Pyropteron chrysidiformis sicula Le Cerf, 1922

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 : 22-23

Pyropteron chrysidiformis sicula Le Cerf, 1922

( Figs 2b , 53–55 , 58, 59 , 61, 62 )

Pyropteron chrysidiformis sicula Le Cerf, 1922 : Études de Lépidoptérologie Comparée, 19 (2): 27; pl. 539, Figs 4526, 4527. Lectotype: ♂, Italy, Sicily (MNHN).

This subspecies is defined by an additional white posterior margin of the abdomen on the second tergite. We also found that the forewing discal spot on the underside of the forewing is almost always completely orange-red, very rarely narrow black in its proximal part, and with the exception of a specimen from Slovenia never broad black as in the nominate subspecies. Specimens from Sicily have a wingspan usually well below 20 mm and are thus smaller than those from the rest of the range. Specimens from Apulia are usually much larger. Towards central and northern Italy and Istria the additional white margin disappears and some specimens from these areas are indistinguishable from those of the nominate subspecies. There are small differences in the structure of the male genitalia. In P. chrysidiformis sicula , the crista sacculi is distally less strongly curved, the distal margin convex and the tip closely rounded, while the distal margin is concave and the tip of valva is pointed in the nominate subspecies.

Biology and habitat. Not different from the nominate subspecies. In Apulia larvae were found in large numbers in almost all perennial species of Rumex (pers. observation Lingenhöle).

Distribution. Sicily, central and southern Italy, along the Adriatic coast to Istria ( Bella et al. 2017, Laštůvka & Laštůvka 1995, 2001, Špatenka et al. 1999, Predovnik 2001, our own results).

Specimens examined. 24♂, Italy, Sicily, Palermo , le Madonie, 2km S Isnello, 800m, 1. and 2. VI.2013, leg. DB ; 9♂, Italy, Sicily, Palermo, Palermo , 3km NW Collesano, 400m, 7. VI.2013, leg. DB ; 1♂, Italy, Sicily, Palermo , le Madonie, Castelbuono, NW Monte Ferro, 1450m, 5. VI.2013, leg. DB ; 2♂, Italy, Sicily, Siracusa, Monti Iblei , Monte Santa Venere, 800m, 19. V.2007, leg. DB ; 22♂, 16♀, Italy, Calabria, vic. Cuculli-Torretta , 20m, e.l. ex Rumex sp. , larva X.2003, adult 7. V.2004, leg. AL (1♀, Fig. 55 ) ; 1♂, Italy, Calabria, road Cariati-Campana, Colle de Rose , 385m, e.l. ex Rumex sp. , larva X.2003, adult 3. V.2004, leg. AL ; 14♂, 11♀, Italy, Calabria, Cabo Vaticano, vic. Joppolo, 270m, e.l. ex Rumex sp. , larva X.2003, adult IV.– V.2004, leg. AL ; 1♀, Italy, Calabria, Roccabernarda , 230m, e.l. ex Rumex sp. , larva X.2003, adult V.2004, leg. AL ; 11♂, 6♀, Italy, Basilikata, 20km, N Potenza , e.l. ex Rumex sp. , larva X.2003, adult IV.– V.2004, leg. AL ( CAL, CDB) . 9♀, Italy, Marke, Fabriano , 13. VI.2003, leg. AL ( CAL) . 3♂, 1♀, Sicily, Mt Cuccio , VI.1930, leg. Höfer (Bartsch gen. preps. 2019-24; 2019-25) ( Figs 59 , 61 ) ; 1♂, 2♀, ibid., 7. V. 30. V. and 1. VI.1930, coll. Dannehl ; 2♀, Sicily, Taormina , 23. V.1942 (Bartsch gen. prep. 2020-03) ( Fig. 62 ) and 15. V.1943 ; 2♂, Italy, Sicily, Sortino , 21.–23. VI.2000, leg. Laštůvka ; 3♂, Italy, Sicily, Francavilla , 14.–15. VI.1995, leg. Laštůvka ; 3♂, Italy, Sicily, Ficuzza , 17.–19. VI.2000, leg. Laštůvka ( Figs 53–54 ) ; 1♂, Italy, Sicily, Castiglione , 20. VI.1995, leg. Laštůvka ; 1♂, Italy, Serra Si Quirika, road Ancona-Fabriano , 400m, 24. VI.1994, leg. AL (Bartsch gen. prep. 2019-26) ( Fig. 58 ) ; 1♂, Slowenia, Kras, Presnica , e.l. ex Rumex sp. , 4.–21. VI.2000, leg. Predovnik ( Bartsch gen. prep. 2019-41) ( SMNS) ; 1♂, Italy, Sicily, Madonie , Torre Montaspro, 1130 m, 5. VI.2001, leg. FP ; 2♂, Italy, Sicily, Madonie, SE Castelbuono, Mt. Miccio , 890 m, 10. VI.2001, leg. FP ; 1♂, Italy, Sicily, Pantalica nr. Ferla, 15. VI.2001, leg. FP ; 3♂, Italy, Sicily, Pollina NE Castelbuono, 520 m, 10. VI.2001, leg. FP ; 60♂, Italy, Sicily, Valdinte NW Francavilla, 550 m, 7. VI.2001, leg. FP (DNAtax 02584, DNAtax 04-02) ; 25♂, Italy, Sicily, CT, Etna nr. Ragalna, Mt. Arso , 3. VI.2001, leg. FP (photo 46/2/1-21) ; 60♂, ibid., 1280 m, 14. VI.2001, leg. FP ; 2♂, Italy, Sicily, ME, Cesaro, 3. VI.2001, leg. FP ; 4♂, Italy, Sicily, ME, Mandanici , 600 m, 14. VI.2001, leg. FP (BOX-2219 E12) ; 4♂, Italy, Sicily, PA, Castelbuono , 120 m, 10. VI.2001, leg. FP ; 5♂, Italy, Sicily, PA, Ficuzza , 850–1170 m, 9. VI.2001, leg. FP ; 6♂, Italy, Sicily, PA, Ficuzza , Alpe Cucco, 920 m, 8. VI.2001, leg. FP ; 4♂, ibid., 9. VI.2001, leg. FP ; 3♂, Italy, Sicily, PA, Godrano, 8. VI.2001, leg. FP ; 1♂, ibid., 770 m, 9. VI.2001, leg. FP ; 1♂, ibid., 760 m, 11. VI.2001, leg. FP ; 1♂, Italy, Sicily, PA, zw. Ficuzza u. Godrano, 800 m, 9. VI.2001, leg. FP ; 2♂, Italy, Sicily, PA, Piana degli Albanesi , 830 m, 4. VI.2001, leg. FP ; 2♂, ibid., 830 m, 8. VI.2001, leg. FP ; 1♂, ibid., Portella della Ginestra , 800 m, 4. VI.2001, leg. FP ; 6♂, Italy, Sicily, CT, Randazzo , 850–890 m, 6. VI.2001, leg. FP (photo 46/6/21–31, 35–47) ; 3♂, ibid., 850 m, 7. VI.2001, leg. FP ; 2♂, Italy, Sicily, SR, Pedagaggi NW Sortino, 700 m, 15. VI.2001, leg. FP ; 8♂, Italy, Sicily, SR, Sortino –W, 600 m, 13. VI.2001, leg. FP ; 2♂, Italy, Calabria, Acri , 760 m, 6. VI.2009, leg. FP ; 1♂, Italy, Campania, Acerra , 30 m, 31. V.2009, leg. FP ; 3♂, ibid., 40 m, 4. VI.2009, leg. FP ; 2♂, Italy, Campania, Cuma – 3 km N, 2 m, 3. VI.2009, leg. FP ; 8♂, Italy, Campania, Gaudello NE Acerra, 30 m, 4. VI.2009, leg. FP ; 2♂, Italy, Campania, Qualiano W Giugliano, 40 m, 3. VI.2009, leg. FP ; 1♂, Italy, Umbria, PG, Tuoro sul Trasimeno, 9.VII.1996, leg. FP ; 15♂, Italy, Emilia Romagna, Casaliggio 10 km SW Piacenza, 80 m, 14. VI.2012, leg. E. Hüttinger ; 1♂, Italy, Emilia Romagna, Riccione, 13. VI.1976 ; 1♂, Italy, Veneto, VR, Monte nr. Sant‘ Ambrogio, 21. VI.1998, leg. FP ; 1♂, Slovenia, VL14, Skrajniki–Kubed , 210 m, 18. VI.2000, leg. Z. Predovnik (DNAtax 03-20) ; 1♂, 1♀, Slovenia, VL14, Presnica–Kras , 500 m, e.l. VI.2000 (ex Rumex sp. ), leg. Z. Predovnik ; 1♀, Slovenia, VL26, Razdrto s. Postojna, 620 m, e.l. 11.VII.2004, leg. Z. Predovnik (CCDB-02111 A12) ; 1♂, Croatia, Istria, Rabac , 23.VII.2004, leg. Z. Laštůvka (CCDB-02112 C09) (CFP).

Figures

FIGURE 2a. Genitalia structures of Pyropteron, males, above P. chrysidiformis chrysidiformis, below P. triannuliformis.

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 56–59. Pyropteron species, male genitalia. 56–57. Pyropteron chrysidiformis chrysidiformis (56) ♂, Germany, Rhineland, genitalia slide DB 2019-22, (57) ♂, France, Provence, genitalia slide DB 2020-02. 58–59. P. chrysidiformis sicula (58) ♂, Italy, Ancona, genitalia slide DB 2019-26, (59) ♂, Italy, Sicily, genitalia slide DB 2019-24. Scale 1mm.

FIGURES 60–62. Pyropteron species, female genitalia. 60. Pyropteron chrysidiformis chrysidiformis, ♀, Germany, Rhine- land, genitalia slide DB 2019-23. 61–62. P. chrysidiformis sicula, (61) ♀, Italy, Sicily, genitalia slide DB 2019-25, (62) ♀, Italy, Sicily, genitalia slide DB 2020-03. Scale 1mm.