Pyropteron hera ( Špatenka, 1997 )

Bartsch, Daniel, Pühringer, Franz, Milla, Liz, Lingenhöle, Arthur & Kallies, Axel, 2021, A molecular phylogeny and revision of the genus Pyropteron Newman, 1832 (Lepidoptera, Sesiidae) reveals unexpected diversity and frequent hostplant switch as a driver of speciation, Zootaxa 4972 (1), pp. 1-75 : 46

Pyropteron hera ( Špatenka, 1997)

( Figs 138–140 )

Synansphecia hera Špatenka, 1997 : Bonner Zoologische Beiträge, 47 (1/2): 51, 45 Fig. 7 , 49 Fig. 12 . Holotype: ♂, Turkey, eastern Taurus Mts , 1 km S Pürem Pass, N of Kahramanmaras, 37.58°N, 36.35°E, 1500 m (ZSM).

This species is closely related to P. mannii , but significantly larger. The female is unknown. A specimen from Adiyaman (Prov. Malatya, Turkey) differs from typical specimens by the distinctly bright orange-yellow apical area of forewing and anal tuft. It also shows a substantial barcode difference and may represent a distinct subspecies or even a closely related distinct species. However, this specimen was not available to us for closer examination; thus, the issue remains unresolved.

Barcodes. Specimens from the Taurus show little variation in their barcodes (0–0.6%). A specimen from Adiyaman (Prov. Malatya, Turkey), however, differs by a maximum of 4.4% and may represent a different species or subspecies.

Biology and habitat. The hostplant is unknown, but it is most likely a species of Geranium or Erodium (Geraniaceae) . Most localities where this species was found are in forests on mountain slopes with dry and stony soil. The males are attracted to various artificial pheromones from the morning up to early afternoon.

Distribution. So far only known from the highlands of the Taurus Mts in southern Turkey ( Špatenka 1997, Špatenka et al. 1999, Garrevoet et al. 2007, our own findings).

Specimens examined: 10♂ paratypes, Turkey, Konya, 50km S Beysehir, vic. Bademli, 1300m, 8.VII.1992, leg. AL ( CAL); 2♂, Turkey, Konya, 45km S Beysehir, Bakaran , 1420m, 2.VII.2002, leg. DB ( BOLD DB-Lep-00028); 14♂, ( Figs 138–139 ), Turkey, Alayli Daglari , 12km N Saimbeyli , 1200m, 19. VI .1998, leg. DB ( CDB, SMNS); 1♂, Turkey, Adiyaman, Malatya, 20 km NE Goelbasi, Karanlikdere , 9.VI.2002, leg. de Freina (CCDB-04609 B02) ( Fig. 140 ) (ZSM).

Figures

FIGURES 135–149. Pyropteron species. 135–137. Pyropteron manni, (135–136) ♂, (137) ♀, Turkey, Bolu. 138–140. Pyropteron hera, (138–139) ♂, Turkey, Saimbeyli, (140) ♀, Turkey, Adiyaman. 141–143. Pyropteron atypica, (141–142) ♂, Turkey, Hakkari, (143) ♂, Iran, Esfahan. 144–149. Pyropteron triannuliformis, (144–146) ♂, ♀, Austria, Styria, (147–148) ♂, Turkey, Bolu, (149) ♂, Armenia, Ararat prov. Scale 10mm.

FIGURES 3–10. Pyropteron Biology. 3–5. Pyropteron chrysidiformis chrysidiformis, (3) male, reared, France, Occitania, Anduze, (4) freshly emerged male spreading the wings, reared, Portugal,Algarve, Portimao, (5) eggs on the midrib of leaf of Rumex obtusifolius, Germany, Stuttgart (images DB). 6. Pyropteron minianiformis minianiformis, male, Greece, Trikala, Orthovouni (image Theo Garrevoet). 7. Pyropteron minianiformis xerxes, Iran, Khorasan (image FP). 8–10. Pyropteron nigrobarbata, (8) female, (9–10) male, reared, Greece, Crete, Skaleta (images Friedhelm Mai).

FIGURES 47–55. Pyropteron species. 47–52. Pyropteron chrysidiformis chrysidiformis, (47–48) ♂, (49) ♀, Germany, Baden- Württemberg, (50) ♂, France, Corsica, (51) ♀, France, Provence, (52) ♀, Spain, Mallorca. 53–55. P. chrysidiformis sicula, (53–54) ♂, Italy, Sicily, (55) ♀, Italy, Apulia. Scale 10mm.

FIGURES 11–18. Pyropteron Biology. 11–13. Pyropteron doryliformis, (11) mating, (12) female, (13) male, reared, Portugal, Algarve, Olhao (images DB). 14. Pyropteron ceriaeformis, male, Morocco, High Atlas, Oukaimeden. 15. Pyropteron icteropus, male, Italy, Sicily, Ficuzza. 16. Pyropteron leucomelaena blaesii, male, Morocco, Middle Atlas, Ait Mhammed. 17. Pyropteron aistleitneri, male, Spain, Andalusia, Sierra de Maria. 18. Pyropteron kautzi, male, Spain, Andalusia, Sierra Nevada (images FP).