Notalepid. 31(1): 69-75 69 Caryocolum siculum sp. n. (Gelechiidae), feeding on Gypsophila (Caryophyliaceae) in Sicily Salvatore Bella Dipartimentodi ScienzeeTecnologieFitosanitarie (Di.S.Te.F.), Universitàdi Catania. ViaS. Sofia, 100. 95123 Catania,Italy;e-mail: [email protected] Abstract. Caryocolumsiculum sp. n. fromCentral and South-Eastern Sicily (Italy) isdescribed. Its larva feeds inside the internode of stems of Gypsophila arrostii Guss. (Caryophyliaceae). Morphological and bioethologicaldataonadult, larvaandpupaareprovided. Riassunto. L'Autore suUa base della diversa conformazione delle strutture genitali di entrambi i sessi, descrive Caryocolum siculum sp. n. II nuovo taxon, appartenente al /7e/r_y/-gruppo, è stato ottenuto dal- I'allevamento delle larve rinvenute nella Siciliacentrale (Monti Erei,Agira) e sud-orientale (Monti Iblei, Vizzini);lelarvesinutronoevivonoaH'internodelfustodellaCaryophyliaceaeGypsophilaarrostiiGuss. Vengono fomiti dati morfologici e bioetologici relativi ad adulto, larva e pupa, ottenuti da osservazioni effettuatedirettamente sulcampoedin laboratorio. Introduction In the present paper a new species of Caryocolum, recently discovered in Central and South-Eastern Sicily (Iblei and Erei Mountains), is described. It was obtained from larvae feeding in galls ofGypsophila arrostii Guss. (Caryophyliaceae). & The genus Caryocolum Gregor Povolny, 1954, includes about 70 described spe- cies. In Europe more than 50 species are recorded (Karsholt 2004), ofwhich 28 occur in Italy; in Sicily only two species are dubiously recorded (Huemer & Karsholt 1995; Karsholt & Huemer 1995). Species ofthe genus Caryocolum have specialized in feed- ing exclusively on plants ofthe family Caryophyliaceae (Huemer 1988). Abbreviations TLMF TirolerLandesmuseumFerdinandeum, Innsbruck,Austria ZMUC ZoologiskMuseum, University ofCopenhagen, Denmark Caryocolum siculum sp. n. Material. Holotype: cT, Italy, Sicily, Prov. Catania, Iblei Mts., Vizzini, Contrada Rubalà, surround- ings ofPoggio del Vecchio, 320 m, 22.vi.2003, e.l. on Gypsophila arrostii, S. Bella leg. (genitalia slide 0074 S. Bella; coll. TLMF). -Paratypes: I9, same data as holotype, but 26.v.1999, e.l. on G. arrostii, S. Bellaleg. (genitaliaslideGU03/1202 P. Huemer; coll. TLMF);4cr, 89, samedataas holotype (including 3crgenitaliaslides)but22.vi.-7.vii.2003,e.l.onG.arrostii,S.Bellaleg.etcoll.;3cf 49,samedataas , holotype,but 15.-20.vi.2004,e.l.onG.arrostii,S.Bellaleg.etcoll.;5cr,49,Prov.Enna,EreiMts.,Agira, Vallone di Piano della Corte, Contrada Urselluzzo, 500 m, 20.-27.vi.2003 (including I9, Icf genitalia slides), e.l. on G. arrostii, S. Bella leg. et coll.; IcT, 79, same data as holotype, but east ofLago Dirillo, 400m, 27.iv.2006,e.l. on G. arrostii, leg. O. Karsholt(coll. ZMUC). Diagnosis. The new taxon is well distinguishable from related species by its habitus and characters of the male and female genitalia. Genitalia characters are somewhat intermediate between species of the petryi-grou^ and the saginella-group. As far as Notalepidopterologica, 15.05.2008,ISSN0342-7536 70 Bella: Caryocolumsiculumsp. n. fromSicily known species of theses groups are gall inducers in the larval stage. C. siculum sp. n. differs from the most similar spe- cies, such as C. petryi (O. Hofmann, 1899) and C. inflativorella (Klimesch, 1938), by the peculiar shape of the sac- culus and the apically rounded tip ofthe valva, and in the females by the largely reduced sclerotized antrum. Fig. 1. Caryocolumsiculum sp. n., holotype. Description of adult. Holotype, cf (Fig. 1). Wingspan 12 mm. Head ochreus, scales on vertex tipped dark brown with basal part ochreus. Labial palpi moderately recurved; second segment with median scales cream, outer surface with brush ofshort raised cream scales and with scatteredbrown scales; third segment darkbrown mottled with cream scales. Antenna fuscous brown, alternately ringed dark brown and cream below; antennal scape with distal part cream. Thorax cream, prothorax and mesos- cutellum apically dark brown. Tegula dark brown, distal part light brown. Forewing rather lanceolate; dark brown, scattered with cream scales, orange-brown spot in sub- basal part, two irregular, large and fused spots from dorsal margin to central part of wing, creamcostal and tornal spots usually confluentforming fasciaorseparateby dis- tinct brownish orange spot; fringes ochreus with distinct brown apical cilia. Hindwing light greyish brown, fringes ochreus. Underside offorewing light brown. Underside of hindwing whitish with light brown anterior margin. Foreleg with coxa and femur dark brown, tibia and tarsus dark brown mottled with whitish, with whitish final ring at dis- tal part ofeach segment; midleg whitish mottled with few brown scales on outer side, tibia and tarsus as foreleg; hindleg with outer side dark brown scattered with whitish, spurs and inner side whitish, dorsal whitish scales oftibia elongated. Abdomen cream. 9 similar to cT, body size slightly larger. cT genitalia (Figs 2-5). Valva long, slender, weakly curved, rounded at tip; saccu- lus two-thirds length ofvalva, broad, with small, pointed tip; vinculum stout, posterior margin undulated, with pair of almost rectangular projections, medial incision slight; Saccus long, slender; transtillawith few minute spines; anellus with pairoflong sclero- tizations; phallus long, slender, moderately S-curved, apically with minute comuti. 9 genitalia (Figs 6-9). Eighth segment without process; ventromedial plate with folds, two lateromedial pairs well developed; apophyses posteriores about three times length ofapophyses anteriores; antrum broad, short, funnel shaped; ductus bursae with pair oflong narrow lateral sclerotizations; signum ofmedium size with large base and short, strong, moderately curved hook. Immature stages. Larva (Fig. 10). Length of mature larva 10 mm. Body pale yellow. Head black with 6 pale yellow ocelli. Prothoracic plate well sclerotised, black, with distinct medial sulcus, line ofinternal margin not homogeneous. Prothorax with light brown spot around the three prespiracular setae. Thoracic legs well devel- Notalepid. 31(1): 69-75 71 Figs2-5.Caryocolumsiculumsp.n.,maiegenitalia.2. Holotype,PG0074(phallusremoved).3.Paratype, PG0083 (phallusremoved). 4. Phallus,enlarged,dorsolateralview, PG0082. 5. Phallus,enlarged, lateral view,PG0083. oped; first and second pairs dark brown with inner side pale yellow, third pair light brown with inner side pale yellow. Spiracles ofprothoracic and abdominal segment 8 with narrow rounded dark brown area. Prolegs (3-6 and 10 abdominal segments) cy- lindrical, reduced, with complete crown of small brown crotchets arranged biordinally (on anal prolegs anterior halfofcrown absent). Anal plate brown. Pupa (Fig. 11). General characters as reported by Patocka (1989); 6.0-8.5 mm in length; uniformly reddish brown; cremaster dorsally with two triangular projections in lateral position. Distribution. Central and South-Eastern Sicily (Italy). Iblei Mountains, Province of Catania, Vizzini, Contrada Rubalà, surroundings of Poggio del Vecchio, 320^00 m (UTM VB 7508). Province of Enna, Erei Mountains, Agira, Vallone di Piano della Corte, Contrada Urselluzzo, 500 m (UTM VB 5767). Etymology. The name siculum refers to the island on which the new species was dis- covered. Life history. The larva lives and feeds in the stem of the hostplant, causing an inter- nodal gall (Fig. 12 a). The diameterofthe Gypsophila stems is about 2-3 mm, whereas mm the stems with the galls are 4-6 wide. The length of the internodes varies from 20-50 mm; inside the gall the free space where the larva lives is 15-18 mm. The larva pupates within the feeding-place where it prepares an emergence hole; the pupa is not extruded on emergence. The shape ofthe hole in section is circular, with a diameter of 72 Bella: Caryocolumsiculumsp. n. fromSicily Figs6-9. Caryocolumsiculum sp. n., female genitalia. 6. Allotype, PG0075. 7. Idem, enlarged. 8. Idem, Signum,enlarged,dorsal view. 9. Signum,enlarged, lateral view,PG0081. mm. The opening ofthe hole is free, but using setae and few small fragments offibre of the stem (only on the outer surface) the larva builds a thin cover near it-with the lateroposterior margin fixed to inside walls of the gall whereas the anterior margin is easily lifted (Fig. 12 b). The larva can be found fromApril to late June. The possibility to breed larvae at different stages simultaneously allowed making some observations on the biological cycle. Some galls with mature larvae, taken from theirnatural habitat, were transferred to the laboratory and bred under natural environmental conditions. Biological data were obtained from continuous observations carriedouton fourmature larvaejustbeforetheypupated.Twolarvaepupatedon 15.vi.2003,bothremaininginthis stage for 18 days at an average daily temperature of28°C; the emerging adult females Notalepid.31(1): 69-75 73 Fig. 10-11. Caryocolumsiculum sp. n.. 10. larva: head and prothoracic plate. 11. pupal cremaster, dorsal view. survived 36 and 30 days respectively at an average daily temperature of 28.5°C. Another larva pupated on 4.vi.2003, re- maining in this stage for 18 days, at an average daily temperature of 25.5°C; the resulting adult male survived for 24 days at an average daily temperature of 28°C. The last larva pupated on 22.vi.2003 at r^ ^HSâLiÉa average daily temperature of28°C and |l V^^hIhH l^H^^ m 'wmm adultemergedafter 16days. Theaver- agedailytemperature wascalculatedover 24 hours; moreover, the days of survival ofadults refer to specimens that were not fed. Despite the high number ofobtained specimens, no mating and no oviposition were observed in the laboratory despite the presence of host plants. In its habi- Figs 12. Caryocolum siculum sp. n., gall. a. Stem tat the moth rests during the day on the of Gypsophila arrostii with an intemodal gall; substratum, between leaf-litter and rocks. b.Vertical section showing the horizontal cover neartheopening. Because of its mimetic colouration it is very difficult to see; if disturbed, it flies quickly for short distances. After numer- ous years of nocturnal collecting with mercury-vapour lamps at the type locality no specimen wasevercollected. In the laboratory the adults do not seemtobe phototropic. This species seems to be univoltine like other species ofthe genus. Ecology. Gypsophila arrostii is a characteristic species of thermo-xerophilous peren- nial steppic grasslands ofSouth Italy and Sicily (Fig. 13). It is currently ascribed to the association Avenulo-Ampelodesmion mauritanici Minissale where the dominant spe- cies isAmpelodesmos mauritanicus (Poiret) Dur. et Sch. (Minissale 1995). A recent floristic study (Turrisi 1999) recorded 406 species of vascular plants for the territory of the Vizzini river valley, but only four Caryophyllaceae: Silene vulgaris 74 Bella: Caryocolumsiculumsp. n. fromSicily Fig. 13.Type locality ofCaryocolumsiculum sp. n. on Sicily,IbleiMountains,Vizzini,ContradaRubalà, 320-400m. (Moench) Garcke, S. alba (Miller) Krause, S. fuscata Link and Gypsophila arrostii Guss. The latter, dedicated to the Sicilian botanist A. Arrosto, is a suffrutex with an Eastern-Mediterranean distribution that grows on calcareous and sedimentary soils m from 0 to 800 a.s.L; in Italy it is presently recorded only from four meridional re- gions: Apulia, Lucania, Calabria, and Sicily (Pignatti 1982). Remarks. In both collecting sites much human activities affect the conservation of ecosystems. The main problems are pasture, reforestation, andfires. The site nearAgira is included in the Nature Reserve of "Vallone di Piano della Corte", whereas for the WWF areaofVizzini the recently requested thatthe regional authoritiesprotecttheter- ritory through the establishment ofa new nature reserve. Acknowledgements I am deeply grateful to DrPeterHuemer(TirolerLandesmuseumFerdinandeum, Innsbruck,Austria) and to Mr Ole Karsholt (Zoologisk Museum, University ofCopenhagen, Denmark) fortheiressential scien- tific assistance forthe description ofthe new taxon and forrevising the manuscript. Fortheirhelpduring field-work I am grateful to my sisterCettina Bella (San Gregorio di Catania, Italy) and to my colleagues Giuseppe Fabrizio Turrisi (Catania, Italy), Rosario Ennio Turrisi (Zafferana Etnea, Italy), and Vincenzo Cavalieri (Ragusa, Italy). . Notalepid. 31(1): 69-75 75 References Huemer, P. 1988.Ataxonomic revision ofCaryocolum (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). - Bulletin ofthe Bri- tishMuseumNatural History (Entomology)57 (3): 439-571. Huemer,P. & O. Karsholt 1995. Lepidoptera Gelechiidae. pp. 28-40. -In: A. Minelli, S. Ruffo & S. La Posta,Checklistdelle speciedellafauna italiana83. -Calderini, Bologna. Karsholt,O. 2004. Gelechiidae. - In: O. Karsholt & E. J. Nieukerken, Lepidoptera: Moths. - Fauna Europaea.-URL: www.faunaeur.org(visited 19april 2007). Karsholt, O.&P.Huemer1995.AdditionsandcorrectionstotheGelechiidaefaunaofItaly(Lepidoptera).- BollettinodiZoologiaAgrariaedi Bachicoltura(ser. 2)27: 1-17. Minissale, P. 1995. Studio fitosociologico delle praterie ad Ampelodesmos mauritanicus della Sicilia.- Coll. Phytosociol.,Camerino21: 615-652. Patocka,J. 1989. ÜberdiePuppendermitteleuropäischenGelechiidae(Lepidoptera). 5.Teil,TribusGno- rimoschemini.-VëstnikCeskoslovensk SpolecnostiZoologicke,Praha53: 123-140. Pignatti S. 1982. FloradTtalia. -Edagricole, Bologna, 3 vols,2360pp. Turrisi, R. E. 1999. Contributo alia conoscenza della flora di Vizzini (area iblea, Sicilia sud-orientale).- AnnalidelMuseocivicodi StoriaNaturalediFerrara2: 5-31