Pyropteron muscaeformis (Esper, 1783)

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 : 64

Pyropteron muscaeformis (Esper, 1783)

( Figs 206–211 , 233 )

Sphinx muscaeformis Esper, 1783 : Die Schmetterlinge in Abbildungen nach der Natur mit Beschreibungen: 217; pl. 32, figs. 5–6. Syntypes: ♂, ♀, Germany, Frankfurt (lost).

Sesia philanthiformis Laspeyres, 1801 : Sesiae Europaeae Iconibus et Descriptionibus illustratae: 31 [unnecessary replacement name for Sphinx muscaeformis ].

Chamaesphecia aestivata Králícek, 1969 : Acta Musei Moraviae, Scientiae Naturales, 54: 115, 119, Fig. 1 . Holotype: ♂, Czech Republic, southern Moravia, near Hodonin (MMBC).

Sesia muscaeformis race occidentalis Joannis, 1908 : Annales de la Société entomologique de France (Deuxième Série), 77: 758. Lectotype: ♂, France, Bretagne, Morbihan, Sene and Plouharnel (MNHN) syn. nov.

This species occurs in a rather scattered range across western and central Europe. Colonies tend to be very localised and occur from coast dunes to alpine meadows. These populations often differ considerably from each other in coloration. Especially specimens from the coast, for example from Denmark, north-western Germany and north-western France, are more distinctly yellow and were described as ssp. occidentalis Joannis, 1908 . We consider this taxon a substrate form and thus a synonym of P. muscaeformis (syn. nov.). However, given the geographic isolation of many colonies, in particular in the Alps and in south-western Europe, it would be interesting to study this species in more detail. It cannot be excluded that it comprises hidden and taxonomically relevant diversity. Based on sequence analysis, P. muscaeformis is part of a group of species including P. hispanica and P. koschwitzi . Interestingly, species in this group utilize both Armeria and Limonium as well as Rumex as hostplants, suggesting frequent host switches, which may indeed have promoted speciation.

Barcodes. In our dataset, P. muscaeformis shows only limited intraspecific differences of maximally 0.8%. However, we were only able to barcode specimens from central and north-western Europe, including Poland, Germany, Denmark, and the United Kingdom. Given the highly fragmented range of this species in the south of Europe, more sampling may reveal greater diversity.

Biology and habitat. Hostplants are several species of Armeria (Plumbaginaceae) , mostly growing on rocky or sandy soils. The larva feeds in the main root, which breaks off easily under tension. Pupation takes place without cocoon in the gallery of the larva. The moth is on the wing in May and June, or in July at higher eleveations, and can be observed visiting flowers of the hostplant.

Distribution. A strictly European species with a heavily fragmented range, which reaches from northern Spain, southern and western France and the British Islands, through central Europe, central Italy, eastwards to the Balkans (Dalmatia, Pag), Romania, Ukraine and western Russia ( Laštůvka & Laštůvka 1995, 2001, 2007, Kučinić et al. 1997, Špatenka et al. 1999, Kallies & Sobczyk 2002). The only records of P. muscaeformis from Spain relate to specimens collected in the provinces of Lerida ( Kallies 1999, Laštůvka et al. 2000, Laštůvka & Laštůvka 2007) and Catalonia ( Cervello & Bläsius 1998). Records from León (Manceñido-González & González-Estébanez 2014) may well belong to P. koschwitzi and should be re-examined. Larvae of Pyropteron were found in Armeria growing along the Atlantic coast as well as in Armeria growing on alpine meadows at around 2000 m altitude of the Picos de Europa in north-western Spain (Kallies, pers. observation). Thus, Armeria feeding Pyropteron appear to be widespread in parts of the Iberian Peninsula. More work is required to clarify their identity and to fully understand the distribution of P. muscaeformis and P. koschwitzi in Spain. In the light of our discovery of P. hellenicum in Greece and Albania, it will also be important to test the validity of P. muscaeformis records from other parts of the Balkans and central Italy.

Specimens examined. 2♀, Denmark, Ribe, Skallingen, Ho , e.l. 2.–3. VI .1996, leg. Riefenstahl (CCDB-14564- G09) ( SMNS) ; 5♂, 5♀, Germany, Schleswig-Holstein, Eichholz nr. Lübeck, Teufelsmoor , e.l. [24. VI.–23.VII.]2000 , leg. H. Riefenstahl (CCDB-02113 F08, photo 42/4/35-5/20, 44/4-29-5/12) ( CFP); 13♂ ( Figs 206, 207 ), 9♀ ( Figs 209, 210 ), Germany, Mecklenburg, Pinnow near Schwerin , e.l. ex Armeria maritima , larvae 1. V., adults 22. VI.– 19.VII.1995, leg. DB ( BOLD DB-Lep-00122) (1♀, Bartsch gen. prep. 2020-20) ( Fig. 233 ); 10♂, 5♀, ibid., e.l. larvae 22.III., adults 10. V.–2.VI.1995, leg. DB; 3♂, ibid.,e.l. larvae 30.III., adults 24. V.2003, leg. DB ( BOLD DB-Lep-00124); 1♂, ibid., e.l. larva III., adult V.2004 , leg. DB (CCDB-04616-D07) ( CDB); 23♂, 21♀, ibid., e.l. 1991 , leg. Riefenstahl; 31♂, 3♀, ibid., 2.VII.1993 , leg. Riefenstahl ( SMNS); 1♀ ( Fig. 208 ), Germany, Sylt, List , e.l. ex A. maritima , larva 20.III., adult 21. V.1997, leg. DB; 2♂, France, Dépt. Lozère, Cévennes, 1 km W les Salidès , 1000m, 28. VI.2016, pheromone, D. Bartsch & J. Berg leg.; 1♂, 1♀, France, Dépt. Lozère, Cévennes , 4 km N Mont Aigoual, 1160m, 28. VI.2016, at Armeria flowers, D. Bartsch & J. Berg leg. ( CDB). 1♂, Austria, Styria, Gulsenberg , 29. VI.1992, leg. Hamborg ( CDB); 3♂, 1♀, Austria, Styria, Gulsenberg near Kraubath , 690–900 m, 12.VII.1994 , leg. FP (photo 16/5/14-45); 16♂, ibid., 23.VII.1994 , leg. FP (BOX-2219 G05); 4♂, ibid., 22.VII.1995 , leg. FP (photo 20/1/40-2/42); 1♂, ibid., 5.VIII.1995 , leg. FP; 4♂, ibid., 20.VII.1996 , leg. FP; 8♂, 1♀, ibid., 17.VII.1997 , leg. FP (CCDB-02113 F06); 1♂, ibid., 4.VII.1998, leg. FP ( CFP); 2♂, Italy, Abruzzo, Colli de Montebove , 1200m, 4.VII.1991, leg. Prola (CCDB-14564-G11); 2♂, Italy, Lazio, M. Terminille, Campeferegna, 1700m, 17.VII.1991, leg. Prola; 1♂, Italy, Lazio, Campo Staffi , 1650m, 19.VII.1991, leg. Prola (SMNS).

Figures

FIGURE 1a. Phylogenetic tree for Palaearctic Synanthedonini plus Nearctic Carmenta based on RAxML analysis of COI barcodes.

FIGURES 206–220. Pyropteron species. 206–211. Pyropteron muscaeformis, (206–207) ♂, Germany, Schwerin, (208) ♀, Germany, Sylt, (209–210) ♀, Germany, Schwerin, (211) ♂, France, Normandie. 212–214. Pyropteron hispanica, (212–213) ♂, (214) ♀, paratypes, France, Camarque, Aigues Mortes. 215–220. Pyropteron koschwitzi, (215–216) ♂, (217) ♀, Spain, Aran- juez, (218–219) ♂, paratype of Pyropteron muscaeformis lusohispanica, (220) ♀, Portugal, Estrella. Scale 10mm.

FIGURES 233–235. Pyropteron species, female genitalia. 233. Pyropteron muscaeformis, ♀, Germany, Schwerin slide DB 2020-20. 234. Pyropteron hellenicum sp. nov., ♀, Greece, Epirus, slide FP 20/06. 235. Pyropteron koschwitzi, ♀, Spain, Castil- lio La Mancha, slide DB 2020-21. Scale 1mm.