Artículos

Contribution to the knowledge of the Croatian Pyraloidea fauna. Species reported from Biokovo Natural Park (Insecta: Lepidoptera)

Contribución al conocimiento de la fauna de Pyraloidea de Croacia. Especies registradas del Parque Natural de Biokovo (Insecta: Lepidoptera)

Introduction

The superfamily Pyraloidea is the third largest of the order Lepidoptera. The superfamily comprises approximately 15.576 described species worldwide, about 9.655 species belonging to the family Crambidae and about 5.921 species to the family Pyralidae (NIEUKERKEN et al., 2011). Some 850 species can be found in Europe (KARSHOLT & RAZOWSKI, 1996).

The Croatian Pyraloidea fauna is represented by 377 species, 207 taxa from the family Crambidae and 170 taxa from the family Pyralidae (GUMHALTER, 2019a). This number was updated shortly after the first checklist of Pyraloidea species in Croatia was presented in 2019 (GUMHALTER, 2019b). Besides this important work, only sporadic studies have been carried out. Since no systematic research on Pyraloidea in Croatia was conducted, little is known on the occurrence of species from mountains in Croatia.

The majority of the papers published on Lepidoptera from Dalmatia does not cover Pyraloidea species from the area of Biokovo (STAUDINGER, 1870, 1879; WOCKE, 1871; REBEL, 1891, 1903, 1904, 1919; GALVAGNI, 1902, 1909; GINZBERGER, 1916; KLIMESCH, 1942, etc.). During our research, only three published papers that include Pyraloidea species from Mountain of Biokovo were discovered (MANN, 1869; NEUSTETTER, 1956; PLANT & SLAMKA, 2016). However, the Pyraloidea fauna of other mountains in Croatia is also poorly studied, as most of the recent studies were devoted to Rhopalocera or Macrolepidoptera in general (KUČINIĆ et al., 1995; MIHOCI et al., 2007, 2011; TVRTKOVIČ et al., 2012, 2015; KOREN & LAUŠ, 2013; KOREN et al., 2015, etc.). Yet, the Croatian mountains have great potential in floral and faunal biodiversity, as well as in endemism. This can be seen in the example of Rhopalocera. The number of recorded Rhopalocera species from Mountain of Velebit counts 153 (TVRTKOVIČ et al., 2015) and from Mountain of Dinara 130 species (TVRTKOVIČ et al., 2012). On Mountain of Biokovo 102 species were recorded (MIHOCI et al., 2011). Besides these well-known huge areas, smaller mountains have also been surveyed. For instance, on Mountain of Klek 84 butterfly species were recorded (GUMHALTER, 2015) and on Mountain of Kozjak 87 species (KOREN et al., 2019), but other areas were surveyed as well. Analog to butterfly fauna, same could be expected for the moth fauna from Croatian mountains.

Our study primarily aims at improving the knowledge of Pyraloidea occurring on Mountain of Biokovo, but in Croatia as well. Throughout a recent faunal survey on Pyraloidea in Biokovo Natural Park, we have conducted own field trips and reviewed published records on these species in Croatia. In this paper, we present these new data retrieved for Biokovo Natural Park.

Materials and methods

The materials in this study were collected during field surveys conducted by the first author between 2016 and 2019 and by the second author between 1985 and 2018.

The first author carried out research on Pyraloidea fauna from Mountain of Biokovo at irregular intervals between July 2016 and September 2019. The first author collected moths on several localities at different altitudes between 550 and 1762 meters above sea level. All specimens were caught with a UV light and deposited in the private collection of the first author (coll. Gumhalter). The determination of all species was conducted according to SLAMKA (2006, 2008, 2013, 2019).

The second author conducted several field trips between 1985 and 2018 and collected about 600 specimens of Pyraloidea in different localities in South Croatia, including Biokovo Natural Park. Until now only the results of his research from the Neretva Valley were published (GUMHALTER et al., 2018). The specimens were also caught with a UV light and deposited in the second author’s collection in the Croatian Natural History Museum in Zagreb (coll. Lepidoptera Kučinić). To improve the knowledge on Pyraloidea on Mountain of Biokovo all specimens from the Kučinić collection were extracted and carefully examined. The determination of species was also conducted according to SLAMKA (2006, 2008, 2013, 2019).

To give a more complete species list from Biokovo Natural Park all Pyraloidea species from both, field investigations and the collection Kucinic, were drawn together and presented in this paper. In the attempt to complete the species list with literature data a total of 200 published historic and recent papers were reviewed, out of which only three could be considered. The systematic presentation in the species list follows Fauna Europaea (NUSS et al., 2011). Date and locality are provided for all specimens. As for the specimens from the collection Kučinić, the exact locality is given as it is written on the original label on Croatian. The species reported only from literature also contain a reference to the published source including the synonym under which it was published there.

Results and discussion

The mountainous karst area of Central Croatia lies between the Mediterranean and Eurosibirian- Northamerican biogeographic zone. Some parts of it belong to the Croatian part of the European “Alpine biogeographical region” (EEA, 2012) and present a broad transitional zone of continental (Eurosiberian) and Mediterranean faunal elements (TVRTKOVIČ et al., 2015).

Biokovo is a karst mountain range that is a part of the Dinaric karst. TIŠLJAR et al. (2002) state the Dinaric karst is approximately 700 km long and 80-210 km wide and stretches from the Julian Alps along the border between Italy and Slovenia, passes through the Croatian coast and islands, western and southern Bosnia and Herzegovina, and ends in southeastern Montenegro and northwestern Albania. Because of its proximity to the Adriatic Sea, there are areas with Continental, Montane and Mediterranean climate, and vegetation (MIHOCI et al., 2011). Therefore, certain habitat characteristics of Mountain of Biokovo cannot be found elsewhere in the Dinaric karst.

Biokovo was proclaimed a Natural Park in 1981 and covers an area of 196 km². Its position on the Adriatic Sea, at the border between the Continental and Mediterranean climate and its isolation from surrounding mountains, has resulted in a high degree of endemism on Mountain of Biokovo (ŠOLIČ, 1983).

Throughout a recent faunal survey on Pyraloidea from Mountain of Biokovo, the first author reviewed published records species and conducted own field investigations. Wanting to get more data on the occurrence of Pyraloidea in Biokovo Natural Park, all specimens from the second author’s collection that originate from the same area were extracted and the results implemented in the species list that is given in Appendix 1.

Altogether, 77 species are recorded from the area of Mountain of Biokovo, out of which 54 species belong to the family Crambidae and 23 species to the family Pyralidae. The listing contains 26 species that were collected only during the first author’s field investigations and 18 species that originate exclusively from the second author’s collection. Both authors have reported the remaining 27 species. All species that have been reported by the first author are named with “coll. Gumhalter” and by the second author with “coll. Kučinić”. Only 12 species were mentioned in one of the relevant literature sources for the area of Mountain of Biokovo, out of which six were not recorded during the conducted field trips: Catoptria languidellus (Zeller, 1863), Nascia cilialis (Hübner, 1796), Udea lutealis (Hübner, [1809]), Hypsotropa limbella (Zeller, 1848), Phycita cryptica (Plant & Slamka, 2016) and Synaphe bombycalis ([Denis & Schiffermuller], 1775). These species contain a literature reference.

The recorded species number comprises approximately 20,5 % of the total 377 species reported from Croatia. On one hand, it is evident that this largely contributes to the knowledge of the Croatian Pyraloidea fauna of Mountain of Biokovo and Croatia, on the other hand, it is seen that more studies have to be undertaken and that the Pyraloidea fauna of Mountain of Biokovo has to be studied in more detail.

The Pyraloidea fauna of Mountain of Biokovo is probably much richer and could maybe include some endemic species, as it is the case with butterflies. For instance, in 2007 the endemic butterfly species Proterebia afra dalmata (Godart, [1824]) was reported from Biokovo Natural Park (MIHOCI & ŠAŠIĆ, 2007).

Throughout this survey several interesting species have been recorded, some of them being previously known only from historic literature like Catoptria acutangulella, a montane moth that has not been recorded in Croatia since 1896 and Mountain of Biokovo since 1850 (the results have been published elsewhere) or Mecyna trinalis, a moth that has been recorded for the first time in Dalmatia. Three species have been reported for the first time in Dalmatia in almost 150 years: Udea numeralis, Evergestis limbata and Hypsopygia fulvocilialis. Three species have been reported for the first time in almost 100 years: Selagia spadicella, Agriphila inquinatella and Agriphila straminella. Altogether 15 species have been reported for the first time from Dalmatia in decades: Hydriris ornatalis (Duponchel, 1832), Euchromius ocellea (Haworth, 1811), Dolicharthria bruguieralis (Duponchel, 1833), Amphithrix sublineatella (Staudinger, 1859), Eurrhypis pollinalis ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775), Ancylolomia palpella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775), Catoptria mytilella (Hübner, [1805]), Dioryctria abietella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775), Myelois circumvoluta (Fourcroy, 1785), Paracorsia repandalis ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775), Pyrausta cingulata (Linnaeus, 1758), Udea olivalis ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775), Achyra nudalis (Hübner, 1796), Anania testacealis (Zeller, 1847) and Ecpyrrhorrhoe rubiginalis (Hübner, 1796). The above-mentioned species probably have not been reported earlier from this area due to the lack of research on Pyraloidea fauna from Croatian mountains. These species are discussed later in this paper. Of interest is the finding of the box tree moth Cydalima perspectalis (Walker, 1859) from the highest parts of Mountain of Biokovo. Besides this, while reviewing the literature, we came across the interesting species Phycita cryptica (Plant & Slamka, 2016), mentioned from the area of Biokovo Natural Park.

Catoptria acutangulella, a montane species belonging to the family Crambidae, has been rediscovered for Croatia after more than a century (the results have been published elsewhere). The species has not been reported for Croatia since 1896 (ABAFI-AIGNER et al., 1896) and Biokovo since 1850 (MANN, 1869). However, several specimens of C. acutangulella were collected during field surveys conducted by the first author in 2019, as well as during the second author’s field trips conducted between 1992 and 1995. Both authors collected their specimens on one of the highest parts of Mountain of Biokovo, at an altitude of approximately 1600 meters above sea level. Since the results from the later surveys have not been published previously, the findings stayed undiscovered until the examination of the collection Kucinic from CNHM in Zagreb in 2019.

These findings represent the first and only records of C. acutangulella in Croatia after almost 125 years and for Mountain of Biokovo after almost 170 years. This recent discovery confirms that C. acutangulella is still present in the fauna of Croatia and that it is presumably a permanent resident on Mountain of Biokovo. Also, these findings indicate that no habitat change has happened at the highest parts of Mountain of Biokovo, where the moths were collected. In general, montane species depend on specific types of vegetation and climate conditions. Therefore, climate change and global warming could be a threat to species such as C. acutangulella. The recent findings of C. acutangulella on Mountain of Biokovo represent an important contribution to the knowledge of this species’ distribution in Croatia, and to the Croatian Pyraloidea fauna in general.

The species Udea numeralis was only reported by ABAFI-AIGNER et al. (1896), MANN (1857, 1869), CARNELUTTI (1994) and in the book from SLAMKA (2013), until one specimen was collected by the second author on July, 26^th, 1995 from an altitude of approximately 1450 meters above sea level. This finding reconfirms the species’ occurrence after almost 100 years in Croatia and after almost 150 years in Dalmatia.

The only records from Dalmatia for the species Evergestis limbata are from GERMAR (1817) and MANN (1869). There is only one recent record, which originates (HABELER, 2003) from island Krk. Several specimens of this species were collected by the second author in 1994 and 1995. Also, the first author collected one specimen in 2019 at an altitude of approximately 1600 meters above sea level. These recent findings are the first ones for Dalmatia after almost 150 years.

The species Hypsopygia fulvocilialis has been mentioned several times in the historic literature (MANN, 1869; GEIGER, 1873; REBEL, 1903, 1904, 1914; PROHASKA, 1922; SLAMKA, 2006), with the records from island Krk (HABELER, 2003) being the most recent ones. The second author collected many specimens between 1989 and 2017 in Biokovo Natural Park. His findings represent the first ones for Dalmatia after almost 145 years.

Mecyna trinalis was reported only by REBEL (1904, 1910) and in the book by SLAMKA (2013). The second author collected a single specimen in 1995 from the highest parts of Mountain of Biokovo at an altitude of approximately 1600 meters above sea level. These records represent the first ones for Dalmatia at all and Croatia after almost 85 years.

One specimen of Selagia spadicella was collected by the first author in 2019 at an altitude of approximately 270 meters above sea level. Since the only records of this species are from historic literature (MANN, 1857, 1869; ABAFI-AIGNER et al., 1896; REBEL, 1910; SCHAWERDA, 1921), this recent finding reconfirms its occurrence in Dalmatia and represents the first records of S. apadicella after almost 100 years.

Besides the historic records of Agriphila inquinatella (MANN, 1857, 1867, 1869; ABAFI- AIGNER et al., 1896, 1903; REBEL, 1904, 1912; SCHAWERDA, 1921; KOČA, 1925; SLAMKA, 2008) there is only one record from island Krk (HABELER, 2003) and one from Continental Croatia from 2009 (FAZEKAS, 2009). The findings from the first author’s field surveys in 2018 are the first ones for Dalmatia after almost 100 years.

Agriphila straminella has been recently recorded only from island Krk (HABELER, 2003), therefore the findings from the second author’s field investigations from 1991, 1992 and 1995 represent the first findings from Dalmatia after almost 100 years. Previously it was reported by MANN (1857, 1867, 1869), ABAFI-AIGNER et al. (1896), REBEL (1904) and SCHAWERDA (1921). SLAMKA (2008) refers in his book to the same records.

The finding of Hydriris ornatalis (Fig. 1), a moth mentioned in recent papers only from island Krk (HABELER, 2003; FAUSTER, 2014), is interesting. One single specimen was collected by the first author on 21^st August 2019 at an altitude of approximately 570 meters above sea-level, close to the entrance to Biokovo Natural Park. This finding represents the first record from Dalmatia since 1936 and therefore reconfirms the southern-most distribution point of H. ornatalis in Croatia.

Fig. 1
Hydriris ornatalis collected in Biokovo Natural Park.

According to Fauna Europaea the species is distributed in Europe in Portugal, Spain, Gibraltar, Balearic and Canary Islands, France, Switzerland, Corsica, Malta, Italy, Sicily, Sardinia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Kriti (Crete) and Greece. FAUSTER (2014) reports it from Austria but states that it is possible that his collected specimen was imported from a warmer country since it was caught close to a highway that connects the Adriatic Sea with North Europe and serves as a holiday route. SLAMKA (2013) states that H. ornatalis is observed in coastal areas and that it is native to tropics and subtropics. Also, the species could be considered as an occasional pest in economic plants.

The species is mentioned several times in the literature (REBEL, 1904; KLIMESCH, 1942; SLAMKA, 2013; ŠAŠIĆ-KLJAJO et al., 2016; PLANT & JAKŠIČ, 2018), but all of these records are either from historic literature sources or the papers refer one to another. Besides the papers (HABELER, 2003; FAUSTER, 2014), no recent records of H. ornatalis in Croatia are known. Except for the findings from island Krk, the species’ only other known locality in Croatia is Zaton in south Dalmatia. However, these records are almost 85 years old. Therefore, this recent finding largely contributes to our knowledge of the Croatian Pyraloidea fauna by giving new recent information on the distribution range of H. ornatalis in Croatia.

Two specimens of the species Euchromius ocellea were collected by the first author on May 28^th and May 31^st, 2019 on a locality close to the entrance to Biokovo Natural Park, at an altitude of approximately 570 meters above sea level. Although the moth has been previously mentioned several times in the literature from coastal Croatia (MANN, 1869; STAUDINGER, 1870; REBEL, 189,; 1914; ABAFI-AIGNER, 1903; KLIMESCH, 1942), the only recent findings are from Krk (HABELER, 2003; GOMBOC & KLENOVČEK, 2013), an island that lies in the Bay of Kvarner in the northern Adriatic Sea. Other literature sources refer to one of these papers (SLAMKA, 2008; ŠAŠIĆ-KLJAJO et al., 2016; PLANT & JAKŠIČ, 2018). The findings from Mountain of Biokovo are of interest, as they reconfirm the species’ distribution in the southern parts of the Croatian coast. As it is the case with H. ornatalis, the last records from Dalmatia are almost 85 years old.

According to SLAMKA (2008) the species is rare in Central Europe and it occurs on dry to fresh, but warm habitats. E. ocelleaseems to be a migratory species, which established temporary populations in localities far outside its main distribution area from time to time (SCHOUTEN, 1988). As reported by SLAMKA (2008) the species has a cosmopolitan distribution in the Tropics and Subtropics, North Africa, Asia Minor, large part of Asia, North America, Hawaii, and Australia. In Europe, it is distributed in South Europe (including the Canary and Madeira Islands and as an immigrant in Central Europe (Denmark, southern Sweden, and southern Norway, also Netherlands, England, southern Scotland and Ireland).

The species Denticera divisella has been mentioned several times in the historic literature (WOCKE, 1871; ROTHSCHILD, 1914; KLIMESCH, 1942; CARNELUTTI, 1994) and only HABELER (2003) mentioned it from island Krk. One single specimen was collected by the first author in 2018. This finding is the only recent finding of D. divisella in Dalmatia since 1936 (KLIMESCH, 1942).

Amphithrix sublineatella (Fig. 2) was reported from Croatia only by REBEL (1891, 1919) and KLIMESCH (1942) in the past, and recently by HABELER (2003). A single specimen was collected by the first author at an altitude of 570 meters above sea level in 2019. With this finding, the species occurrence in Dalmatia is reconfirmed or the first time since 1936.

Fig. 2
The species Amphithrix sublineatella.

Eurrhypis pollinalis has been reconfirmed for the Dalmatian fauna after almost 85 years. It has previously been mentioned several times in the literature (MANN, 1857, 1867; REBEL, 1891, 1904; ABAFI-AIGNER et al., 1896, 1910; KOCA, 1925; CARNELUTTI, 1994; HABELER, 2003; SLAMKA, 2006; ŠAŠIĆ-KLJAJO et al., 2016) until three specimens have been caught in 2019.

The species Ancylolomia palpella has been reported several times in historic literature (MANN, 1869; WOCKE, 1871; REBEL, 1903; PROHASKA, 1922; KOČA, 1925; SLAMKA 2008), and recently only by HABELER (2003) from island Krk. The last record of this species from Dalmatia is from Knin from 1936 (CARNELUTTI, 1994).

Catoptria mytilella has been reported by MANN (1869), ABAFI-AIGNER et al. (1896), REBEL (1904; 1912; 1913b), SCHAWERDA (1921) and SLAMKA (2008). The species was recently reported from island Krk (HABELER, 2003) and the last time from Dalmatia by HAFNER (1936) from Knin (CARNELUTTI 1994).

Both species, Dioryctria abietella and Myelois circumvoluta have been recently reported only by KOREN (2018) from Continental Croatia and HABELER (2003) from island Krk. Besides these records, D. abietella has been previously recorded a few times (REBEL, 1891; SCHAWERDA, 1921; CARNELUTTI 1994) and M. circumvoluta several times (MANN, 1857, 1869; REBEL, 1904, 1913b, 1914, 1919; KOČA, 1925; KLIMESCH, 1942; SLAMKA, 2006). D. abietella has been recorded many times by both authors, and these records represent the first ones for Dalmatia after 1936 (CARNELUTTI, 1994). One specimen of M. circumvoluta was collected by the first author in 2019. This record is the only recent record for Dalmatia after 1936 (KLIMESCH, 1942).

There are only a few records of Paracorsia repandalis in the historic literature (MANN, 1857; SCHAWERDA, 1921; KLIMESCH, 1942; SLAMKA, 2013). KOREN (2018) mentioned the species from Continental Croatia and HABELER (2003) from island Krk. The first author recorded it in 2019 and these records represent the first ones after almost 85 years.

The species Dolicharthria bruguieralis has been mentioned many times in the historic literature (MANN, 1857, 1869; ABAFI-AIGNER et al., 1896; REBEL, 1929; KLIMESCH, 1942; NEUSTETTER, 1956; CARNELUTTI, 1994; SLAMKA, 2013; ŠAŠIĆ-KLJAJO et al., 2016; PLANT & JAKŠIČ, 2018). Nonetheless, there are no recent records of this species. The last records from Croatia are from 1956 (NEUSTETTER, 1956) and originate from the area of Rijeka, a city in Bay of Kvarner. The last records from Dalmatia are from 1936 and originate from Zaton near Dubrovnik (KLIMESCH, 1942).

Throughout this survey, one specimen has been collected on May 31st, 2019 at an altitude of approximately 270 meters above sea-level and therefore represents the first recent findings for Croatia after more than 60 years and the first ones for Dalmatia after more than 80 years.

Pyrausta cingulata has been mentioned several times in the literature (GERMAR, 1817; MANN, 1857, 1867, 1869; ABAFI-AIGNER et al., 1896; REBEL, 1904, 1914; SCHAWERDA, 1921; PROHASKA, 1922; KOČA, 1925; CARNELUTTI, 1994; SLAMKA, 2013). Although it was recently reported by HABLER (2003) and KOREN (2015) from Croatia, these records originate from island Krk and Istria. The two specimens collected in 2018 and 2019 represent the first ones from Dalmatia after more than 80 years.

The species Udea olivalis has been mentioned by MANN (1857) from the area around Rijeka (Bay of Kvarner) and 1867 from the area around Josipdol (north-western Croatia), by ABAFI-AIGNER et al. (1896) also from Josipdol, by REBEL (1904) (but he is referring only to the findings of Mann), by SCHAWERDA (1921) from the area around Senj (upper Adriatic Sea) and in the book by SLAMKA (2013), who is referring to all these old findings. The second author has caught three specimens in 1995. These findings represent the first ones for Croatia after almost 75 years and the first ones for Dalmatia at all, widening the distribution of U. olivalis in Croatia very much to the south.

The species Achyra nudalis (Fig. 3) has been previously mentioned often in the historic literature (MANN, 1869; REBEL, 1913a, 1914; ROTHSCHILD, 1914; ZERNY, 1920; PROHASKA, 1922; KLIMESCH, 1942; CARNELUTTI, 1994; SLAMKA, 2013). Recent records originate from island Krk (HABELER, 2003) and the last record from Dalmatia (NEUSTETTER, 1956).

Fig. 3
Achyra nudalis collected in Biokovo Natural Park.

Anania testacealis has been reported from Croatia (MANN, 1857; REBEL, 1891; GALVAGNI, 1902; PROHASKA, 1922; KLIMESCH, 1942; CARNELUTTI, 1994; SLAMKA, 2013). Recently is has been mentioned only from Krk Island (HABELER, 2003). The last record from Dalmatia (NEUSTETTER, 1956), therefore the new records from the second author from the 1990’s re-confirms its occurrence in the Pyraloidea fauna of Dalmatia.

The species Ecpyrrhorrhoe rubiginalis has been previously mentioned often in the literature, but all these records either originate from historic literature sources (MANN, 1857, 1867, 1869; ABAFI- AIGNER et al., 1896; REBEL, 1904, 1910; SCHAWERDA, 1916, 1920, 1921; KOČA, 1925; CARNELUTTI, 1994; SLAMKA, 2013) or other parts of Croatia (HABELER, 2003; KOREN, 2018). Two specimens were collected by the second author in 1995. Since the last report of this species from Dalmatia (DANIEL et al., 1951), these recent findings represent the first ones after almost 45 years.

Another interesting finding is the box tree moth Cydalima perspectalis (Fig. 4) from the family Crambidae. This invasive species on box tree Buxus spp. in Europe, has been spreading and establishing across Europe since it was introduced from East Asia to Germany in 2006 (KRÜGER, 2008). C. perspectalis can cause serious damage in private and public gardens, as well as in forests, trees and shrubs. Infestation symptoms include feeding damage on the leaves of the shoot edges by the larvae, which can leave only leaf skeletons and the epidermis behind them. Larvae can also attack the bark (LEUTHARDT & BAUR, 2013). Heavy infestation leads to dry plants and their defoliation, which combined with the subsequent attack of the bark results in the death of the plant.

Fig. 4
The box tree moth C. perspectalis, an invasive species on box tree Buxus spp. in Europe.

In 2012 the species was reported for the first time in Croatia (KOREN & ČRNE, 2012) from where it rapidly spread across the whole country. The species was collected several times in Biokovo Natural Park during the first author’s field investigations. The finding of C. perspectalis itself is no surprise, as it is today widely distributed across Croatia. However, the finding of the box tree moth on the highest parts of Mountain of Biokovo, where one single adult was collected in 2019, is interesting.

C. perspectalis has been recorded in Europe exclusively on Buxus spp. The box tree moth feeds on all the widely used ornamental box species and cultivars in Europe (LEUTHARDT & BAUR, 2013), but it has also invaded several natural Buxus populations in Central Europe (KENIS et al., 2013). On the highest parts of Mountain of Biokovo, at an altitude of approximately 1600 meters above sea-level, no Buxus species could be found. Since this area is out of range of the species’ host plants it is highly probable that the collected specimen was a wanderer, as adult moths have a wingspan between 30 and 45 mm (SLAMKA, 2013) and are good flyers. The moth must have travelled significantly uphill from the lower coastal parts of Biokovo Natural Park, where host plants are abundant. A similar situation was reported (PLANT et al., 2019) where a single adult was witnessed at the top end of an Alpine valley in the Savoy Department of south-east France, within sight of Mont Blanc. Like at the top of Mountain of Biokovo there is also no Buxus for several kilometers and such information provide additional support for the notion that the moth is capable of dispersal.

While searching through the available literature we came across a paper (PLANT & SLAMKA, 2016) in which a new species from the area of Biokovo Natural Park was mentioned. The authors state that during separate research by both of them it became apparent that there was considerable confusion and uncertainty concerning the taxon Phycita metzneri. This confusion was compounded by their discovery of many misidentifications of Phycita specimens in various collections, so a reexamination of the material from the Zeller collection was undertaken. This re-examination has shown that P. metzneri (Zeller, 1846) is a synonym of P. poteriella (Zeller, 1846) and that specimens labelled or determined as P. metzneri in various literature sources or collections have been incorrectly identified and they belong to either P. poteriella, P. torrenti, P. strigata, P. coronatella or the newly described species P. cryptica (Plant & Slamka, 2016). The holotype of P. cryptica is described from Bulgaria. According to PLANT & SLAMKA (2016), one of the many examined paratypes was collected in Gornje Igrane, a locality on the direct border to Biokovo Natural Park. Apart from that, the species described paratypes originate from Bulgaria, Croatia (island Krk, and in Dalmatia Igrane and Gornje Igrane), Albania, Greece, and Spain.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

ABAFI-AIGNER, L., PAVEL, J. & UHRYK, F., 1896.– Fauna Regni Hungariae. Lepidoptera: 82 pp. Regia Societas Scientiarum Naturalium Hungarica, Budapest.

ABAFI-AIGNER, L., 1903.– Ak Microledálepidopteráink ismeretéhez.– Rovartani lapok, 10(7): 133-137.

ABAFI-AIGNER, L., 1910.– Adaléka Magyar Tengermellék, Horvátország és Dalmáczia lepkefaunájához.– Rovartani lapok, 17(3-4): 55-57; (5-8): 71-105, [Pyralidae: 96-99], Budapest.

CARNELUTTI, J., 1994.– Modernisiertes “Verzeichnis der bei Knin gesammelten Schmetterling (Lepidoptera)” von Ivan Hafner.– Natura Croatica, 3(2): 185-223.

DANIEL, F., FORSTER, W. & OSTHELDER, L., 1951.– Beiträge zur Lepidopterenfauna Mazedoniens.– Veröffentlichungen der Zoologischen Staatssammlung München, 2: 1-78.

EUROPEAN ENVIRONMENT AGENCY (EEA), 2012.– Biogeographical regions in Europe. Available from: http://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/figures (accessed 2 February 2020).

FAUSTER, R., 2014.– Hydriris ornatalis (Duponchel, 1832) - Erstnachweis für Österreich (Insecta, Lepidoptera, Pyralidae).– Joannea Zoologie, 13: 157-159.

GALVAGNI, E., 1902.– Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Fauna einiger dalmatinischer Inseln.– Verhandlungen der kaiserlich-königlichen zoologisch-botanischen Gesellschaft, 52: 362-380.

GALVAGNI, E., 1909.– Die zoologische Reise des naturwissenschaftlichen Vereines nach Dalmatien im April 1906. 13. Lepidoptera. Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Lepidopterenfauna der Adriatischen Inseln.– Mitteilungen des Naturwissenschaftlichen Vereins an der Universität Wien, 7: 245-254.

GEIGER, V., 1873.– Beitrag zur Schmetterlingskunde Dalmatiens.– Verhandlungen der kaiserlich-königlichen zoologisch-botanischen Gesellschaft, 23: 167-168.

GERMAR, E. F., 1817.– Reise nach Dalmatien und in das Gebiet von Ragusa,1-2: 323 pp. F.A. Brockhaus, Leipzig.

GINZBERGER, A., 1916.– Beiträge zur Naturgeschichte der Scoglien und kleineren Inseln Süddalmatiens. 14. Lepidoptera.– Denkschriften der kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften in Wien, 92: 261-404.

GOMBOC, S. & KLENOVSEK, D., 2013.– First record of Euchromius ocelleus (Haworth, 1811) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in Slovenia.– Acta Entomologica Slovenica, 21(1): 77-79.

GUMHALTER, D., 2015.– Butterfly fauna (Lepidoptera: Hesperioidea & Papilionoidea) of the Klek Mountain.– Entomologia Croatica, 19(1-2): 11-24.

GUMHALTER, D., KUČINIĆ, M., VAJDIĆ, M., PEROVIĆ, F., PELIĆ-FIXA, D. & LUKAČ, G., 2018.– New records of the crambid moth Euclasta splendidalis (Herrich-Schäffer, [1848]) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in Croatia with notes on Pyraloidea fauna from the Neretva Valley.– Natura Croatica, 27(1): 225-232. https://doi.org/10.20302/NC.2018.27.12.

GUMHALTER, D., 2019a.– First checklist of pyraloid moths (Lepidoptera: Pyraloidea) in Croatia.– Zootaxa, 4604(1): 059-102. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4604.1.3.

GUMHALTER, D., 2019b.– A revised checklist of pyraloid moths (Lepidoptera: Pyraloidea) in Croatia.– Natura Croatica, 28(2): 271-288. DOI: 10.20302/NC.2019.28.20

HABELER, H., 2003.– Die Schmetterlinge der Adria-Insel Krk. Eine ökofaunistische Studie: 221 pp. Buchreihe zur Entomologie Esperiana. Graz..

KARSHOLT, O. & RAZOWSKI, J., 1996.– The Lepidoptera of Europe (A Distributional Checklist): 280 pp. Apollo Books, Stenstrup.

KENIS, M., NACAMBO, S., FLORINE, L., LEUTHARDT, G., DI DOMENICO, F. & HAYE, T., 2013.– The box tree moth, Cydalima perspectalis, in Europe: horticultural pest or environmental disaster? Aliens, 33: 38-41.

KLIMESCH, J., 1942.– Über Microlepidopteren-Ausbeuten aus der Gegend von Zaton bei Gravosa (Süddalmatien).– Mitteilungen der Münchner Entomologischen Gesellschaft, 32(2/3): 347-399.

KOČA, G., 1925.– Treic prilog fauni leptira (Lepidoptera) Hrvatske i Slavonije.– Glasnik hrvatskog naravoslovnog drustva, 36(1-2): 69-80.

KOREN, T. & CRNE, M., 2012.– The first record of the box tree moth, Cydalima perspectalis (Walker, 1859) (Lepidoptera, Crambidae) in Croatia.– Natura Croatica, 21(2): 507-510.

KOREN, T. & LAUŠ, B., 2013.– Dinara Massif - a new hotspot for the butterfly (Papilionoidea) diversity of the Dinara.– Nota lepidopterologica, 36(2): 109-126.

KOREN, T., ČRNE, M., PAVLIHA, G. & TRKOV, D., 2015.– Mountain Poštak, a new hotspot for the Lepidoptera of Croatia (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera).– SHILAP Revista de lepidopterología, 43(169): 145-155.

KOREN, T., BURIĆ, I., GLAVAN, G. & VEROVNIK, R., 2019.– Contribution to the knowledge of the butterfly fauna (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) of Mt Kozjak, Split, Croatia.– Natura Croatica, 28(1): 21-33.

KRÜGER, E. O., 2008.– Glyphodes perspectalis (Walker, 1859) - new for the European fauna (Lepidoptera: Crambidae).– Entomologische Zeitschrift mit Insekten-Börse, 118(2): 81-83.

KUČINIĆ, M., BALTIĆ. M. & MATEŠIĆ, M., 1995.– Butterflies (Insecta, Lepidoptera, Rhopalocera) of Velebit Mountain: faunal and zoogeographical characteristics. Zbornik Simozija povodom 45. godisnjice NP Paklenica, Starigrad - Paklenica, 19.-22.-10.1994.– Pakleni.ki zbornik,1: 169-188.

LEUTHARDT, F. L. G. & BAUR, B., 2013.– Oviposition preference and larval development of the invasive moth Cydalima perspectalis on native European box-tree varieties.– Journal of Applied Entomology, 137: 437-444.

MANN, J., 1857.– Verzeichnis der im Jahre 1853 in der Gegend von Fiume gesammelten Schmetterlinge.– Wiener Entomologische Monatsschrift, 1: 161-189.

MANN, J., 1867.– Schmetterlinge gesammelt im Jahre 1866 um Josefsthal in der croat. Militaergrenze.– Verhandlungen der Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien, 17: 63-76.

MANN, J., 1869.– Lepidopteren gesammelt während dreier Reisen nach Dalmatien in den Jahren 1850, 1862 und 1868.– Verhandlungen der kaiserlich-königlichen zoologisch-botanischen Gesellschaft, 19: 371-388.

MIHOCI, I. & ŠAŠIĆ, M., 2007.– New distribution data on the endemic butterfly Proterebia afra dalmata (Godart, [1824]) (Nymphalidae, Satyrinae) in Croatia.– Natura Croatica, 16(3): 205-210.

MIHOCI, I., ŠAŠIĆ, M. & VUKOVIĆ, M., 2007.– Contribution to the butterfly fauna (Hesperioidea & Papilionoidea) of the Velebit Mountain, Croatia.– Natura Croatica, 16(1): 29-62.

MIHOCI, I., HRŠAK, V., KUČINIĆ, M., MIČETIC STANKOVIČ, V., DELIČ, A. & TRVRTKOVIČ, N., 2011.– Butterfly diversity and biogeography on the Croatian karst mountain Biokovo: Vertical distribution and preference for altitude and aspect?.– European Journal of Entomology, 108: 623-633.

NEUSTETTER, H., 1956.– Sammelreisen nach Dalmatien (Jugoslavien).– Entomologisches Nachrichtenblatt, 3(3): 4-8.

NIEUKERKEN VAN, E. J., KAILA, L. & KITCHING, I. J., 2011.– Order Lepidoptera. Animal biodiversity: An outline of higher-level classification and survey of taxonomic richness.– Zootaxa, 3148: 212-221.

NUSS, M., SPEIDEL, W. & SEGERER, A., 2000-2013.– Pyraloidea. In Fauna Europaea Web Service. Version 2017.06. Available from http://www.faunaeur.org. (accessed 18 February 2020).

PLANT, C. W. & SLAMKA, F., 2016.– Re-examination and revision of Zeller’s original concept of Phycita metzneri (ZELLER, 1846) and description of Phycita cryptica sp. nov. (Lepidoptera, Pyraloidea, Pyralidae, Phycitinae).– The Entomologist’s Record and Journal of Variation, 128(1): 28-40.

PLANT, C. W. & JAKŠIČ, P., 2018.– A provisional checklist and bibliography of the Pyraloidea of the Balkan Peninsula (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae & Crambidae).– Atalanta,49: 219-263.

PLANT, C. W., POOLE, C., SALISBURY, A. & BIRD, S., 2019.– The Box-Tree Moth Cydalima perspectalis (Walker, 1859) in Britain: An Overview of its Spread and Current Status.– The Entomologist’s Record and Journal of Variation, 13: 122-147.

PROHASKA, K., 1922.– Kleinschmetterlinge von Pola.– Zeitschrift des Österreichischen Entomologen Vereines, 7: 32-33.

REBEL, H., 1891.– Beitrag zur Microlepidopteren-Fauna Dalmatiens.– Verhandlungen der kaiserlich-königlichen zoologisch-botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien, 41: 610-639.

REBEL, H., 1903.– Studien über die Lepidopterenfauna der Balkanländer. I. Teil. Bulgarien und Ostrumelien.– Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien, 18: 123-347.

REBEL, H., 1904.– Studien über die Lepidopterenfauna der Balkanländer. II. Teil. Bosnien und Herzegowina.– Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien, 19: 97-377.

REBEL, H., 1910.– Lepidopteren aus dem Gebiete des Monte Maggiore in Istrien.– Jahresbericht des Wiener entomologischen Vereines, 21: 97-110.

REBEL, H., 1912.– Lepidopteren aus dem Gebiete des Monte Maggiore in Istrien. I. Nachtrag.– Jahresbericht des Wiener entomologischen Vereins, 22: 227-240.

REBEL, H., 1913a.– Zur Lepidopterenfauna der Brionischen Inseln.– Jahresbericht des Wiener entomologischen Vereins, 23: 217-222.

REBEL, H., 1913b.– Lepidopteren aus dem Gebiete des Monte Maggiore in Istrien. II. Nachtrag.– Jahresbericht des Wiener entomologischen Vereins, 23: 177-205.

REBEL, H., 1914.– Über die Lepidopterenfauna von Brioni grande.– Jahresbericht des Wiener entomologischen Vereins, 24: 181-201.

REBEL, H., 1919.– Zur Lepidopterenfauna Dalmatiens.– Verhandlungen zoologisch-botanischen Gesellschaft, 69: 105-110.

REBEL, H., 1929.– Lepidopteren von der Insel Incoronata.– Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien, 43: 14.

ROTHSCHILD, N. CH., 1914.– Adatok Magyarország lepkefaunájához. (Beiträge zur Lepidopterenfauna Ungarns).– Rovartani lapok, 21: 72-77.

SCHAWERDA, K., 1916.– Bericht der Sektion für Lepidopterologie.– Verhandlungen der zoologische-botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien, 66: 107-115.

SCHAWERDA, K., 1920.– Lepidopteren-Ausbeute aus der Gegend von Lovrana und vom Monte Maggiore.– Zeitschrift des Österreichischen Entomologischen Vereins, 5(4): 28, (5): 36.

SCHAWERDA, K., 1921.– Beiträge zur Lepidopterenfauna der kroatischen Küste und Neubeschreibungen.– Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift Iris, 35: 111-138.

SCHOUTEN, R. T. A., 1988.– Revision of the species of the genus Euchromius Guenée, 1845 (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae: Crambinae) occurring in the Afrotropical region.– Zoologische Verhandlungen, 244: 3-64.

SLAMKA, F., 2006.– Pyraloidea of Europe / Europas (Lepidoptera). Pyralinae, Gracillariinae, Epipaschiinae, Cathariinae & Odontiinae. Identification - Distribution - Habitat - Biologie / Bestimmung - Verbreitung - Habitat - Bionomie, 1: 138 pp. Frantisek Slamka, Bratislava.

SLAMKA, F., 2008.– Pyraloidea of Europe (Lepidoptera). Crambinae & Schoenobiinae. Identification - Distribution - Habitat - Biologie, 2: 222 pp. Frantisek Slamka, Bratislava.

SLAMKA, F., 2013.– Pyraloidea of Europe (Lepidoptera). Pyraustinae & Spilomelinae. Identification - Distribution - Habitat - Biologie, 3: 357 pp. Frantisek Slamka, Bratislava.

SLAMKA, F., 2019.– Pyraloidea of Europe (Lepidoptera). Phycitinae - Part 1. Identification - Distribution - Habitat - Biologie, 4(1): 432 pp. Frantisek Slamka, Bratislava.

STAUDINGER, O., 1870.– Beitrag zur Lepidopterenfauna Griechenlands.– Horae Societatis Entomologicae Rossicae, 7: 3-304.

STAUDINGER, O., 1879.– Lepidopteren-Fauna Kleinasien’s.– Horae Societas Entomologicae Rossicae, 15: 159- 435.

ŠAŠIĆ-KLJAJO, M., 2016.– Završno izvješće za skupinu Lepidoptera: 188-226. In D. HATIĆ, M. MRAKOVČIĆ & Z. MESIĆ (Eds.). Projekt integracije u EU Natura 2000: Terensko istraživanje i laboratorijska analiza novoprikupljenih inventarizacijskih podataka za taksonomske skupine: Actinopterygii i Cephalaspidomorphi, Amphibia i Reptilia, Aves, Chiroptera, Decapoda, Lepidoptera, Odonata, Plecoptera, Trichoptera.

ŠOLIČ M. E., 1983.– Biokovo Mountain Endemism.– Acta Biokovica, 2: 179-182.

TIŠLJAR, J., VLAHOVIĆ, I., VELIĆ, I. & SOKAĆ, B., 2002.– Carbonate platform megafacies of the Jurassic and Cretaceous deposits of the Karst Dinarides.– Geologia Croatica, 55: 139-170.

TVRTKOVIČ, N., ŠAŠIĆ, M., MIHOCI, I., VUKOVIĆ, M. & BJELIĆ, M., 2012.– Review of the butterfly fauna (Hesperioidea & Papilionoidea) of the Dinara mountain range.– Natura Croatica, 21(2): 471-481.

TVRTKOVIČ, N., VEROVNIK, R., LOVRENČIC, L., VUKOVIĆ, M. &ŠAŠIĆ, M., 2015.– New contributions to the butterfly fauna of Mt Velebit and the neighbouring area of Lika (Croatia). Natura Croatica, 24(2): 281- 292. https://doi.org/10.20302/NC.2015.24.18.

WOCKE, M. F., 1871.– Microlepidoptera. In O. STAUDINGER & M. F. WOCKE. (Eds.), Catalog der Lepidopteren des Europaeischen Faunengebiets: 426 pp. Dr. O. Staudinger und Hermann Burdach, Dresden.

ZERNY, H., 1920.– III. Lepidoptera.– In Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Fauna Dalmatiens, besonders der Insel Brazza. Bericht über die zweite zoologische Reise des naturwissenschaftlichen Vereins an der Universität Wien nach Dalmatien. Juli 1912. C. Spezieller Teil. Bearbeitung des gesammelten Materials.– Zoologische Jahrbücher, Abteilung für Systematik, Geographie und Biologie der Tiere, 42(4): 189-234.

Notas de autor

* Autor para la correspondencia / Corresponding author danijela.gumhalter@gmail.com