Entomologist's Gazette - Vol. 71, No. 4, 2020

Published: 10/30/2020

Article Details for this issue

Lyonetia prunifoliella (Hübner, 1796) (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae): a review of the species in England and consideration of L. padifoliella (Hübner, [1813])

By: R. J. HECKFORD & S. D. BEAVAN

Page: 221-247

Type: Paper

Synopsis:
This paper reviews British records of Lyonetia prunifoliella (Hübner, 1796) up to the end of 2017: all are from England. The account of the species in The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland 2 is considered and certain changes are suggested. Detailed descriptions of the larva, larval mine and pupa are provided, with illustrations. Larval foodplants are reviewed both of this species and L. padifoliella (Hübner, [1813]) as well as whether the latter has occurred in England.

Pieris rapae (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae, Pierinae): a further note on the continued use of Iberis sempervirens L. (Brassicaceae) as a hostplant in Wales

By: EDDIE JOHN

Page: 248

Type: Short Notes

Observations on co-existing late-instar caterpillars of the Orange-tip butterfly, Anthocharis cardamines (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae)

By: MARK R. SHAW & HELENE OTTO

Page: 249-256

Type: Paper

Synopsis:
Co-existence between late instar larvae of Anthocharis cardamines on multiple occupied Lunaria annua plants was monitored in a suburban Edinburgh garden and a stand-off between final instar larvae on Sisymbrium officinale in countryside near Leipzig was recorded photographically. Occupation of mauve-flowered Lunaria plants was significantly higher than white-flowered ones. The notion that the resting behaviour of final instar larva along the top of seed pods camouflages them is challenged. Although not part of that argument, a major predation event by Vespula vulgaris was seen on Lunaria.

Westward Palaearctic range expansion of Papilio demoleus Linnaeus, 1758 (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) and its arrival at Mediterranean coastal regions of Turkey and Syria

By: ONAT BAŞBAY, MUDAR SALIMEH & EDDIE JOHN

Page: 257-272

Type: Paper

Synopsis:
We review the continuing and extensive spread of Papilio demoleus in south-eastern Turkey and in regions of Turkey and Syria adjacent to the north-eastern Mediterranean. Since the authors documented the arrival of this attractive but potentially destructive papilionid species at coastal areas of Syria in 2019, regular monitoring has confirmed successful overwintering there, as well as in Turkey. As previously indicated, P. demoleus is widely recognized as an invasive pest species in Citrus-growing areas of the world and hence its arrival is of potential economic importance to a region in which citrus is widely grown.

A new interpretation of the 'skull' of the Death's-head Hawk-moth Acherontia atropos (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae)

By: CLIVE CRAIK

Page: 273-277

Type: Paper

Synopsis:
If viewed upside-down, the entire Death's-head Hawk-moth Acherontia atropos (Linnaeus, 1758) conveys an illusion of an eyed head. The famous skull-like mark on the thorax becomes a 'nose' and its eye-sockets become 'nostrils'. Discal spots on the forewings become small 'eyes' and other features appear as 'ears', 'muzzle' and 'lips'. A very similar illusion is conveyed by Convolvulus Hawk-moth Agrius convolvuli (Linnaeus, 1758). Photographs are shown of those two species and of similar images in five species of moths. Possibilities are discussed of eyedhead illusions in other hawk-moths and in noctuid moths. The function of such images is almost certainly to deter, distract or otherwise deceive predators.

New interesting records of Histeridae (Coleoptera) for the Italian mainland and Sardinia

By: FABIO PENATI, MARCO BASTIANINI, LORIS COLACURCIO, AUGUSTO FRANZINI, GIACOMO GIOVAGNOLI, ALESSIO MORELLI, GIUSEPPE PACE, MARCO PAGLIALUNGA & PIERPAOLO VIENNA

Page: 278-282

Type: Paper

Synopsis:
Twelve species are reported from various Italian regions for the first time and in detail: Acritus komai, Aeletes atomarius, Stenopleurum rothi, Bacanius consobrinus, Cyclobacanius soliman, Dendrophilus punctatus, Paromalus filum, Paromalus parallelepipedus, Platylomalus complanatus, Margarinotus purpurascens, Saprinus planiusculus, and Saprinus virescens. The new findings have been documented with photographs and information on the website 'Forum Entomologi Italiani', except those of Acritus komai, Aeletes atomarius and Paromalus filum. On the other hand, Hister unicolor must be excluded from the Sardinian histerid fauna because the only literature record for the island has been proved to be false.

Issus muscaeformis (Schrank, 1781) (Hemiptera: Issidae) new to Devon

By: PAUL F. WHITEHEAD

Page: 283-286

Type: Paper

Synopsis:
The geographic range of Issus muscaeformis (Schrank, 1781) in Britain is extended and evidence is provided for the occupation of open coastal habitats in southern England.

Notes on Zygaenidae from the Greek island of Samos (Lepidoptera)

By: BERNHARD MAY & GERHARD M. TARMANN

Page: 287–291

Type: Paper

Synopsis:
Eight species of Zyganidae collected from the Greek island of Samos between 2012 and 2016 are reported, together with brief notes, particularly in the context of the zygaenid fauna of neighbouring regions.

Extraspecific copulation in Coleoptera

By: PAUL F. WHITEHEAD

Page: 292-294

Type: Paper

Synopsis:
Interspecific, intergeneric and interfamilial copulation in Coleoptera are rarely observed and even more rarely photographed in the wild. Records are summarised and two new observations from Cyprus and England are documented and illustrated.

Anarsia lineatella Zeller, 1839 (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae): a note on the larva

By: R. J. HECKFORD

Page: 295-297

Type: Short Notes

BOOK REVIEW A Revised History of the Butterflies and Moths of Sussex Volume 4, by Colin Pratt

By: ADRIAN SPALDING

Page: 298