Pyropteron affinis (Staudinger, 1856)

(Figs 35, 171–173, 180–182, 187, 188)

Sesia affinis Staudinger, 1856: Stettiner Entomologische Zeitung, 17 (3/12): 278. Lectotype ♀: Italy, Südtirol, Bozen (MFNB).

This small species is widespread but local in the southern part of Europe. It is similar to several other species of grey-colored Pyropteron and can also be confused with some species of Chamaesphecia . In northern Africa it is replaced by the closely related and similar P. erodiiphaga and P. atlantis .

Barcodes. Pyropteron affinis shows substantial heterogeneity in barcode sequences with up to 2.6% differences across all specimens. There is, however, no clear geographical pattern. Thus, at present there is little support for hidden, taxonomically relevant diversity. It is sister to P. erodiiphaga, and both species, together with P. atlantis, form a well-supported clade that is sister to the most speciose clade in Pyropteron, the P. muscaeformis species group.

Biology and habitat. This species occurs in warm places on sandy, stony or rocky ground. The larvae live in the upper parts of the woody roots of Helianthemum species (Cistaceae) . Their presence is indicated by yellow to brownish-red excrement extruded from the bore and often adhering to the root or lowest branches of the plant close to the ground. Pupation takes place without cocoon in the gallery of the larva. Development takes one year.

Distribution. This species is known from the Iberian Peninsula through central and southern Europe, eastwards to Turkey and the Caucasus region; it is missing from the Mediterranean islands except for Sicily (Bella et al. 2017, Laštůvka & Laštůvka 1995, 2001, Špatenka et al. 1999). Based on Gorbunov (pers. communication), this species is absent from Crimea.

Specimens examined. 2♀, Spain, Granada, Sierra Nevada, Pico del Veleta—Mojón del Trigo, 2600 m, 4. VII .2000, leg. FP (BOX-2219 H04); 1♂, ibid., 8. VII .2000, leg. FP (DNAtax 02591, gen. prep. FP 01/06); 1♂, ibid., 9. VII .2000, leg. FP (DNAtax 02590, gen. prep. FP 01/15); 2♂, Spain, Granada, Baza, 900 m, e.l. 16.–17. V .1999, leg. RB (BOX-2219 H07, DNAtax 02611, gen. prep. FP 02/15); 2♂, Spain, Granada, zw. Benamaurel u. Cullar Baza, 770 m, 30.IV.1999, leg. FP (DNAtax 03-04, photo 38/3/29-31) ; 4♂, Spain, Granada, W Castillejar, 770–810 m, 26.IV.1999, leg. FP (DNAtax 03-02, photo 37/6/3-27) ; 4♂, ibid., 30.IV.1999, leg. FP (CFP); 2♂, 1♀, Spain, Sierra Baza, e.l. ex Helianthemum sp., adults 19. and 30. V .1999, leg. RB (1♂, Bartsch gen. prep. 2013-02) (Fig. 181); Spain, Pyrenees, Esterri d’Aneu, e.l. ex Helianthemum sp., adults 1. and 30. V .1992, leg. DB; 3♂, France, Provence, Esterel, Agay, 26. VI .1991, leg. DB; 1♂, France, Provence, Noyers, 10. VII .1991, leg. DB; 6♂, Switzerland, Wallis, Gampel, 7. VII .1992, leg. DB; 1♂, Switzerland, Wallis, Bratsch, e.l. ex Helianthemum sp., adult 22. V .1996, leg. DB; 1♂, Switzerland, Wallis, Leukerfeld, e.l. ex Helianthemum sp., adult 27. V .1996, leg. DB (CDB). 1♂, 4♀, Germany, Baden-Württemberg, Grissheim, e.l. ex H. nummularium, larvae 28.IV.1991 adults 20. and 22. VI .1991, 4♂ (Figs 171–172) (1♂ Bartsch gen. prep. 2020-09) (Fig. 180), 2♀ (Fig. 173), ibid., e.l. ex H. nummularium, larvae 28. XII .1991, adults III.1992, leg. DB; 1♀, Germany, Baden-Württemberg, Grissheim, e.l. ex H. nummularium, larva 9. V ., adult 22.V.1993, leg. DB; 4♂, 4♀, Germany, Baden-Württemberg, Donau, Gutenstein, e.l. ex H. nummularium, adults 13.IV.–30. V .1992, leg. DB (1♀, Bartsch gen. prep. 2019-60) (Fig. 187); 1♂, 2♀, Germany, Baden-Württemberg, Hartheim, e.l. ex H. nummularium, larva 12. V ., adults 4., 6. and 14.VI.1992, leg. DB; 4♂, 1♀, Germany, Baden-Württemberg, Kaiserstuhl, Oberbergen, e.l. ex H. nummularium, larva 20. III ., adults 29.– 30.V . and 5. VI .1992, leg. DB (CDB). 1♂, Switzerland, Wallis, Sion, Nax, 700m, 5. VII .1992, leg. DB ( Bartsch gen. prep. 2007-57) (SMNS) ; 1♀, “ Central Europe ” without further data, ex coll. Etzel (Bartsch gen. prep. 2019-58) (Fig. 188) (SMNS) ; 1♂, Italy, Sicily, Le Madonie, Piano de Bataglia, 1600m, 20. VII .1996, leg. Bruer (SMNS Lep.-prep. 3701) (Fig. 182); 4♂, Italy, Calabria, Sila NP, 10 km ESE Acri, 1080–1120 m, 6. VI .2009, leg. FP; 3♂, Italy, South Tyrol, Latsch — Sonnenberg, 900 m, 7. VII .1999, leg. FP (DNAtax 03-05, gen. prep. FP 02/11); 2♂, Italy, Veneto, VR, Monte nr. Sant’ Ambrogio, 3. VI .1998, leg. FP (photo 33/6/25-34/1/8, 34/1/23-33); 12♂, ibid., 20. VI .1998, leg. FP (BOX-2219 H06); 7♂, ibid., 10. VII .1999, leg. FP (gen. preps. FP 02/13, 02/14); 2♂, Austria, Tyrol, Fragenstein nr. Zirl, 700–720 m, 2. VII .1997, leg. FP (photo 30/3/14-44); 2♀, Austria, Niederösterreich, Gumpoldskirchen N Baden, 12. VI .1940, leg. R. Pinker; 2♀, ibid., 20. VI .1940, leg. R. Pinker; 1♀, ibid., V .1946, leg. R. Pinker; 1♂, Austria, Niederösterreich, Hundsheimer Berg nr. Hainburg, 11. VI .1989, leg. K. Mazzucco; 1♀, Austria, Niederösterreich, Hundsheimer Kogel nr. Hainburg, 15. VII .1987, leg. K. Mazzucco; 1♀, Austria, Niederösterreich, Bruck a. d. Leitha — Spitalberg, 15. V .1915; 2♂, Austria, Niederösterreich, Leithagebirge, leg. Predota; 1♂, Austria, Burgenland, Purbach am Neusiedlersee, 5. VII .1990, leg. L. Ledwinka (gen. prep. FP 02/12); 3♂, Greece, Ioannina, Timfi Mts, Vradeto, 1300 m, 26. VI .2002, leg. FP (gen. prep. FP 02/33); 3♂, Greece, Aitoloakarnania, Agios Vlasios NE Agrinio, 780 m, 17. VI .2002, leg. FP (DNAtax 03-06); 4♂, Greece, Peloponnese, Achaia, Kalogria W Kato Achaia, 100–130 m, 10. VI.1997, leg. FP (photo 29/2/5-3/5); 3♂, ibid., 14. VI.1997, leg. FP (gen. prep. FP 98/63); 8♂, ibid., 15. VI.1997, leg. FP (BOX-2219 H05) (CFP).