Marco Infusino

Optimising the sampling window for moth indicator communities

In this paper we establish the best period for sampling moth communities within the first half of the night. We stress the importance of sampling duration in ecological studies that use moths as an indicator taxon, because sample composition changes throughout the night due to individual species flight behaviour. A total of 20,744 individuals belonging to 562 species were analysed using diversity and similarity indices. Between-site sub sample comparisons were found to have low discriminant ability when they included the first hour of the night. Moreover, the moth community sampled at this time showed a low identity with other sampled portions of the same community, probably because generalist species were present in all the four surveyed sites at this time. In order to minimise sampling bias, we suggest using three hour-long surveys when the first hour after dusk is included in the sample, using Fisher’s α for diversity ranking when different sampling durations are used at different sites.

Nothocasis rosariae sp. n., a new sylvicolous, montane species from southern Europe (Lepidoptera: Geometridae, Larentiinae).

In this paper, we describe Nothocasis rosariae sp. n. as the second European species belonging to the genus Nothocasis Prout, 1937. Differential features from its allopatric sibling species N. sertata (Hübner, 1817) are presented basing on wing pattern, morphology of male and female genitalia, and molecular data (COI barcode region). The type series is designated from southern Italy, but one examined specimen was collected in Epirus, Greece. The largest phenotypic and genetic variation was observed in the Pollino Massif, northern Calabria, whilst the population of the locus typicus in the Sila Massif, central Calabria, appears to be more homogeneous. 128 individuals were collected in mountainous beech forests from late August to mid-November. We hypothesize that larvae of N. rosariae sp. n. feed on Fagus sylvatica whilst those of its sibling species, N. sertata, feed on Acer.

Ptilophora variabilis Hartig, 1968, bona species, and description of Ptilophora nebrodensis sp. n. from Sicily (Lepidoptera, Notodontidae)

In this paper, we redescribe Ptilophora plumigera variabilis Hartig, 1968 and raise it to species rank. Furthermore we describe Ptilophora nebrodensis sp. n. from Sicily, as the third European species belonging to the genus Ptilophora Stephens, 1828. These two species are allopatric vicariants of Ptilophora plumigera (Denis Schiffermüller, 1775) respectively in Apennine Italy and Sicily. We present the differential features mainly concerning the morphology of genitalia and molecular data. Ptilophora variabilis shows a scattered distribution, generally very localized, whereas P. nebrodensis sp. n. is restricted to a few localities in the mountainous areas of North Sicily, being very rare. Both species predominantly inhabit forests in mountain areas, with occurrence of broadleaved trees, especially Acer spp. (Fam. Aceraceae).

First Record of Phycita imperialella (Ragonot, 1887) from Western Europe (Pyralidae)

Phycita imperialella (Ragonot 1887) is a species of Pyralidae, subfamily Phycitinae, tribe Phycitini. This species was moved several times across different genera. It was described as Nephopterix imperialella by Ragonot (1887), reported as Sciota imperialella in Fauna Europaea (Karsholt & Van Nieukerken 2015), as Bradyrrhoa imperialella in Budashkin & Savchuk (2010), and, finally, as Phycita imperialella in Leraut (2014). Perhaps the correct combination is that proposed by Budashkin & Savchuk (2010), and molecular analyses could be useful to assign this species to the correct genus. Few data are given for the distribution of this species. Within the original description, it was generically reported from Caucasus, Armenia and Siberia (Ragonot 1887). Successively, the range was extended to Greece and Macedonia (Klimesch 1968), Ukraine (Krim near Kurortne, Friedmar Graf, www.lepiforum.de; Crimea (Budashkin & Savchuk 2010)), and Turkey (Van province, East Turkey (Koçak & Kemal 2012)). To date, the chorotype of P. imperialella can be defined as Caucasian-East Mediterranean. Budashkin & Savchuk (2010) found caterpillars of P. imperialella feeding on both stems and flowers of Onosma polyphylla Ledeb. (Boraginaceae), from mid-June to mid-July. Adults were found from June to October, but more frequently in August, in xerophilous habitats. In this paper we report the first record of P. imperialella from Italy, significantly expanding the range of this species westward. The collection site is situated in the Pollino National Park on the southern slope of Serra Ambruna Mts., municipality of Saracena, southern Italy (latitude: 39.8234°; longitude: 16.0768°; altitude: 1,035 m). A specimen of P. imperialella were found in a clearing surrounded by a Fagus sylvatica L. forest with isolated trees and bushes of Corylus avellana L., Fraxinus spp., Quercus ilex L., Pinus spp. The shrubherbaceous layer is characterized by Spartium junceum L., Hieracium spp., Dianthus spp. and some Poaceae species. Geological substratum is calcareous with outcropping rocks. Moths have been sampled by a high brightness UV-LED strips-based light trap (400-315 nm, light angle 120°, 3,000 lumens), positioned at approximately 1.30 meters above the ground, switched on at dusk. On the 24th of August 2015 we collected one male of Phycita imperialella (Fig. 1). The identification was easily carried out comparing the habitus of the specimen with available iconography (Leraut 2014). Wingspan is 29 mm, included within the known measurement range of this species (28–30 mm). The specimen was barcoded (BOLD sequence page: BIBSA855-15; GenBank accession: KU497408) and stored in the collection of the Unità di Ricerca per la Selvicoltura in Ambiente Mediterraneo (CREA-SAM). The discovery of a new population of this species in the Pollino Massif confirms the biogeographic affinity between south-eastern Europe and southern Italy. In fact, this distribution pattern is shared by several xerothermophilous Lepidoptera species (Scalercio et al. 2014). Onosma polyphylla, the food-plant indicated by Budashkin & Savchuk (2010), is absent in southern Italy where two subspecies of O. echioides (L.) L. are present (Peruzzi & Passalacqua 2008). The collection area is at the southern boundary range of the nominal subspecies of O. echioides, which is probably the food-plant of the Italian population of P. imperialella.

I Macroeteroceri della Riserva Naturale Orientata “Laghetti di Marinello” (Sicilia nord-orientale) (Lepidoptera Heterocera)

Riassunto - Gli scopi di questa ricerca sono quelli di contribuire alla conoscenza della macrolepidotterofauna della Sicilia nord-orientale e di caratterizzare la comunita presente nella Riserva Naturale Orientata “Laghetti di Marinello”. Sono stati effettuati 23 campionamenti tra dicembre 2007 e dicembre 2008 col metodo della caccia al lume. Sono stati catturati 2.537 individui appartenenti a 160 specie, tra cui Chloroclystis v-ata e Laelia coenosa, segnalate per la prima volta in Sicilia; importanti anche le segnalazioni di Calamodes subscudularia, Mythimna languida e M. joannisi, specie piuttosto rare e localizzate. Le specie piu abbondanti sono state: Eilema caniola, Eublemma viridula, Idaea filicata, Dysauxes famula e Idaea seriata, che da sole rappresentano il 42% di tutta la comunita, favorite dalla presenza delle rispettive piante nutrici e dall’elevato adattamento alle condizioni climatiche del sito. Il numero di specie e i valori degli indici di diversita indicano un basso livello di biodiversita ospitata, ma la fenologia, le analisi corologica e autoecologica delle specie, insieme ai confronti effettuati con altre faune, indicano una comunita ben caratterizzata e peculiare, diretta espressione delle condizioni abiotiche e biotiche della Riserva.