Pyropteron hispanica ( Kallies, 1999 )

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 : 65

Pyropteron hispanica ( Kallies, 1999)

( Figs 44 , 212–214 )

Synansphecia hispanica Kallies, 1999 : Nota lepidopterologica, 22 (2): 92, 87 Figs 3–4 , 92 Fig. 17b , 96 Fig. 19 . Holotype: ♂, Spain, Prov. Almeria, Sierra , Baza, about 2000 m, e.l. Rumex scutatus (MFNB) .

This south-western European species is easily recognizable by the nearly black coloration and the white markings on body and legs with large subapical patch of the antenna in both sexes and a narrow, snow-white patch between antenna and ocellus. The similar P. maroccana is dark brown with pale yellow pattern and the white patch between antenna and ocellus is reduced to a few yellow scales. P. triannuliformis , whose larva also feeds in Rumex sp. , is more extensive and stronger yellowish marked.

Barcodes. This species shows some heterogeneity in barcode sequences with up to 1.1% intraspecific differences. In our analysis it clusters as sister of P. muscaeformis , however, with low statistical support ( Fig. 1 ).

Biology and habitat. The larvae feed for one year in the root of Rumex scutatus Linnaeus and R. tingitanus Linnaeus (Polygonaceae) . Along with its hostplants, the species lives in very different habitats, ranging from sand dunes near the sea and dried up river banks to rocky mountain slopes, often on shale, at up to 2000 m altitude ( Kallies 1999 and our own observations). Pupation takes place without cocoon in the gallery of the larva, which often constructs a long exit-tube up to some centimetres above ground level. The moth is on the wing in May and June.

Distribution. Iberian Peninsula and southern France ( Kallies 1999, Corley et al. 2009, Laštůvka & Laštůvka 2014).

Specimens examined. 1♂, Portugal, Algarve, Odelouca, 20. VI .2006, leg. Z. Laštůvka (CCDB-02112 D08); 3♂, Spain, Toledo, Robledo del Mazo , 19. VI .2002, leg. Z. Laštůvka (CCDB-02112 D06 and D07); 2♂, ibid., 19. VI .2003, leg. Z. Laštůvka (CFP); 4♂, 3♀, Portugal, E Algarve, Ribeira de Foupana , 2.9km NNW Tenencia, 120–140m, e.l. ex Rumex scutatus , larvae 7. III ., adults 29.V.2009, leg. DB; 1♂, 2♀, Portugal, W Algarve, vic. Lagos, Bensafrim, Baragem de Bravura , 60–80m, e.l. ex R. scutatus , larvae 17. III., adults 20.–22.V.2006, leg. DB ; 1♀, Portugal, W Algarve, vic. Lagos, Caramujeira, 30–60m, e.l. ex R. scutatus , larva 22. III., adult 8.V.2006, leg. DB (CDB) ; 1♂, Spain, Almeria, Sierra de Baza , 1800 m, e.l. 6. VI .1993 (ex R. scutatus ), leg. RB (CCDB-04642 D05); 1♂, Spain, Granada, Sierra Nevada, Trevelez, 1500 m, 20. VII.1993, leg. RB ; 1♂, Spain, Granada, Fregenite NW Rubite, 1180 m, 27. VII .1998, leg. FP (DNAtax 02-10, photo 35/4/40-5/11); 1♀, Spain, Almeria, Desierto de Tabernas , larva 30.IV.1999 (in Rumex scutatus ), adult 8. VI .1999, leg. FP (CCDB-04642 D02) (CFP); 1♂, 1♀ (paratype), Spain, Andalusia, Sierra Baza, Escular, 1700m, e.l. ex R. scutatus , larva 19. VI ., adult 25.VI . and 28. VII .1993, leg. DB; 4♂ (1♂ paratype), Spain, Andalusia, Serrania de Ronda , Ronda, 500m, 26. and 27. VI .1993, leg. DB; 1♂, 1♀, Spain, Castillo-La-Mancha, vic. los Alares, 580m, 19. VI .2012, leg. AL; 1♂, 1♀, Spain, Castillo-La-Mancha, Horcajo de los Mortes, 435m, 18. VI .2012, leg. AL; 9♂ ( Figs 212–213 ), 3♀ ( Fig. 214 ) (all paratypes), France, Camargue, Aigues Mortes , e.l. ex R. tingitanus , 3.IV., adults 16. VI .–19. VII .1995, leg. DB; 6♂, 8♀, France, Camargue, vic. Aigues Mortes, Mas de Sablons , e.l. ex R. tingitanus , larvae 3.IV., adults 1. VI .–10. VII .1999, leg. DB (BOLD DB-Lep-00055) (CDB); 3♂, 4♀ (all paratypes), S France, Herault, Marseilian Plage , 29. VI .1990, leg. Baumgarten; 1♀, Spain, el Rocia, 25. V .1971, leg. Ertel; 5♂ (paratypes), Spain, Malaga, Benahavis , 25. VI . 1991, 200m, leg. Riefenstahl; 1♀ (paratype), Spain, Almeria , Sa. Baza, e.l. ex R. scutatus , 5. V .1993, leg. RB (SMNS).

Figures

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

FIGURES 39–46. Pyropteron Biology. 39. Armeria canescens, hostplant of Pyropteron hellenicum, Greece, Epirus, Timfi Mts, Gamila. 40–41. Pyropteron borreyi, (40) female, Morocco, High Atlas, Oukaimeden, (41) male, Morocco, Middle Alas, Col du Zad. 42–43. Pyropteron maroccana, males, Morocco, High Atlas, Oukaimeden (images FP). 44. Pyropteron hispanica, female, reared, Spain, Toledo, Buenasbodas. 45–46. Pyropteron koschwitzi, (45) male, reared, Spain, Aranjuez, (46) female, reared, Spain, Castile, Navacepedilla (images Zdeněk Laštůvka).

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 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 91–105. Pyropteron species. 91–94. Pyropteron doryliformis, (91–92) ♂, (93–94) 2♀, Portugal, Algarve. 95–96. Pyropteron biedermanni, (95) ♂, (96) ♀, Morocco, Middle Atlas. 97–99. Pyropteron ceriaeformis, (97) ♂, (98) ♀, Morocco, High Atlas, (99) ♀ neotype, holotype f. auresiana, Algeria, Lambese. 100–102. Pyropteron icteropus, stat. rev. (100–101) 2♂, (102) ♀, Italy, Sicily. 103–105. Pyropteron euglossaeformis stat. rev., (103) ♂ neotype, (104) ♂, (105) ♀, Tunisia, Ain Draham. Scale 10mm.

FIGURES 11–18. Pyropteron Biology. 11–13. Pyropteron doryliformis, (11) mating, (12) female, (13) male, reared, Portugal, Algarve, Olhao (images DB). 14. Pyropteron ceriaeformis, male, Morocco, High Atlas, Oukaimeden. 15. Pyropteron icteropus, male, Italy, Sicily, Ficuzza. 16. Pyropteron leucomelaena blaesii, male, Morocco, Middle Atlas, Ait Mhammed. 17. Pyropteron aistleitneri, male, Spain, Andalusia, Sierra de Maria. 18. Pyropteron kautzi, male, Spain, Andalusia, Sierra Nevada (images FP).

FIGURES 19–26. Pyropteron Biology. 19. Pyropteron aistleitneri, female, reared, Spain, Castile, Torrestio (image Zdeněk Laštůvka). 20. Pyropteron kautzi, female, reared, Spain, Andalusia, Sierra Nevada (image FP). 21. Pyropteron mannii, female, reared, Bulgaria, Michurin (image Zdeněk Laštůvka). 22. Pyropteron triannuliformis male, reared, Italia, Sicily, Mt. Etna (image DB). 23. Pyropteron jordanicum sp. nov., Jordan, Ajloun (image Thomas Stalling). 24. Pyropteron umbrifera, Greece, Epirus, Salaora. 25. Pyropteron triannuliformis habitat with host plant Rumex scutatus, Italia, Sicily, Mt. Etna. 26. Pyropteron umbrifera, habitat with host plant Limonium brevipetiolatum, Greece, Epirus, Salaora (images DB).