 weeks in their

mother’s exuvia, but hurry to get out of the bag. Their first action is to build a miniature

bag with silk and often with plant material taken from the mother’s bag. During

their whole life the larvae will be busy to maintain, repair, and enlarge their bag to

accommodate their increasing size, but they will never leave it. The bag must be kept

long enough and wide enough so that the larva can turn around within it. To enlarge the

bag suitable sticks or branches are cut to the required length with the mandibles and

fixed with silk at the edge of the front opening. One stick is fixed beside the other until

the bag is long and wide enough for the growing larva. The rear end, which becomes

too narrow, is bitten off and dropped. The new end is carefully equipped with an exit

that closes by itself. This is done with silk threads under tension which, by virtue of

their elasticity, pull the walls of the soft end together and keep the opening closed to

prevent enemies from entering. From the inside, however, the larva can push it open

easily to dispose of the excrements. Early in their life the larvae start spinning a solid

silken coating all over the plant material of the bag. The larva stretches out from the

front opening to cover the anterior half of the bag, the other half is reached through the

rear opening. The silk is applied crosswise in many layers on top of the layer of wooden

fragments. The three layers of the wall of the bag and the trapped air between the

wooden pieces together perfectly isolate the insect against extreme weather conditions,

84 HÄTTENSCHWILER & ALEMANSOOR: À new Amicta from south Iran

Tab. 1. Field data on percentages of attack or parasitism on bags of A. sericata sp. n. on two separate dates.

| Spiders | Torymidae | Chalcididae

14.viii.2005 13.85% 56.65%

27.viii.2005 28.9% 25.7% 63.6%

but also offer strong mechanical protection. The smaller rear opening is used to dispose

of the excrements, the males hatch through this opening, and the females use it for

mating. The larvae of some species in the genera Ptilocephala Rambur, 1866 and

Phalacropterix Hübner, 1825 also cover their bags with some layers of silk prior to

pupation, but by far not as thick as in A. sericata sp.n. Could it be that due to the

very large variations between the day- and night-time temperatures, that the species

developed the thick coating as additional insulation?

While rearing A. sericata sp. n., parasitoid Ichneumonidae and Chalcididae were

obtained as well as Tachinidae of the genus Chetogena Rondani and Nealsomyia rufella

(Bezzi) (det. by H. P. Tschorsnig and B. Merz). A remarkable number of larvae were

killed by the fungus Aspergillus parasiticus Speare (det. by S. Keller and S. Balazy).

Apparently this fungus is not as dominant in the natural habitat of A. sericata sp.n. than

in our lab colonies. Observations in the field also showed that spiders were waiting to

ambush larvae at the front end of the bag. Whenever these larvae wanted to feed, the

spiders attacked them. HA also observed spiders in bags sucking on larvae and only

leaving their skin. These spiders of the family Heteropodidae, genus Micromata (det.

J. Walter and U. Kloter) appear to be a key mortality factor for A. sericata sp.n. On

August 14, 2005 HA collected 136 bags and on August 27 166 others in the same area.

These bags were attacked or parasitized in the proportions shown on Tab. 1. These

observations based on a total of 302 bags cannot tell us whether or not these percentages

are representative for the whole population, which is spread out over a wide area. Some

of the relatively large population of this big species also is eaten by some local birds,

which manage to break open the hard bags, but bags with mechanical damages that

could be made by a strong-billed beak were found only occasionally. However, it

appears that the A. sericata population studied lives in a balanced equilibrium with its

parasitoids and predators.

Pupa. Insummer, normally between July and early August, the bag is tightly attached

at the front end with many silk threads to a branch or stem of the food plant, often the

one on which the larva spent its whole development. Then, the bowels are emptied and

the male molts to a pre-pupa. The female turns around, head towards the rear end, and

directly pupates. After a few days the male pre-pupa also turns around towards the rear

opening. Without having taken any food it finally pupates. Depending on temperature

the adult moth will be ready for hatching after 2—3 weeks.

Adult. Mating occurs early at night. The females break open the head plate of the

exuvia and move one quarter to one third out of the exuvia; while in this position within

the still closed bag the females call the males with their pheromones which penetrate

through the bag. The males hatch at sundown or a little later. Prior to hatching the male

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 79-87 | 85

Fig. 10. The type locality of

A. sericata sp. n. in Qatro-

uyeh, Fars province (photo

by H. Alemansoor).

pupa moves about halfway out of the bag by bending and stretching with the help of

the dorsal thorns of its segments 5-7. Then, the head plate of the pupa is pushed open

and the moth crawls out. After about a quarter to half an hour the wings are expanded

and dried, and as soon as female pheromones reach a male, it flies toward the source

of the scent. Upon reaching the female bag the male opens the rear entrance of the

bag by pushing its abdomen (Fig. 1b) through the opening that is still closed by the

telescopic abdomen to reach the genitalia of the attracting female. Mating only takes

a few minutes. Immediately after, the female begins to lay her 300-400 eggs into the

pupal exuvia and rubs off her abdominal hairs to place them between the eggs for

cushioning and insulation. When finished, the female remains like a plug at the opening

of the exuvia and slowly dies. The sex ratio is well balanced. |

Seasonal development. The mating season is late August to mid September,

somewhat depending on the altitude. There is one generation per year. In winter the

larvae do not feed and the bags are strongly affıxed to branches of the food plants or

other solid material.

Habitat. The species is mainly known from a sandy, desert-like area with bushes,

shrubs, and sparse grass in the hills and mountains of the south west of Iran, Fars

province, 54°42’E / 29°8’N between 600 to 2800 meters above sea level (Fig. 10). The

area experiences high climatic changes. The 16 year summer day averages are 25.9 °C

(June) and 27.6 °C (July) with highs over 38 °C, but with cool nights of only 10-12 °C;

in winter temperatures drop below -5 °C. The annual rainfall varies between 100 to

300 mm only. The rains mainly come between December and March, mainly in two or

three downpours, thus washing the soil away.

The bags with feeding larvae of A. sericata sp. n. were found on the following local

plants: Zygophyllum atriplicoides F.E.L. v. Fischer & C.A. Meyer, Artemisia sieberi

W.S.J.G. v. Besser, Pteropyrum olivieri H.F. Conte de Jaubert & E. Spach, Noaea

mucronata (P. Forsskal) P.F.A. Ascherson, Heliotropium aucheri A.P. de Candolle,

Ephedra cf. strobilacea Bunge ex Lehmann, and Alhagi persarum P.E. Boissier &.

F.A. Buhse (det. by Ahmad Hatami). In the locality goats and sheep graze the sparse

HATTENSCHWILER & ALEMANSOOR: À new Amicta from south Iran

Tab. 2. Comparison of some characters of the Psychidae species found at the type locality of A. sericata

and that look similar.

Wing

expanse

25-28 mm

27-32 mm

Amicta sericata

Amicta murina

Amicta

quadrangularis

Hyalopteronia

davarica

23 mm

approx

26 mm

approx.

Mating

season

mid Aug. —

mid Sept.

mid Aug. —

mid Sept.

mid Aug. —

mid Sept.

Eyes

interocular

distance

large, as

high as

head,

distance,

0.5 x eye

diameter

large, as

high as

head,

distance,

0.5 x eye

diameter

small, less

than height

of head, dist.

1.3 x eye

diameter

large, nearly

as high as

head,

distance

0.8 x eye

diameter

Body color

Abdomen

dark, thorax

gray to light

gray

Abdomen

and head

light yellow-

gray,

forehead

dark-brown

Abdomen

dark, thorax

with some

long silver

hairs

Abdomen

dark brown,

thorax with

some long,

light brown

hairs

Male

genitalia

(Fig. 8)

tegumen

notched

(Fig. 8a)

Tegumen

rounded

(Fig. 8b)

Tegumen

rounded

(Fig. 8c)

Structure

different

(Fig. 8d)

Scales on

forewing

(Fig. 9)

Anal area

short, dark

hairs, class

1-2

Whole wing

yellow-gray

with loosely

scattered,

fine, long

hairs, class 1

Anal area

with wide,

short scales,

class 3-5,

mostly with

two tips

Anal area

with long

and short,

narrow

scales mixed

grasses and bushes. Bags of Amicta murina (Klug, 1832) and of the genus Oiketicoides

(species not identified yet) were also found at this locality, but in both cases their

numbers made just a fraction of those of A. sericata sp.n.

Derivatio nominis. The name derives from the silk coating that the larva spins over

the layer of wooden fragments on its case: Serica = silk, sericatus = “dressed in silk.”

to match with the genus Amicta sericata sp. n.

Discussion

The genus Amicta Heylaerts, 1881 was based on forewing venation and bag characters.

Later, Jean Bourgogne (1949) made detailed studies of the genus and appended the

description with three important characters: (1) forewing anal venation (Fig. 2a)

(forewings cup separate not merging with anl, sc and rr in hindwings fused over large

part), (2) features of the male genitalia (Fig. 8), and (3) cross section of bag (Fig. 5)

(bag square shape in cross section no silk coating). A. sericata sp. n. matches the type

species of Amicta for characters 1 and 2, but it builds an entirely different bag with a

design that is not known in other species of the Acanthopsychini. Therefore, A. sericata

sp. n. is here only placed conditionally in the genus Amicta.

The type of the genus, A. guadrangularis (Christoph, 1873), along with the largest

species, A. murina, are from the Near East and known from Iran (in coll. Hattenschwiler),

but they were often confused. Under A. quadrangularis Staudinger (1899) described

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 79-87 87

two forms that vary in hair color of the male abdomen. These are form nigrescens,

with black abdominal hairs, and form albescens. However, Dierl (1964) stated that

form albescens is synonym with A. murina. According to the descriptions these forms

build square shaped bags. Therefore, A. sericata sp. n., which also has a dark haired

abdomen, can not be confused with form nigrescens. It is no problem to determine the

females because they never leave the bag. The males (Fig.7) can be distinguished by

the features mentioned in Tab. 2.

Solyanikov (2002) described a new genus and a new species, Hyalopteronia davarica,

from Angorchan, southern Iran. This taxon is known by five adult males only, which,

at first glance look very much like A. sericata. However, H. davorica flies early April

(A. sericata from late August to mid September), it has nine veins on the forewing

(A. sericata has 10 veins off the discoidal cell), and there are several differences in

the structure of the genitalia (Fig. 8d).

Acknowledgements

We enjoyed the help of the following people, to whom we are sincerely thankful: Prof. Dr W. Sauter

for advices and reading the manuscript; Dr B. Merz and Dr H. P. Tschorsnig for the identification of

the parasitoid flies; Dr S. Keller and Dr S. Balazy for the identification of the fungus; Dr J. Walter and

U. Kloter for studying the spiders and its behavior; E. Manhart for providing food plants, Dr B. Landry

for reviewing the manuscript; and last but not least, the staff of the Research Center for Agriculture

and Natural Resources of the Fars Province, especially Seyed Asghar Alehoseni for his assistance in the

field and Ahmad Hatami for identifying the food plants.

References

Bourgogne, J. 1949. Remarques sur le genre Amicta (sensu lato) et détermination de la position systématique

d’Amicta Ecksteini Led. — Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France 1949: 98-103.

Dierl, W. 1964. Zur Kenntnis von Amicta murina (Klug). Amicta mauretanica Rothsch. Bona Species.

— Opuscula Zoologica 80: 1-9.

Heylaerts, F.-J.-M. 1881. Essai d’une monographie des Psychides de la faune européenne. — Annales de la

Société entomologique belge 28: 66.

Sauter, W. & P. Hattenschwiler 1999. Zum System der palaearktischen Psychiden. 2. Teil Bestimmungs-

schlüssel für die Gattungen. — Nota lepidopterologica 22 (4): 262-295.

Solyanikov, V. P. 2002. New genus and species of Bagworm Moths from Iran and Kabardino Balkaria.

— Entomological Review 81 (6): 745-749.

Staudinger, ©. 1899. Neue Lepidopteren des palaearktischen Faunengebietes. — Deutsche Entomologische

Zeitschrift Lepidoptera Iris 12: 356-357.

Wiersema, J.H. & B. Leon 2004. Data from GRIN Taxonomy. Taxonomic information on cultivated plants

in the USDA-ARS Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), Online Database. Available

from: http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-in/npgs/html/taxon.pl?14774 (accessed 27 November 2004).

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 89-93 89

Penestoglossa pyrenaella sp. n. aus den Pyrenäen (Psychidae)

RENÉ HERRMANN

Kapellenweg 38, 79100 Freiburg 1. Br., Germany; e-mail: rene.herrmann @stadt.freiburg.de

Abstract. Penestoglossa pyrenaella sp. n. is described from the Spanish Pyrenees. The new

species is similar to Penestoglossa dardoinella (Milliere, 1865), but it can be distinguished br

the conspicuously reduced wings of the females and by the flat larval cases covered with small

flat pebbles.

Zusammenfassung. Penestoglossa pyrenaella sp. n. wird aus den spanischen Pyrenäen beschrieben. Die

neue Art ist ähnlich zu Penestoglossa dardoinella (Milliere, 1865), kann aber durch die zurückgebildeten

Flügel der Weibchen sowie die Larvensäcke, welche mit flachen Steinplättchen belegt sind, unterschieden

werden.

Key words. Psychidae, Pyrénées, Penestoglossa pyrenaella sp. n., Penestoglossa dardoinella

(Millière, 1865).

Einleitung

Den Erstnachweis der neuen Art erbrachten P. und S. Hättenschwiler (Uster, Schweiz),

welche im Mai 1981 einige adulte, leere Säcke, nahe Soldeu (Andorra) sowie später

im Jahre 1986, ebensolche an 3 weiteren Fundstellen in den zentralen spanischen

Pyrenäen, eintragen konnten.

Im Jahre 1984 reiste der Autor zur Erforschung der Psychiden in das etwa 50 km

westlich vom ersten Fundplatz entfernt gelegene Gebiet von Esterri d” Aneu und

fand dort dieselbe Art in einer individuenstarken Population. Es ließ sich bei dieser

Untersuchung eine erhebliche Anzahl von Raupen (-Säcken) auffinden, die sich in der

Folge problemlos bis zur Imago züchten ließen.

Schon ein Jahr später wurden in diesem Teil der Katalanischen Hochpyrenäen fünf

weitere Fundstellen entdeckt, an welchen die neue Art zuweilen ebenso zahlreich

registriert werden konnte.

Verwandtschaftlich steht die neue Art der Penestoglossa dardoinella (Milliere,

1865) am nächsten. Für diese Festlegung sprechen einige Merkmale (wie z.B. das

Flügelgeäder der Männchen), welche bei beiden Arten ähnlich strukturiert sind, und

die eine systematische Einordnung in die Gattung Penestoglossa Rogenhofer, 1875

möglich machen.

Auffallend sind bei den kleinen, gutbeweglichen aber flugunfähigen Weibchen

der neuen Art die stark reduzierten Flügel und bei den Säcken der Belag, welcher

denselben, durch die oberflächlich angesponnenen Gesteinsteinsplättchen, eine ganz

charakteristische Note verleiht.

Eine Verwechslung mit einer schon bekannten Art wird ausgeschlossen.

Nota lepidopterologica, 14.08.2006, ISSN 0342-7536

HERRMANN: Penestoglossa pyrenaella sp. n.

Figs. 1-4. Penestoglossa pyrenaella sp. n. 1. Männchen. 2. Weibchen. 3. Säcke (links Weibchen, rechts

Männchen). 4. Männliches Genital (Zeichnung W. Sauter).

Penestoglossa pyrenaella sp. n.

Material. Holotypus ©, Spanien, Katalonien, Lerida, Esterri d’Aneu, 1100 m, 21.VIIL.1984 (e.l.),

leg. et coll. Herrmann. — Paratypen:: 70°, 79 gleiche Daten, aber 12., 20., 21., 22., 25., 27., 29.8., 1.9.1984

(e. 1.), leg. et coll. Herrmann; 30°, 79 gleiche Daten, aber 28. (e. 1.), 30.7.1991 (Freilandfund), 3., 4., 7., 13.,

30.8., 29.9.1991 (e. p.), leg. Bläsius, coll. Herrmann; 79 gleiche Daten, aber 20.7.1994 (e. 1.), leg. et coll.

Bettag; 30°, 39, Lerida, Sorpe, 18., 20.8.1994 (e. 1.), leg. et coll. Bettag; 10, 19, Lerida, Martinet, 800m,

20.9.2001 (e. 1.), leg. et coll. Herrmann; Säcke: 45 S (= Säcke, ohne Falter ), Spanien, Katalonien, Lerida,

Esterri d’ Aneu, 1100 m, 19.8.1985; leg. et coll. Herrmann; 3 S, Lerida, Sorpe, 1200 m, 21.8.1985, leg. et

coll. Herrmann; 4 S, Lerida, Espot, 1300 m, 21.8.1985, leg. et coll. Herrmann; 4 S, Lerida, Berrös-Josa,

900 m, 22.8.1985, leg. et coll Herrmann; 3 S, Lerida, Espot, Pista al Estany Negro, 2000 m, 22.8.1985, leg.

et coll. Herrmann; 2 S, Lerida, Rialp, 800 m, 23.8.1985, leg. et coll. Herrmann; 12 S, Lerida, Avellanet,

1250 m, 3.5.1986, leg. et coll. Hättenschwiler; 6 S, Lerida, Llavorsi, 3.5.1986, leg. et coll. Hättenschwiler;

1 S, Puerta da Menga, 14.5.1986, leg. et coll. Hättenschwiler; 4 S, Andorra, Soldeu, 1700 m, 5. 1981, leg.

et coll. Hättenschw ler.

Beschreibung. Männchen (Abb. 1). Kopf, Rücken, Brust und Hinterleib einfarbig

dunkelbraun beschuppt. Labialpalpen dreigliedrig. Fühler mit 21-27 Gliedern. Die

schmalen, gestreckten Vorderflügel (VFL) nach außen kaum erweitert. Vorderrand

hingegen leichtnach außen gewölbt; Apex leichtzugespitzt. Expansion der VFLzwischen

9-13,2 mm (im Mittel 11,1 mm); Länge derselben zwischen 4,4-6,2 mm (im Mittel 5,3

mm). 9 Adern entspringen aus der Mittelzelle, wobei die Adern r4 und r5 verschmolzen

und die Medianadern 2 und 3 gestielt oder auch getrennt sein können. Anhangzelle

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 89-93 91

meist vorhanden, die Eingeschobene Zelle hingegen stets fehlend. Deckschuppen mit

Schuppenklasse V-VI (nach Sauter 1956), feingezähnt und meist von glänzender,

dunkelbrauner Farbe. Weißgraue Schuppen bzw. schwach angedeutete Gitterung selten

und nur bei wenigen Exemplaren festgestellt. Die Flügelfransen grau bis dunkelbraun

gefärbt. Hinterflügel gestreckt, mit spitzem Apex und dunkelbraun gefärbten Schuppen.

5 Adern entspringen aus der Mittelzelle. Die Adern m2 und m3 dabei verschmolzen.

Die Vordertibien mit verhältnismäßig langer Epiphysis. Die Mitteltibien mit je einem

und die Hintertibien mit je zwei Spornpaaren. Im Genitalapparat (Abb. 4) Tegumen

am Ende kräftig eingekerbt, mit zwei gekrümmten, bedornten Spitzen. Saccus sehr

lang mit spitzem Ende. Die Valven nach innen gebogen, mit schmalem Sacullus.

Cuiller mit distal mit stumpfen Dornen. Die Valve trägt basal an der Dorsalkante einen

lappenförmigen, rundgeformten Fortsatz. Beide Valven sind ventral durch eine stärker

sklerotisierte und gekrümmte Spange und dorsal durch die fadenförmige Transtilla

verbunden, welche sich basal an der dorsalen Valvenkante befinden. Phallus fast gerade,

mit stumpfen Dornen besetzt und einer auffallend rundlichen Verbreiterung an seinem

distalen Ende.

Weibchen (Abb. 2). Kopfbehaarung grau, Augen dunkelbraun bis schwarz gefärbt.

Fühler haarförmig, mit 24-27 Gliedern (N = 3). Körperfarbe grau. Afterwollhaare lang

und weißlich bis dunkelgrau gefärbt. Sämtliche Sternite geschlossen. Die Flügel stark

zurückgebildet, daher die Flugunfähigkeit der Imagines. Die Imagines sind flugunfähig.

Vorderrand der Vorderflügel leicht nach außen gewölbt und Apex zugespitzt. Expansion

zwischen 7,5-10,5 und im Mittel 9,1 mm, bei einer Flügellänge von 3,2 —4,8 und einem

Mittelwert von 4,1 mm. Geäder vorhanden, wenn auch meist nur unvollständig. So

können einzelne Adern bisweilen gänzlich fehlen oder sie sind schwach angedeutet bzw.

nur noch als Fragmente vorhanden. Die weißlich bis dunkelgrau gefärbten Deckschuppen

breit und mit kurzen Zacken besetzt. Hinterflügel mit spitzem Apex, grau gefärbten

schmalen Schuppen und stark rudimentierten Geäderstrukturen. Die Vordertibien mit

langer, schlanker Epiphysis. An den Mitteltibien wie beim Männchen je ein und an

den Hintertibien je zwei Spornpaare. Tarsus der Vorderbeine mit fünf Gliedern. Im

Genitalapparat der Ovipositor schmal und lang gestreckt und an seinem distalen Ende

mit einzelnen Tastborsten versehen. Die Postvaginalplatte kaum sklerotisiert und

daher nur wenig sichtbar. Etwas besser hingegen die Antevaginalplatten erkennbar

sowie mit stärkerer Sklerotisierung auch der Bursabogen. Der Fühlerscheidenansatz

der weiblichen Puppenhülle ohne merkliche Einkerbung und daher, wie bei Taleporia

tubulosa (Retzius, 1783) und Dahlica triquetrella (Hübner, 1813), stumpfwinklig

abgeschlossen (nach Hättenschwiler, 1977).

Säcke (Abb. 3). Die leicht gerundeten und oftmals etwas gekrümmten, länglichen

Säcke sind zu den Enden hin verjüngt und in der Mitte zuweilen bauchig verdickt.

Ihre Länge bewegt sich beim Männchen zwischen 7-11 mm, (im Mittel 8,91 mm),

bei 12 untersuchten Exemplaren. Geringfügig größer sind hingegen die weiblichen

mit Werten zwischen 8-12 mm und einem Mittelwert von 9,83 mm (N = 12). Bei

beiden Geschlechtern schwankt die Breite zwischen 2,5 und 4 mm, wobei auch hier die

Weibchen höhere Durchschnittswerte erreichen. Die Säcke sind meist unregelmäßig

92 HERRMANN: Penestoglossa pyrenaella sp. n.

Figs. 5-6. Lebensräum von Penestoglossa pyrenaella sp. n. 5. Bei Espot, 1300 m NN. 6. Die Larven von

Penestoglossa pyrenaella sp. n. leben auf flechten- und algenreichen, südexponierten Felsen, wie sie in der

Umgebung von Esterri d’ Aneu, 1100 m NN vielfach anzutreffen sind.

mit kleinsten Sandkörnchen sowie vielfach mit flachen Gesteinsplättchen geschmückt,

welche kristallinen Bodenverhältnissen (z. B. Granit) entstammen. Weniger hingegen

kommen Flechten- und Grasteilchen als Baumaterialien in Betracht.

Derivatio nominis. Nach dem Gebirge benannt, in dem Penestoglossa pyrenaella in

Teilen heimisch ist.

Lebensweise. Die neue Psychidenart findet sich sowohl in trocken heißen und

submediterranen Felsheiden der zentralen und östlichen Pyrenaen zwischen 700-1100m

ü. NN, wıe auch ın winterkalten und schneereich geprägten alpinen Gebirgslagen, wo

ihre Entwicklungshabitate, südexponiert, noch in 2000 m ü. NN liegen können (Abb. 5

und 6). Stets wurden die Larven und vielfach auch die zur Verpuppung angesponnenen

Säcke an sonnenexponierten Felsen festgestellt, welche zuweilen durch reichlichen

Algen- und Flechtenüberzug gekennzeichnet waren. In den unteren, wärmegetönten

Berglandschaften, wie beispielsweise um Esterri d’Aneu, wo die durchschnittlichen

Jahresniederschläge bei etwa 700 mm liegen, zeigt sich die Psychidenfauna besonders

artenreich. So fanden sich hier neben der neuen Art auch Dahlica lichenella (Linné,

1761) f. parth., Dahlica triquetrella (Hübner, 1813) f. parth., Taleporia tubulosa (Retzius,

1783), Psyche sp., Luffia lapidella (Goeze, 1783), Canephora unicolor (Hufnagel,

1766), Apterona sp. (kleine Säcke wie bei Apterona helicoidella (Vallot, 1827) parth.

und Eumasia parietariella (Heydenreich, 1851)). Geringer war die Anzahl der Arten

in Lagen oberhalb von 1500 m, wo die Säcke von Taleporia tubulosa (Retzius, 1783),

Epichnopterix sp., Ptilocephala pyrenaella (Herrich-Schäffer, 1852) und Apterona

nylanderi (Wehrli, 1927), angesponnen an den hellen Granitfelsen, neben solchen der

neuen Art, festgestellt werden konnten.

Die Falter schlüpften in der Zeit zwischen dem 20. Juli und 29. August, wobei die meisten

Adulten im August erschienen. Ein frisch geschlüpftes Männchen fand R. Bläsius

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 89-93 93

im Freiland am 30.7.1991. Es saß an einem südexponierten, der Sonne ausgesetzten

Felsen, nahe Esterri d’Aneu, neben seinem Sack. Unmittelbar nach dem Schlüpfen der

Imagines zwischen 12-14 Uhr schließt sich der Paarungsphase an. Dabei stülpt das

sehr bewegliche Weibchen den Ovipositor weit heraus um Pheromone auszustoßen.

Nach vollzogener Paarung läuft das Weibchen in auffallender Unruhe umher, um mit

der Legeröhre den felsigen Untergrund nach kleinsten Ritzen und dergleichen für die

unmittelbar bevorstehende Eiablage abzutasten.

Diskussion

Bei Vergleichsuntersuchungen mit anderen Psychidenarten zeigte sich, dass die neue

Art am besten mit Penestoglossa dardoinella (Milliere, 1865) verwandtschaftlich

in Verbindung zu bringen ist. So verfügen beide Arten, bei ähnlich strukturiertem

Flügelschnitt, im Vorderflügel über neun Adern, welche aus der Mittelzelle ausstrahlen.

Im Hinterflügel sind es bei beiden Arten hingegen nur fünf. Lediglich bei den Weibchen

der neuen Art trifft dies nicht zu, denn deren Flügelgeäder muss als außerordentlich

deformiert bzw. als nur rudimentär entwickelt bezeichnet werden. Identisch ist bei

beiden Arten das Vorhandensein einer Eingeschobenen Zelle. Eine Anhangzelle, welche

bei P. dardoinella vorhanden ist, fehlt hingegen der sp. n.

Darüber hinaus bestehen habituelle Unterschiede, welche sich u.a. in der Spannweite

der Vorderflügel (bei P. dardoinella 16-24 mm) und in der Färbung der Falter (bei

P. dardoinella hellgrau bis dunkelbraun) sowie im Aussehen der Säcke manifestieren.

So sind dieselben von P. dardoinella mit 12-20 mm wesentlich größer und nur mit

Pflanzenteilchen belegt.

Gewisse Verschiedenheiten zeigen sich auch im Bau der männlichen Genitalarmatur,

wie etwa den Valven, die bei der sp. n. etwas schmaler sind, und die im Gegensatz zu

denen von P. dardoinella über einen charakteristischen, lappenförmigen Fortsatz an der

Dorsalkante verfügen. Deutlich zugespitzt ist bei der sp. n. distal der Saccus, der bei

P. dardoinella hingegen abgerundet endet.

Danksagung

Allen Personen, die mir bei der Erstellung dieser Arbeit geholfen haben, möchte ich auf diesem Wege

meinen herzlichen Dank aussprechen. Im Besonderen möchte ich dabei Herrn P. Hättenschwiler (Uster,

Schweiz) und Herrn Prof. Dr. W. Sauter (Illnau, Schweiz) erwähnen, von denen ich eine großzügige

Fachberatung und Unterstützung erhielt. Weiterhin bin ich für die Bereitstellung von Untersuchungsmaterial

den Herren E. Bettag (Dudenhofen, Deutschland) und R. Bläsius (Eppelheim, Deutschland) zu großem

Dank verpflichtet.

Literatur

Hättenschwiler, P. 1977. Neue Merkmale als Bestimmungshilfe bei Psychiden und Beschreibung von drei

neuen Solenobia-Dup.-Arten. — Mitteilungen der Entomologischen Gesellschaft Basel 27 (2): 33-60.

Sauter, W. 1956. Morphologie und Systematik der schweizerischen Solenobia-Arten (Lep. Psychidae). —

Revue Suisse de Zoologie 63 (3) : 451-550.

Sauter, W. & P. Hättenschwiler 1991. Zum System der palaearktischen Psychiden. 1. Teil: Liste der

palaearktischen Arten. — Nota lepidopterologica 14 (1): 69-89.

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 95-111 95

When disrupted characters between species link: a new species

of Conistra from Sicily (Noctuidae)

ALBERTO ZILLI! & ANDREA GRASSI?

! Museum of Zoology, Via U. Aldrovandi 18, 00197 Rome, Italy; e-mail: a.zilli@comune.roma.it

2 Museo della Farfalla, Riserva Naturale Regionale “Lago di Penne’, Via Collalto 1, 65017 Penne

(PE), Italy; e-mail: andreagrassi76@tiscalı.it

Abstract. Conistra iana sp. n. is described from Sicily. The new species is characterised by an unusual

intermingling of characters deemed to be diagnostic for C. vaccinii (Linnaeus, 1761) and C. ligula (Esper,

1791), and shows also some exclusive features. An overall survey of closest congeners revealed that all

checked females of “C. ligula“ from the south-east Mediterranean are devoid of signum and sparse “C.

alicia“ from southern Spain and Morocco show markedly dilated postero-lateral processes of antrum, both

findings calling for further research on these nominal taxa inasmuch additional entities might be hidden.

Orrhodia vaccinii nigra A. Bang-Haas, 1907 is shown to be a senior synonym for Conistra (Orrhodia)

alicia Lajonquiére, 1939 syn. n. and declared as nomen oblitum in favour of the younger name as nomen

protectum.

Key words. Conistra, Noctuidae, new species, Sicily.

Introduction

Zilli (1995) quoted the bizarre occurrence in Sicilian specimens of “Conistra vaccinii

(Linnaeus, 1761)” of an outwardly produced apex of forewing (Figs. 1-2), a feature

hitherto considered to be diagnostic of C. ligula (Esper, 1791) (e.g. Guenée 1852; Tutt

1892; South 1961; Bretherton et al. 1983), thus raising doubts about the published

records for the latter species in Sicily. The preliminary identification of those specimens

as C. vaccinii rather than C. ligula was based on the occurrence of characters deemed

to be diagnostic for C. vaccinii, viz. a clearly lobed submarginal shade on the forewing

underside (Fig. 9), an anchor-shaped juxta and a bulbous and apically blunt basal

cornutus on the everted vesica (viz. the distal cornutus of the aedeagus, if vesica is not

everted) (cf. Lajonquiére & Boursin 1943; Koch 1958; Berio 1985) (Figs. 13, 17a-c,

22a-c, 27a-d). Nevertheless, new insights into the morphology of both male and

female specimens from Sicily further revealed the linkage of ‘vaccinioid’ and ‘liguloid’

characters in the relevant populations. This fact, together with the detection of some

unique features, indicates that these populations cannot be assigned to either of the two

or any other taxon of the C. vaccinii species-group, as defined by Ronkay et al. (2001).

The Sicilian populations are therefore deemed to represent a new species which is

described here. Nevertheless, in order to properly address the issue of the taxonomic

characterisation of the new species, it was first necessary to circumscribe clearly the

ranges of variation shown by its closest congeners. This was done by surveying material

from different districts of the species’ ranges.

Nota lepidopterologica, 14.08.2006, ISSN 0342-7536

96 ZILLI & Grassi: A new Conistra from Sicily

Materials and methods

A thorough check of published information on the structural characters of taxa of

the Conistra (Conistra) vaccinii species-group was first made (Pierce 1909, 1910;

Lajonquiére 1939; Lajonquiére & Boursin 1943; Kostrowicki 1956; Sugi 1959, 1982;

Rungs 1972; Kishida & Yoshimoto 1979; Laever 1979; Berio 1983, 1985; Calle 1983;

Gömez de Aizpurua 1987; Yela et al. 1988; Hacker 1990; Hreblay 1992; Yela 1992;

Rakosy 1996; Fibiger 1997; Hreblay & Ronkay 1998; Ronkay et al. 2001; Kononenko

2003). As the Sicilian taxon was found to be more closely related to a triplet of species

consisting of C. vaccinii, C. ligula and C. alicia Lajonquière, 1939, traditionally regarded

as difficult to differentiate from one another, study material of the four species from the

following locations was gathered and specimens dissected:

Conistra vaccinii: Finland, France, Corsica, Switzerland, Italy, Czech Republic,

Romania, Bulgaria, Russia (Ural), Turkey (28 ©, 139).

Conistra ligula: Morocco, Algeria, Spain, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Sicily,

Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey (250°, 349).

Conistra alicia: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Spain, France (49, 89).

Conistra sp.: Sicily (100, 119).

Genitalia preparations, pictures and drawings were produced following the standard

methods in lepidopterology (e.g. Grassi & Zilli 2005a). Measurements and counts were

taken with the aid of a camera lucida. Numbers of the median cornuti include even

the smallest. A random subset of C. vaccinii and C. ligula was also taken in order

to compare the mean lengths (expressed in mm) of quantitatively varying characters

with respect to the Sicilian species by Student’s ¢ test (Scossiroli & Palenzona 1971).

The chosen characters were the basal bulbous cornutus (this shared only between

C. vaccinii and Conistra sp.) and the antrum, which was measured from anterior margin

to bottom point of ostial curved slit. In contrast, a non-parametric Mann-Whitney U-

test was performed in order to compare the medians of the distributions of the small

cornuti between C. vaccinii and C. ligula, inasmuch counts of discrete objects rarely

show a normal distribution which allow f test to be applied (Fowler & Cohen 1993).

Abbreviations

AG coll. A. Grassi, Rome L length

AZ coll. A. Zilli, Rome N sample size

HNHM Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest P probability level

MF coll. M. Fibiger, Sorg s standard deviation

MHNG Muséum d’ Histoire Naturelle, Geneve t Student’s t

MNHB Museum of Natural History, Bergamo, Italy U Mann-Whitney U

MZR Museum of Zoology, Rome x mean

PP coll. P. Parenzan, Bari

Results

The new species was shown to be more closely related to C. vaccinii and C. ligula than

to C. alicia. The main diagnostic differences between these species and their ranges of

variation can be synthetically summarised as follows.

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 95-111 97

Italy, Latium, 9. 7. C. alicia 9, Algeria, Algier (syntype of Orrhodia vaccinii v. nigra A. Bang-Haas,

Conistra vaccinii (Linnaeus, 1761) Figs. 5-6

Diagnosis. Antennal segments of male approximately square with straight basal and

distal margins in side view, so as to appear as tightly adpressed ina ‘continuous’ flagellum.

Forewing with apex little or not produced, due to termen almost regularly straight or

98 ZILLI & Grassi: A new Conistra from Sicily

convex subapically, submarginal shade on underside distinctly lobed with indentations

in correspondence with veins (Fig. 11); hindwing and abdomen comparatively pale,

the former often showing postmedial line; valvae moderately asymmetrical in length

(the right longer) with smooth costal angles, juxta inferiorly anchor-shaped with nearly

rectangular inner angles and rather narrow superior plate, vesica with bulbous and

apically blunt basal cornutus, median bundle with 7—27 small cornuti (Figs. 14, 18a—c,

21a-c, 26a—d); antrum short and narrow, with narrow and tapering posterolateral lobes,

bursa with two small elongate signa, sclerotisation of cervix bursae little extended

(Figs. 30, 35a—e).

Remarks. The species is remarkably variable in colour, although most often orange

brown or reddish brown; blackish specimens are extremely rare (cf. Steiner 1997:

466). As specimens with slightly produced forewing apex are not uncommon, the

best diagnostic character in external habitus with respect to C. ligula is represented

by features of the submarginal shade on the forewing underside. Asymmetry in the

length of valvae has not been generally noted in the literature, but this is fairly frequent,

although to a variable extent, and most emphasized in populations from peninsular Italy

(e.g. the ratios of lengths left/right valva varied in our sample between 0.88-0.93).

The bundle of median cornuti is generally stated as being not numerous, but a lot of

variation has been found both in the number and size of these cornuti. As a matter

of fact, the medians of the distributions of these cornuti do not significantly differ

between C. vaccinii (N=20) and C. ligula (N=13) (U = 125; P < 0.05). It should not

be underestimated, however, that these cornuti are likely to detach during copula

(cf. Ronkay et al. 2001: 111, under C. alicia) and statistical comparisons should be

better performed with bred unmated males.

Distribution. Palaearctic, from western Europe to the Russian Far East (Amur), as

far south as southern Europe, Turkey, Iran and Turkestan. Records from China (Chen

1999) seem ascribable to other taxa. We have been unable to identify any authentic

specimen from Northwest Africa, where the species is stated to occur (Ronkay et al.

2001). Not known from Sicily, despite some quotations from this island.

Conistra ligula (Esper, 1791) Figs. 3-4

Diagnosis. Antennal segments of male approximately rectangular (longer than wide)

with straight basal and distal margins in side view, so as to appear as tightly adpressed in

a ‘continuous’ flagellum. Forewing with apex often distinctly produced because termen

is slightly concave subapically, submarginal shade on underside straight or irregularly

festooned (Fig. 10); hindwing more uniformly smoky, rarely showing postmedial

line, abdomen dark; valvae asymmetrical in length (the right longer) with smooth

costal angles, juxta generally deltoidal inferiorly with broader superior plate than in

C. vaccinii (but see remarks here below), vesica with slender and sharply pointed basal

cornutus, median bundle of cornuti 5—43 (Figs. 15, 19a-c, 23a—c, 24c 28a—b); antrum

long and wide, with large and apically rounded posterolateral lobes, bursa with 0-1

small elongate signum (see remarks below), sclerotisation of cervix bursae moderately

extended (Figs. 31-32, 37a—e).

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 95-111 99

Aa oe 8

a 5

ce oe 5

France, Pyrénées-Orientales, Vernet-les-Bains (syntype).

Remarks. Colour variation is less than in C. vaccinii and most individuals are either

deep reddish brown or blackish brown, both equally frequent. As shown above under

C. vaccinii, the well-known character of the falcate forewing apex is not of absolute

value for diagnosis. Whereas on the one hand specimens of C. vaccinii with slightly

falcate apex may occur, on the other hand some of C. ligula may indeed show a fairly

100 ZILLI & Grassi: A new Conistra from Sicily

regular forewing termen, although they appear to be rare (cf. Fig. 4, specimen checked

through dissection). Some characters of the genitalia usually considered as constant

are very variable and alike C. vaccinii. Of these it is worth mentioning the shape of the

juxta, which is occasionally anchor-shaped with inner angles nearly rectangular and

rather narrow apical plate (this configuration was found in three Bulgarian examples out

of eight together with two intermediates and the more usual form; Figs. 24a—b) and the

number and size of median cornuti. Nevertheless, also specimens with a “vaccinioid”

juxta tend to show a taller inferior plate and straighter inferior margins than C. vaccinii.

Moreover, a surprising outcome was the finding that all the females dissected from

Peninsular Italy (89), Sicily (19), Bulgaria (39), Greece (19) and Turkey (19) are

devoid of any signum (Fig. 32), while the presence of one signum was considered as a

fixed character for C. ligula in all the consulted references. It is worth noting that also the

female from Hungary illustrated by Ronkay et al. (2001) appears devoid of the signum.

This outcome shows a clear geographical congruence and calls for further research in

order to assess whether or not more entities are involved into the current concept of

C. ligula. For the time being we prefer to take a conservative view and consider the

expression of the signum in C. ligula from the North-West to the South-East to be

clinal (cf. Grassi & Zilli, 2005b). As a matter of fact, the existence of a NW-SE cline

in Europe, or a corresponding contact between closely related sister taxa, seems to be

quite common among European Lepidoptera, some examples from the Noctuidae being

Hadena bicruris (Hufnagel, 1766) / H. capsincola ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775),

Shargacucullia caninae (Rambur, 1833) / S. blattariae (Esper, 1790), Spudaea ruticilla

(Esper, 1791) / S. pontica Klyuchko, 1968 and Agrochola pistacinoides (d’ Aubuisson,

1867) / A. nitida ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) (cf. Ronkay & Ronkay 1994; Ronkay

et al. 2001; Hacker et al. 2002).

Distribution. Western-Palaearctic, from western Europe and Northwest Africa to

the Urals, Caucasian region, Iraq and Iran. Records from China (Chen, 1999) seem

ascribable to other taxa. Old records from Siberia have been subsequently amended

(Kononenko, 2005). Present in Sicily.

Conistra alicia Lajonquière, 1939 Figs. 7-8

Diagnosis. Antennal segments of male approximately rectangular (wider than long)

with sligthly concave basal and distal margins in side view, so as to give the flagellum a

more ‘articulated’ appearance. Forewing a little more elongate than in closest congeners,

apex of forewing as in C. vaccinii, submarginal shade on forewing underside straight

(Fig. 12); hindwing generally less smoky than in C. ligula, with variable expression

of postmedial line, abdomen comparatively pale; valvae moderately asymmetrical in

length (the right longer) with slightly produced costal angles; juxta basally rhomboidal;

vesica with bulbous and feebly apically blunt basal cornutus, median bundle of cornuti

numerous (approx. 20-50), cornuti more thread-like (Figs. 16, 20a—c, 25a—c, 28c-d);

antrum moderately elongate and wide, with very large and well-rounded posterolateral

lobes, bursa with one small circular signum, sclerotisation of cervix bursae greatly

extended (Figs. 33, 38a-c).

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 95-111 101

14. C. vaccinii, Switzerland, Mte Ceneri. 15. C. ligula, Central Italy, surroundings of Rome. 16. C. alicia,

Algeria, Algier. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Remarks. Variation occurs in the length of the basal bulbous cornutus and number

of median cornuti. In the light of the slender and apically sharp basal cornutus and

too scanty bundle of median cornuti we are unable to confirm the identification of

the aedeagus of “C. alicia” illustrated by Ronkay et al. (2001) as belonging to this

species and suggest that a mistake for C. ligula might have occurred. Some females

102 ZILLI & Grassi: A new Conistra from Sicily

show a signum not perfectly circular, but never as elongate as in closest congeners.

A few females from Southern Spain and Morocco are characterised by the unusually

large and rounded posterolateral lobes of the antrum (Figs. 34, 38d-e), alongside with

normal females occurring in the same areas, so that also in this case further research is

necessary to assess whether or not the current concept of C. alicia has to be split.

Distribution. Atlanto-Mediterranean. Not known from Sicily.

Conistra iana sp. n. Figs. 1-2

16.x1.1990, Zilli leg., MZR. — Paratypes: 150°, 149, same data as holotype; 90°, 179, idem, but ‘Crocifisso’,

1000 m, 22.x1.1990; in AG, AZ, HNHM, MF, MHNG, MZR; 1, idem, [no site stated], 2.x11.1995, Grillo

leg., in AZ; 20°, idem, ‘torrente’, 730 m, 24.xi.1991, Pantini & Valle leg., MNHB. — Additional material.

19, Sicily, Etna, Linguaglossa, Contrada Salici 13.11.1994, Bella & Russo leg., in PP; 19, Sicily, Etna,

Pineta di Linguaglossa, ‘Etna Nord’, 1450 m, 5.iv.1989, Grillo leg., in AZ.

Description. Male (Fig. 1). Wingspan 32.50-37.50 mm (x = 34.82, N = 28).

Specimens falling into two main categories as to colour of background, dark reddish

brown or blackish brown, occasionally pale orange-brown, pattern elements as in close

congeners, generally little outstanding but conspicuous in rare contrasted specimens

mottled by pale yellowish. Antennal segments approximately square, as in C. vaccinii.

Forewing with apex distinctly pointed and produced, the termen being subapically

concave much as in C. ligula, cilia concolorous with ground colour; hindwing glossy,

pale basally and irregularly suffused by brown, with fairly evident postmedial and

submarginal lines, the latter often followed by some clearing before dark terminal

line, cilia pale creamy brown. Abdomen fairly dull coloured. Underside very clear and

contrasted, with prominent postmedial lines and discal spot of hindwing, submarginal

shade of forewing distinctly lobed with indentations in correspondence with veins

(Fig. 9).

Male genitalia (Figs. 13, 17a—c, 22a—c, 27a—d). Armature as in C. vaccinii except

for valvae, greatly asymmetric in length, right one remarkably longer than left one and

often tapering into rod-like point. Aedeagus vesica with very short bulbous and apically

blunt basal cornutus, bundle of 9-18 small median cornuti and distal cornutus.

Female (Fig. 2). Wingspan 32—37 mm (x = 34.74, N = 33). Habitus essentially as

described for male.

Female genitalia (Figs. 29, 36a-e). Armature as in C. vaccinii except for antrum,

longer and broader than in C. vaccinii but distinctly shorter than in C. ligula, with

narrow and pointed posterolateral lobes, and with only one elongate signum.

Derivatio nominis. The species is named after the ‘two-faced’ Roman god Ianus, in

order to emphasise the twofold facies of the forewing, more closely resembling that of

C. ligula on the upperside because of dark colour and falcate apex, and of C. vaccinii

on the underside because of lobed submarginal shade.

Distribution. So far known from Sicily.

Diagnosis. The new species is essentially characterised by a combination of features

that separately occur in C. vaccinii and C. ligula. It shows the habitus of C. ligula,

particularly in the slightly falcate apex of forewing, and the same tendency to occur

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 95-111 103

Figs. 17-20. S genital armatures of Conistra spp. 17a-c. C. iana sp. n., Sicily, Bosco della Ficuzza

(paratypes). 18a-c. C. vaccinii: (a) Finland, Maarianhamina, (b) Czech Republic, Borek, (c) Southern

Italy, Calabria, Domanico. 19a-c. C. ligula: (a) Switzerland, Magden, (b) Central Italy, surroundings of

Rome, (c) Southern Italy, Calabria, Donnici. 20a-c. C. alicia: (a) Spain, Guadalajara, Trillo, (b) Morocco,

Middle Atlas, Ifrane, (c) Algeria, Algier. Scale bars = 1 mm.

with dark phenotypes, either reddish brown or blackish brown (with around same

frequency), but on the forewing underside the submarginal shade is distinctly lobed and

indented in correspondence with veins, not straight as in C. ligula (and C. alicia). In the

male genitalia, the shape of the juxta and the blunt apex of the basal bulbous cornutus

correspond with C. vaccinii, the cornutus being sharp and not bulbous in C. ligula;

on the other hand, in the female genitalia the presence of only one elongate signum

corresponds with C. ligula, as C. vaccinii has two such signa. Features exclusive of

104 ZILLI & Grassı: A new Conistra from Sicily

C. iana Sp. n. are a greatly emphasized asymmetry in length between the valvae, the

right one being extraordinarily elongate, the shortness of the basal bulbous cornutus,

and the antrum clearly intermediate in size between those of C. vaccinii and C. ligula.

Concerning the basal cornutus, the ranges of variation of C. vaccinii and C. iana sp. n.

slightly overlap, but the differences are greatly statistically significant (P = 0.01): for

C. vaccinii 0.72<L<0.92, x =0.86, s =0.059 (N = 27); for C. iana 0.56sLs0.73, x=0.65,

s=0.068 (N = 8), with z(vaccinii-iana) = 21.23. As regards the length of the antrum, the

differences are also greatly statistically significant (P= 0.01) between the three species:

for C. vaccinii O.90<L<1.22, x = 1.10, s = 0.086 (N = 13); for C. iana 1.22<L<1.52,

x = 1.36, s = 0.106 (N = 10); for C. ligula 1.70<L<2.28, x = 1.95, s = 0.166 (N = 18);

with f(vaccinii-iana) = 15.55, t(vaccinii-ligula) = 46.56 and t(iana-ligula) = 25.76.

With regard to C. alicia, the new species can be separated by the forewing shape more

like that of C. ligula, submarginal shade on forewing underside lobed, valvae very

asymmetrical in length with smooth costal angle, juxta inferiorly anchor-shaped, smaller

number of median cornuti, smaller antrum with narrow and tapering posterolateral lobes,

less extended sclerotisation of cervix bursae, signum elongate instead than circular.

Remarks. Interestingly, Conistra alicia is commonly stated to be intermediate between

C. vaccinii and C. ligula (e.g. Boursin & Lajonquiere 1943), but the features of C. iana

sp. n. clearly show the Sicilian species to be the truly intermediate between the two. In

fact, some qualitative characters fully match those of C. vaccinii (e.g. lobed subterminal

shade, bulbous and blunt basal cornutus), some those of C. ligula (e.g. colour, falcate

forewing apex, presence of only one elongate signum), and some quantitative ones are

intermediate (e.g. length of antrum). A few quantitative traits are eccentric, such as the

shortness of the basal cornutus and the great asymmetry in the length of valvae, but the

latter feature occurs at a certain extent also in C. vaccinii (particularly from the Italian

Peninsula) and C. ligula. This situation may be a priori ascribable either to C. iana

being basal to both C. vaccinii and C. ligula or an hybridogenic origin of the Sicilian

species. Even if the second hypothesis appears as more parsimonious, the frequency of

archaic elements showing relic distribution and most derived ones being widespread

gives some support also to the first scenario. The facts that only C. iana and C. ligula

are present with certainty in Sicily, and C. vaccinii and C. ligula in southernmost Italian

Peninsula (Calabria), are compatible with both hypotheses. Nevertheless, whitin the

context engendered by presuming that C. iana is ancestral, the loss of the signum

in southeastern populations of C. ligula (including Sicilian ones) and its acquisition

in northwestern ones would represent an unlikely reversal of character toward the

condition shown by C. iana, so we are inclined to provisionally dismiss this hypothesis.

Nevertheless, we clearly recognise that such a rejection is based on the assumption that

by virtue of their geographic proximity C. iana should be more related to the C. ligula

populations without signum than those with signum. In contrast, should the settlement

of signum-devoided C. ligula in Peninsular Italy and Sicily be a secondary one, e.g.

following a spread from the Balkan Peninsula, the sharing of the signum between

C. iana and northwestern C. ligula might well be symplesiomorphic. On this respect,

it is worth noting that there are other examples of characters shared between Sicilian

and northern populations which are missing in those from the Italian Peninsula (cf. Zilli

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 95-111 105

Figs. 21-25. Juxtae of Conistra spp. 21a-c. C. vaccinii: (a) Czech Republic, Borek, (b) Switzerland,

Mt Ceneri, (c) Southern Italy, Calabria, Domanico. 22a-c. C. iana sp. n., Sicily, Bosco della Ficuzza

(paratypes). 23a-c. C. ligula: (a) The Netherlands, Utrecht, (b) Switzerland, Magden, (c) Southern Italy,

Calabria, Donnici. 24a—c. Idem: (a) Bulgaria, Kozuch, (b) idem, (c) Central Italy, Rome. 25a-c. C. alicia:

(a) Spain, Guadalajara, Trillo, (b) Morocco, Middle Atlas, Ifrane, (c) Algeria, Algier. Scale bar = 1 mm.

1996). A clear resolution of the phylogeny of this group of species will therefore largely

depend on the assessment of the phylogeographic relationships between the various

populations of “C. ligula’.

Nomenclatural aspects

While checking whether or not there were available species-group names of Conistra

corresponding with the concept of the new Sicilian species, the following ones based

on Northwest-African material had to be taken into account and are here discussed.

106

ZILLI & Grassi: A new Conistra from Sicily

Figs. 26-28. Basal cornuti of Conistra spp. 26a-d. C. vaccinii: (a) Finland, Koski, (b) Switzerland, Mt

Ceneri, (c) Southern Italy, Calabria, Domanico, (d) idem, Mt Cocuzzo. 27a-d. C. iana sp. n., Sicily, Bosco

della Ficuzza (paratypes). 28a-b. C. ligula: (a) The Netherlands, Utrecht, (b) Southern Italy, Calabria,

Donnici. 28c-d. C. alicia: (c) Spain, Guadalajara, Trillo, (d) Algeria, Algier. Scale bar = 1 mm.

Orrhodia sebdouensis Austaut, 1880: 221. Type-locality: Algérie, Sebdou.

Despite the clear association by Austaut (1880) of his “Orrhodia sebdouensis* with

species of the subgenus Dasycampa Guenée, 1837 of Conistra, this name, representing

a full synonym or a subspecies of C. (D.) staudingeri (de Graslin, 1863) (cf. Lajonquiére

& Boursin 1943; Rungs 1972, 1981; Poole 1989; Ronkay et al. 2001), began to be

associated with C. vaccinii (e.g. Staudinger & Rebel 1901; Hampson 1906; Lucas

1911; Warren 1911, in 1909-1914; Rothschild 1920). Oberthiir (1918), moreover,

mixed two species in his illustrations of “Cerastis sebdouensis”, as also evidenced by

Lajonquière & Boursin (1943), viz. Figs. 4091 (sebdouensis type) and 4092 represent

C. (D.) staudingeri, while figs. 4093-4104 actually relate to C. alicia.

Orrhodia vaccinii nigra Bang-Haas, 1907: 74. Type-locality: Algier.

The dissection of the two female syntypes of nigra (Figs. 7, 38b) by courtesy of the

Museum fiir Naturkunde, Berlin, enables us to fully confirm the opinion of Lajonquière

& Boursin (1943) that this name relates to the current concept of C. alicia, a view

overlooked by Poole (1989), who wrongly put it into the synonymy of C. vaccinii.

Nevertheless, Boursin (in Lajonquière & Boursin 1943: 177) explicitly did not want

to grant a ‘variety’ with subspecific status and described Conistra alicia barbarica

Boursin, 1943 with reference to the North African populations. Of course, had nigra

been considered as an available species-group name, as in fact it is (cf. Bang-Haas,

1907: “Orrhodia vaccinii v. nigra n. var.”), it would have taken full priority over

C. alicia. We are therefore compelled to fully explicit the synonymy Orrhodia vaccinii

nigra Bang-Haas, 1907 = Conistra (Orrhodia) alicia Lajonquière, 1939 syn. n., but

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 95-111 107

Figs. 29-34. 9 genitalia of Conistra spp. 29. C. iana sp. n., Sicily, Bosco della Ficuzza (paratype). 30. C.

vaccinü, Czech Republic, CernoSice. 31. C. ligula, Spain, Guadalajara, Trillo. 32. idem, Southern Italy,

Calabria, Scuotrapiti (without signum). 33. C. alicia, Tunesia, Tunis. 34. “C. alicia”, Morocco, Agadir

(with dilated lobes of antrum). Scale bars = 1 mm.

also to consider the younger name as nomen protectum and the older as nomen oblitum

as the conditions of both articles 23.9.1.1. and 23.9.1.2. of the ICZN (1999) are fully

met. Evidence for this is as follows (full references omitted inasmuch not compulsory

by provisions of the Code):

108 ZILLI & Grassı: A new Conistra from Sicily

To our knowledge the name nigra Bang-Haas has not been used as a valid name since

its publication, but only as infrasubspecific (Warren 1911; Boursin & Lajonquiére 1943;

Berio 1985) or was listed in publications not to be taken into account in determining

usage such as catalogues or synonymy lists (e.g. Poole 1989; Vives Moreno 1994),

as ruled by art. 23.9.6. (ICZN 1999). The junior synonym C. alicia has been used as

presumed valid name for the taxon in more than 25 works published by more than

10 authors since 1956 over a span of more than 10 years, among the others Agenjo

(1958), Mouterde & Dufay (1959), Dufay (1961, 1962, 1966), Rungs (1972, 1981),

Calle, Yela & Motta (1974), Calle & Löpez (1974), Gömez de Aizpürua (1974, 1987),

Gomez Bustillo, Arrojo Varela & Yela Garcia (1979), Laever (1979), Calle (1980,

1983), Garcia, Perez de Gregorio & Romaña (1984), Berio (1985), Requena (1987),

Yela (1987, 1992), Yela, Olano & Marcos (1988), Hreblay (1992), Redondo (1990),

Yela & Herrera (1993), Beck (1999-2000), Calle, Lencina, Gonzalez & Ortiz (2000),

Cifuentes (2000) and Redondo, Blasco-Zumeta & King (2001).

Orrhodia vaccinii nigra Lucas, 1911: 483. Type-locality: Algérie, Tarf.

Despite the fact that Lucas (1911) published this name relating to C. alicia (cf.

Lajonquiére & Boursin 1943) as “Orrhodia vaccinii var. nigra, nov.”, the content of

the article clearly reveals that nigra Lucas is infrasubspecific, as some other “formes”

are stated to be sympatric in the type-locality. The name nigra Lucas, therefore, does

not enter into zoological nomenclature and, had it entered, it would be a junior primary

homonym and, at the same time, a junior subjective synonym of Orrhodia vaccinii

nigra Bang-Haas, 1907.

Orrhodia vaccinii ab. flavofasciata Lucas, 1911: 483. Type-locality: Algérie, Tarf.

Explicitly described as aberrational and clearly intended as infrasubspecific in the text

(Lucas 1911), the name flavofasciata Lucas relates to C. alicia but does not enter into

zoological nomenclature.

Conistra alicia barbarica Boursin [in Lajonquière & Boursin], 1943: 178, pl. 10 figs.

9-12, pl. 11 figs. 7-18. Type-locality: Algérie, dept. Constantine, Le Tarf près la Calle.

In the light of the weak differences between African and European populations of

C. alicia, Ronkay etal. (2001) synonymised barbarica Boursin, 1943 with nominotypical

C. alicia.

Conistra ligula gemella Rungs, 1972: 680, pl. 1 fig. 15, pl. 3 [nec pl. 2] figs. 1, 5. Type-

locality: Maroc, Moyen Atlas, Ifrane.

Judging from the original description (Rungs 1972) and examination of some specimens

from Morocco there is no doubt that the name gemella relates to C. ligula, of which it is

currently considered to represent a full synonym (Ronkay et al. 2001).

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 95-111 109

Figs. 35-38. Antra of Conistra spp. 35a-e. C. vaccinii: (a) Czech Republic, Cernoëice; (b) Northern Italy,

Trient, (c), Piedmont, Pralormo, (d, e) Central Italy, Latium, S. Severa. 36a-e. C. iana sp. n.: (a-c) Sicily,

Bosco della Ficuzza (paratypes), (d) Etna, north slope, (e) Linguaglossa. 37a-e. C. ligula: (a) Spain,

Guadalajara, Trillo, (b) France, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Digne, (c) Bulgaria, Kozuch, (d) Central Italy,

surroundings of Rome, (e) Southern Italy, Calabria, Scuotrapiti [c— from specimens without signum].

38a-c. C. alicia: (a) Morocco, Middle Atlas, Ifrane, (b) Algeria, Algier (syntype of Orrhodia vaccinii

v. nigra A. Bang-Haas, 1907), (c) Tunesia, Tunis. 38d-e. “C. alicia”, with dilated lobes of antrum: (d)

Morocco, Middle Atlas, Ifrane, (e) Agadir. Scale bar = 1 mm.

Conistra plantei Rungs, 1972: 681, pl. 1 fig. 16, pl. 3 figs. 2, 6. Type-locality: Maroc,

Moyen Atlas, forêt de Jaba.

This little known species, known with certainty only on the male sex, is clearly distinct

from the Sicilian one on account of the stouter valvae (Rungs states the left one to be

longer, but probably the plate in his work is reversed of 180°, as also the specimen

illustrated of C. ligula gemella shows a longer left valva), wider and stouter clasper,

longer and thinner superior plate of juxta, less blunt basal bulbous cornutus and scarcer

bundle of median cornuti.

Acknowledgments

The authors are deeply indebted to people and institutions that allowed loans of study material, namely

B. Landry (Muséum d’Histoire naturelle, Geneve), M. Lödl and S. Gaal (Naturhistorisches Museum, Wien),

W. Mey (Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin), L. Ronkay (Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest),

P. Parenzan (University of Bari), P. Provera (Rome), S. Scalercio (University of Calabria, Rende),

M. Valle (Museum of Natural History, Bergamo), A. Hausmann (Zoologische Staatssammlung, München)

and J. L. Yela (Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Toledo). A grateful thank you also goes to W. Hogenes

(Zoölogisch Museum, Amsterdam) for his support, D. Reggianti (Rome) for help with pictures, B. Goater

(Chandlers Ford, UK) for revising the English style, and an anonymous referee for useful suggestions.

110 ZILLI & Grassi: A new Conistra from Sicily

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Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 113-120 113

The validity of the family name Roeslerstammiidae Bruand

(Lepidoptera)

ERIK J. VAN NIEUKERKEN ! & OLE KARSHOLT ”

! National Museum of Natural History Naturalis PO Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, Netherlands;

e-mail: nieukerken@naturalis.nl (corresponding author)

> Zoologisk Museum, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark;

e-mail: okarsholt@snm.ku.dk

Abstract. Roeslerstammiidae Bruand, [1851], originally proposed as Rôslertammidae, an incorrect

original spelling, is a justified emendation and the valid family-group name based on the type genus

Roeslerstammia Zeller, 1839. The recent rejection of Roeslerstammiidae by Heppner (2005) is refuted,

and the priority over Amphitheridae Meyrick, 1913, is maintained.

Zusammenfassung. Roeslerstammiidae Bruand, [1851], urspriinglich in der ungiiltigen Schreibweise

Rôslertammidae verôffentlicht, ist eine berechtigte Emendation und ein giiltiger Familienname basierend

auf Roeslerstammia Zeller, 1839 als der Typusgattung. Der kiirzlich erfolgten Ablehnung dieses Names

durch Heppner (2005) wird widersprochen, und die Priorität über Amphitheridae Meyrick, 1913, wird

beibehalten.

Key words. Family name; Nomenclature; Priority; Microlepidoptera

The Roeslerstammiidae are a small family of Microlepidoptera (Gracillarioidea) with

only two European representatives in the genus Roeslerstammia Zeller, 1839 (Agassiz

& Friese 1996; Karsholt 2004), but they are more diverse in the Old World tropics

with about 60 species (Davis & Robinson 1998; Heppner 2005). After a long period of

uncertain. placement, Kyrki (1983) recognized that the genus Roeslerstammia and the

tropical species placed in the Amphitheridae belong to the same family.

In a recent review of the family, Heppner (2005) is challenging the validity of the

senior family name Roeslerstammiidae and is re-establishing the junior Amphitheridae

as the valid name. We examine the reasons put forward by Heppner, and show that his

rejection is based on a misinterpretation of the Code (International Commission on

Zoological Nomenclature 1999).

Heppner provided two arguments against the validity of Roeslerstammiidae:

1) The original author based the name on a misspelled genus name;

2) The original type genus was misidentified, and is not the same as Roeslerstammia

Zeller, 1839; Bruand did not specifically include nominal species that are now (2006)

in Roeslerstammia.

Zeller (1839) described the genus Roeslerstammia (not Röslerstammia as cited by

Heppner) to accommodate five species, viz.: A. 1. granitella, 2. assectella, 3. heleniella,

4. cariosella and B. 5 erxlebeniella [current names Digitivalva granitella (Treitschke,

1833), Acrolepiopsis assectella (Zeller, 1839), Acrolepia autumnitella Curtis, 1838,

D. reticulella (Hiibner, 1796) and Roeslerstammia erxlebella (Fabricius, 1787)].

Nota lepidopterologica, 14.08.2006, ISSN 0342-7536

114 NIEUKERKEN & KARSHOLT: The family name Roeslerstammiidae

This assemblage is now considered to belong to two families, the Acrolepiidae (first

four species) in the Yponomeutoidea and the Roeslerstammiidae in the Gracillarioidea.

In the first half of the 19th century the division of the Microlepidoptera into genera

was in full swing, and many of the newly established genera contained still assem-

blages based on superficial similarity, which we would now no longer consider as

natural. Zeller did not designate a type species; this was done almost a century later

by Fletcher (1929), who selected the last species: Roeslerstammia (Chrysitella) erx-

lebeniella Zeller, 1839, a junior objective synonym and unjustified emendation of

Alucita erxlebella Fabricius, 1787. According to Huemer (1997), the designation was

invalıd, because the type species did not belong to the nominotypical subgenus, but

was described in the ‘section’ Chrysitella Zeller; Kyrki (1983) held the different

opinion that the designation had been correct according to the Code. For various reasons,

including problems with the identity of the type species, Roeslerstammia (Chrysitella)

erxlebeniella Zeller, 1839, was again formally designated as the type species by the

International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (1998).

Bruand ([1851]) erected the family Röslertammidae [sic!] and included the genus

Röslertammia [sıc!]. Röslertammidae, without the second ‘s’ is an incorrect subsequent

spelling (ICZN art. 33.3), because there 1s no indication that Bruand had intentionally

changed the name. Moreover, there would be no reason to do so, as the name is based

on the 19" century lepidopterist ‘Fischer von Röslerstamm’. Also the use of 6 rather

than oe is an incorrect subsequent spelling. [However, it should be noted that both

spellings, Röslerstamm and Roeslerstamm are used by Fischer himself (Fischer von

Röslerstamm 1834-[1843])]. Bruand included ten species, amongst them the first two

also listed by Zeller, now belonging to Acrolepiidae. Other species included by him are

now regarded as belonging to Agonoxenidae, Epermeniidae, Gelechiidae, Momphidae

and Scythrididae respectively. Bruand did not include what we now regard as the type

species (R. erxlebella), but neither did he explicitly exclude it. He did not list that

species, simply because he had not found it in the French department ‘Doubs’, the

subject of his paper.

The family-group name based on the genus Roeslerstammia was later used again by

Herrich-Schäffer (1857) as Röslerstammina [again an incorrect subsequent spelling],

who did not cite any species.

A few other authors used the family group name for subordinate taxa, and Handlirsch

(1925) was the first to make the justified emendation to Roeslerstammiini when he used

it as a tribe within Tineidae. An overlooked fact is that Moriuti (1982a; 1982c) raised

Roeslerstammiidae to family status before Kyrki (1983) discussed its family status and

synonymised it with the junior name Amphitheridae. All family group names are listed

in the catalogue below.

Let us now look again at Heppner’s (2005) reasoning: his first argument is about the use

of a misspelled type genus. This is dealt with by the Code in article 32.5.3, which reads:

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 113-120 115

“A family-group name is an incorrect original spelling and must be corrected if it

32.5.3.1. has an incorrectly formed suffix [Art.29.2]

32.5.3.3. is formed from an incorrect subsequent spelling of a generic name

[Art 35.4.1.]”.

According to this article there is thus no problem, the incorrect original spelling

Röslertammidae must be emended to Roeslerstammiidae, the corrected ‘oe’ and ‘st’

according to 32.5.3.3 and the ending ‘iidae’ according to 32.5.3.1. and 35.4.1: the ending

‘idae’ should be placed after the stem of Roeslerstammia, being ‘Roeslerstammi’. This

emendation was done by Handlirsch (1925).

The second argument refers to article 65.2, which deals with the misidentified or altered

concept of the type genus for the family.

Bruand erected the family on the basis of a genus named by him ‘Röslertammia’, which

— aS we have seen — is an incorrect subsequent spelling of Roeslerstammia Zeller.

According to Heppner (2005), Bruand did not cite the type species Roeslerstammia

erxlebella and thus is using a different concept. However, nowhere does the Code

demand that the type species be cited when establishing a family name; only the type

genus is relevant. That Röslertammia is the type genus follows from article 11.7.1.1

[‘indicated by express reference to the generic name or by inference from its stem...].

According to article 65.1 ‘It is to be assumed, unless there is clear evidence to the

contrary, that an author who establishes a nominal family-group taxon has correctly

identified its type genus’. As shown above, Bruand’s concept of the genus was not

very different from that of Zeller; he merely included several additional species, whilst

retaining those of the original species that were known to him. It would be too far-

fetched to conclude that by not citing a type species that was to be designated more

than 75 or even 150 years later, he misidentified the genus or altered its concept!

Moreover, article 65.2 only deals with situations where “stability or universality is

threatened, or confusion is likely to be caused”. The rest of the article requires that

in all cases the Commission is asked for a ruling. Heppner (l.c.) has not shown that

the stability is threatened nor has he taken steps to ask the Commission for a ruling.

In our view (and that of other lepidopterists whom we have canvassed) there is no

threat to stability: two family names, Amphitheridae and Roeslerstammiidae were

synonymised in 1983, a synonymy not questioned ever since. Both names had been used

in relatively few publications before 1983, but Amphitheridae more often. Contrary to

Heppner’s view, the family-group name Roeslerstammiidae was used several times

between Bruand (1851) and Kyrki (1983) (see below), even shortly before Kyrki’s

work, in 1982, together with Amphitheridae in the same book as two valid family

names (Moriuti 1982a, 1982b, 1982c, 1982d). Since 1983 the name Roeslerstammiidae

is in almost universal use; only Heppner maintains Amphitheridae in several papers

(Heppner 1984). It is true that Moriuti also used Amphitheridae as well (Moriuti 1984,

1987), but from the treatment in Moths of Japan (1982, as cited above) we conclude

116 NIEUKERKEN & KARSHOLT: The family name Roeslerstammiidae

that he considered Roeslerstammia and Amphithera as belonging to two different

families. Below we provide a catalogue of citations for this family, without the aim to

be exhaustive.

A few other statements in Heppner’s (2005) paper need to be corrected: the first

paragraph on page 25 is somewhat confusing but, in short, Heppner is stating that Kyrki

(1983) preferred the name Roeslerstammiidae because the genus Roeslerstammia is

the oldest genus of the family. However, such argumentation is absent from Kyrki’s

paper; he simply followed priority of the family names. A next statement that the rule of

priority does not apply to higher category names is essentially true, but only for ranks

higher than Family-Group names, whereas Family-Group names are ruled by the Code

and follow the Principle of Priority (articles 1.2; 23).

Finally Heppner (l.c.) lists the Neotropical genus Dasycarea Zeller, 1877, as

Amphitheridae but of uncertain affinity, overlooking the fact that Becker (1999)

had transferred it from Roeslerstammiidae to Acrolepiidae. As to the best of current

knowledge the Roeslerstammiidae are absent from the New World, and only known

from the Australian, Oriental and Palaearctic regions.

Our conclusion is that as long as the type genera of Amphitheridae and Roeslerstammiidae

are considered to belong to the same family, the senior name Roeslerstammiidae is the

valid one.

Our argumentation was checked and approved by the following specialists: D. Davis

(Smithsonian Institution, Washington, USA), P. Huemer (Tiroler Landesmuseum

Ferdinandeum, Innsbruck, Austria), K. Sattler (Natural History Museum, London, UK),

J. van Tol (National Museum of Natural History Leiden, Netherlands, member ICZN).

We also informed J. Heppner (Gainesville, USA), who after reading our argumentation

maintains his interpretation of the invalidity of Roeslerstammiidae.

Catalogue of Roeslerstammiidae

Röslertammidae Bruand, [1851]: 43 [incorrect original spelling]

Type genus Röslertammia, an incorrect subsequent spelling of Roeslerstammia

Zeller, 1839.

Rôslerstammina Herrich-Schäffer, 1857: 58. [incorrect subsequent spelling]

Roeslerstammiini [justified emendation] [as tribe of Tineidae: Tineinae]; Handlirsch

1925: 878.

“Roeslerstammiinen” [as subfamily of Tineidae or family, not clear from text]; Börner

1939: 1410.

Roeslerstammiinae [as subfamily of Yponomeutidae]; Kloet & Hincks 1945: 134.

Roeslerstammiidae [as family]: Moriuti 1982a: 206; 1982c: 194; Kyrki 1983: 322;

1984: 80; Buszko & Baraniak 1985: 3; Schnack 1985: 51; Nye & Fletcher 1991:

xxv; Common 1990: 186; Scoble 1992: 234; Robinson 1988: 120; Budashkin &

Kostjuk 1993: 81; Huemer & Tarmann 1993: 29; Robinson et al. 1994: 41; Gaedike

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 113-120 117

et al. 1995: 15; Agassiz & Friese 1996: 46; Agassiz 1996: 110; Nielsen 1996: 44;

Savenkov et al. 1996: 10; Leraut 1997: 92; Budashkin 1997: 431; Huemer 1997: 22;

De Prins 1998: 36; International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature 1998:

244; Karsholt & Stadel Nielsen 1998: 23; Laëtuvka 1998: 21; Gaedike & Heinicke

1999: 50; Davis & Robinson 1998: 109; Becker 1999: 150; Aarvik et al. 2000: [27];

Jürivete et al. 2000: 19; Huemer & Segerer 2001: 207; Holloway et al. 2001: 195;

Kullberg et al. 2002: 59; Buszko & Nowacki 2000: 21; Räkosy et al. 2003: 32;

Karsholt 2004 - internet.

Oeslerstammiidae [lapsus]; Svensson et al. 1987: 3-12.

Amphitheridae [as family]; Meyrick 1914: [64]; Diakonoff 1955: 71; Moriuti 1978: 1;

1982b: 226; 1982d: 199; Heppner 1984: 18; Moriuti 1984: 407; 1987: 87; Heppner

& Inoue 1992: 65; Heppner 1998: 19; 2005: 24.

Amphiterinae [as subfamily of Tineidae]; Handlirsch 1925: 887.

There are many online citations for Roeslerstammiidae, only a few for Amphitheridae

(checked January 2006), these are not listed here.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the following persons for advice and comments on an earlier draft: Don Davis

(Washington, USA), Peter Huemer (Innsbruck, Austria), Klaus Sattler (London, UK) and Jan van Tol

(Leiden, The Netherlands).

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Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 121-124 121

Notes on Cochylimorpha Razowski, 1959 with description

of one new species from Tibet (Tortricidae)

JOZEF RAZOWSKI

Institute of Systematics and Experimental Zoology, PAS, Sawkowska 17, 31-016 Krakow, Poland;

e-mail: razowski@isez.pan.krakow.pl

Abstract. A review of the Chinese species of Cochylimorpha Razowski, 1959 is given. Cochylimorpha

yangtseana sp.n. is described, notes on three more species are given, and an annotated list of 20 species

known from China is provided. C. conankinensis (Ge, 1992), comb.n., C. cuspidata (Ge, 1992), comb.n.,

and C. gracilens (Ge, 1992), comb.n. are transferred to Cochylimorpha.

Key words. Cochylimorpha, China, list of species, C. yangtseana sp.n.

Introduction

The available data on Palaearctic Cochylimorpha Razowski, 1959 were summarized by

Razowski (1970, 1991) and those pertaining to the Chinese fauna by Liu & Li (2002),

who compiled a list of 15 species. Three species were described by Ge (1992). In the

two Chinese publications the data are mentioned under Stenodes Guenée, 1845, which,

however, is preoccupied by Stenodes Dujardin, 1844 (Nye & Fletcher 1991).

The present paper is based on material from the Grigore Antipa Museum Bucharest

(MINGA), already examined in the sixties by the author. The species are arranged after

Razowski (1991). In the following list recording the 20 species of Cochylimorpha known

from China I give the general distribution based on my former data (Razowski 1970),

and those of Liu & Li (2002). The general and Chinese distributions are mentioned

from W to E and from N to S.

1. Taxonomy

Cochylimorpha yangtseana sp. n.

7733, MINGA. Paratype 9, same data as holotype, but 8.vi.1936, MINGA.

Description. Wing span 18.0 mm. Head, thorax and ground colour of forewing white;

base of tegula brownish; labial palpus ca twice longer than diameter of eye, darker;

markings similar to those od C. hedemanniana, yellow-brown, more distinctly browner

at costa and dorsum; cilia pale brown. Hindwing pale brownish grey; cilia paler.

Male genitalia (Figs. 1, 2). Socii slender, broadened basally; valva broad til

middle, very slender distally; sacculus rather straight ventrally with distinct caudal

angle; phallus broad, somewhat bent beyond zone; vesica with two cornuti with small

capituli, one twice longer than the other.

Nota lepidopterologica, 14.08.2006, ISSN 0342-7536

122

Razowskı: Cochylimorpha from China

“ol

71,71

Figs. 1-3. Genitalia of Cochy-

limorpha yangtseana sp.n. 1,

2. Male, holotype. 3. Female,

paratype.

Female genitalia (Fig. 3). Papilla analis large, broadest near middle, hairy and

spiny; distal arms od sterigma slender; anterior part of ostium in a membranous collar;

colliculum without sclerite; ductus bursae with slender longitudinal sclerites; rather

weak sclerites and spiny areas in corpus bursae; accessory bursae and ductus seminalis

in postmedian area of corpus dorsally.

Diagnosis. The male genitalia are similar to those of C. hedemanniana (Snellen, 1883)

but easily distinguished by the very slender distal part of the valva; the female is similar

to the East Asian C. discolorana (Kennel, 1899) but with larger areas of sclerites and

numerous minute spines in the corpus bursae.

2. New records

Cochylimorpha asiana (Kennel, 1899). One specimen representing a new provincial

record is from Mien-shan, Shanxi (collected on 1.v111.1937 at an altitude of ca 2000 m

by H. Hoene). It is characterized by a distinctly elongate median part of the transtilla.

Cochylimorpha conankinensis (Ge, 1992: 303) (Stenodes) comb.n. This species

is most probably conspecific with C. isocornutana (Razowski, 1970) from Likiang,

North Yunnan and it was omitted from Liu & Li (2002). The drawings of the original

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 121-124 123

description and those of Liu & Li are rather superficial, thus making an exact comparison

difficult.

Cochylimorpha hedemanniana (Snellen, 1883). Five specimens from A-tun-tse,

North Yunnan collected at the altitude of ca 3000 m between 22.v. and 20.v1.1937 by

H. Hoene. This is a new provincial record.

Cochylimorpha pallens (Kuznetzov, 1966). One specimen from Mien-shan, Shanxi,

30.vi.1937 collected by H. Hoene represents a new provincial record. This species was

already recorded from Tapaishan in Tsinling, S Shaanxi. The Chinese examples were

collected at the altitudes of 1700-2000 m. It was described from the Russian Far East,

in the vicinity of Vladivostok. It is known also from Sutchansk in the Ussuri territory.

3. Annotated checklist of Chinese species of Cochylimorpha

C. jaculana (Snellen, 1883). East Asia from Mongolia to Ussuri territory and Primorsk,

Korea, Japan; China: Manchuria, Yunnan,Heilongjiang, Jilin, Inner Mongolia,

Shaanxi, Shandong, Anhui, Yunnan.

C. asiana (Kennel, 1899). Distributed from E Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Iran, Afghanistan

to C Asıa and Mongolia, known also from Libya. China: Prov. Shanxi, Beijing,

Hailongjiang, Hebei, Shaanxi, Shandong, Gansu, Quingai.

C. cultana (Lederer, 1855). Known fwom W Europe to Ural Mts, NW Africa,

Turkmenia, Altai. China: Shanxi, Jilin, Shandong, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Quinhai.

C. gracilens (Ge, 1992), comb. n. China: Tibet (Xizang).

C. nankinensis (Razowski, 1964). China: Chekiang, Kiangsu; Jiangsu, Shaanxi,

Zhejiang, Shaanxi.

C. nomadana (Erschoff, 1874). China: Xinjiang.

C. perturbatana (Kennel, 1900). E Ural Mts to Thian Shan, Djarkent; China:

Xinjiang.

C. pallens (Kuznetzov, 1966). East Asia: Russia: Ussuri Territory, Primorsk; China:

Shanxi, Beijing, Shaanxi.

. maleropa (Meyrick, 1937). China: North Yunnan.

. isocornutana (Razowski, 1964). China: North Yunnan.

. conankinensis (Ge, 1992), comb.n. China: Sichuan.

hedemanniana (Snellen, 1883). East Asia: Minussinsk to Primorsk; China: Kiangsu,

Shanxi, Yunnan, Beijing, Heilongjiang, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Jiangsu, Anhui, Yunnan.

. hipponana (Razowski, 1977). Japan: Shikoku; China: Heilongjiang, Shaanxi.

. yangsteana Razowski, sp. n. China: Tibet.

. amabilis (Meyrick, 1931). China: Kwanhsien.

C. cuspidata (Ge, 1992), comb. n. China: Beijing, Shaanxi.

C. alticolana (Razowski, 1964). China: Tibet.

C. lungtangensis (Razowski, 1964). China: Kiangsu, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shaanxi.

C. fuscimacula (Falkovitsh, 1963). SE Europe, Kazakhstan, Turkmenia; China:

Shaanxi.

C. emiliana (Kennel, 1919). Central Asia from Schawyr to Mongolia; China:

Heilongjiang.

ma es

124 Razowski: Cochylimorpha from China

Acknowledgements

The author thanks the authorities of the Grigore Antipa Museum, Bucharest, especially the late

Dr A. Popescu-Gorj who lent me the material for study and Dr Wu Chunseng, Beijing for his kind

translation of the Chinese data on the distribution of Cochylimorpha from the book by Liu and Li

(2002). I also thank Dr B. Landry for linguistic corrections.

References

Ge, X. 1992. Study on the Chinese Stenodes Guenée (Lepidoptera: Cochylidae) with description of new

species. — Sinozoologia 9: 299-306.

Liu, Y. & G. Li 2002. Tortricidae — Jn: Fauna Sinica, Insecta vol. 27, Lepidoptera. — Science Press, Beijing.

463 pp., pls. i-cxxxvi, + 2 colour pls.

Nye, I. W. B. & D. S. Fletcher 1991. The generic names of moths of the world, vol. 6: Microlepi-

doptera. — British Museum (Natural History), London. Pp. i-xxx, 1-368.

Razowski, J. 1970. Cochylidae. — In: Amsel, H. G., Gregor, F., Reisser, H. (eds), Microlepidoptera

Palaearctica 3. Fromme, Wien. iv + 528 pp., 161 pls.

Razowski, J. 1991. The catalogue of the species of Tortricidae (Lepidoptera). Part I: Palaearctic Chlidanotinae

and Tortricinae: Cochylini, Tortricini, Ceracini, Cnephasiini. — Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia 34 (1):

99-162.

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 117-126 125

Where to find the eggs and how to manage the breeding sites

of the Brown Hairstreak (Thecla betulae (Linnaeus, 1758)) in

Central Europe?

THOMAS FARTMANN ! & KIM TIMMERMANN 2

! Institute of Landscape Ecology, Department of Community Ecology, University of Münster,

Robert-Koch-Str. 26, 48149 Münster, Germany; email: fartmann@uni-muenster.de

? Kim Timmermann, Lessingstr. 31, 48268 Greven, Germany; email: kimtimmermann@gmx.de

Abstract. We investigated the oviposition preferences of the Brown Hairstreak (Thecla betulae (Linnaeus,

1758)) by characterising egg-deposition sites in an urban park in Miinster (North Rhine-Westphalia,

Northwestern Germany) in January and February 2002. Based on these preferences, we suggest methods

for population surveys and the management of breeding sites of T. betulae. Covering a total area of

409 m2, we systematically searched all Prunus spinosa host plant individuals for T. betulae eggs and

recorded various host plant traits to characterise oviposition patterns. About 80% of all 320 clutches (348

eggs) were laid on the fork and 17% on the bud. The vast majority of the clutches (299 or 94%) was

deposited at 50 to 170 cm above ground (median = 110 cm). Young plants or young suckers were strongly

preferred. Oviposition height preferences and host plant use in T. betulae throughout Europe can best be

explained by temperature. Oviposition heights and the size of selected host plants both tend to increase in

warmer climates. Presumably, the preference for young plants and young suckers could to be determined

by avoidance of inter-specific competition or a better plant quality, but this requires further evaluation.

A “success-oriented” survey method for 7. betulae should focus on the conspicuous white eggs that are

best found on young plants or young suckers at 50 to 170 cm above ground in winter. We suggest that

rotational scrub cutting is an appropriate tool for managing T. betulae sites.

Zusammenfassung. Die Eiablagepräferenzen des Nierenfleck-Zipfelfalters (Thecla betulae (Linnaeus,

1758)) wurden im Januar und Februar 2002 in einem Stadtpark in Miinster (Nordrhein-Westfalen,

Nordwestdeutschland) untersucht. Auf Grundlage der Ergebnisse werden Vorschläge zur Erfassung

von T. betulae-Populationen und zum Management der Lebensräume gemacht. Alle potenziell

geeigneten Prunus spinosa-Wirtspflanzen wurden systematisch nach Eiern abgesucht und verschiedene

typische Wirtspflanzenparameter ermittelt. Auf einer untersuchten Gebüschfläche von 409 m? wurden

insge-samt 320 Gelege mit 348 Eiern gefunden. Etwa 80% der Gelege befand sich an Astgabeln und

17% an Knospen. Die überwiegende Zahl der Gelege (299 bzw. 94%) war in Höhen zwischen 50 und

170 cm angeheftet. Jungpflanzen und Stockausschläge wurden stark präferiert. Die Eiablagehöhen

und die Wirtspflanzennutzung werden innerhalb Europas vor allem durch die Temperatur bestimmt.

Je wärmer das Klima desto höher über dem Boden erfolgt die Eibablage und umso stärker werden

hochwüchsige Wirtspflanzenarten genutzt. Die Präferenz für Jungpflanzen und Stockausschläge scheint

auf Vermeidung interspezifischer Konkurrenz oder eine bessere Wirtspflanzenqualität zurückzuführen zu

sein. Die Erfassung von T. betulae erfolgt am Besten im Winter durch die Suche nach den auffälligen

weißen Eiern an Jungpflanzen oder Stockausschlägen in Höhen zwischen 50 und 170 cm. Ein Auf-den-

Stock-setzen der Gebüsche in jährlich wechselnden Abschnitten scheint eine geeignete Maßnahme zum

Management der T. betulae-Habitate zu sein.

Key words. Blackthorn, Germany, host plant quality, inter-specific competition, oviposition prefe-

rence, Prunus spinosa, survey method, urban park, young sucker

Introduction

Habitat quality is one of the main factors explaining the distribution of butterflies (Dennis

& Eales 1997; Thomas et al. 2001; Fleishman et al. 2002; Fred & Brommer 2003;

Anthes et al. 2003; WallisDeVries 2004). Due to their low mobility and proportionally

long life time (Fartmann 2004), the immature stages often have more specific habitat

requirements and are more susceptible to inadequate habitat management than the

Nota lepidopterologica, 14.08.2006, ISSN 0342-7536

126 FARTMANN & TIMMERMANN: Oviposition sites of Thecla betulae

adults (Thomas 1991; Clarke et al. 1997; Thomas et al. 1998, 2001; Bourn & Thomas

2002; Fartmann 2004; Fartmann & Hermann, in press; Garcia-Barros & Fartmann,

submitted). Therefore the habitat requirements of preimaginal stages are often used to

ascertain habitat quality.

Eggs or larvae are not only good indicators for habitat quality, they are also sometimes

easier to detect than the adult stages and, conveniently, surveys are not weather

dependent. In fact, Hermann (1999, in press) suggested that survey methods focusing

on the immature rather than the adult stages are more adequate and more successful for

approximately one quarter of the Central European species. This applies specifically

to the hairstreaks, because their adults live mostly in the treetops and occur in low

densities.

While extensive data on the distribution, status and ecology of the Brown Hairstreak

(Thecla betulae (Linnaeus, 1758)) have been gathered for Britain (Thomas 1974, 1991;

Thomas & Emmet 1989; Bourn & Warren 1998; Asher et al. 2001), the published

knowledge of the species’ ecology in continental Europe is still poor. Heddergott (1962)

described a Thecla betulae outbreak in 1959 in Westphalia. A more detailed overview

of the host plants and habitats in Southwest Germany was given by Ebert & Rennwald

(1991). Koschuh et al. (2005) analysed the oviposition habitats in Southeast Austria

and Stefanescu (2000) published data on the host plant species and the ant caterpillar

associations in Northeast Spain.

We here supply information on the species’ ecology in Central Europe. To do so, we

will (1) describe the oviposition habitats, (11) give hints for assessing the status and (iii)

make recommendations for management.

Material and Methods

Study species. Thecla betulae, the Brown Hairstreak, has a wide distribution in the

Nemoral zone of the Palaearctic (Thomas 1974). It reaches its distribution borders

in southern England, Wales and Ireland to the west (Asher et al. 2001), in southern

Scandinavia to the north and in the northern Mediterranean region to the south (Thomas

1974; Ebert & Rennwald 1991; Kudrna 2002).

The Brown Hairstreak is present in all German federal states, but the general distribution

and the status are still poorly known. Recent egg surveys in the Saarland (Caspari pers.

comm.) and the city of Münster (Leopold pers. comm.) revealed surprisingly wide

distributions in regions that have previously been thought to be sparsely inhabited,

suggesting that the species is more widespread than often assumed.

The flight period in Germany extends from early July to mid-October (Ebert &

Rennwald 1991; Fartmann 2004). The eggs of T. betulae hibernate firmly attached to

the bark of the host plants. Hatching of the larvae coincides with the leaf break of the

host plant (Thomas 1974). The main host plant throughout Europe is Prunus spinosa

(Blackthorn). First caterpillars usually appear in late April or early May (Heddergott

1962; Ebert & Rennwald 1991; own observation). All four larval instars consume only

leaves. Adult 7: betulae may predominantly feed on aphid honeydew secretion, but this

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 117-126 127

m M- Day is seldomly observed because of its

Ir inconspicuousness in the treetops

(Thomas 1974). In addition, fema-

les regularly feed on plant nectar

(Bourn & Warren 1998). The fecun-

dity of females is linearly correlated

with the longevity of the individual.

The highest realised fecundity

observed by Thomas (1974) was by

a female that lived 39 days and laid

147 eggs.

T. betulae breeds over a wide array

of habitats of the countryside, ran-

ging from parks, gardens, hedges,

woodland edges to other shrubby

sites with Prunus species (Ebert

& Rennwald 1991; Asher et al.

2001). The adults assemble at the

beginning of the flight period on

prominent “master” trees, mostly

: < | along wood edges in order to find

Fig. 1. Location of the study area in northwestern Germany. mates (Thomas 1974; Asher et al.

2001).

| Study area. The study area (here-

after called “Wienburg” park, 51°57’N/7°37’E) of about 26 ha is located in the

northwest of the district of Münster, belonging to the northwestern part of the federal

state of North Rhine-Westphalia (Northwest Germany) at an elevation of 55 m a.s.l.

(Fig. 1). The climate is suboceanic (Müller-Wille 1981) with an annual precipitation of

757 mm and an average annual temperature of 9.2 °C (Deutscher Wetterdienst 2006).

The Wienburg park was established in 1987 as a recreational area. It consists of a wet

part with semi-natural ponds, swamp woods and abandoned wet grassland and a drier

section with meadows, lawns, managed hedges, solitaire trees and groves. Before this,

most parts of the study area were used as arable fields (Stadt Miinster 1988, 2000).

In the west and east the park is bordered by woodland.

Material and methods. The study area was selected because of its exceptionally high

density of T. betulae eggs. In January and February 2002 all Prunus spinosa bushes

and hedges of the study area were systematically checked for eggs. Two other Prunus

species (P. padus and P. xfruticans) occur in the study area, but they are rare and were

not controlled. The survey was restricted to a section of 50 cm depth of the bushes and

ranging from ground to 350 cm height. We searched for eggs until no more eggs were

found on the plant, but individual Prunus plants were considered unoccupied if no egg

was found within 10 min. To avoid duplicate counting, all eggs were marked with a

strip. For each occupied Blackthorn we determined total height (cm), egg-laying height

128 FARTMANN & TIMMERMANN: Oviposition sites of Thecla betulae

above ground (cm) and the position of the clutch (bud, fork, stem, twig). The number

of eggs was recorded for each clutch. For all surveyed bush groups — whether occupied

or not — aspect (using a compass) and ground coverage (m?) were determined.

Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 8.0 statistical package. To establish

habitat preferences, we compared host plant traits between occupied and unoccupied

Prunus individuals using a chi-square test. Because this test does not allow empty

categories, frequencies were conservatively set to 1 in those cases.

Results

We found a total of 320 clutches of T. betulae with 348 eggs in an area of 409 m?. The

mean density was 0.8 clutches and 0.9 eggs per m? Prunus spinosa bushes. Eggs were

laid singly (92%), in pairs (7%) or rarely in small batches of 3 eggs (1%). Oviposition

occurred preferably into the fork (80%), followed by buds (17%). Stem and twig played

a minor role in egg deposition (Fig. 2).

Both, the distribution of host plant and egg-deposition height were more or less bell-

shaped, but the peak of the host plant height shows a clear shift towards higher values.

The vast majority of clutches (299 or 94%) was deposited in heights between 50 and

170 cm above ground (median = 110 cm, range 15 to 350 cm, Fig. 3). Almost all clutches

(285 or 90%) were found on P. spinosa plants with a height between 80 and 260 cm.

The median plant height was 180 cm.

Eggs were found in almost all aspects (Tab. 1), but the orientation of the available

host plants and that of the host plants used for oviposition differed significantly

= 320]

£,

—

fork twig

Oviposition place

Fig. 2. Oviposition places of Thecla betulae on Prunus spinosa.

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 117-126 129

(b) plant height (a) oviposition height

median = 180 cm

ee)

Number of clutches Number of clutches

Fig. 3. Host plant and oviposition height of Thecla betulae (N = 318 clutches).

Tab. 1. Aspects of used and available host plants of Thecla betulae. x? = 169.879, df = 16, P < 0.001.

+ = overrepresented (absolute difference in proportion > 5%), — = underrepresented (absolute difference in

proportion > 5%), — — = strongly underrepresented (absolute difference in proportion > 10%).

pet |— used host plants available host Baus

aspect

| NNE

RENE ee

MN SE

| ESE

cae

DCE

| ENE

LS)

| SE [ssf eta

| SSE_ MESSE

| SSW_

ssw pas Ts

10.9

BEE BEE

m a ETS

a ms Ps

Mode ee se |

Pro fr oo ion

130 FARTMANN & TIMMERMANN: Oviposition sites of Thecla betulae

(x? = 169.879, df = 16, P < 0.001). There is no clear trend/preference for the main

aspects N, E, S and W, but bushes exposed to SE, SSE and NW were used dispropor-

tionally often for oviposition, while W and WNW aspects were underrepresented.

It was striking that searching for the first egg on young Blackthorn shoots seldom took

longer than one or two minutes, while many hours of searching in old bushes produced

only a few eggs. The proportion of young, not flowering bushes and suckers in the

study area is below 20% of all P. spinosa individuals. But far more than 50% of all eggs

were found on these plants.

Discussion

Oviposition preferences. The eggs of Thecla betulae were usually laid singly on forks

of Prunus spinosa at a height of less than 170 cm above ground. Young plants or suckers

were strongly favoured.

The overall clutch sizes and the positions of the eggs on the plant documented here

corroborate the findings of previous studies (Thomas 1974; Henriksen & Kreutzer

1982; Bourn & Warren 1998; Asher et al. 2001; Koschuh et al. 2005). The few

differences between studies concerning oviposition height, host plant use and sun

exposition seem to be related to the variation in climate conditions across Europe.

The warmer the climate the more different host plant species are used, the higher the

clutches are laid and the more eggs are found on shadier sites: The main host plant in

Scandinavia as well as in Britain is P. spinosa (Thomas 1974; Henriksen & Kreutzer

1982). In most Central European regions and in most of the years the major host plant

is also P. spinosa (SBN 1987; Ebert & Rennwald 1991; Weidemann 1995; Hermann

pers. comm.). However, other Prunus species like P. avium, P. domestica, P. insititia

or P. padus are also mentioned as a host plant (Ebert & Rennwald 1991; Koschuh et

al. 2005). Heddergott (1962) described the intensive use of P. domestica by Thecla

betulae in dry summers in Westphalia, whereas the normal host plant in this region is

P. spinosa. Koschuh et al. (2005) found P. insititia as the main host plant in Southeast

Austria. Stefanescu (2000) also mentioned a wider range of Prunus host plant species

from Northeast Spain.

In Scandinavia only the smallest bushes were used for egg-laying (Henriksen &

Kreutzer 1982). In Britain most eggs were found below 200 cm above ground with

a peak at around 50 cm (Thomas 1974). In the own study area in Northern Germany

the median oviposition height was 110 cm. Koschuh et al. (2005) found a preferred

oviposition height between 100 and 200 cm in Southeast Austria. Comparable shifts in

oviposition habitats along climatic gradients throughout Europe are well known from

other butterfly species; maybe one of the best studied examples 1s Maculinea arion

(Thomas et al. 1998).

While references from Britain stated a preference for sun exposed egg-laying sites

(Thomas 1974; Bourn & Warren 1998; Asher et al. 2001), Koschuh et al. (2005)

described the oviposition habitats in Austria as sunny to half shady. The own data show

no clear results because aspect features are superposed by other parameters like shoot

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 117-126 131

age. An overall impression ıs that host plants should not grow in particularly shady

conditions. However, after very hot summers as 2003 or in generally warmer regions of

Central Europe as Southwest Germany many or even the majority of the eggs are laid

on shaded parts of the host plant (Casparı pers. comm.; Hermann pers. comm.).

The general preference for young plants, young projecting growth or young suckers is

well documented by Thomas (1974). He showed that shoots younger than 6 years but

older than 1 year are preferred for egg-laying. Most eggs were found on 4 years old

shoots. Only P. spinosa plants older than 6 years are able to produce flowers. Epicormic

growth can start flowering two years after coppicing (Hermann pers. comm.). The

preference for young shoots in the study area would have been far more striking if the

surface had also been taken into account. The bark surface area of an old bush may

present the 100-fold of that of a young plant (Thomas 1974). In contrast to this Ebert

& Rennwald (1991) state that most larvae and eggs were found on older specimen of

P. spinosa and that this applies to Baden-Württemberg in general. According to our

study and further own observations, females use old P. spinosa plants for oviposition 1f

they have no other choice. However, if young suckers a few years after coppicing are

present, females will clearly prefer these plant individuals. Egg densities on old shoots

will usually never reach the values of the young shoots. Hermann (pers. comm.) also

found a preference for young growth in Baden-Württembereg.

But why are young plants or young suckers preferred? Young plants are comparatively

small and they do not flower. Older plants are tall growing, but they usually have also

twigs near the ground and they are producing flowers. Microclimatic features could not

explain the preference for young plants or suckers because the old P. spinosa bushes

also provide many potential egg-laying places with leaf buds in the favoured layer near

ground. Young plants could invest all their energy into leaf growth and development,

whereas older plants need energy for flower production. Therefore, the total amount

of leaves and the content of water and nutrients in the leaves can be different between

these two groups. Enough food is essential for the survival of the larvae (Fartmann &

Hermann, ın press; Garcia-Barros & Fartmann, submitted). However, food shortage

due to intra-specific competition is unlikely a problem for Thecla betulae. Eggs are

usually deposited singly, and in rather low densities per plant such that competition

between caterpillars should hardly occur. In consequence, defoliation of a host plant

individual has thus far only been documented once, in an extraordinarily warm year

(Heddergott 1962).

More likely, inter-specific competition or food plant quality could act as the key for the

understanding of the preference for young shoots. There are many Prunus feeding and

egg-clustering moth species (e.g. Yponomeuta spp.), that are able to defoliate Prunus

bushes during the larval period of Thecla betulae. Due to the high demand of food for

their offspring they seem to live predominantly on older plants (Caspari pers. comm.).

Therefore, egg-laying on young shoots by Thecla betulae could be interpreted as

avoidance of interspecific competition.

In addition, another reason for the preference for young shoots could be the host plant

quality. Butterflies that feed on nutrient-rich parts of a plant often have a faster larval

182 FARTMANN & TIMMERMANN: Oviposition sites of Thecla betulae

development and the survival rates of the butterflies are higher (see review by Fartmann

& Hermann, in press). Both explanations require further evaluation.

Thomas (1974) found that almost all observations of T. betulae are from wood edges

or hedges near woods. The egg density was significantly higher within a distance of

250 m from woods than further away. Fartmann (2004) showed in a study of 53 butter-

fly transects in calcareous grasslands in northern Germany, that T. betulae was more

steady in sites adjacent to woods. Thomas (1974) explains this with the importance of

prominent trees (“master trees’) on wood edges for congregations of adults. Here they

feed on honeydew and search for mates (Thomas 1974; Asher et al. 2001). In Britain,

Ash trees (Fraxinus excelsior) are preferred probably because honeydew producing

aphids are abundant on them (Asher et al. 2001).

Although the host plant is abundant, large areas of a T. betulae breeding site are often

characterised by low egg densities, only certain areas have high egg numbers (Thomas

1974). Comparable density data from Europe are still missing, but based on our own

field experience the Wienburg park is certainly a high-density area with a mean density

of 0.8 clutches and 0.9 eggs per m? of Prunus bushes. Reasons could be the high

abundance of the preferred young shoots due to the rotational cutting of the hedges and

probably the adjacent woods with their feeding and congregation places for the adults.

How to survey Thecla betulae? Our knowledge on the status of Thecla betulae in

most of its range is scarce because of the cryptic way of living of the butterflies and

their low densities. The most effective method of surveying the species is searching for

the conspicuous white eggs in winter (i.e. between November and February) (Thomas

1974; Bourn & Warren 1998; Hermann 1999). Therefore you need to know were to

search. Based on our own results, searching will be most successful on young plants

or young suckers in a height between 50 and 170 cm. Old and tall flowering bushes

with lichens and algae are hardly suitable. Especially for presence/absence studies this

searching scheme will be useful. For counting total egg number in a distinct area it could

be helpful to mark every spotted egg. In our study the recording accuracy decreased

with recording duration. After a lengthy time of extensive searching the concentration

of the recorders usually fell. Continuing the survey the next day at the same place

often revealed new and previously overlooked eggs. Therefore it would be good to stop

searching when concentrating becomes difficult and to continue when recovered.

Management. In most German federal states, Thecla betulae is a species of low

conservation concern (see summary of red list categories in Reinhardt & Settele 1999).

Sometimes T. betulae and more specialised and more highly endangered species such

as Eriogaster catax, Iphiclides podalirius or Satyrium acaciae share the same host

plant. In these cases or where other conservation aims are more important, conservation

efforts cannot focus on T. betulae. Nevertheless, T. betulae breeding sites without

species of high conservation interest — like our study area and other urban parks — could

be managed for the Brown Hairstreak. On the one hand, cutting and trimming of hedges

is one of the most important mortality factors in T. betulae. On the other hand, optimal

habitats are created by this management. Thomas (1974) ascertained egg losses between

50 and 100% due to cutting. Most eggs are deposited on the younger projecting growth

Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 117-126 133

rather than deep within the hedge and therefore they are affected by cutting. To reduce

the heavy egg losses and in return to assure the presence of many Prunus shoots in

the preferred age (2-6 years), rotational scrub cutting is an appropriate tool (Thomas

1974). After Thomas (1974) a quarter of the breeding site should be trimmed every

fourth year. Observations from Oates (in Bourn & Warren 1998) showed that T. betulae

responded well to Blackthorn coppicing, favouring plants 3-5 years after the cut (Oates

in Bourn & Warren 1998).

Acknowledgements

We thank R. Boczki (Miinster) for assistance during field work. For valuable comments we are grateful

to N. Anthes (Tiibingen), S. Caspari (St. Wendel) and G. Hermann (Filderstadt). C. Husband (Beckum)

and P. Corson (Miinster) improved the English.

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