Anatrachyntis badia (Hodges, 1962)

Dawidowicz, Łukasz, Received, Robert Rozwałka, Online, Published & Version, Final, 2017, Anatrachyntis badia (Hodges, 1962) (Lepidoptera: Cosmopterigidae): the first report from Turkey and a case of importation to Poland, Turkish Journal of Zoology 41 (1), pp. 60-63 : 61-63

Anatrachyntis badia is a North American species predominantly known from the southern part of the United States ( Hodges, 1962, 1978; Zimmerman, 1978;

DAWIDOWICZ and ROZWAŁKA / Turk J Zool

Adamski et al., 2006). It has been confused with the previously described species A. rileyi (Walsingham, 1882) for many years ( Zimmerman, 1978; Heckford and Sterling, 2004). Thus, many older papers concerning the latter species were misleading. Only Hodges separated and distinguished these two species in 1962 ( Hodges, 1962).

The genus Anatrachyntis has a pantropical distribution and its appearance in Europe is caused by the importation of some cultivable plants ( Koster and Sinev, 2003; Bella and Mazzeo, 2006; Koster and Sammut, 2006). Its occurrence in the natural environment in Europe is scarce in the Mediterranean region. So far, A. badia has been recorded from France, Spain, Malta, Italy, and Greece in nature and from the Netherlands as well as Great Britain by accidental importation (with fruits) ( Koster and Sinev, 2003; Heckford and Sterling, 2004; Bella and Mazzeo, 2006; Koster and Sammut, 2006; Seguna and Sammut, 2007; Higgott, 2009; http://www.fauna-eu.org/) ( Figure 1 ). In the last country there were also records of a very similar species, A. simplex (likewise by pomegranate importation) (Heckford, 2004).

A. badia is a polyphagous species and its caterpillars can feed on many cultivable plants, such as limes, grapefruits, bananas, peaches, cabbage, pomegranates, blossoms of coconut, or even pine cones infected by Dioryctria spp. ( Lepidoptera : Pyralidae ). It has two or three generations per year and adult specimens can be found for most of the year ( Hodges, 1962; Koster and Sinev, 2003; Heckford and Sterling, 2004; Bella and Mazzeo, 2006). The species may have economic importance. It is sometimes considered a pest because it can cause serious damages in some crops, e.g., sorghum ( White et al., 2005). In the recorded cases, the larvae of the species in question were found with accompanying mealybugs. Hence, it is sometimes supposed as a secondary pest connected with other insects and phytophagous agents, like the rest of the genus Anatrachyntis ( Busck, 1917; Bella and Mazzeo, 2006). The larvae of a certain congeneric species, A. terminella (Walker, 1864) , can even lead a predacious lifestyle ( Austin, 1977). Honeydew moth Cryptoblabes gnidiella (a secondary pest, predator caterpillars) has a very similar biology; it was first recorded in Poland almost at the same time ( Dawidowicz and Rowałka, 2016). These two species have a similar set of host plants and slightly overlapping niches. Due to this fact they were found conjointly in pomegranates. It is highly likely that they may constitute a constant element of fauna in pomegranate orchards in the Mediterranean region.

In conclusion, the presented data are the first records of A. badia in Poland as well as the first report of the species from Turkey ( Buszko and Nowacki, 2000; Seven Çalışkan, 2014). The lack of any previous records and observations about this moth in Turkey and Poland (as well as in the

Figures

Figure 1. Distribution of Anatrachyntis badia (Hodges, 1962) in Europe (the new records are marked by a red dot; the crosshatched areas represent countries where the species was previously recorded; the blank areas represent countries without any records of the species in question; the arrows depict the ways of importation).