Dahlica (Brevantennia) adriatica (Rebel, 1919)

Rekelj, Jurij, Predovnik, Zeljko, Huemer, Peter & Lopez-Vaamonde, Carlos, 2022, Systematics of Slovenian Dahlica Enderlein, 1912, subgenus Brevantennia Sieder, 1953 (Lepidoptera, Psychidae), Nota Lepidopterologica 45, pp. 207-232 : 207

Dahlica (Brevantennia) adriatica (Rebel, 1919)

Figs 2a-c , 8e , 9 , 10 , 11

Solenobia adriatica Rebel, 1919: 110

References for Slovenia.

Rebel 1919: 110; Weidlich 2012: 16; Rekelj and Predovnik 2014: 5. Arnscheid and Weidlich 2017: 74.

Material examined.

Slovenia • Several old larval cases; Vremščica, Prelovce ; 633 m; 21.viii.2010; leg. Ž. Predovnik , coll. PCŽP • 2♂♂, with larval cases; same locality; 640 m; 20.iii.2011; leg. J. Rekelj ; DNA barcode sample: 1♂ TIPSY160-12, 1♂ TIPSY161-12); coll. PCJR • 3♂♂, with larval cases; same locality; 640 m; 25.iii.2011 (e.p., 25-30.iii.2011) ; leg. J. Rekelj; coll. PCJR • 6♂♂, 19♀♀, with larval cases; Ribnica ob Reki, Potok Mrzlek ; 420 m; 18.iii.2012 (e.p. 25.3- 30.iii. 2012) ; leg. J. Rekelj; DNA barcode sample: 1♂ TIPSY621-12, 1♂ TIPSY622-12; coll. PCJR • 10♂♂, 5♀♀, with larval cases; same locality; 30.iii.2014 (e.p. 1-5.iv.2014) ; leg. J. Rekelj; 5♂♂ genit. prep. №: 259-263, Rekelj; coll. PCJR • 2♂♂, 11♀♀, with larval cases; Vremščica, Crni Vrh ; 680 m; 25.iii.2012 (e.p. 25-30.iii.2012) ; leg. J. Rekelj; coll. PCJR • 19♂♂, 23♀♀, with larval cases; same locality; 30.iii.2014 (e.p. 1-5.iv.2014) ; leg. J. Rekelj; 5♂♂ genit. prep. №: 254-258, Rekelj; DNA barcode sample: 1♂ TIPSY623-12; coll. PCJR • ♂, with larval case; Koritnice , Žlebovi; 670 m; 25.iii.2012 (e.p. 13.iv.2012) ; leg. J. Rekelj; coll. PCJR • Several fresh exuviae ♂♂ and ♀♀, with larval cases; Ilirska Bistrica; Devin-Župnica; 1010 m; 18.iii.2012; leg. J. Rekelj ; coll. PCJR • 1♂ and several fresh exuviae ♂♂ and ♀♀, with larval cases; Slavnik ; 940 m; 19.v.2012; leg. J. Rekelj ; coll. PCJR • Several old larval cases; Brkini, Misliče; 619 m; 24. xi.2012; leg. Ž. Predovnik ; coll. PCŽP • 15 old larval cases; Brkini, Pregarje-Huje ; 710 m; 24.xi.2012; leg. Ž. Predovnik ; coll. PCŽP.

Distribution.

D. adriatica is distributed in the area of the Dinaric Alps. Known in Slovenia, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina ( Weidlich 2012: 16, 2015: 65. Arnscheid and Weidlich 2017: 74).

Slovenia is the northern border of its distribution range, with presence in Brkini and surrounding hills: Snežnik in the east, Vremščica in the north and Slavnik in the west. All Slovenian localities are ilustrated in Fig. 11 .

Biology.

We found this species well-represented in various biotopes with a mainly humid character. The lowest locality, where we found larval cases was a south-west facing slope of the cold valley of Potok Mrzlek (420 m), where the species inhabits sunny, mossy and lightly overgrown rocks consisting of Eocene flysch sandstone, just 10 m above the creek. Most other localities were found in south to south-west facing slopes in Illyric Ostryo -Quercetum zonal forest community ( Ostryo - Carpinion orientalis ) from 600-700 m elevation. The subsoil here consists of limestone. Larval cases were fixed on the south side of rocks, retaining walls and bark of trees. We noticed that the larvae are likely to avoid places with high light intensity; micro-localities shadowed with vegetation are more populated. The most typical population of this zone is Črni Vrh, Vremščica (680 m) (Fig. 2c ). It is interesting that the species is also represented on south-facing meadows at higher elevations, usually just above the edge of the Illyrian Fagus sylvatica forests zone ( Aremonio - Fagion ) from 940-1010 m. Due to the higher elevation and consequently the colder climate, the larval cases were found on the warmest places: on the south side of rocks, usually where rocks were lying in larger groups - Devin, Župnica (1010 m).

The species is univoltine. The adults are on the wing, depending on the location from late March to early May.

Remarks.

The first record of the presence of D. adriatica in Slovenia dates back to the year 1919. Rebel (1919: 110) reports one male specimen caught in Istrien (H. Kozina, leg. Naufock, 10. Mai '08). By the place name "H. Kozina" he probably considered the villages Hrpelje and Kozina in Slovenia, or most likely the Kozina railway station there. Travelling by train was most popular at that time. The single specimen showed slightly wider and darker wings than specimens from type locality Senj ( “Zengg”), Croatia, and therefore the author defines it as "belongs probably also to Dahlica adriatica ". This uncertainty is likely the reason why D. adriatica was not subsequently placed on the list of the Slovenian fauna, despite the fact that that is has been confirmed as present many times by Slovenian entomologists (Mojmir Lasan, personal communication 2012). The species was officially included in the list in 2012 ( Weidlich 2012: 16).

The genital index of males slightly deviates from the known values, which were 0.61-0.64 ( Weidlich 1996: 167, 2012: 15). The new index is slightly higher, from 0.61-0.68 (Fig. 9 ).

Figures

Figure 2. D. adriatica. a. Adult male resting on rock, Potok Mrzlek; b. Fresh adult female in assembling mode, Potok Mrzlek; c. Illyric Ostryo - Quercetum zonal forest community, natural habitat of D. adriatica, Crni Vrh, Vremscica, 680 m.

Figure 8. Heads, colouration of vertex and frons dense hairs. a. D. santicensis, Gozd Martuljek; b. D. santicensis, Retje, Ribnica; c. D. triglavensis, Jurckov vrh, Belca; d. D. triglavensis, Kanin; e. D. adriatica, Potok Mrzlek; f. D. styriaca, Haeuslberg bei Leoben.

Figure 9. Graphical representation of genital indexes and classes of cloaking scales of all species in subgenus Dahlica Brevantennia (after Arnscheid and Weidlich 2017, enriched by our own investigations).

Figure 10. Comparison of patterns and cloaking scales of male forewings: Slovenian and surrounding subgenus Dahlica Brevantennia species.

Figure 11. Distribution map of subgenus Dahlica Brevantennia species in Slovenia. 1. Prelovce, Vremscica; 2. Potok Mrzlek, Ribnica; 3. Zlebovi, Koritnice; 4. Devin, Zupnica; 5. Slavnik; 6. Mislice, Brkini; 7. Pregarje, Huje; 8. Obrov, Brkini (Weidlich 2012); 9. Gozd Martuljek; 10. Ratece, Gorenjska; 11. Mala Mojstrovka; 12. Mlinarica, Zg. Trenta; 13. Strmec na Predelu; 14. Kladje, Cerkno; 15. Zgornja Sorica; 16. Gradisce, Naklo; 17. Crnivec pod Plesivcem; 18. Strmec, Raduha; 19. Cezlak, Oplotnica; 20. Tolsti vrh, Mislinja; 21. Paski Kozjak; 22. Mrzlo Polje, Gracnica; 23. Lanise, Hrusica; 24. Nanos; 25. Kurescek, Zelimlje; 26. Mala Slevica, Velike Lasce; 27. Ravni vrh, Sodrazica; 28. Retje, Ribnica; 29. Breg pri Ribnici na Dolenjskem; 30. Trava, Podplanina; 31. Triglav, Julijske Alpe; 32. Kanin, Julijske Alpe; 33. Mangart, Julijske Alpe; 34. Stol, Karavanke; 35. Belca, Karavanke.