Pyropteron minianiformis minianiformis ( Freyer, 1843 )

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 : 25

Pyropteron minianiformis minianiformis ( Freyer, 1843)

( Figs 6 , 63–65 , 78, 79 , 84–86 )

Sesia minianiformis Freyer, 1843 : Neuere Beiträge zur Schmetterlingskunde mit Abbildungen nach der Natur: 35, pl. 404, Fig. 3 . Type material and locality: not stated.

Sesia miniacea v. pepsiformis Lederer, 1853 : Verhandlungen des zoologisch-botanischen Vereins in Wien, Abhandlungen 2 [“1852”]: 69, 90. Syntypes: Brussa [ Turkey, Bursa] (lost? not in MFNB).

The nominal subspecies is characterized by the most extensive orange-red coloration of all subspecies. Furthermore, it has the forewing discal spot more or less orange-red suffused and broad yellow inner margins of the tegulae.

Biology and habitat. The hostplants of this subspecies are bitter-tasting species of Rumex (docks), such as R. conglomeratus , R. crispus , R. maritimus or R. pulcher ( Laštůvka 2007, our own observations). The larvae, often several together, feed in the main root of their host. Development takes one year. Pupation takes place in the gallery of the larva in a silk-spun chamber at the base of a more or less long corridor, which is closed by a thin layer of bark or spun saw-dust.

Distribution. The nominal subspecies is limited to the southern Balkan Peninsula, including Greece and Bulgaria and north-western Turkey ( Špatenka et al. 1999, our own results). Based on Gorbunov (pers. communication), this species is absent from Crimea. The distribution map given by Laštůvka & Laštůvka (1995, 2001) suggests a continuous occurrence throughout entire Anatolia, for which we have, however, not found any evidence.

Specimens examined. 4♂, 2♀, Greece, Igoumenitza, Thiamis delta, 23. V .1993, leg. DB; 1♂, Greece, Amvrakikos Kolpos, Philipiada, 25. V .1995, leg. DB; 1♂, Greece, Ioannina, Vikos Canyon, Kipi, 25. V .1995, leg. DB; 2♂, Greece, Amvrakikos Kolpos, Logaru-Lagoon, 2. VI .1995, leg. DB (Bartsch gen. prep. 2019-11) ( Fig. 78 ) 1♀, ibid., (Bartsch gen. prep. 2019-15) ; 1♀, Greece, Ossa Oros, Stomio, 1.–13. VI .1989, leg. Bettag (Bartsch gen. prep. 2019-17) ( Fig. 84 ); 1♂, ibid., 1000m, 10. VII .1997, leg. DB (Bartsch gen. prep. 2019-10); 17♂ ( Figs 63–64 ); 13♀ ( Fig. 65 ), Greece, Thessaloniki, Volvi Lake , Nimfoletra, 100m, 5. VI .1997, leg. DB (♀, Bartsch gen. prep. 2019-47); 2♂, Greece, Nafpaktos, Fokida Gorge, Limfitsa, 31. V .1995, leg. DB; 1♂, Greece, Drama, Falacro Mts , 2km NNE Volokos, 750m, 2. VII .2008, leg. DB; 1♂, Greece, Peloponnese, inner Mani, Exohori, Farangi Virou, 600–800m, 2. VI.2005, leg. DB (CDB) ; 18♂, 4♀, Bulgaria, Vilas, 27. VI .–3. VII .2005, leg. Riefenstahl (Bartsch gen. prep. 2019-16) ( Fig. 68 ); 6♂, 4♀, Bulgaria, Burgas, Sunny beach, 25. VI .–5. VII .2005, leg. Baltruweit; 11♂, ibid., leg. Riefenstahl (Bartsch gen. prep. 2019-08) ( Fig. 79 ) ; 1♀, Bulgaria, Black Sea coast, Shkorpilovtsi, 15m, 30. VI .2010, leg. Ssymank (Bartsch gen. prep. 2019-48) ( Fig. 86 ) (SMNS); 1♂, Bulgaria, Burgas, Silistar S Sinemorets, 25 m, 29. VI .2016, leg. FP; 1♂, Bulgaria, Slivno, Sliven (Slivno), 390 m, 3. VII .2014, leg. FP; 1♂, ibid., 400 m, 10. VII .2014, leg. FP; 1♂, Bulgaria, Sozopol, S Tsarevo, black sea beach, 5 m, 28. VI .2016, leg. FP; 2♂, North Macedonia, Macedonia mer., Stari Dojran, 10.–19. VI .1955, leg. J. Klimesch; 1♂, Greece, Thessaloniki, Leptokaria E Olympos, 240 m, 4. VII .2003, leg. FP (BOX-2221 H02); 1♂, Greece, Ioannina, Kipi (= Kipoi, Timfi Mts ), 780 m, 28. VI.2002, leg. FP ; 1♂, Greece, Ioannina, Konitsa, 510 m, 10. VII .2003, leg. FP; 1♂, Greece, Ioannina, Monodendri ( Timfi Mts ), 1200 m, 11. VII .2003, leg. FP (photo 55/6/23-26); 5♂, Greece, Larissa, Ossa Mts , SW Stomio (n), 1000–1090 m, 20. VI .2002, leg. FP (BOX-2221 B07); 1♂, ibid., 2. VII .2003, leg. FP; 1♂, Greece, Arta, Salaora SW Arta, 1 m, 12. VI .1997, leg. FP; 1♂, Greece, Voiotia, Parnass, Livadia-Ebene, 1300 m, 18. VI.2002, leg. FP ; 2♂, ibid., 25. VI.2002, leg. FP ; 1♂, Greece, Fokida, Parnass, Skicenter, 1750–1800 m, 18. VI.2002, leg. FP ; 1♂, ibid., 25. VI.2002, leg. FP ; 3♂, Greece, Fthiotis, Bralos, 5 km N Ag. Damastas , 450–600 m, 19. VI.2002, leg. FP ; 1♂, Greece, Fthiotis, Skamnos, 700 m, 22. VI.2002, leg. FP ; 4♂, Greece, Achaia (Peloponnese), Kalogria W Kato Achaia, 4. VI .1997, leg. FP (photo 28/5/23-6/12); 8♂, ibid., 5 m, 5. VI .1997, leg. FP; 8♂, ibid., 8. VI .1997, leg. FP; 5♂, ibid., 10. VI .1997, leg. FP; 5♂, ibid., 14. VI .1997, leg. FP (gen. prep. FP 02/22); 1♂, ibid., 19. VI .1997, leg. FP; 1♂, ibid., 20. VI .1997, leg. FP; 1♂, Greece, Achaia (Peloponnese), Drosia SW Erimanthos, 650 m, 13. VI .1997, leg. FP; 2♂, Greece, Messinia, Saidona (Taygetos), 500 m, 24. VI.2002, leg. FP ; 1♂, Greece, Thessalia, Karditsa, Pindos-Geb., N Kastania, 800 m, 5.–6. VI.2012, leg. H. u. R. Rausch ; 1♂, Greece, Lesbos, SW Agiasos (Olympos-Geb.), 890 m, 29. VI.2014, leg. H. u. R. Rausch ; 2♂, 1♀, ibid., 8.–9. VII.2014, leg. H. u. R. Rausch ; 1♂, Greece, Samos, Agios Konstantinos, 5 m, 13. VI .2015, leg. FP; 1♂, ibid., 5 m, 14. VI .2015, leg. FP; 4♂, Greece, Samos, Manolates, 300–370 m, 10. VI .2015, leg. FP; 2♂, Greece, Samos, N Marathokampos, 340 m, 12. VI .2015, leg. FP; 2♂, Greece, Samos, Pandroso, 590 m, 12. VI .2015, leg. FP; 2♂, Greece, Samos, S Vourliotes, 500–530 m, 13. VI .2015, leg. FP; 8♂, Greece, Samos, Vourliotes, Lazarou, 550 m, 18. VI.2015, leg. FP ; 1♂, Greece, Samos, Zastano ( Kerkis Mts ), Eastern slope, 17. VI .2015, leg. FP; 2♂, Greece, Naxos, Drymalia, S Sifones, Agh. Joannis, 600 m, 29.–30. VI.2012, leg. H. u. R. Rausch (CFP).

Figures

FIGURES 3–10. Pyropteron Biology. 3–5. Pyropteron chrysidiformis chrysidiformis, (3) male, reared, France, Occitania, Anduze, (4) freshly emerged male spreading the wings, reared, Portugal,Algarve, Portimao, (5) eggs on the midrib of leaf of Rumex obtusifolius, Germany, Stuttgart (images DB). 6. Pyropteron minianiformis minianiformis, male, Greece, Trikala, Orthovouni (image Theo Garrevoet). 7. Pyropteron minianiformis xerxes, Iran, Khorasan (image FP). 8–10. Pyropteron nigrobarbata, (8) female, (9–10) male, reared, Greece, Crete, Skaleta (images Friedhelm Mai).

FIGURES 63–77. Pyropteron species. 63–65. Pyropteron minianiformis minianiformis, (63–64) ♂, (65) ♀, Greece, Thessa- loniki. 66–70. P. minianiformis destituta, (66–67) ♂, (68) ♀, Turkey, Antalya, (69) ♂, (70) ♀, paratypes of aphrodite, Cyprus. 71–74. P. minianiformis xerxes ssp. nov., (71) ♀, Iran, Khorasan, (72–73) ♂ holotype, Armenia, Ararat prov., (74) ♀, Armenia, Vajots-Dzor. 75–77. Pyropteron nigrobarbata stat. nov., (75–76) ♂, (77) ♀, Greece, Crete. Scale 10mm. Inserted pictures: head underside.

FIGURES 78–83. Pyropteron species, male genitalia. 78–79. Pyropteron minianiformis minianiformis, (78) ♂, Greece, geni- talia slide DB 2019-11, (79) ♂, Bulgaria, genitalia slide DB 2019-08. 80. P. minianiformis destituta, ♂, Turkey, Mersin, genitalia slide DB 2019-19. 81. P. minianiformis xerxes ssp. nov., ♂, paratype, Iran, Mazandaran, genitalia slide DB 2019-20. 82–83. Pyropteron nigrobarbata, ♂, Greece, Crete, genitalia slides DB 2019-09, 2019-12. Scale 1mm.

FIGURES 84–90. Pyropteron species, female genitalia. 84–86. Pyropteron minianiformis minianiformis, (84) ♀, Greece, Ossa, genitalia slide DB 2019-17, (85) ♀, Bulgaria, Black see coast, genitalia slide DB 2019-16, (86) ♀, Bulgaria, Black see coast, genitalia slide DB 2019-48. 87–88. P. minianiformis destituta, (87) ♀, Turkey, Antalya, genitalia slide DB 2019-18, (88) ♀, paratype of aphrodite, Cyprus, genitalia slide DB 2019-44. 89. P. minianiformis xerxes ssp. nov., ♀, Iran, Guilan, genitalia slide DB 2019-21. 90. Pyropteron nigrobarbata, ♀, Greece, Crete, genitalia slide DB 2019-14. Scale 1mm.