Introduction

According to SLAMKA (2006), the genus Aglossa Latreille, 1796, comprises nine species in Europe, four of which are present in the Iberian Peninsula. However, two of these nine species, A. dimidiata (Haworth, 1809) and A. ocellalis Lederer, 1863, must be considered as extralimital as they are native to Asia. Old records from London and Glasgow were due to accidental transport and the species were not established (GOATER, 1986).

LERAUT (2014) listed six valid species of Aglossa in Europe as he did not mention A. exsucealis Lederer, 1863 known from Cyprus and often included in the European fauna.

The most recent Spanish catalogue (VIVES MORENO, 2014) enumerates five species in the Iberian Peninsula, as the author included also a record of A. rubralisHampson, 1900 from Almería.

During processing and identification of material collected during 2016 we recognized specimens of Aglossa, which did not correspond to any described species. We have checked particularly species of Aglossa occuring in North Africa, summarized by LERAUT (2003), and found that our material is different and is here described as A. mayrae Ylla, Sumpich, Gastón, Huertas & Macià, sp. n.

Therefore, we presently recognize six species of Aglossa occurring in the Iberian Peninsula:

1. Aglossa pinguinalis (Linnaeus, 1758)

   Aglossa rubralis Hampson, 1900

   Aglossa caprealis (Hübner, [1809] 1796)

   Aglossa brabantii Ragonot, 1884

   Aglossa rabatalis (Joannis, 1923)

   Aglossa mayrae Ylla, Sumpich, Gastón, Huertas & Macià, sp. n.

Material and methods

The majority of the available specimens were collected by the authors using light traps equipped with 6-8 W actinic bulbs. A bigger trap, with a combination of mercury vapour and mixed light bulbs (125 W and 165 W, respectively) was also used. A few additional specimens were found in collections of other colleagues (see bellow).

The description of genitalia and associated structures follows GOATER et al. (2005).

Studied material is deposited in the following collections:

1. FMGS - Francisco Morente, Granada, Spain JYGS - Josep Ylla, Gurb, Spain

   JGGS - Javier Gastón, Getxo, Spain

   JPAS - Javier Pérez-López, Armilla, Spain

   MNCN - Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid, Spain NMPC - National Museum, Prague, Czech Republic

   Aglossa mayrae Ylla, Sumpich, Gastón, Huertas & Macià, sp. n.

Material examined: Holotype. , SPAIN, Alicante | route 8 km N of | Albatera env. | 4-V-2008, 300 m | J. Sumpich leg., Gen. prep. | J. Sumpich | 17/017, DNA Barcode | NMPC-Lep-0023, Holotypus | Aglossa mayrae | Ylla, Sumpich, Gastón, Huertas & Macià, 2017. Deposited in the National Museum, Prague, Czech Republic.

Paratypes (14 , 5 ): 2 , Spain, Almería, Tabernas env., Aghuilla Salada, 420 m, 2-III- 2008, J. Sumpich leg. (DNA Barcode NMPC-Lep-0022, NMPC-Lep-0024) (NMPC, MNCN); 2 , the same locality but 29-IV-4-V-2009, M. Dvorˇák leg. (gen. prep. J. Sumpich 17011) (NMPC); 1 , the same locality but 18-19-X-2009, M. Dvorˇák leg. (NMPC); 1 , Spain, Andalucía, Baza, Río de Baza, Salazar, 810 m, 31-VII-2010, M. Dvorˇák leg. (gen. prep. J. Sumpich 17019, DNA Barcode NMPC- Lep-0025) (NMPC); 1 , Barranco de Mazarra, Baza, Granada, 30SWG2754, 765 m, 14-VI-2016, J. Ylla leg. (gen. prep. J. Ylla JY4621) (JYGS); 1 , Barranco El Espartal, Baza, Granada, 30SWG25, 750 m, 15-VI-2011, J. Gastón leg. (gen. prep. J. Gastón 5626JG) (JGGS); 1 , the same locality but 20- VI-2013, J. Gastón leg. (gen. prep. J. Gastón 5632JG) (JGGS); 1 , the same locality and date, J. Gastón leg. (JGGS); 1 , Rambla de Carril, Fonelas, Granada, 30SVG84, 815 m, 26-VIII-2016, J. Gastón leg. (gen. prep. J. Gastón 5633JG) (JGGS); 1 , Barranco El Espartal, Baza, Granada, 30SWG25, 760 m, 5-VI-2012, F. Morente leg. (gen. prep. J. Gastón 5634JG), (F. Morente coll.); 1 , Dúdar, Aguas Blancas, Granada, 30SVG51, 830 m, 15-VI-1999, F. Morente leg. (gen. prep. J. Gastón 5635JG) (FMGS); 1 , Íllora, Río Genil, Granada, 30SVG11, 510 m, 14-VII-1993, F. Morente leg. (gen. prep. J. Gastón 5636JG) (FMGS); 1 , Íllora, Río Genil, Granada, 30SVG11, 510 m, 29-X-1992, F. Morente leg. (gen. prep. J. Gastón 5637JG) (FMGS); 1 , Rambla de Grao, Guadix, Granada, 30SVG8835, 950 m, 20-III-1990, F. J. Pérez-López leg. (gen. prep. J. Gastón 5647JG) (JPAS); 1 , Rambla de Grao, Guadix, Granada, 30SVG8835, 950 m, 20-V-1992, F. J. Pérez-López leg. (gen. prep. J. Gastón 5649JG) (JPAS); 1 , Barranco del Espartal, Baza, Granada, 30SWG2753, 770 m, 2-VI- 2010, F. J. Pérez-López leg. (gen. prep. J. Gastón 5648JG) (JPAS); 1 , Cueva de los Burreros, Guadix, Granada, 30SVG8931, 900 m, 20-III-1991, F. J. Pérez-López leg. (gen. prep. J. Pérez 420) (JPAS).

Description: Adult males (Fig. 1): Wingspan 28,20 mm (n=10). Head scales brown. Antenna brown, ciliate and flagellum with small basal notch. Eyes black, well developed; labial palpi strong, 1,5 times as long as head, completely covered with brown scales. Forewings broad, outer margin rounded, with yellow-brownish ground colour interrupted by darker transverse lines suffused by reddish brown scales. Costal margin with five evident brown spots (particularly visible in fresh individuals), which correspond with the beginning of the basal, postbasal, submedian, median and postmedian bands. Hindwings broad, with rounded margin and similar brownish ground colour to forewings, but with two evident curved brown dark bands parallel to outer margin. All wings fringed with pale brown fringes. Underside of all wings paler, without bands and with light yellow sheen. Middle legs with pair of long spurs on each tibia.

Adult females (Fig. 2): Wingspan 30 mm (n=5). Very similar to males, with paler ground colour, wing-shape less rounded and antenna not ciliate.

Male genitalia (Figs. 7-12): Corresponding to general pattern of Aglossa, as it has very long and narrow dactyliform uncus, and ostentatious, long and sclerotized gnathos terminated with shape reminiscent of eagle’s beak. Valvae are simple, triangularly shaped, pointing slightly towards their apex. Clasper absent, costal margin almost straight. Juxta rectangular, bilobed and well developed; saccus short and quite pointed; phallus cylindrical, with big coecum penis slightly curved showing large group of spines in its distal end, just at the union with juxta and large cornutus with bulbous base, covered with strong sclerotized spines.

Female genitalia (Figs. 19-20): The 8^th and 9^th segments proportionally large in comparison to rest of structure (ductus and corpus bursae) and strongly sclerotized. Anal papillae triangularly-shaped, finishing in strongly sclerotized margin, with long posterior apophyses reaching central part of antrum. Anterior apophyses proportionally shorter. The 8^th segment, very wide, highly sclerotized, tergite with triangular spot, finishing with base near ostium with two emarginations. Antrum membranous, slightly sclerotized and with troncoconical shape. Just below antrum, in colliculum, there is small grain-like deformation just at the beginning of ductus seminalis. Ductus bursae short and membranous with vertical striae. Bursa copulatrix small, delicate and membranous with small signum formed by a few sclerotized scales.

Diagnosis: The forewing pattern of Aglossamayrae sp. n. is most similar to A. pinguinalis (Figs. 5-6) and A. rubralis (Figs. 3-4). Aglossa mayrae generally differs in lighter coloration and more distinct lines on the hindwings (mostly absent in A. pinguinalis). Forewings of A. rubralis are more pointed on the apex and distinctly reddish (only slightly suffused in A. mayrae).

The male genitalia of A. mayrae, A. pinguinalis and A. rubralisare very similar. They all share a characteristic highly developed and sclerotized gnathos, which always surpasses the length of the uncus. The gnathos of A. pinguinalis, however, differs from the other two species in its shorter length and more robust form, ending a shape more reminiscent of a parrot’s beak than the eagle’s beak (Fig. 15). Aglossa pinguinalis also differs in the shape of the saccus, which is triangular and terminated by a characteristic dactyliform process (Fig. 13), while in A. mayrae and A. rubralis it is triangular but ending in to a point. The uncus is another character enabling recognition of the three species. In A. mayrae it is elongated and thin, of the same width throughout its length (Fig. 7), while in A. pinguinalis and A. rubralis it is shorter and triangular and also smaller in size that in A. pinguinalis (Fig. 15). Finally, the phallus is the most elongate and slenderest in A. rubralis (Fig. 17), while in A. mayrae and A. pinguinalis it is thicker and shorter (Figs. 9, 11, 14); all of them have the cornutus inside but ofdifferent size and structure. The largest is that of A. mayrae, which has a stiletto shape, is highlysclerotized, with a bulbous, mace-shaped base, and covered with spines (Fig. 10). Similar, but smaller,is that of A. pinguinalis, in which the base has a small cone shape, i.e. similar to maize. In A. rubralis,the cornutus is reduced to a lenticular form while the base of the aedeagus shows a peculiarmembranous area covered with numerous spines (Fig. 18).

The female genitalia of these three species can be divided into two groups. The first comprises A. pinguinalisand A. rubralis, very similar to each other and signum-shaped, and the only significant difference is size: larger and strongly sclerotized in A. pinguinalis, while smaller and poorly sclerotized in A. rubralis (Figs. 21, 22, 23, 24). Both species share very long anterior apophysis, which is in A. mayrae distinctly shorter. This character, in combination with shape of the antrum, the ductus and the bursa copulatrix, differentiates the new species from the previous two. The signum of bursa copulatrix in A. mayraeis very small in comparison to the two other species (Figs. 19, 20).

Biology: According to our findings, A. mayrae probably has two generations, as adult moths are active during April to July and then October. They are active during night and are attracted to lights. SÁNCHEZ & PÉREZ-LÓPEZ (1998) and PÉREZ-LÓPEZ (2002) described the behaviour of larvae of A. pinguinalis in Baza but they belong in fact, to A. mayrae sp. n. According to source they display coprophagy as a main feeding habit. They are found inside caves where 98% of the larvae fed mostly on excrements and only 2% were recorded as eating other kind of detritus (decayed mushrooms). The larvae of this moth require two years, to complete development, and construct silk tubes connecting the food source with a shelter chamber. This behaviour allows them to compete successfully with other coprophagous specialists that thrive in open fields, such as scarabeids and dipteran larvae.

Distribution: The new species is probably endemic to Spain, known only at present, from the south east of the Iberian Peninsula (Fig. 25), where it inhabits semi desert or desert habitats, typical for the area. Aglossa mayrae is probably stenochorous (a species, which has a small range of distribution) due to the extreme climate conditions in its habitat.

Accordingly, the distribution of A. mayrae follows the chain of arid depressions, rich in gypsum, which contain characteristic habitats in this area (e.g. Hoya de Baza, Hoya de Guadix and Hoya de Huéscar) (Fig. 26).

Etymology: The species name is derived from Mayra, name of the wife of the first author. Remarks: Some published records of A. pinguinalis from southern Spain might belong to this new species.

Acknowledgements

The work of Jan Sumpich was financially supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic (DKRVO 2017/14, National Museum, 00023272). We also want to thank to Francisco Morente and Francisco Javier Pérez-López, for their loan of the material studied and Dr. Antonio Vives for his always generous and invaluable cooperation. We are also indebted to Lukás Sekerka (Prague) for linguistic corrections.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

GOATER, B., 1986.– British Pyralid Moths. A Guide to their identificaction: 175 pp. Harley Books, Essex.

GOATER, B., NUSS, M. & SPEIDEL, W., 2005.– Microlepidoptera of Europe. Pyraloidea I, 4: 304 pp. Apollo Books, Stenstrup.

LERAUT P., 2003.– Contribution à l’étude des Pyraloidea (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae, Crambidae).– Revue française d’Entomologie(N. S.), 25(3): 123-142.

LERAUT, P., 2014.– Papillons de nuit d’Europe, Pyrales 2, .4: 440 pp. N. A. P. Editions, Verrières-le-Buisson.

PÉREZ-LÓPEZ, F. J., 2002.– La especialización coprófoga en las larvas de Aglossa pinguinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae).– SHILAP Revista de lepidopterología, 30(117): 41-48.

SÁNCHEZ-PIÑERO, F. & PÉREZ-LÓPEZ, F. J., 1998.– Coprophagy in Lepidoptera: observational and experimental evidence in the pyralid moth Aglossa pinguinalis.– Journal of Zoology, London, 244: 357-362.

SLAMKA, F., 2006.– Pyraloideaof Europe / Europas (Lepidoptera), .1: 138 pp. Frantisek Slamka, Bratislava.

VIVES MORENO, A., 2014.– Catálogo sistemático y sinonímico de los Lepidoptera de la Península Ibérica, de Ceuta, de Melilla y de las islas Azores, Baleares, Canarias, Madeira y Salvajes (Insecta: Lepidoptera): 1184 pp. Suplemento a SHILAP Revista de lepidopterología, Improitalia, Madrid.

Appendix

Figs. 1-6
Habitus.

1-2. Aglossa mayrae Ylla, Sumpich, Gastón, Huertas & Macià, sp. n., Spain. 1. , Baza, paratypus. 2. , Albatera, holotypus. 3-4. Aglossa rubralis Hampson, 1900, Israel, Nahal Oren, Mt Carmel. 3. , 1-VIII-1997. 4. , 20-IX-1997. 5-6. Aglossa pinguinalis (Linnaeus, 1758). 5. , Plzenˇ, Czechia. 6. , Hradec Králové, Czechia. All in coll. NMPC.

Figs. 7-18
Male genitalia.

7-12.Aglossa mayrae Ylla, Sumpich, Gastón, Huertas & Macià, sp. n., paratypus. General view. Spain, Baza. 8. Sternit I. Spain, Baza. 9. Phallus. Spain, Baza. 10. Detail of cornutus. Spain, Baza. 11. Phallus. Spain, Tabernas. 12. Detail of saccus. Spain, Tabernas. 13-15. Aglossa pinguinalis (Linnaeus, 1758). 13. Detail of saccus. Spain, Aragón, Los Monegros. 14. Phallus. Spain, Mirantes de Luna, León. 15. Detail of uncus and gnathos. Spain, Mirantes de Luna, León. 16-18.Aglossa rubralis Hampson, 1900. Israel, Nahal Oren, Mt Carmel. 16. General view. 17. Phallus. 18. Detail of cornutus.

Figs. 19-24
Female genitalia.

19-20. Aglossa mayrae Ylla, Sumpich, Gastón, Huertas & Macià, sp. n., Spain, Albatera, holotypus. 19. General view. 20. Detail of signum. 21-22.Aglossa pinguinalis (Linaeus, 1758), Spain, Algorta, Vizcaya. 21. General view. 22. Detail of signum. 23-24.Aglossa rubralis Hampson, 1900, Israel, Nahal Oren, Mt Carmel. 23. General view. 24. Detail of signum.

Fig. 25
Distribution map of Aglossa mayrae Ylla, Sumpich, Gastón, Huertas & Macià, sp. n.

Fig. 26
Typical habitat of Aglossa mayrae Ylla, Sumpich, Gastón, Huertas & Macià, sp. n., Fonelas (Granada).

Author notes