Brevantennia gorskikotarica Weidlich, 2015

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

Brevantennia gorskikotarica Weidlich, 2015 syn. nov.

Dahlica Brevantennia santicensis = Dahlica (Brevantennia) santicensis (Sieder, 1957).

Distribution.

The species is distributed in Austria, Slovenia and northern Croatia. In Austria by Sieder (1957) in Kärnten: Warmbad-Villach (type locality), Arnoldstein - Gailtal, Rattendorfer Alm - Karnischen Alpen and Spitzegels by Hermagor. Confirmed localities are also Faaker Zee - Kärnten and Lengberg - Osttirol ( Deutsch 2003: 10 - as B. styriaca , Lepiforum 2021b - as B. styriaca ). In Croatia the species is known from Gorski Kotar ( Weidlich 2015 - as B. gorskikotarica ).

In Slovenia we found D. santicensis in Gorenjska, Notranjska, Dolenjska and Štajerska regions, in total 22 localities, which indicates a wide distribution across the country. All Slovenian localities are illustrated in Fig. 11 .

Etymology.

Santicum, Roman Castrum near Warmbad-Villach.

Biology.

At the type locality (Warmbad-Villach, Austria), larval cases can be found on the northern slopes of mixed forest, more often in shady areas. The subsoil consists of limestone. Larval cases are present in particular on conifers such as Larix decidua Mill., Pinus sylvestris L. and Picea abies L. and also on rocks. They are mainly found in shady parts of tree trunks, which are covered with lichens and algae and at a height of up to two metres above the ground.

Recent investigations in Slovenia show that the species is more widespread than previously known, more adaptable and occurring in different habitats in cold areas. In lowlands, where the temperatures are higher on average, we found larval cases in northern exposed slopes, in shady humid areas of mixed forest dominated by conifers, mostly Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies and in cold and damp shady valleys of creeks. Sometimes the river or lake allows cooler microclimate conditions, so animals there can also be found on the sunny, south exposed positions (location, Gozd Martuljek - Fig. 4c ). The highest locality where the species has been observed is on the subalpine southern slopes of Mala Mojstrovka, where we found larval cases on the cliffs and rocks just a little above the tree line - the Larix decidua and Pinus mugo Turra zone. At all locations, the subsoil consists of limestone and larval cases were mostly found on the shady trunks of coniferous trees, wooden fences, and rocks. Only exceptionally, at Črnivec and Cezlak-Lukanja, the substrate is of volcanic origin. Larval cases were found there, mainly on the tuffite boulders and stones which are, unlike limestone, covered with algae and mosses in abundance. They were found also on the walls of the old wooden buildings, such as an old arbour in the forest and at bus stations. The lowest elevation was in the valley of the stream Gračnica is 392 m and the highest was at 1600 m on Mala Mojstrovka mountain.

Research in Slovenia shows that the species is univoltine. Pupation occurs between late March and early April. The flight period of adults lasts from the beginning of April to early May, depending on the location and year. Males hatch in the evening and become active in the early morning, after occurrence of females, between 05:30-07:00.

D. santicensis in Slovenia cohabits with the following species of bagworms: Dahlica triquetrella f. parth. ( Hübner, 1813); Dahlica lichenella (Linnaeus, 1761) f. bisex.; Dahlica croatica Weidlich, 2016; Dahlica sp.; Taleporia tubulosa (Retzius, 1783); Proutia comitella (Bruand, 1853); Psyche casta (Pallas, 1767) and Bacotia claustrella (Bruand, 1845). An exception is the locality Mala Mojstrovka, where the species cohabits only with Dahlica (Siederia) meierella (Sieder, 1956) and Dahlica triquetrella f. parth.

Remarks.

Historical overview: The discovery and description of Dahlica (Brevantennia) santicensis has an interesting and informative history and is maybe among the most interesting for species in this group. For this reason, it was mentioned several times in different publications (Arnscheid, 1988, 1993). The story began in the year 1952, when Mr. Herbert Hölzl from Klagenfurt found small larval cases while climbing to Rattendorfer Alm in the Carnic Alps. The following year Mr. Thurner, also from Klagenfurt picked up a lot of specimens. Those specimens were later on described as a new species Dahlica (Brevantennia) saxatilis (Sieder, 1954). Two years after the description, Sieder himself visited that locality, one week after another specialist, H. Meier. Together, they found, that two species of Dahlicini occur syntopically - Dahlica (Siederia) alpicolella (Rebel, 1919) and the newly described D. saxatilis . This is nothing special, but we now know that Sieder used two different species for his description: males of D. alpicolella and females of his new species D. saxatilis . Later, he corrected his mistake in a new article ‟ Fünfte Vorarbeit über die Gattung Solenobia ", synonymised D. saxatilis with D. alpicolella and added a new and corrected description of the new species D. santicensis , this time with matched males ( Sieder 1957). For the new type locality, he chose the forest of Warmbad-Villach (the first specimens from that locality he got in the year 1955 from Trasischker), but considering the imprecisely assembled earlier material, he visited the place and collected the type material himself. Approximately one month previously, Meier’s description of Dahlica (Brevantennia) styriaca was published. In spite of the fact that he had material from Rattendorfer Alm, Meier neither compared his new species with Sieder’s D. saxatilis , nor did he mention this taxon in his work. However, both D. styriaca and D. santicensis were known as separate species (bona species) for 31 years, until Arnscheid’s publication in 1988, where he established the species D. santicensis as synonym of D. styriaca . Here we give his reasons: ‟During a personal conversation in September 1976, Sieder told the author that both taxa are most likely identical. Investigations to date of numerous specimens, males and females of both species, actually showed no significant differences which would exceed the normal range of variations, that are specific to a particular species". Unfortunately, the authors did not use the already well-known and generally confirmed methods of determination ( Sauter 1956), especially the genital index. The fact is that this species remained unnoticed until today. Only recent comparisons of Slovenian populations with already known species (according to established morphological and newer genetic methods), have shown that they are clearly separated from Styrian populations and that they are identical to those from the forest of Warmbad-Villach.

Figures

Figure 4. D. santicensis. a. Fresh adult male resting on rock, Gozd Martuljek; b. Fresh adult female transmitting pheromones, Gozd Martuljek; c. Mixed forest with Scots pine, natural habitat of D. santicensis, Gozd Martuljek, 740 m.

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.