Pyropteron chrysidiformis chrysidiformis (Esper, 1782)

(Figs 2a, 3–5, 47–52, 56–57, 60)

Sphinx chrysidiformis Esper, 1782: Die Schmetterlinge in Abbildungen nach der Natur mit Beschreibungen: 210. Holotype: ♂, France, Languedoc (MWNS).

Sesia crabroniformis Fabricius, 1793: Entomologica systematica emendata et aucta: Secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, adiectis synonymis, locis, observationibus, descriptionibus, 3 (1): 383 [replacement name for Sphinx haemorrhoidalis Cyrillus 1787]. Type material: Italy, Naples (not designated).

Sesia polistiformis Boisduval, 1840: Genera et Index Methodicus Europaeorum Lepidopterorum (Pars I sistens Papiliones, Sphinges, Bombyces, Noctuas): 41. Type material: Southern France (lost?).

Sesia chalcocnemis Staudinger, 1856: Stettiner Entomologische Zeitung, 17 (3/12): 323. Holotype: ♂, France, Montpellier (MFNB).

Sesia depuiseti Sand, 1879: Catalogue raisonné des Lépidoptères du Berry et de l’Auvergne: 20. Holotype: Central France, Ardentes (lost).

Sesia chrysidiformis var. joannisi Le Cerf, 1909: Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France, (7): 118, 119, Fig. 3. Lectotype: ♀, France, Val-d’Oise, Foret de Carnelle (MNHN).

Sesia chrysidiformis f. obturata Le Cerf, 1909: Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France, (7): 118, Fig. 2. Lectotype: ♀, France, Basses-Alpes, Digne (MNHN).

Sesia chrysidiformis f. nigripes Le Cerf, 1909: Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France, (7): 118, Fig. 1. Lectotype: ♀, France, Morbihan, Vannes (MNHN).

Sesia rondoui Siepi, 1909: La Feuilles des Jeunes Naturalistes, 39 (462): 117. Holotype: ♂, France, Marseille, la Treille, vallon de Passe-Lemps (not examined, MHNM?).

Sesia chrysidiformis var. castiliana Le Cerf, 1922: Études de Lépidoptérologie Comparée, 19 (2): 29. Lectotype: ♂, Spain, perhaps Castilia (MNHN).

Sesia chrysidiformis f. fervens Bytinski-Salz, [1937]: Memorie della Societa Entomologica Italiana [“1936”], 15 (2): 198. Holotype: ♀, Italy, Sardinia, Oristano (ZMH).

The nominal subspecies of Pyropteron chrysidiformis is variable and widespread in western Europe. In contrast to the statement in Zahiri et al (2021), the taxon fervens was proposed as a form of Pyropteron chrysidiformis and is therefore available.

Biology and habitat. The eggs are usually singly laid on the upper surface of leaves of the hostplant, often along the central rib of the leaf (http://www.lepiforum.de accessed 31.VIII.2020, our own observation). Larvae feed in various species of Rumex (Laštůvka & Laštůvka 1995, 2001, Špatenka et al. 1999, our own observations). A single or more larvae feed one year in the main root of the hostplant. Habitats are meadows and pastures, fallow lands, road sides and several other ruderal places.

Distribution. South-western and Central Europe, from the Iberian Peninsula to northern and western Italy, throughout France, south-east England, southern Belgium and south-western Germany, also on the Baleares, Corsica and Sardinia (Laštůvka & Laštůvka 1995, 2001, Špatenka et al. 1999).

Specimens examined. 9♂, 11♀, Portugal, W Algarve, Portimao, Ferragude, 2–3m, e.l. ex Rumex conglomeratus, larvae 23. III., adults 1.V.–26. V.2006, leg. DB ; 7♂, 11♀, Portugal, W Algarve, vic. Chabouco, 95m, e.l. ex R. obtusifolius, larvae 31.X.2012 adults 25.IV.–13. V.2013, leg. DB ; 2♂, 3♀, Portugal, E Algarve, 2km W Olhao, 5m, e.l. ex R. crispus, larvae 29.X.2012 adults 15.IV.–19. VI .2013, leg. DB; 5♂, 2♀, Portugal, E Algarve, Sierra de Alcudia de Cume, Valle de Ebros, 300m, e.l. ex R. pulcher, larvae 30.X.2012 adults 27.IV.–16. V .2013, leg. DB; 2♂, Spain, Andalusia, Sierra Cazorla, Burunchel, 1400m, 13. and 14. VI .1993, leg. DB; 2♂, Spain, Andalusia, Sierra Cazorla, Cotorios, 1400m, 15. and 17. VI .1993, leg. DB; 1♂, Spain, Andalusia, Sierra Cazorla, Tucor, 1100m, 19. VI .1993, leg. DB; 1♂, Spain, Sierra Segura, Pontones, 1100m, 16. VI .1993, leg. DB; 1♂, Spain, Andalusia, Serrania Ronda, Ronda, 600m, 17. VII .2004, leg. DB; 11♂, 11♀ (Fig. 52), Spain, Mallorca, Port de Alcudia, e.l. ex R. obtusifolius, larvae 28. and 30. III ., adults 3.IV.–29.VI.2001, leg. DB (CDB); 1♂, Spain, Mallorca, Cala Radjada, 20.–30. V .2000, leg. Riefenstahl /Rohloff (CCDB-04688-B06) (SMNS); 2♂, Spain, Granada, Sierra Nevada, Cañadillas, 2100 m, 4. VII .2000, leg. FP (photo 43/2/29-3/3); 2♂, ibid., 2210 m, 8. VII .2000, leg. FP; 1♂, Spain, Granada, E Güejar-Sierra, 1100 m, 7. VII .2018, leg. FP; 1♂, Spain, Granada, N Güejar-Sierra, 1510 m, 7. VII .2018, leg. FP; 1♂, Spain, Granada, Sierra Nevada, Pico del Veleta — Hoya de la Mora, 2520 m, 4. VII .2000, leg. FP; 2♂, ibid., 8. VII .2000, leg. FP (DNAtax 03-21); 1♂, Spain, Granada, Sierra Nevada, Pico del Veleta—Mojón del Trigo, 2600 m, 4. VII .2000, leg. FP; 2♂, ibid., 8. VII .2000, leg. FP; 2♂, Spain, GR, Sierra Nevada, Juviles S Berchules, 1400 m, 11. VII .2000, leg. FP; 3♂, Spain, Granada, Cortijo Tovilla ( Sierra de Guillimona), 1400 m, 24. VI .2018, leg. FP; 1♂, Spain, Granada, Sierra de Guillimona — Gipfel, 2060 m, 25. VI .2018, leg. FP; 8♂, Spain, Almeria, Sierra de Maria, 1580–1710 m, 26. VI .2018, leg. FP; 3♂, ibid., 1680–1710 m, 27. VI .2018, leg. FP; 6♂, Spain, Guadalajara, Costil de Lobos NE Alustante, 1410 m, 20. VI .2018, leg. FP; 3♂, Spain, Murcia, Sierra de Espuna, 1410 m, 27. VI .2018, leg. FP; 7♂, ibid., 1400–1540 m, 28. VI .2018, leg. FP; 1♂, Spain, Teruel (Aragon), Teruel, 900 m, 22. VI .2018, leg. FP; 1♂, Spain, Teruel, Portillo de Guadalaviar (El Portillo), 1800 m, 9. VII .2018, leg. FP; 3♂, Spain, Zaragoza, Torralba de los Frailes, 980 m, 21. VI .2018, leg. FP (CFP); 9♂, 3♀, France, Cévennes, Gard, vic. St. Hippolyte-du-Fort, 150–250m, e.l. ex R. obtusifolius, larvae 18.X.2007 adults 17. V .–1. VI .2008, leg. DB; 3♂, 7♀, France, Provence, Vaucluse, Abt, 2,3km E Gignac, 610m, larvae 2.X.2016 adults 11.–31. V.2017, leg. DB ; 13♂, France, Salon de Provence, 23. VI .1991, leg. DB (CDB); 1♂, France, Provence, Aspres sur Buech, 5. VII .1991, leg. DB (Bartsch gen. prep. 2020-02) (Fig. 57); 2♂ (Fig. 51), France, Provence, Canyon de Verdon, Mescla, 27. VI .1991; leg. DB; 1♀, Germany, Rhineland, Kamp-Bornhofen, 9. VI .2001, leg. Riefenstahl (Bartsch gen. prep. 2019-22) (Fig. 56); 1♂, 1♀, ibid., 6. VI .2001, leg. Riefenstahl (♀ Bartsch gen. prep. 2019-23) (Fig. 60) (SMNS); 17♂, 17♀, Germany, Palatinate, Landau-Dammheim, e.l. larvae 7.IV., adults 27. V .–5. VI .1995, leg. DB; 9♂, 1♀, Germany, Nahe valley, Oberhausen, 20. V .1990, leg. DB; 3♂ (Figs 47–48), 3♀ (Fig. 49), Germany, Baden-Württemberg, Tamm-Hohenstange, 270m, e.l. ex R. obtusifolius, larvae 2.IV., adults 24.IV.–30. V .2011, leg. DB; 2♂, 5♀, ibid., e.l. ex R. obtusifolius, larvae 1. III ., adults 13.V .–5. VI .2013, leg. DB; 8♂, France, E Corsica, Ghisonacia, Morta, 8. VI .2019, leg. DB; 5♂, 1♀, France, E Corsica, vic. Aleria, Etang de Diane, 2. VI .2019, leg. DB; 5♂ (Fig. 50), France, E Corsica, Linguizzetta, Marine de Bravone, 11. VI .2019, leg. DB; 25♂, 1♀, Italy, Sardinia, Ogliastra, Beach between Barisardo and Cardedu, 18. VI .2009, leg. DB (CDB); 4♂, France, Haute-Garonne, Montbernard, 190 m, 18. VI .2018, leg. FP; 6♂, ibid., 19. VI .2018, leg. FP; 1♀, France, Corsica, Evisa, 17. VII .1929; 1♂, Italy, Sardinia, CA, Fluminimaggiore, 12.VI.2004, leg. FP; 3♂, Sardinia, CA, Iglesias, 350 m, 12. VI .2004, leg. FP; 1♂, Sardinia, CA, Maidopis (Monti dei Sette Fratelli), 550 m, 13. VI.2004, leg. FP; 1♂, Sardinia, CA, Nebida, 300 m, 12. VI .2004, leg. FP; 5♂, Sardinia, CA, San Benedetto N Iglesias, 12.VI.2004, leg. FP (BOX-2221 D12); 2♂, Sardinia, NU, Desulo, Asuai, 5 km NE, Nuoro, 800 m, 30. V.1998, leg. FP; 1♂, Sardinia, NU, Nuoro, 5 km NE, 31.V.1998, leg. FP; 3♂, Sardinia, NU, Riu Berchida S Capo Comino, 10 m, 14. VI .2004, leg. FP; 2♂, Sardinia, NU, Santa Lucia (W Siniscola), 29. V .1998, leg. FP (photo 33/1/24-37); 1♂, ibid., 1. VI .1998, leg. FP; 2♂, Sardinia, NU, Sarule, 660 m, 15. VI .2004, leg. FP; 14♂, 1♀, Sardinia, NU, Su Cologone E Oliena, 130 m, 1. VI .1998, leg. FP (photo 33/5/37-49); 1♂, ibid., 16. VI .2004, leg. FP; 11♂, Sardinia, OR, Putzu Idu N Oristano, 10 m, 15. VI .2004, leg. FP; 2♂, Sardinia, OR, San Vero Milis N Oristano, 20 m, 15. VI .2004, leg. FP; 1♂, Sardinia, SS, Oschiri, 200 m, 17. VI .2004, leg. FP; 3♂, Italy, Ligura, Andora, 9. VI .2002, leg. R. Leimlehner; überprüfen (ssp): 1♂, Italy, Toscana, SI, Colle di Val d’Elsa, 180 m, 3. VI .1998, leg. FP (CFP); 3♂, 1♀, Italy, Toscana, vic. Suvereto, Piana de Calzalunga, Parco de Montioni, 50m, e.l. ex R. obtusifolius, larvae 26.X.2001 adults 24. VI .–6. VI .2002, leg. DB (CDB).