Pyropteron mannii (Lederer, 1853)

(Figs 21, 135–137)

Sesia mannii Lederer, 1853: Verhandlungen des zoologisch-botanischen Vereins in Wien, Abhandlungen 2 [“1852”], 2: 88. Lectotype: ♂, Brussa [Turkey, Bursa] (MFNB).

This and the following two species are well defined by morphological characters and DNA barcode sequence and will not be discussed here in detail.

Barcodes. P. mannii is a very homogenous species with small intraspecific differences of about 0.3%. It is sister to P. hera with an average distance of 4.8%, and both form a well-supported clade together with P. atypica .

Biology and habitat. Life history and habitat were described by Laštůvka & Laštůvka (1980). The hostplant is Geranium rotundifolium Linnaeus (Geraniaceae); development takes one year. The larvae live in the root and bore a tunnel of about 50 mm length. Mating takes place in the late morning, oviposition on various plants close to the root of the hostplant, at a time when the parts above ground are completely dry or lost. It has been found in xerothermic bush, forest edges and road sides, even near the seashore.

Distribution. South-eastern Bulgaria and northern Turkey (Laštůvka & Laštůvka 1995, 2001, Špatenka et al. 1999, Garrevoet et al. 2007, our own findings).

Specimens examined: 1♂, Bulgaria, Burgas, Silistar Beach 5 km S Sinemorets, 30 m, 11.VII.2014, leg. FP (photo IMG_25213-5267); 6♂, Bulgaria, Burgas, Silistar S Sinemorets, 15–25 m, 29. VI .2016, leg. FP; 6♂, Turkey, Bolu, Mengen, 700 m, 4.VII.1995, leg. H. Riefenstahl (BOX-2219 G11, DNAtax 10-06, DNAtax 02593); 1♂, Turkey, Kirklareli, Dereköy, 600 m, 7.VII.1993, leg. M. Bakowski (CFP); 58♂ (Figs 135–136), 6♀ (Fig. 137), Turkey, Bolu, Yenicaga, 1000m, 30. VI .1995, leg. Riefenstahl (CCDB-14564-G06; G07) (CDB, SMNS).