Agonopterix vendettella (CHRÉTIEN, 1908)

Buchner, Peter & Karsholt, Ole, 2019, Depressariinae of Madeira and the Azores Islands (Lepidoptera: Depressariidae), Beiträge Zur Entomologie = Contributions to Entomology 69 (2), pp. 331-353 : 338-341

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.21248/contrib.entomol.69.2.331-353
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/F34587A6-EC11-FFC3-FF78-FBFDFEDB1B51
treatment provided by	Carolina
scientific name	Agonopterix vendettella (CHRÉTIEN, 1908)
status

Treatment

( Figs 11–14 View Fig View Fig , 16 View Fig , 18 View Fig )

Depressaria vendettella CHRÉTIEN, 1908b: 258 .

Depressaria iliensis REBEL, 1936: 36 ; syn. nov.

Examined material: Madeira. 2 , Fajã da Nogueira , 600 m, 27.viii.1975, leg. N. L. Wolff ( ZMUC) ; 1 , same data but 500 m, la. 20.vi.1993, Oenanthe pteridifolia , leg. O. Karsholt ( ZMUC) ; 10, 4 , Encumeada , 1000 m, la. 8.vi.1993, Oenanthe pteridifolia , leg. O. Karsholt ( ZMUC) .

Description: Adult ( Figs 11 View Fig -13). Wingspan 18–22 mm, ground colour warm brown ( Figs 11 View Fig –12) or greyish brown (Fig. 13). Oblique pair of dots at 1/3 accompanied with pale or whitish scales especially on outer margin, the dark part of the lower usually elongated, the dark part of the dots may be confluent which creates a commashaped dark marking ( Fig. 11 View Fig , intermediate in Fig. 12), or the dark parts of the dots are divided by ground colour (Fig. 13). Diffuse dark spot present. From the pair of dots at 1/2 only the inner one present, usually (but not always) with white scales in the centre and at inner margin. Basal field markedly paler than ground colour of forewing, divided from ground colour by a rather broad dark line in rear 2/3, confluent with ground colour in costal 1/3. Outer margin (termen) convex.

Diagnosis: The warm brown form with confluent dots at 1/3 found in Madeira is very similar to A. perezi (for external differences see under that species). The continental form is very similar to A. curvipunctosa and determination needs dissection. Differential diagnosis of the closely related species A. vendettella and A. curvipunctosa (not found in Madeira so far) based on genitalia.

In the male genitalia the base of anellus in both species shows a structure which is not found in other Agonopterix species. In A. vendettella ( Fig. 14 View Fig ) this structure shows two elongated, narrow tips directed towards vinculum ( Fig. 14A View Fig , also as an inset where this structure is highlighted in black). In A. curvipunctosa (Fig. 15) these tips are shorter and evenly rounded (Fig. 15C). The phallus in A. vendettella has a basal process of about 30 % of the phallus length (which is markedly longer than in most other Agonoterix spec.), phallus not becoming broader from base to tip in lateral view, and teeth on outer surface (if present, Fig. 14B View Fig ) are predominately dorsal at about 3/4. In A. curvipunctosa the basal process is also remarkable long, even slightly longer than in A. vendettella with about 35–40 % of phallus length, phallus becoming broader from base to tip in lateral view with broadest part at about 3/4, and teeth on outer surface (if present, Fig. 15D) are predominately ventral at about 3/4.

Also the female genitalia of both species show a structure which is not found in other Agonopterix species. The first part of ductus bursae, from ostium to caudal margin of sternite VIII (colliculum) is strongly sclerotizised, and a short unsclerotizised part is followed by a second sclerotization. In A. vendettella the colliculum is longer than broad with deeply excavated caudal margin ( Fig. 16A View Fig ), and ductus between colliculum and the second sclerotisation is swollen and appearing globose in standard preparations ( Fig. 16B View Fig ). In A. curvipunctosa the colliculum is about as long as broad with shallow excavated caudal margin (Fig. 17A), and ductus below colliculum is dilatated, but not forming a globose structure (Fig. 17B).

Bionomics: Larvae on Apiaceae . The most important host plant is Smyrnium olusatrum L., but it has also been found on Conium maculatum L. in mainland Portugal (M. Corley, pers. comm.). Specimens from Madeira have been reared from Oenanthe pteridifolia LOWE.

Distribution: Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, the

Canary Islands and Madeira, usually near the coast.

Remarks: All examined specimens from Madeira represent the warm brown form with confluent dots at 1/3. On the Canary Islands, this form dominates but the more grey coloured form with separated dots at 1/3 also can be found; the last mentioned is the common form of continental Europe.

Agonopterix iliensis ( REBEL, 1936) , so far reported from Italian mainland and Sardinia, is conspecific with A. vendettella (according to genitalia slide from the holotype, Fig. 18 View Fig : Aritzo, 10. 9. 34, Predota, gen. slide

CONTRIBUTIONS TO ENTOMOLOGY: BEITRÄGE ZUR ENTOMOLOGIE — 69 (2) 331–353

Mus. Vind. 16.508, prep. Peter Huemer). In the original description the holotype is stated to be a male, but in fact it is a female.