Morphology, biology and distribution of Stigmella irregularis Puplesis (Lepidopera: Nepticulidae)

LASTŮVKA, A., LASTŮVKA, Z.: Morphology, biology and distribution of Stigmella irregularis Puplesis (Lepidopera: Nepticulidae). Acta univ. agric. et silvic. Mendel. Brun., 2009, LVII, No. 5, pp. 193–196 New data on the morphology, biology and distribution are given for Stigmella irregularis Puplesis, 1994, a species described a er several males from Crimea. A combination of black head, ochreous orange frontal tu , creamy collar and scape, and hindwing black androconial scales are characteristic of the male. The female specimens collected by the present authors together with males, and described for the fi rst time here, having the same morphological characters combined with the transversal forewing band, have been preliminarily attached to this species. Stigmella irregularis develops in the leaves of Pyrus amygdaliformis Vill., adults were collected near Pyrus elaeagrifolia Pallas, and other Pyrus species are also possible host plants. The indistinctly yellow larva forms a narrow, later only slightly dilating mine, with dropping accumulation in its fi rst half. All other nepticulid species mining on Pyrus spp. show green or greenish white larvae. Judging from the occurrence of adults and larvae, the species either produces two or just one extended generation per year. It is known from Crimea, Croatia, Greece (incl. Crete and Rhodos), and Sicily; here it is reported from Croatia for the fi rst time, and the fi rst exact faunistic data are supplied for Greece. Stigmella irregularis, biology, Pyrus, female, distributional data Species of the genus Stigmella Schrank, 1802 are leaf miners and the mines of their larvae are usual ly good ascertainable. The distribution of indi vi dual species and species composition of certain areas are therefore comparatively fair known (cf., e.g. Lastůvka & Lastůvka, 1997 for central and van Nieukerken, 2007 for whole Europe). One of few exceptions is Stigmella irregularis Puplesis, 1994. This species has been described a er several males from Crimea and placed in a separate species group (“S. irregularis group”) because of its characteristic external and especially male genital morphology. The female and bionomics remained unknown. Puplesis (1994) gives in his original description that this species group comprises two species, the second of them should be an undescribed species from Greece. We could collect and investigate the Stigmella irregularis in Greece, Croatia and Sicily, we obtained several new data on its morphology and bionomics, which we bring in this contribution. Stigmella irregularis Puplesis, 1994 Material: Croatia, Krk, Lakmartin, iii.2008, 1 ♂ e.l. (larva 6.x.2007); Greece, Preveza, Thesprotiko, 14.vi.1996, 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 11.vi.1998, 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Fokida, Itea, 26.v.1999, 1 ♀; Fthiotis, Agios Charalambos, 22.vi.1997, 2 ♂♂; Viotia, Chaironia, 13.vi.1998, 1 ♀; Achaia, Kalavrita, 20.vi.1997, 1 ♂, 5.vi.1999, 1 ♀, Glastra, 4.vi.1999, 1 ♀; Messinia, Pirgos, 18.vi.1998, 3 ♂♂, Proastio, 19.vi.1998, 1 ♂; Lakonia, Apidia, 18.vi.1996, 3 ♂♂, Nea Marathea, 17.vi.1997, 2 ♂♂, Skoutari, 16.vi.1998, 1 ♂, all lgt. A. & Z. Lastůvka, coll. A. Lastůvka; Rhodos, Kolombia, 40 m, 4.–5.vii.2000, 1 ♀, lgt. M. Fibiger, coll. ZMUC; Italy, Si ci ly, Solarino, 20.vi.2000, 2 ♂♂, Francavilla di Sicilia, 23.vi.2000, 4 ♂♂, lgt. A. & Z. Lastůvka,