Pyropteron cirgisa ( Bartel, 1912 )

Bartsch, Daniel, Pühringer, Franz, Milla, Liz, Lingenhöle, Arthur & Kallies, Axel, 2021, A molecular phylogeny and revision of the genus Pyropteron Newman, 1832 (Lepidoptera, Sesiidae) reveals unexpected diversity and frequent hostplant switch as a driver of speciation, Zootaxa 4972 (1), pp. 1-75 : 51-52

Pyropteron cirgisa ( Bartel, 1912)

( Figs 27–30 , 156–159 )

Chamaesphecia cirgisa Bartel, 1912 : in Seitz, A. (Ed.): Die Grossschmetterlinge der Erde, 2, Die palaearktischen Spinner und Schwärmer: 408, pl. 50 Fig. k. Holotype: ♀, Kazakhstan, Uralsk (NHMUK).

Chamaesphecia montandoni Le Cerf, 1922 : Études de Lépidoptérologie Comparée, 19 (2): 37, pl. 540 Fig. 4539. Lectotype: ♂, Russia, Sarepta [Volgograd] (MNHN).

This and the following two species make up a distinct group of large, characteristic, halophilic species with distinct sexual dimorphism. Morphologically, the group is separated from other members of the genus by the distally coincident forewing veins R1 and R2 . The larvae of all three species feed in the roots of large, broad-leaved species of Limonium . The description of Bartel (1912) is based on one female, which is clearly the holotype: “[...] fand ich bei Uralsk ein sehr gut erhaltenes ♀ [...]. Von Uralsk (4. July 1907), Type in meiner Sammlung”. The second specimen is mentioned subsequently “Bei einem ♀ von Sarepta [...]”, and is therefore a paratype. The specimens were erroneously designated as lectotype and paralectotype by Špatenka & Laštůvka (1988).

Barcodes. P. cirgisa and the following two species form a distinct clade, which is also well-supported by morphological and biological evidence as outlined above.

Biology and habitat. This species occurs in salt steppes with stands of large Limonium species. The larvae feed in the upper part of the root. Development takes one year. In Central Anatolia we found adult larvae and pupae in a large, perennial Limonium that dries up after flowering. Only plants that had an inflorescence from the previous year were infested. The flight period is in June and July. Zukowsky (1915) states Limonium gmelini Kuntze as hostplant of P. cirgisa , but other species of Limonium constitute the hostplants of this species in Central Anatolia ( Turkey) (pers. observation Lingenhöle, Bartsch). The habitats of this species, salt steppes and lakes, are critically endangered by grazing or drainage and conversion into arable land. Therefore, this species is of considerable conservation value.

Distribution. Very local in south-eastern Europe (south-western Russia, Ukraine) and south-western Asia ( Turkey, western Kazachstan) ( Laštůvka & Laštůvka 1995, 2001, Špatenka et al. 1999, Garrevoet et al. 2007). An old record from Romania is questionable. Špatenka et al. (1999) also report this species from Iran; however, Kallies & Špatenka (2003) did not find evidence for the presence of this species in this country.

Specimens examined: Holotype ♀: “Uralsk / 4.VII.07 ♀ / Max Bartel.” “cirgisa / Bartel” “Type” “ holotype ” “ N.C. Rothschild Coll. / B.M. 1939-432” “Abgebildet / in “Seitz” / A. 50 K.” “ Lectotypus ♀ / Chamaesphecia / cirgisa Bartel, 1912 / K. Špatenka des. 1991” ( NHMUK). Paratype ♀: “Rossia mer. / Sarepta / H. Rangnow jr. 1911” ( MFNB); 27♂ ( Figs 156–158 ), 12♀ ( Fig. 159 ), Turkey, Cappadocia, Develi Ovasi, Cöl Gölü , 1150m, e.l. ex Limonium sp. , larva 23. V., adult 14.VII.1998, leg. DB ; 2♂, Turkey, Anatolia, Aksaray Ovasi , vic. Yapilcan, 950m, 16. VI.1998, leg. DB (CDB) ; 30♂, Turkey, Anatolia, 10km W. Aksaray, 940m, 23.VII.1996, leg. AL ; 10♂, Turkey, Sivas, vic. Sarkisla , 1200m, 18.VII.1996, leg. AL ; 6♀, same data, leg. AL ; 6♂, Turkey, Kayseri, Tuy Gölü , 1100m, 20.VII.1996, leg. AL ( CAL) .

Figures

FIGURES 27–30. Pyropteron Biology. 27–30. Pyropteron cirgisa, (27) habitat with host plant Limonium sp., (28) dead host plant with exuvia extruded from stem, (29) freshly emerged male spreading the wings, (30) female, Turkey, Cappadocia (images DB).

FIGURES 150–164. Pyropteron species. 150–152. Pyropteron pipiziformis, (150–151) ♂, Northern Syria, Ballozeh, (152) ♂, Turkey,Adana. 153–155. Pyropteron jordanicum sp. nov., ♂ holotype (153–154), ♀ (155), Israel. 156–159. Pyropteron cirgisa, (156–158) 2♂, (159) 2♀, Turkey, Cappadocia. 160–161. Pyropteron koshantschikovi, (160) ♂, (161) ♀, Uzbekistan, Chinaz- Syrdarya. 162–164. Pyropteron umbrifera, (162–163) ♂, (164) ♀, Greece, Epirus. Scale 10mm.