Mythimna umbrigera (Saalmüller, 1891) new to the Maltese Islands (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Mythimna umbrigera (Saalmüller, 1891) nueva para Malta (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

The genus Mythimna Ochsenheimer, 1816 has a worldwide distribution as it spans from the northernmost parts of Canada into Northern, Central and South America, the Palearctic, Africa, Asia and straight to Australia. There are around 270 species worldwide, 25 of which have been recorded in Europe (HACKER et al., 2002). In Malta seven species have been recorded so far. Some species such as Mythimna unipuncta (Haworth, 1809) and Mythimna languida (Walker, 1858) breed locally whilst other species such as Mythimna vitellina (Hübner, [1808]) are pure migrants and do not breed in Malta but migrate from North Africa when the season is right, and the southern winds are favourable. Mythimna umbrigera (Saalmuller, 1891) can be easily separated from other Mythimna species found in Malta by the black abdominal coremata and the snow-white shine on the male’s hindwings. Females hindwings have less shine and can be smoky grey with dark venation instead of white.

Material

MALTA: Ħaż -Ż ebbuġ , Wied Qirda, 17 ♂♂, 25-IV-2020, 26-IV-2020, 15-VII-2020, 13-VIII-2020, 20-VIII-2020, 04-XI-2020 at light, leg. J. Agius. (Fig. 1).

Distribution

Mythimna umbrigera (Saalmüller, 1891) is an Afrotropical species which was first described in Madagascar but can be found from Morocco, throughout Africa and has even been recorded in SW Arabia. In Europe, it is only found on the southern parts of Spain and Greece, and in 2012 it was discovered in nearby Sicily (CABELLA & MAIOGLIO, 2013).

Discussion

The early stages of Mythimna umbrigera (Saalmüller, 1891) are still unknown and undescribed but apparently the larvae feed on sugarcane (Saccharum officinalis L.). Sugarcane is occasionally cultivated in Malta but potentially the larvae might have switched to closely related grasses such as Phragmites, Arundo or Sorghum species. Arundo is common in the valley system where the species was discovered. Even though according to HACKER et al. (2002), the species is bivoltine in Europe, the fact that the author found a number of specimens during spring, summer and autumn in the same location with a three months gap in between each generation shows that the species breeds locally and produces at least three broods.

The species is new to the Maltese Lepidopterenfauna. I propose the Maltese name Mitimna taddell, after a transliteration of the scientific name.

With the addition of Mythimna umbrigera (Saalmüller, 1891) to the Maltese Lepidopterenfauna, the Mythimna species recorded from Malta are:

Mythimna (Hyphilare) albipuncta ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)

Mythimna (Hyphilare) l-album (Linnaeus, 1767)

Mythimna (Hyphilare) umbrigera (Saalmüller, 1891)

Mythimna (Morphopoliana) languida (Walker, 1858)

Mythimna (Mythimna) vitellina (Hübner, [1808])

Mythimna (Prodigithymna) prominens (Walker, 1856)

Mythimna (Pseudaletia) unipuncta (Haworth, 1809)

Mythimna (Sablia) sicula (Treitschke, 1835)

Acknowledgments

The author is grateful to Dr. László Ronkay from the Hungarian Natural History Museum for the identification of the species, to Dr. Antonio Vives for the Spanish abstract and to Mr. Stephen Mifsud for suggesting potential grasses associated with sugarcane.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

CABELLA C. & MAIOGLIO, O., 2013.– Prima segnalazione di Mythimna umbrigera (Saalmüller, 1891) (Lepidoptera Noctuidae) per la fauna Italiana.– Il Naturalista Siciliano, 37(2): 565-571.

HACKER, H., RONAKY, L. & HREBLAY, M., 2002.– Noctuidae Europaeae. Noctuinae IV, 4: 193-194. Entomological Press, Søro.

FIBIGER, M. SAMMUT, P., SEGUNA, A. & CATANIA, A., 2006.– Recent records of Noctuidae from Malta, with five species new to the European fauna, and a new subspecies.– Nota lepidopterologica, 29(1/2): 193-213.

SAMMUT, P., 2000.– Kullana Kulturali. 12. Il-Lepidoptera: X + 246 pp. Pubblikazzjonijiet Indipendenza, Malta.