Pyropteron koschwitzi (Špatenka, 1992)

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 : 67-68

Pyropteron koschwitzi (Špatenka, 1992)

( Figs 45, 46 , 215–220 )

Synansphecia koschwitzi Špatenka, 1992 : Alexanor. Revue des lépidoptéristes français, 17 (7): 437, 439 Fig. 6 , 445 Fig. 16 . Holotype: ♂, Spain, Prov. Toledo, Aranjuez (ZSM).

Pyropteron muscaeformis lusohispanica Laštůvka & Laštůvka, 2007 : SHILAP, Revista de Lepidopterologia , 35 (137): 88, 90 Fig. 1–6 . Holotype: ♂, Portugal, Serra de Estrella (CZL). syn. nov.

Pyropteron koschwitzi was described from specimens bred from Limonium , while P. muscaeformis lusohispanica was described from specimens that were bred from Armeria . The presence of a white subapical patch on the antenna was initially considered diagnostic for P. muscaeformis lusohispanica . Furthermore, specimens bred from Armeria show a bronze-brown gloss of the body and yellow-brownish scales on body and wings, the females usually have smaller transparent areas of the forewings, with the PTA absent or rudimentary (small, but almost always present in specimens from Armeria ) and the ETA consisting of 3–4, rarely 5 cells (usually 4–5 in in specimens from Armeria ). However, examination of extensive material from across the Iberian Peninsula did not confirm these differences. Similarly, barcode analysis grouped specimens representing both taxa together. Similarly, the size of the transparent areas or the dorsal spots of the abdomen varies considerably. Both taxa-separated by hostplant usage and altitude of occurrence-may represent species in statu nascendi, however, in the absence of consistent diagnostic criteria in morphology and barcode we consider it better not to separate them taxonomically and therefore treat P. muscaeformis lusohispanica (syn. nov.) a junior subjective synonym of P. koschwitzi .

Diagnosis. P. koschwitzi is similar to several small, greyish to brownish coloured congeners (eg P. muscaeformis , P. hispanica , P. maroccana , P. borreyi ). It differs from all these species by the darker, blackish ground colour (dark grey to brownish grey in all species compared) and the well-defined markings, especially the dorsal stripe of the abdomen (more or less diffuse in all species compared). Differences from P. muscaeformis were listed by Laštůvka & Laštůvka (2007) as follows: frons brownish-black (brown-yellow in P. muscaeformis ); labial palpus white (more or less yellow, males with longer scales in P. muscaeformis ); ETA with cells between R5 to M3 gradually shortening (of similar length in P. muscaeformis ); hind wing discal spot slightly broader, between costal margin and M1 of constant breadth (gradually narrowed in P. muscaeformis ); fore coxa white, in male only laterally (more or less yellow in P. muscaeformis ), anal tuft of female dorsally with narrow white lateral stripe (dorsally brownyellow throughout in P. muscaeformis ). The male genitalia are similar to several other members of the genus. The female genitalia have the antrum straight and distally funnel-shaped and the ductus bursae distally thin (antrum bent and distally only slightly widened; ductus bursae distally wide in P. muscaeformis ).

Barcodes. The populations from low altitudes (<600 m, ex Limonium ) and those from higher altitudes (> 1400m, ex Armeria ) build two incompletely separated clusters with average barcode distances of 0.6–0.7% and an average distance between these clusters of 1.6%. However, some specimens from Pto. Guadarrama and Sierra de Guillimona do not cluster together with others from higher altitudes. The maximum intraspecific barcode distance is 2.6%.

Biology and habitat. Hostplants are Limonium toletanum Erben (Plumbaginaceae) ( Špatenka et al. 1996) and various species of Armeria ( Laštůvka & Laštůvka 2007) . Adults are on the wing from May to July, depending on habitat and altitude. The species occurs in saline, semidesert like areas and on sandy dunes near the coast with populations of Limonium , but it has also been found on sunny, bushy and stony mountain slopes or pastures with stands of Armeria at an altitude of 1400–1950 m (Laštůvka, Mai, our own observations). Thus, the populations developing in Limonium and Armeria , respectively, are geographically separated by altitude and hostplant habitat requirements, which most probably drives an ongoing speciation.

Distribution. Iberian Peninsula, including Spain and Portugal (Špatenka, 1992, Laštůvka & Laštůvka 1995, 2001, 2007, 2014, Špatenka et al. 1999).

Specimens examined. 8♂ ( Figs 215–216 ), 10♀ ( Fig. 217 ), Spain, Castillio-La Mancha, Aranjuez , 14. VI .2016, leg. AL; 1♀, ibid., 16. VI .2004, leg. Z. Laštůvka (CCDB-02112 C06) (CFP); 5♂, ibid., el Regajal , 1. V .1999, leg. Pühringer & Pöll; 1♂, 1♀, Spain, Huesca, Fraga , e.p./e.l. ex Limonium sp. , 17.V.1994 and 2.VI.1999, leg. RB ( CDB) , 12♂, 2♀, Spain, Madrid / Toledo, Aranjuez — El Regajal, 510 m, 25.IV.1999, leg. FP (DNAtax 02586, photo 37/4/35-5/15 (♂ ♀ )) ; 24♂, ibid., 1. V .1999, leg. FP (DNAtax 02504, photo 38/4/8-5/4); 2♂, 3♀, ibid., L/P 1. V .1999 (in Limonium toletanum ), adult 10.– 29.V . and 12. VI .1999, leg. FP (CCDB-04642 D08); 1♂, Spain, Madrid /Toledo, Aranjuez, Mar de Ontigola , 510 m, 24.IV.1999, leg. FP ( CDB) ; 2♂, Spain, Madrid, Pto. Guadarrama , 1500m, 24. VI .1999, leg. Riefenstahl & Wagenblass (SMNS); 5♂, ibid, 1520 m, 3.VII.2000, leg. FP (BOX-2219 G04, CCDB-04688 B05 and B07, CCDB-04642 D03 and D04, photo 43/1/4-20) ; 1♂, 1♀, Spain, Avila, Navacepedilla [de Corneja], e.l. 2010, leg. Z. Laštůvka (CCDB-04684 D01 and D03) ; 13♂, Spain, Granada, Sierra Nevada, Pico de Veleta , Monte Ahi de Cara NE Dornajo , 1850 m, 6.VII.2018, leg. FP ; 15♂, ibid, 1880 m, 7.VII.2018, leg. FP ; 2♂, Spain, Granada , Sierra de Guillimona, Cuenca de Guillimona, 1870-1950 m, 5.VII.2000, leg. FP (DNAtax 02592; BOX-2219 G03) ; 1♂, Spain, Almeria, Sierra de Maria , 1460 m, 26. VI .2018, leg. FP (CFP); 1♀, Portugal, Algarve, Faro, Monte Francisco , [20 m], 20. VI .2007, leg. Z. Laštůvka (CCDB-02112 C07); 2♂, ibid., 17. VI .2008, leg. Z. Laštůvka (gen. prep. FP 10/08); 1♂, Portugal, Algarve , Vila Real [de Santo Antonio], 17. VI .2009, leg. Z. Laštůvka (CCDB-04643 D06) (CFP); 1♂ paratype of P. muscaeformis lusohispanica ( Figs 218–219 ), Portugal, Serra da Estrela , 23. VI .2003, leg. Laštůvka; 1♀ ( Fig. 220 ), ibid., 1850m, e.p. 2007, leg. Laštůvka ( CDB) ; 2♂, ibid., e.l. 2009, leg. Z. Laštůvka (CCDB-02112 E05 and E06) ( CFP) .

Figures

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

FIGURE 2a. Genitalia structures of Pyropteron, males, above P. chrysidiformis chrysidiformis, below P. triannuliformis.

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 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 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).