Introduction

The Genus Pseudosophronia Corley, 2001, comprises of two species: Pseudosophronia exustellus (Zeller, 1847) and Pseudosophronia cosmella (Constant, 1887). Up until now the family Gelechiidae in Malta includes 49 species, 48 in the subfamily Gelechiinae Stainton, 1854 and 1 in the subfamily Pexicopiinae Hodges, 1986 (SAMMUT, 2020).

Discussion

The checklist of European Gelechiidae covers 865 species, belonging to 109 genera, with three species records which require confirmation (HUEMER, 2020). In this checklist Pseudosophronia constanti (Nel, 1998) is synonymized with Pseudosophronia exustellus (Zeller, 1847) (HUEMER & KARSHOLT, 2020). Its distribution in the Mediterranean countries include Portugal, Spain, France, and Italy including Sicily (RATNASINGHAM et al., 2007). It is also recorded from Israel (BIDZILYA, 2019).

Material Studied

Malta, GozoIs., Marsalforn, Qbajjar area, 1 ♂, 25-V-2006 [at light], A. Seguna leg (in coll. Seguna); Rabat, Mtahleb, 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, 19-VI-2012, A. Seguna leg (two in coll. Seguna and 1 ♀ in coll. Sammut).

The life history of this species is not yet known although it is mentioned that Quercus ithaburensis Decne, is a host plant for the larvae in Israel (BIDZILYA, 2019). However, this requires verification. Locally the larval host plant has not been identified. This species was recorded using a 160 w MV light. The biotope from where it was collected from Gozo is close to a rocky shore dominated by marsh grasses and xerophytic Mediterranean plants and that of Malta is a garrigue with a small grove of Pinus halepensis Mill.

Conclusión

To date this species is only known from these four specimens. Further investigations are encouraged to determine its local status. We propose the Maltese name “Bahrija z. ghira tal faxxi bojod”.

Agradecimientos

The authors would like to thank Mr. Jan Sumpich, of the Department of Entomology, Natural History Museum, Czech Republic for confirming the identity of the species and to Dr. Antonio Vives for preparing the Spanish text.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

BIDZILIA, O., KARSHOLT, O., KRAVCHENKO, V. & SUMPICH, J., 2019.– An annotated checklist of Gelechiidae (Lepidoptera) of Israel with description of two new species.– Zootaxa, 4677(1): 001-068.

HUEMER, P. & KARSHOLT, O., 2020.– Commented checklist of European Gelechiidae (Lepidoptera).– ZooKeys, 921: 65-140.

KARSHOLT, O. & RIEDL, T., 1996.– Gelechiidae: pp 103-113, 118-122, 310-312.– In O. KARSHOLT & J. RAZOWSKI (Eds). The Lepidoptera of Europe. A distributional checklist: 380 pp. Apollo Books, Stenstrup.

RATNASINGHAM, S. & HEBERT, P. D. N., 2007.– BOLD: The Barcode of Life Data System (www.barcodinglife.org).– Molecular Ecology Notes, 7: 355-364.

SAMMUT, P. M., 2020.– Systematic and Synonymic list of the Lepidoptera of the Maltese Islands: xxii + 216 pp. Malta.

Notas de autor

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