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Handbook of Palaearctic Macrolepidoptera. Vol. 1 Sesiidae – Clearwing Moths
... Both species had been proposed for the control of Rumex in Australia, but attempts to adjust the life-cycle of P. chrysidiforme to the southern hemisphere failed. Pyropteron doryliforme, in contrast, was successfully introduced into Australia, where it established and significantly decreased densities of invasive Rumex populations (Fisher et al. 1994;Fogliani and Strickland 2000;Strickland et al. 2012). Given the native range of P. chrysidiforme in western Europe, including Switzerland, France, Germany , and southern England (Spatenka et al. 1999), this moth has also been suggested for biological control of Rumex in Europe (Grossrieder and Keary 2004;Hatcher et al. 2008). ...
... Pyropteron doryliforme, in contrast, was successfully introduced into Australia, where it established and significantly decreased densities of invasive Rumex populations (Fisher et al. 1994;Fogliani and Strickland 2000;Strickland et al. 2012). Given the native range of P. chrysidiforme in western Europe, including Switzerland, France, Germany , and southern England (Spatenka et al. 1999), this moth has also been suggested for biological control of Rumex in Europe (Grossrieder and Keary 2004;Hatcher et al. 2008). Unlike the classical biological control approach followed in Australia (i.e. ...
... This may also explain the lack of effects on plant mortality in our study, which likely becomes visible only after an extended period of time. Likewise, biological control against Rumex in Australia took about five years to reduce populations to a level of 10 % plant cover at most sites (Strickland et al. 2012). Also, the extent to which regrowth ability of infested Rumex plants had been compromised could not be fully assessed in our study. ...
Rumex obtusifolius (Caryophyllales: Polygonaceae) is one of the most troublesome weeds in European grasslands and non-chemical control options are largely lacking. In this study, we assessed the potential of the native root-feeding specialist insect Pyropteron chrysidiforme (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) for inundative biological control of R. obtusifolius. At multiple grassland sites, we applied P. chrysidiforme varying in developmental stage and level of protection onto R. obtusifolius to be examined in the subsequent autumn and spring. We consistently found the highest infestation resulting from the application of eggs (71 % of plants infested in autumn) with concomitantly elevated root decay and fewer rosettes compared to control plants. Moreover, in spring we found trends for associated decreases in biomass and number of shoots. Our findings support P. chrysidiforme as a promising biological control candidate of R. obtusifolius, but further investigations will be required to assess the consistency and long-term impacts of this novel approach.
... Sesiidae are almost exclusively diurnal and due to their fast flight and mimicry, specialized methods are required to record Sesiidae in a targeted manner. Over the last decades numerous species were collected with the aid of artificial pheromone lures (Priesner et al. 1986;Eichlin & Duckworth 1988;Snow et al. 1989;Špatenka et al. 1999;Pühringer & Ryrholm 2000). However, these lures were produced on the basis of pheromone components identified for a relatively small number of Palaearctic and Nearctic species, and many taxa that occur in the tropical regions do not respond to these lures. ...
... Thus, discovery of the hostplants and the rearing of larvae are still critical when assessing Sesiidae distribution and diversity. Most Sesiidae larvae are known to live within roots or stems of trees, shrubs or herbaceous plants (overview in Eichlin & Duckworth 1988;Špatenka et al. 1999). Rarely, Sesiidae larvae bore in seeds or fruit (Eichlin 1995;Harms & Aiello 1995;Lopez et al. 2003;McKenna & McKenna 2006;Hosaka et al. 2007;Bartsch 2015), and exceptionally, Sesiidae were found to be predators of scale insects (Bradley 1956;Duckworth 1969). ...
A new genus, Osmanthedon Kallies gen. nov., in the tribe Synanthedonini and a new species, Osmanthedon domaticola Agassiz & Kallies spec. nov., are described. This is the first record of a sesiid species associated with ant galls (domatia) found on whistling thorn Acacia, Vachellia drepanolobium (Harms ex Sjöstedt) P.J.H.Hurter (Fabaceae), in East Africa.
... Several species of clearwing moth may be suitable biological control agents. While Synasphecia doryliformis has a Mediterranean distribution, the closely related Pyropteron chrysidiformis Esper (Lep., Sesiidae) is native throughout western Europe and southern England, but has not been recorded from Scandinavia (Spatenka et al., 1999). As in the case of S. doryliformis, the species is univoltine and the larvae feed in the roots of various Rumex spp. ...
... As in the case of S. doryliformis, the species is univoltine and the larvae feed in the roots of various Rumex spp. (Spatenka et al., 1999). Synasphecia doryliformis, which was mass-released into Australia in the early to mid-1990s as a biological control agent against docks (Fogliani and Strickland, 2000), reduced dock densities there by up to 90% within five years of release (Faithful, 2000). ...
The increasing problems caused by dock infestations (especially Rumex obtusifolius L., R. crispus L., and R. longifolius DC.) to organic agriculture in Great Britain, Norway and Switzerland are discussed. Inadequate, costly, or time-consuming non-chemical control options for Rumex are among the major barriers for farmers converting to organic production. Potential biological control agents for Rumex in Europe are discussed. We conclude that the chrysomelid beetle Gastrophysa viridula Degeer and the rust fungus Uromyces rumicis (Schum.) Wint. remain the most promising of the researched indig-enous species and that G. viridula can be combined with other non-chemical control methods. How-ever, there is a need for biological control agents that target dock roots; we suggest that Pyropteron chrysidiformis (Esper), one of several sesiid moth species present in Europe which attack dock roots, has good potential for Rumex spp. biological control and merits further study within Europe.
... We found no literature evidence that scitula occurs in Europe, (Lastuvka and Lastuvka, 2001) and (Spatenka et al., 1999). ...
In Louisiana, wild adults of scitula have been collected in all months March into December. There appears to be three annual broods based upon the illustrated phenogram. The first brood peaks around mid-April, the second brood peaks about the end of June/beginning of July, the third brood peaking around mid-September, the three broods peaking at intervals of approximately 43-days. Date ranges of the population sample (n = 385) in this study included adults captured in the years 1908-2018.
The vast majority of this scitula sample (n = 385) represents adults captured flying into automatic capture ultraviolet light traps under unadulterated wild conditions, which operated unabated beginning in 1969 and continued dusk to dawn, every night of every year regardless of severity of rains, winds, temperatures down to 6°F to greater than 100°F, the occurrence of tropical storms, or any adverse conditions into 2018 (49 contiguous years)
... All localities are in Tajikistan south of the main range of the Hissar-Alai, which is a distinct faunal boundary line and apparently represents the northern limit of its distribution. Records of B. rushana from Afghanistan ( Bartsch & Špatenka 2010;Špatenka et al. 1999) refer to B. salangica. However, the localities of several finds, including that of the types, are very close to the Afghan border making the occurrence in Afghanistan very likely. ...
During several expeditions in Tajikistan (Central Asia) numerous specimens of a species of
Bembecia Hübner, 1819 were collected which were initially identified as B. karategina Špatenka, 1997. On
subsequent comparison with the type specimens of several Central Asiatic species, these specimens proved
conspecific with Bembecia rushana Gorbunov, 1992, which was also described from Tajikistan. Therefore,
based on morphological characteristics, genitalia morphology, DNA analysis and rearing results, B.
karategina is considered here to be a subjective junior synonym of Bembecia rushana. In addition to the
typical yellow specimens, black specimens of both sexes have also been found and are described here
for the first time. During the examination of the type specimens it became clear that the female paratype
(“allotype”) of B. karategina was misidentified. It belongs to Bembecia hissorensis Stalling, Bartsch,
Garrevoet, Lingenhöle & Altermatt, 2011 and is hitherto the only known female specimen of this species.
Records of B. rushana from Afghanistan refer to Bembecia salangica Špatenka & Reshöft, 1989.
A new genus, Sazonia gen. nov. (type species : Sazonia gorodinskii sp. nov.), including two new subgenera, Sazonia subgen. nov. and Miniosa subgen, nov. (type species : Sesia fenusaeformis Herrich-Schaffer, 1852), and a new species, Sazonia (Sazonia) gorodinskii sp. nov. are described and figured from extra-tropical Asia. Probable trends of the origin of all these taxa are discussed.
In this study, identification of clearwing moths and also effect of some environmental factors
on the infestation level of babylon weeping trees to this pest species has been investigated in
different landscape regions of Tehran city during 2016-2017. To this end, the landscape areas
were divided into two regions based on the altitude: 1) between 1000-1400 meters (south
Tehran region) and 2) between 1400-1800 meters (north of Tehran). Five parks were
considered in each region. To evaluate effect of grassland type on the infestation, percentage of
infestation in each park had been separately recorded for planting trees in meadows and trees on
the boulevards. Data analysis was performed as a factorial experiment with a randomized
complete blocks design consisting two factors (altitude and grassland type). According to the
study, Paranthrene diaphana Torre & Strand (Lep.: Sesiidae) was identified as the dominant
species which was not reported from Tehran region so far. The results of the statistical analysis
showed that altitude had a significant effect on the pest dispersion so that level of infestation in
south of Tehran was about 100 percent and almost two times more than the central and northern
Tehran. Also, tree plantation in the meadows significantly reduced the pest infestation, up to
50%.
Synanthedon culiciformis (Linnaeus, 1758) shows a circumpolar distribution and is recorded from most parts of the northern Palaearctic region and from North America. Its known sister species, Synanthedon talischensis (Bartel, 1906), however, is endemic to the Hyrcanian fauna and is found only in Talish south of the Caspian Sea. Here, another species, Synanthedon pamphyla sp. n., closely allied to S. culiciformis is described from southern Turkey. It is clearly separated from the known species by external characters, morphology of genitalia and bionomics. Further, sequences of two mitochondrial DNA regions of S. culiciformis and S. pamphyla sp. n. are analysed and compared to homologous sequences of the 'outgroup' species Synanthedon spheciformis ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775). This analysis suggests an isolation of S. culiciformis and S. pamphyla sp. n. for at least 300 000 years and implies that the latter species can be regarded as a Pleistocene relict.
Synanthedon velox (Fixsen) is redescribed and the genus Bembecia is reported for the first time from Korea with B. pavicevici Toevski. Description, images of the adult, genitalia, and the Korean common names of two species are provided. Their host plants are listed and their biology is briefly summarized.
Synanthedon myopaeformis Borkhausen (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) is a diurnal clearwing moth native to Eurasia that was recently introduced into British Columbia (BC) and Ontario, Canada, where it has become a serious pest in apple orchards. In BC, these moths commonly feed on nectar of inflorescences, particularly that of showy milkweed, Asclepias speciosa Torrey (Apocynaceae). We investigated the relative importance of visual and olfactory cues, and the key floral semiochemical(s) mediating attraction of S. myopaeformis to A. speciosa. In field experiments, inflorescences left exposed or enclosed in cheesecloth bags dyed green induced similar visitation rates by moths, indicating that olfactory cues are attractive. Among the >10 floral odourants that elicited responses from moth antennae in coupled gas chromatographic‐electroantennographic detection analyses, phenylacetaldehyde induced the most frequent proboscis extension reflexes of male and female moths. Among eight floral odourants that were field‐tested singly, phenylacetaldehyde attracted 35 times more male and female moths than any other candidate semiochemical. Attractiveness of phenylacetaldehyde could not be enhanced by admixture with other floral odourants at the ratios or concentrations tested indicating that it alone may mediate attraction of S. myopaeformis to the inflorescences of A. speciosa. The potential use of phenylacetaldehyde as bait to monitor or mass‐trap populations of male and female S. myopaeformis should be investigated.
Detailed information to the biology of 34 species of clearwing moths is given. All species recorded in Upper Austria or supposed to occure are treated. Additional distribution maps of Europe and Austria are included. The work is based on a critical revision of a large amount of single publications and on personal observations.
The first record of the clear-wing moth Chamaesphecia tenthrediniformis ([DENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER] 1775) for Upper Austria is reported. The differences of the two closely related species C. tenthrediniformis and empiformis as well as the biology of the former are discussed.
Synanthedon soffneri SPATENKA 1983 is reported the first time from Upper Austria. The clear wing moth was found by means of synthetical pheromones. The history of its discovery and its biology are compiled. The biotope is discribed and the use of pheromone traps is discussed.
The first record of the clear-wing moth Synanthedon conopiformis (ESPER, 1782) for Salzburg is reported. The species was found by means of synthetical pheromones. Its biology is shortly discussed and the biotope is described.
Records of clear wing moths in Austria (Lepidoptera, Sesiidae) are compiled from ZOODAT (Zoogeographical Data bank of Austria, Linz), literature and several private and museum collections. 46 species of clear wing moths were found in Austria to date. 2 species (Bembecia megillaeformis and Pyropteron chrysidiformis) were not quoted occurring in Austria by LAŠTUVKA & LAŠTUVKA (1995), 1 species (Synanthedon soffneri) was apparently overseen by LAŠTUVKA & ŠPATENKA in KARSHOLT & RAZOWSKI (1996).
The distribution of all species is shown in detailed maps covering Europe and Austria, respectively. A list of all cited locations is given including geographical coordinates.
For each species phenological data and altitude of occurrence are provided, both referring to Austrian records.
5 species previously reported from Austria do not occur in this country: Synanthedon typhiaeformis, Bembecia uroceriformis, Chamaesphecia doryliformis, C. alysoniformis and C. oxybeliformis.