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
Author
Bartsch, Daniel
daniel.bartsch@smns-bw.de
Author
Pühringer, Franz
f.puehringer@sesiidae.net
Author
Milla, Liz
liz.milla@csiro.au
Author
Lingenhöle, Arthur
arthur.lingenhöle@gmx.de
Author
Kallies, Axel
0000-0002-3778-2187
axel.kallies@unimelb.edu.au
text
Zootaxa
2021
2021-05-18
4972
1
1
75
journal article
6247
10.11646/zootaxa.4972.1.1
cdd9688e-9a3f-4602-992e-1f8693caab9b
1175-5326
4771798
E78473FE-5662-409A-90C2-7C4912DC57E8
Pyropteron doryliformis
(
Ochsenheimer, 1808
)
(
Figs 11–13
,
91–94
,
106, 107
,
113, 114
)
Sesia doryliformis
Ochsenheimer, 1808: 141
.
Pyropteron doryliformis
var.
bellieri
Le Cerf, 1916
:
Études de Lépidoptérologie Comparée
, 12: 13; pl. 318,
Figs
4639, 4640.
Lectotype
:
♂
,
Spain
[the data on the label state
Spain
, not Sicily as stated in the original description!] (MNHN).
Pyropteron doryliformis
f.
chimena
Le Cerf, 1916
:
Études de Lépidoptérologie Comparée
, 12: 13; pl. 318, Fig. 4638.
Lectotype
:
♂
:
Spain
(MNHN).
Pyropteron doryliformis
subsp.
tingitana
Le Cerf, 1916
:
Études de Lépidoptérologie Comparée
, 12: 13; pl. 319,
Figs
4644, 4645.
Lectotype
:
♂
,
Morocco
, Tanger (MNHN).
Pyropteron doryliformis
var.
andalusica
Le Cerf, 1920
:
Études de Lépidoptérologie Comparée
, 17: 414, pl. 318
Figs
4636–4637.
Lectotype
:
♂
,
Spain
,
Andalusia
(MNHN).
This and the following four species form a distinct group within the genus, which consists of relatively large, mostly brightly yellow, orange or red marked species with distinct sexual dimorphism. Up to recently,
P. doryliformis
was considered a widespread and polymorphic species with multiple forms and several taxa were synonymized with
P. doryliformis
by previous authors (
Staudinger 1871
,
Herrich-Schäffer 1875
,
Špatenka
et al.
1999
).
Bartsch
et al.
(2006)
, however, raised
P. ceriaeformis
from synonymy to species rank. In the course of our study,
P. ceriaeformis
and several additional taxa were found to constitute well-supported monophyletic groups distinct from
P. doryliformis
. Therefore, they are here considered distinct species. The larvae of all five species in this group feed in the roots of various
Rumex
species, with a preference of bitter tasting species. As typical for the genus, the genitalia structures are rather homogenous with the exception of
P. biedermanni
.
Diagnosis.
P. doryliformis
is very homogenous and varies only minimally in size and coloration. Males are typically brown, while females are reddish. Exceptionally, females show a brown coloration similar to that of males (
Fig. 93
). For differentiation from related species based on external characters see below and refer to the diagnoses under the following species.
Genitalia. Male with gnathos flaps broad (smaller in related species), the middle one>1.5 times longer and clearly wider than the lateral ones (shorter and less raised in related species); crista sacculi of the valva with proximal, setaceous part straight, its apical third ventrad angled, ending in two simple folds that run parallel to the ventral margin. Female with papillae anales and segment 8 smaller and longer than other members of the group (even smaller and longer in
P. biedermanni
); the antrum about one-third shorter than the remaining part of ductus bursae (similar in
P. ceriaeformis
; longer than in
P. icteropus
and
P. euglossaeformis
); the corpus bursae round, with round, signum-like, sclerotized plate near ductus bursae (with indistinct signum in
P. ceriaeformis
and
P. icteropus
, without signum in
P. euglossaeformis
).
Barcodes.
P. doryliformis
is part of a well-supported (monophyletic) clade including also the North African
P. biedermanni
,
P. ceriaeformis
,
P. euglossaeformis
and the Italian
P. icteropus
. Together with
P. biedermanni
it is sister to the three remaining clades.
P. euglossaeformis
and
P. icteropus
differ by an average 4.6%, while
P. euglossaeformis
and
P. ceriaeformis
differ by average 6.6%.
Biology and habitat.
The species occurs in open land, such as meadows, pastures and fields, often in wet places like trenches, along brooks and rivers and marshes. Several larvae can feed together in the main root of large, bitter-tasting species of
Rumex
(dock), including
R. conglomeratus
Murray
,
R. stenophyllus
Ledebour
,
R. maritimus
Linnaeus
,
R. pulcher
and others (
Špatenka
et al.
1999
,
Laštůvka & Laštůvka 1995
,
2001
, our own observations). In an extreme case,
twelve larvae
were found in a single root (Bartsch). The large-scale breeding of this species for the introduction into
Australia
as pest control was described by
Fisher (1992)
. Males are active in the late afternoon and early evening and come to various artificial pheromons.
Distribution.
This West-Mediterranean species is known from northern
Morocco
and north-western
Algeria
as well as from southern
Portugal
and
Spain
. Records from
Tunisia
and Sicily (e.g. de
Freina 1999
,
Špatenka
et al.
1999
,
Laštůvka & Laštůvka 1995
,
2001
) belong to other species in this group. Records from Cantabria and Sardinia of the same authors are incorrect (see
Bertaccini & Fiumi 2002
and
Bartsch
et al.
2006
). This species was introduced to
Australia
to control infestations with exotic
Rumex
species
(
Fisher 1992
,
Palmer
et al.
2010
).
Note.
The genitalia of the male figured in
Špatenka
et al.
(1999)
(p. 499,
Fig. 195
) from
Algeria
, Yakouren, are likely to belong to
P. euglossaeformis
; the female (p. 537, Fig. 432) belongs to
P. icteropus
.
Specimens examined.
128♂
(
Figs 91–92
),
86♀
(
Fig. 94
),
Portugal
,
eastern Algarve
,
2 km
W Olhao
,
5m
, e.l. ex
Rumex
cf.
crispus
, larvae
29.X.2012
adults
IV.–
VI
.2013, leg. DB (
♂
,
Bartsch
gen. prep. 2019-35) (
Fig. 106
)
;
2♀
,
Portugal
,
eastern Algarve
, vic.
Castro Marim
,
15m
, e.l. ex
R.
cf.
crispus
, larvae
2.XI.2012
adults
1.–5.
V
.2013, leg. DB (
Bartsch
gen. prep. 2019-36) (
Fig. 114
)
;
4♀
,
Portugal
,
western Algarve
, vic.
Pera
,
0–3m
, ex
R. maximus
, larvae
20.III.2006
adults
15.
VI
.2006, leg. DB;
1♀
,
Portugal
,
western Algarve
, vic.
Chabouco
,
95m
, e.l. ex
R. maximus
, larva
31.X.2012
adult
13.
V
.2013, leg. DB;
3♂
,
1♀
,
Spain
,
Andalusia
,
Serrania de Ronda
,
Ronda
,
500m
,
24.–28.
VI
.1993, leg. DB (
♀
Bartsch gen. prep. 2001-11);
6♂
,
Spain
,
Sierra Cazorla
,
Cotorrios
,
800m
,
14.– 18.
VI
.1993, leg. DB (CDB).
1♂
,
Spain
,
Malaga
,
Manilva
,
23.
V
.1999, e.l., leg. RB (
Bartsch
gen. prep. 2001-06) (
CRB
)
;
1♀
,
Spain
,
Andalusia
,
Bella
zw.
Zahara
de los
Atunes
u.
Tarifa
,
20.
VI
.2005, leg. RB (CCDB-04684 H02)
;
1♂
,
Spain
,
Cadiz
,
Zahara
de los
Atunes
, e.l. 1999, leg. RB (DNAtax 02606)
;
1♀
,
Spain
,
Albacete
,
Riopar
(
Sierra de Alcaraz
),
27.–28.
VI
.2001, leg.
Z. Laštůvka
(CFP);
1♀
,
Morocco
,
Middle Atlas
,
Ifrane
,
1600–1800m
,
8.
VI
.1999, leg. DB (Bartsch gen. prep. 2001-02);
3♂
, ibid., 7.,
8. and 9.
VI
.1999, leg. DB (
Bartsch
gen. prep. 2001-16) (
Fig. 107
)
;
1♂
,
Morocco
,
Middle Atlas
,
Col du Zad
,
1900–2200m
,
7.
VI
.1999, leg. DB;
7♂
,
Morocco
,
Middle Atlas
,
Tizi N Ifar
,
1400–1600m
,
5.
VI
.1999, leg. DB (
Bartsch
gen. prep. 2001-02) (
CDB
,
SMNS
)
;
1♂
, ibid.,
26.
V
.2005, leg. DB (CDB);
1♀
,
Morocco
,
Middle Atlas, J
bou
Iblane
/
Tafferte
,
2000m
, e.l.
7.
VI
.1998, leg. RB (
Bartsch
gen. prep. 2001-18) (
Fig. 113
)
;
1♀
,
Morocco
,
High Atlas
,
Oukaimeden
, e.l.
28.III.1998
(
Bartsch
gen. prep. 2001-07), leg. RB (
CRB
)
;
6♂
, ibid.,
5.
VI
. and 11.
VI
.1999, leg. DB;
1♂
,
Morocco
,
High Atlas, S
slope of
Tizi-n Tichka
,
1800–1900m
,
10.
VI
.1999, leg. DB (CDB);
2♂
,
Morocco
,
Haut Atlas
,
Oukaimeden
,
2630 m
,
2.VII.2005
, leg. FP
;
1♂
, ibid.,
2650 m
,
6.
VI
.2008, leg. FP;
8♂
, ibid.,
20.
VI
.2008, leg. FP (BOX-2219 F07);
2♂
, ibid.,
2520–2620 m
,
28.
VI
.2009, leg. FP;
1♂
, ibid.,
2680 m
,
29.
VI
.2009, leg. FP;
1♂
,
Morocco
,
Moyen Atlas
,
Azrou
, road.
Azrou-Ifrane
,
1590 m
,
25.
VI
.2005, leg. FP;
2♂
,
Morocco
,
Moyen Atlas
,
SE Ifrane
,
1670 m
,
10.
VI
.2008, leg. FP;
6♂
,
Morocco
,
Moyen
Atlas,
Ifrane
,
1625 m
,
8.
VI
.2008, leg. FP (BOX-2219 F06);
3♂
, ibid.,
Source Vittel
,
1600 m
,
18.
VI
.2008, leg. FP;
1♂
,
Morocco
,
Moyen Atlas
,
Tattiouine S Midelt
,
1700 m
,
11.
VI
.2008, leg. FP;
3♂
,
Morocco
,
Moyen Atlas
,
S Timahdit
,
1930 m
,
22.
VI
.2009, leg. FP (CFP).