driemaandelijks tijdschrift van de VLAAMSE VERENIGING VOOR ENTOMOLOGIE Afgiftekantoor 2170 Merksem 1 Periode: april - mei - juni 2013 ISSN 0771-5277 Erkenningsnr. P209674 Redactie: Dr. J.-P. Borie (Compiègne, France), Dr. L De Bruyn (Antwerpen), T. C. Garrevoet (Antwerpen), B. Goater (Chandlers Ford, England), Dr. K. Maes (Tervuren), Dr. K. Martens (Brussel), H. van Oorschot (Leiden), W. O. De Prins (Leefdaal). Redactie-adres: W. O. De Prins, Dorpstraat 401B, B-3061 Leefdaal (Belgium). willy.deprins@gmail.com. Jaargang 41, nummer 2 ljuni 2013 Polyommatus ( Lysandra ) coridon nufrellensis (Schurian, 1977) - see page 2 Parmentier L. & Zinszner E.: Contribution to the knowledge of two endemic Corsican butterflies, Polyommatus coridon nufrellensis and Plebejus bellieri (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in relation to Hippocrepis conradiae : first evidence as hostplant, discovery of a new locality and update on distribution, biology and conservation 2 Wullaert S.: Coleophora vacciniella (Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae), new to the Belgian fauna 42 Peeters A.: Triaxomasia caprimulgella (Lepidoptera: Tineidae, Nemapogoninae), nieuw voor de Belgische fauna 45 De Prins W.: Cochylis molliculana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae, Tortricinae), new to the Belgian fauna 47 Troukens W.: Lissodema cursor (Coleoptera: Salpingidae) aan de westrand van Brussel 48 Phegea 41 (2) 01.vi.2013: 25 Contribution to the knowledge of two endemic Corsican butterflies, Polyommatus coridon nufrellensis and Plebejus bellieri (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in relation to Hippocrepis conradiae: first evidence as hostplant, discovery of a new locality and update on distribution, biology and conservation Laurian Parmentier & Emmanuel Zinszner Abstract. During an entomological excursion from 14th till 21st July 2012 in Corsica, France, a new locality for the Corsican Blue Polyommatus (Lysandra) coridon nufrellensis (Schurian, 1977) has been discovered by the authors in the Fango valley. Since its discovery in 1975 this Polyommatus was only known from the vicinity of the a Muvrella Mountain and from the nearby Spasimata valley after its rediscovery in 2001. The new location, with a different habitat, is situated at a lower altitude (below 1000 m) and about 8 km south from the known distribution places. In this article, the authors present for the first time evidence by its behaviour (oviposition of female, egg on plants) and on the two known localities (Spasimata valley, Fango valley) for Hippocrepis conradiae Gamisans & Hugot, 2011, being a hostplant for caterpillars of P. coridon nufrellensis. Furthermore, DNA-analysis results of all eggs, found on the same plant, suggests H. conradiae to be also a hostplant for Plebejus bellieri Oberthür, 1910. Therefore, the presumed unilateral endemic plant-butterfly relationship is more complex and needs to be updated. Next to this, the discovery of a second biotope situated in the upper Fango valley raises hope that the poorly known distribution of the elusive P. coridon nufrellensis may be widerthan expected. Finally, the new distribution area, habitat, ecology and conservation status are discussed. In particular, the lower altitude of the new locality increases the potential zone for further research. Samenvatting. Bijdrage tot de kennis van twee Corisicaanse endemische vlinders, Polyommatus coridon nufrellensis en Plebejus bellieri (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in relatie tot Hippocrepis conradiae : eerste bewijs als waardplant, de ontdekking van een nieuwe vindplaats en actualisering van de verspreiding, biologie en het behoud ervan Gedurende een entomologische excursie van 14 tot 21 juli 2012 in Corsica, Frankrijk, werd door de auteurs een nieuwe biotoop voor het Corsicaans Bleek Blauwtje Polyommatus (Lysandra) coridon nufrellensis (Schurian, 1977) ontdekt in de Fango vallei. Sedert de ontdekking in 1975 was gekend dat deze ondersoort enkel voorkwam rond de berg a Muvrella en na de herontdekking ervan in 2001 ook in de hoger gelegen gedeeltes van de Spasimata vallei. De nieuwe vindplaats met een andere habitat situeert zich echter lager (net onder 1000 m) en zowat 8 km ten zuiden van de, tot op heden, enige gekende verspreidingsplaatsen. In dit artikel leveren de auteurs voor de eerste keer het eenduidige bewijs (vrouwtje in ovipositie, ei op plant), en op meerdere plaatsen (Spasimata vallei, Fango vallei) dat Hippocrepis conradiae Gamisans & Hugot, 2011 een voedselplant is voor de rupsen van deze endemische vlinder. Verder suggereren DNA-analyseresultaten van alle eitjes, gevonden op dezelfde plant, dat H. conradiae ook een waardplant is voor Plebejus bellieri Oberthür, 1910. Bijgevolg is de veronderstelde eenzijdige endemische plant-vlinder relatie complexer en moet deze worden herzien. Ten slotte wordt het nieuwe verspreidingsgebied, biotoop, ecologie en natuurbehoud besproken. De ontdekking van een tweede biotoop in de Fango vallei doet de hoop rijzen dat het slecht gekende verspreidingsgebied van deze bijzondere P. coridon nufrellensis groter kan zijn dan verwacht. Vooral de lagere hoogte van de nieuwe plaats biedt nieuwe kansen voor verder onderzoek. Résumé. Contribution a la connaissance de deux papillons endémiques de Corse, Polyommatus coridon nufrellensis et Plebejus bellieri (Lepidoptera : Lycaenidae) en relation avec Hippocrepis conradiae: première preuve que eet Hippocrepis est bien la plante hóte, découverte d'une nouvelle localité et éléments nouveaux concernant distribution, biologie et conservation Au cours d'une excursion entomologique du 14 au 21 Juillet 2012 en Corse (France) une nouvelle localité fréquentée par Polyommatus (Lysandra) coridon nufrellensis (Schurian, 1977) a été découverte dans la vallée du Fango par les auteurs. Depuis sa découverte en 1975, ce Polyommatus n'était connu que des environs de la montagne, a Muvrella, et de la haute vallée de la Spasimata, après sa redécouverte en 2001. La nouvelle localité, correspondant a un habitat différent, se situe en moyenne altitude (au-dessous de 1000 m) et a environ 8 km au sud des localités déjè connues. Dans eet article, les auteurs confirment Hippocrepis conradiae Gamisans & Hugot, 2011 comme plante höte des chenilles de P. coridon nufrellensis en apportant les premières preuves d'observations in situ (oviposition, oeufs sur les plantes), réalisées dans les deux localités connues (la vallée de la Spasimata et la vallée du Fango). De plus, les résultats des analyses ADN d'autres oeufs trouvés sur la même plante, suggèrent que H. conradiae est aussi une plante höte de Plebejus bellieri Oberthür 1910. Par conséquent, la relation présumée unilatérale d'une plante et d'un papillon endémiques est plus complexe et doit être étudiée. La découverte d'un deuxième biotope, situé dans la vallée du Haut Fango, laisse espérer que la distribution encore peu connue du rare P. coridon nufrellensis soit plus étendue qu'il n'était soup^onné auparavant. Finalement, la nouvelle distribution, les biotopes, l'écologie et son statut de conservation sont discutés. En particulier, la plus basse altitude de la nouvelle localité augmente la zone potentielle de recherche. Zusammenfassung. Beitrag zur Kenntnis zweier auf Korsika endemischen Schmetterlingen, Polyommatus coridon nufrellensis und Plebejus bellieri (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in Bezug auf Hippocrepis conradiae: erste Beweise als Wirtspflanze, Entdeckung einer neuen Lokalitat und AktualisierungderVerbreitung, Biologie und Naturschutz Wahrend einer entomologischen Exkusion zwischen dem 14. und dem 21. Juli 2012 auf Korsika, Frankreich, wurde von den Autoren ein neuer Standtort für die auf Korsika endemische Blaulingunterart, Polyommatus (Lysandra) coridon nufrellensis (Schurian, 1977) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae), im Fango Tal entdeckt. Seit der Entdeckung im Jahr 1975 war bekannt, dass diese Unterart nur urn den Berg Muvrella und in den oberen Teilen des Spasimata Tals, nach der Wiederentdeckung im Jahr 2001, vorkommt. Der neue Standtort, mit einem anderen Lebensraum, befindet sich in niedriger Höhe (knapp unter 1000 m) und liegt Phegea 41 (2) 01.vi.2013: 26 ISSN 0771-5277 ca. 8 km südlich von den bis dahin einzigen Verbreitungsstandorten. In diesem Artikel bringen die Autoren zum erstem Mal die eindeutigen Beweise (Weibchen in Eiablage, Ei auf Futterpflanze), und dies sowohl an mehreren Standtorten (Spasimata Tal, Fango Tal), dass Hippocrepis conradiae Gamisans & Flugot, 2011 eine Futterpflanze für die Raupen dieser endemischen Schmetterlingsart ist. Darüber hinaus belegen DNA-Analysen von übrigen Eiern auf derselben Pflanze H. conradiae, dass sie auch eine Futterpflanze für Plebejus bellied Oberthür 1910 ist. Daher ist die vermutete einseitige endemische Pflanze- Schmetterlings-Beziehung komplexer und muss aktualisiert werden. SchlieBlich werden neue Verbreitung, Lebensraum, Ökologie und Schutz-Status diskutiert. Die Entdeckung eines zweiten Biotops im Fango Tal weckt die Floffnung, dass die wenig bekannte Verteilung dieser besonderen P. coridon nufrellensis Unterart weiter ist als erwartet. Besonders die neue Stelle in tieferen Lagen bietet neue Möglichkeiten für die weitere Forschung. Keywords: Corsica - endemism - Lycaenidae — Polyommatus ( Lysandra ) coridon nufrellensis — Plebejus bellied - hostplant - Fabaceae - Hippocrepis conradiae - Hippocrepis comosa - oviposition - co-evolution - ecology - distribution area - habitat conservation. Parmentier L.: Kapellestraat 76, B-9870 Zulte, Belgium. laurianparmentier@hotmail.com (corresponding author) Zinszner E.: 15 Rue Anatole, F-78360 Montesson, France. In the main text abbreviated as LP and EZ. 1. Introduction Polyommatus coridon nufrellensis (Schurian, 1977) is one of the rarest European Blues, with a very local and limited distribution area in the higher mountains of Corsica, France. Because of its small and restricted distribution area, it took several decades until the entomological community accepted its occurrence and description. K. Schurian (1977) received the first specimen collected by Dr. R. Mayr, and described the new subspecies from "Mt. Nuvrella", wrongly interpreted from a letter written by the latter (Tolman 1997). Dr. R. Mayr discovered the first specimen west of Mount a Muvrella between 23 and 27 July 1975 at an altitude of 1900-2200 m (Schurian et al. 2006). For the next couple of decades no more specimens were found despite several attempts to locate populations, which made the first description by Schurian controversial for the non-believers (Kleinebuhle 1999). It took 26 years, until August of 2001, before it was rediscovered by M. Guidi, an Italian entomologist, who captured a female of this subspecies in the Asco valley at 1450 m. Two years later, this observation was confirmed by M. Gascoigne-Pees, who found it common between an altitude of 1200-1300 m in the Spasimata valley (Schurian et al. 2006). This rediscovery was confirmed by other entomologists, and described by G. Sala, who added extra knowledge about its biology (Sala et al. 2005). Surprisingly, the distribution area is at a much lower altitude (between 1200 and 1450 m) than that given in the initial description. Subsequent attempts by various entomologists added little knowledge, and the biology of this Blue became shrouded in mystery (Cuvelier 2003, 2008; Schurian et al. 2006, 2011; Diringer 2009). Indeed, this rare subspecies had never been observed in copulation nor had oviposition by the females been seen. Also, in spite of intensive searching in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008, the hostplant remained unknown (Diringer 2009; Schurian et al. 2006, 2011). Inspired by these mysteries, in the summer of 2011 the first author (LP) decided to make an entomological excursion to Corsica to search for P. coridon nufrellensis and to try to find out more on its biology. During this trip, LP found 8 males and 6 females in the Spasimata valley between 18th and 24th of July. Most of them were feeding intensely on the yellow flowers of Doronicum corsicum (Loiseleur-Deslongchamps) Poiret, confirming previous observations describing this plant as a major nectar source for this subspecies (Schurian et al. 2006), but no copulations or females in oviposition were seen. Flowever, on 18 July, a worn female of nufrellensis seen in oviposition behaviour around a bunch of Genista salzmanii var. lobelioides Gamisans in the Spasimata valley, around 1200 m became a subject for discussion with other lepidopterists, a.o. S. Cuvelier, who visited the island in 2008 (Cuvelier 2008) and observed in the same valley some females showing oviposition behaviour on a flowering Allium sp. (pers. comm.). After exchanging ideas, LP decided to return to the island, probably better earlier in the season, searching for additional information on all the possible endemic hostplants in the Haut-Asco mountain range around Mt. Cinto. With these ideas in mind, in December 2011, LP received the surprising news of an article describing a new Hippocrepis species for Corsica, different from H. comosa Linnaeus, discovered by Gamisans and colleagues in 2010: Hippocrepis conradiae Gamisans & Hugot, 2011 (Gamisans et al. 2011). In that paper, its distribution is described from the Haut-Asco mountain range, occurring only in small populations (max. 50 m2) in and around the Spasimata and the Haut-Fango valleys between 1200 and 1865 m altitude: "H. conradiae croit dans des anfractuosités de falaises de rhyolites siliceuses, et au pied de ces falaises, entre 1200 et 1865 m d'altitude (...) Bunifatu, vallée de la Spasimata, partie S, crête rocheuse prés de Bocca di Pitinaghia, sur une falaise rhyolitique, en versant WNW, 1610 m, (...) Bunifatu, vallée de la Spasimata., sommet de Meta di Filu, en versant S, falaise rhyolitique, 1865 m, (...) Haut Fangu, au-dessus de Saltare, Haute Cavicchia, Val de Ghiarghja Minuta, dans des pierriers de rhyolites au bord du torrent, 1200-1250 m" (Gamisans et al. 2011). Interestingly, the search for Hippocrepis in Corsica by botanists in the 1980's led to the discovery of H. comosa from the Spasimata valley, only some years after nufrellensis' description. This discovery, by Mrs. Conrad, was confirmed by J. Gamisans in 1985 (Schurian et al. 2006). In turn, but later, the rediscovery of P. coridon nufrellensis in 2001 by M. Gascoigne-Pees was facilitated ISSN 0771-5277 Phegea 41 (2) 01.vi.2013: 27 by his knowledge of the distribution information of H. comosa in Corsica, which is the usual foodplant of nominotypical Polyommatus coridon coridon (Poda, 1761) on the mainland, provided by J. Gamisans (Schurian et al. 2006). In the same article, however, and after first describing H. conradiae, the two authors, together with third author D. Jutzeler suppose H. conradiae to be the foodplant for P. coridon nufrellensis. Unfortunately, this hypothesis is not supported by any field observation or breeding experiment (Gamisans et al. 2011, Dodinval 2012). Further, H. comosa had already been described from the same valley (Conrad 1980) and proposed as a foodplant for nufrellensis (Schurian et al. 2006, 2011, Diringer 2009, Descimon et al. 2010, Tshikolovets 2011). However, our understanding is that all the references to H. comosa in Corsica are based on the single observation by Mrs. Conrad in the Spasimata valley (Conrad 1980, Gamisans et al. 2010). More detailed information by Mrs. Conrad about the distribution of H. comosa, revealed this plant was growing "in the lower parts, stations abyssales, around 1000 m in the Spasimata valley" but only "in small quantities" and in granite soil, which is unusual for this species of Fabaceae (Schurian et al. 2006, Jeanmonod & Gamisans 2007). In this respect, it is noteworthy that in the description of H. conradiae, its altitudinal range is not mentioned in the observation by Mrs. Conrad (Gamisans et al. 2011) although this observation had been confirmed by Gamisans before (Schurian et al. 2006). Therefore, it seems that the distribution of Hippocrepis in Corsica is not fully understood and it remains possible that both H. conradiae and H. comosa might occur in the same area near the habitat of P. coridon nufrellensis. With all questions unanswered, EZ and LP decided to make a new entomological trip to the Haut-Asco mountain range of Corsica, between the French and Belgian National Days. 2. Material and methods 2.1 Field trip on Corsica Butterflies collected in Spasimata valley and Fango valley, using a Standard butterfly net, were retained for Identification. Some females from Spasimata valley were taken alive to obtain eggs as a reference for further determination. 2.2 Identification of eggs, caterpillars, imago During our excursion, adults and eggs were found (see 3.1.2 for detailed description). Because Lycaenidae eggs are small and difficult to identify accurately in the field, they were taken home for further investigation. Determination was initially made by using focus stacking pictures. In the meantime some eggs had hatched, and we applied a DNA analysis method on both eggs and caterpillars as a control to obtain an unambiguous determination. DNA analysis was also used on tissue from an imago. A detailed description of the techniques used: a. Focus stacking pictures of the eggs A focus stacking program (Zerene Stacker vs. 1.04 by Zerene Systems LLC.) was applied to a series of sharply focused photos, taken using a Nikon D90 camera with a modified objective (Nikon Plan 10/0.30 - 160/0.17) placed on an automatic stacking rail (Stackshot Macrorail by Cognysis). The number of photos taken per focus stacking picture was determined by the program controlling the automatic rail using following settings: begin position, end position, distance between photos (generally 10 pm). Based on observations described by Schurian et al. (2006), we used pictures of unknown eggs (Egg 1 and Egg 2) taken in both dorsal and lateral views and in close up of the micropylar region to compare with reference eggs in the same positions. b. DNA analysis method Following samples were used: 1) emerged Caterpillar (LI stage) and empty egg shell from "Egg 2" Fango valley, 2) emerged Caterpillar (LI stage) from "Egg 3" Fango valley, 3) a leg from a specimen collected in Fango valley (see 3.1.2 for detailed description). Egg or empty egg shell from Spasimata valley, laid by females taken at home, were used as a control. DNA extraction and amplification were performed in the Butterfly Diversity and Evolution Lab at Institut de Biologia Evolutiva, Barcelona, Spain. Total genomic DNA was extracted using Chelex 100 resin, 100-200 mesh, sodium form (Biorad), under the following protocol: a larval body part (for samples 12-Q572 and 12-Q573) or one leg (sample 12- Q574) was removed and immersed into 100 pl of Chelex 10%; 5 pl of Proteinase K (20 mg/ ml) were added. The samples were incubated overnight at 55°C and then at 100°C for 15 minutes. Samples were then centrifuged for 10 s at 3000 rpm. A 658-bp fragment at the 5' end of the mitochondrial gene COI was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the primers LepFl (5' TT CAACCAAT C AT A AAG AT ATTGG-3 ' ) and LepRl (5' T A A ACTT CTGG AT GT CCAA A AAAT CA-3 ' ) (Hebert et al. 2004). Double-stranded DNA was amplified in 25-pl volume reactions containing: 14.4 pl autoclaved Milli-Q water, 5 pl 5x buffer, 2 pl 25 mM MgCI2, 0.5 pl 10 mM dNTPs, 0.5 pl of each primer (10 pM), 0.1 pl Taq DNA Polymerase (Promega, 5U/ pl) and 2 pl of extracted DNA. The typical thermal cycling profile began with denaturation at 92°C for 60 s, followed by five cycles of 92°C for 15 s, 48°C for 45 s and 62°C for 150 s, and then by 35 cycles of 92°C for 15 s, 52°C for 45 s and 62°C for 150 s and a final extension at 62°C for 420 s. PCR Products were purified and sequenced by Macrogen Ine. Sequences were edited and aligned using GENEIOUS PRO 4.7.5 created by Biomatters (www.geneious.com). Species level identifications were achieved by using the Blast Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) of the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/BLAST/Blast.cgi?CMD=Web&PAG E_TYPE= BlastHome). On the 6th of December 2012, nucleotide blasts were run for each obtained COI sequence, by using the entire nucleotide collection (nr/nt) and optimizing the process for highly similar sequences (megablast). Phegea 41 (2) 01.vi.2013: 28 ISSN 0771-5277 3. Resuits 3.1 Field observations 3.1.1. Spasimata valley Between 14th and 21st July 2012, the authors explored different localities in the Haut-Asco mountain range. On 16th of July the weather was ideal to make a first climb into the Spasimata valley. After a few hours walking, partly along the GR20 route, the most famous hiking path in Corsica, LP saw a female P. coridon nufrellensis nectaring on D. corsicum at an altitude of 1230 m, near the same spot where LP observed his first specimen in 2011. Remarkably, this female was already a little worn, and a male in the same locality even more. According to previously published data (Cuvelier 2008), this seemed to be indicative that 2012 was an early season for nufrellensis. In the higher parts of the valley, ca. 1300 m, a second spot was visited. Although somewhat disturbed by sunbathing tourists in and around the valley, both sexes were again seen nectaring on D. corsicum, confirming previous observations (Schurian et al. 2006, 2011, Gamisans et al. 2011). At this altitude, P. coridon nufrellensis was clearly more numerous (a total of approximately 25 adults were observed in about two hours) and females were seen flying to and coming from higher portions of the valley, a behavioural observation corresponding with descriptions in literature (Schurian et al. 2006). Given the description of H. conradiae and accurate information of its occurrence in the Spasimata valley (Gamisans et al. 2011), together with a detailed map of localities (kindly provided by J. Gamisans) we moved higher in the valley to discover new data. At ca. 1450 m (Fig. la), close to the type locality (TL) of H. conradiae (Gamisans et al. 2011), LP was surprised to observe some pink flowering plants of Erica terminalis Salisbury (Plate l.a & b), covered with bluish butterflies. These proved to be numerous P. coridon nufrellensis and Plebejus bellied (Oberthür, 1910), with a few other Lycaenidae including Lycaena phlaeas (Linnaeus, 1761) and one male of Lampides boeticus (Linnaeus, 1767). Redirecting our attention to nufrellensis, we observed both sexes flying in and around this place. Shortly afterwards, EZ found two small tufts of H. conradiae on the cliffs near the type TL. Despite intensive searching, we failed to observe copulation or oviposition. The next morning, July 17th, climbing again along the same path between 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. we passed the places where we had observed butterflies nectaring the day before, but at this time of the day we saw none, probably because the sun was not yet shining directly into the valley. Around 10 a.m., with the sun reaching the lower parts of the valley, the first P. coridon nufrellensis appeared. Arriving at the locality of H. conradiae, visited the day before, we found it still in shade, so we went to the lower place at ca. 1450 m which was sunlit and again with many lycaenids feeding on E. terminalis. Here, we studied the flight and feeding behaviour of nufrellensis for the next hours. 1) Flowering plants are abundant here and of many species, mostly D. corsicum and E. terminalis, but also some smaller, rather similar plants, later identified from illustrations as being of at least two different species, Armeria leucocephala Koch and Allium schoenoprasum Linnaeus (S. Cuvelier, pers. comm., based on information from J. Gamisans); 2) D. corsicum with its typical yellow flowers only grows on the wettest places, around stationary pools of water and small streamlets in the valley; 3) E. terminalis shrubs grow in different spots on the slopes and cliffs, some 10 to 20 m above D. corsicum. They are larger, with a typical pink inflorescence (Plate l.a & b), and attracted even more butterflies; 4) Armeria leucocephala and Allium schoenoprasum (Plate l.c & d): are both smaller, with a single white- pinkish inflorescence which was attractive to both sexes for nectaring. However, both species were less conspicuous, sometimes growing between bushes of bigger plants such as G. salzmanii. Despite the fact that most of the plants had already dried out and the flowers were somewhat wilted, they still attracted a lot of nufrellensis. Although no actual oviposition was seen, some females showed "pseudo-oviposition-like" behaviour after feeding on these flowers, an observation made previously in the Spasimata valley (S. Cuvelier, pers. comm.); 5) Numbers of nufrellensis were higher than in the localities we visited the day before. About 70 specimens recorded in all and females appeared to outnumber males. Bearing in mind these observations, we continued exploring to an altitude of 1485 m at the TL of H. conradiae. After EZ found the first small patches of this plant on very steep cliffs, LP noticed that it was growing much more abundantly a few meters higher up. Searching for a good way of reaching the more accessible plants, we screened the whole area in a radius of about 200 m. Despite our efforts, we did not find another location for this rare endemic Hippocrepis. In the early afternoon, LP began the short but dangerous climb to reach the exact TL of H. conradiae. Having reached it (Plate ld), LP made following observations: 1) H. conradiae was abundant here, but most of the plants had already dried out or at least a lot of the leaves had lost their turgidity. Only those growing in the shade under higher cliffs and protected from the midday sun were still in good condition; 2) A. schoenoprasum was growing between H. conradiae in good numbers and in the same condition as observed a little lower down, at 1450 m, and still attracted a lot of P. coridon nufrellensis for nectaring. Some butterflies were feeding on almost completely dried flowers, probably due to the absence of alternatives at the TL; ISSN 0771-5277 Phegea 41 (2) 01.vi.2013: 29 Plate 1. Spasimata valley, 1450 m, around the TL of Hippocrepis conradiae. 16-17.vii.2012. a.-b. Polyommatus coridon nufrellensis ° feeding on Erica terminalis ; c. P. coridon nufrellensis $ feeding on Allium schoenoprasum; d. Biotope of P. coridon nufrellensis with nectaring and hostplants growing together: H. conradiae is abundant here (TL), with some A. schoenoprasum (red arrow indicates infloration); e. Detail of H. conradiae leaves: recent feeding tracés of a Caterpillar (red arrow), probably of P. coridon nufrellensis; f.-g. Oviposition by female P. coridon nufrellensis in Spasimata valley, on a tuft of H. conradiae; h. Egg deposited by a female of P. coridon nufrellensis on a leaf of H. conradiae (red arrow). All photos: L. Parmentier. Phegea 41 (2) 01.vi.2013: 30 ISSN 0771-5277 3) After feeding at these flowers, some females clearly were attracted to the Hippocrepis tufts and showed oviposition behaviour, searching actively and when disturbed, flying away but often quickly returning to the same spot. A little lower down, females showed similar behaviour around identical flowers, but less intensive; 4) Exploring H. conradiae plants, LP observed some whitish feeding tracés among the leaves. Their colour, shape and condition suggested they were from caterpillars of nufrellensis, but this could not be confirmed (Plate l.e). After about two hours waiting in the midday sun, LP noticed a female nufrellensis crawling around and somewhat into a H. conradiae plant, but actual oviposition was not seen. However, a second female was subsequently photographed egg laying on this plant (Plate l.f & g) and shortly afterwards the egg was found on a leaf (Plate l.h). Other females showed more attraction to the plants that had not dried out, but none were seen in the proximity of fresh plants under the cliff in the shade. Oviposition was more likely when a female crawled more into the centre of the Hippocrepis tuft (seen twice). Thus the behaviour around a 6. salzmannii bunch (observation LP, 2011) and around the flowers of Armeria leucocephala and Allium schoenoprasum (observations LP and EZ, 2012) can be regarded as "pseudo-ovipositioning-behaviour". A small quantity of H. conradiae, some with feeding tracés, was collected for further investigation at home and some females were kept for eggs. Following the publication of H. conradiae and its distribution in Corsica (Gamisans et al. 2011) and with detailed information on its distribution in the Haut-Asco region, we focused our attention for the second part of our stay on the Fango valley. Apart from the lowest parts of this valley, tourist visits are negligible compared to those in the Spasimata valley. The Fango valley is not on the GR20-route, and we saw that it would be necessary to take camping equipment for our stay. Fig. 1. Comparison between explored biotopes of Spasimata and Fango valleys. a. Spasimata valley ('”1500 m) 16-17.vii.2012. Known biotope for P. coridon nufrellensis with foodplant H. conradiae and nectaring plants D. corsicum, E. terminalis, Armeria leucocephala and Allium schoenoprasum-, b. Fango valley (just below 1000 m) 19.vii.2012. New locality for P. coridon nufrellensis. H. conradiae growing between the stones on the river side. Note differences in habitat in the two valleys where H. conradiae grows. Photos: a.: L. Parmentier; b.: E. Zinszner. 3.1.2. Fango valley On 19th July, we started our second excursion early in the morning from the town of Barghiana. The road above Barghiana is forbidden to vehicles and the long climb has to be done on foot to reach the point indicated as 'base camp' (Fig. 2). Many endemic butterfly species were observed in the meanwhile, including Lasiommata paramegaera, Argynnis paphia f. immaculata, Hipparchia aristaeus, H. neomiris, Coenonympha corinna and P. bellied. At an altitude of ca. 510 m, on the borders of the Fango valley (Plate 2.a), LP noticed some inflorescences of two D. corsicum plants, as far as we know, the first record at this altitude (Plate l.b) (Gamisans et al. 2004, Paolini et al. 2007). In any case, these plants were growing at an altitude considerably lower than the lowest described attitudes from the Spasimata valley. Because this plant is known as a good nectar source for P. coridon nufrellensis (Diringer 2009, Schurian et al. 2006, pers. observation), this was an encouraging first observation, but a quick look around, revealed no nufrellensis butterfly. After noon, we continued our exploration in the direction of the upper Fango valley. At a certain point, around 800 m altitude, the upper Fango valley divides but with the available information about H. conradiae distribution higher up, we intuitively took the south- easterly fork (Fig. 2). From this point on, progress is slow and very difficult because of dense Corsican "maquis" vegetation on the steep rocky sides of the valley. The best strategy is probably to climb up along the riverside but even so, it took a few hours to get only about 200 m higher. Meanwhile, other sites for D. corsicum were located along the riverside, always around the pools. Suddenly, when EZ was taking a picture of the biotope (Fig. l.b), LP recognized a Hippocrepis tuft between the stones beside the river (Plate 2.c). After critical ISSN 0771-5277 Phegea 41 (2) 01.vi.2013: 31 examination of features and size of the leaves and seed structure, the authors decided it had to be H. conradiae and not H. comosa, a conclusion confirmed when field samples were compared with data in literature. Surprisingly, this site was at a mere 1000 m altitude (IGN 2004) and in a forested habitat (Fig. 2.a). However, a careful search around this place and some 50 m higher and lower, did not allow to discover another tuft. When looking at this plant, LP noticed again some typical whitish holes in the leaves, most probably feeding tracés of a Lycaenidae Caterpillar (Plate 2.d). Looking more closely into the tuft, EZ found a Lycaenidae egg on a small leaf (Plate 2.e) which we hoped was an egg of nufrellensis. Within half an hour, two more eggs were found deeper in the tuft. Two of the three eggs were found on dry leaves in the centre close to the roots, the third on a petiole, less dried out, situated more on the outer part of the tuft. By this time it was getting late, and further search would have been futile, especially for adults of P. coridon nufrellensis, so we documented the biotope and decided to return. This higher part of the Fango valley has a tall and dense vegetation, but the river bed had almost dried out apart from some of the larger pools which were still filled with water. In these we noticed some dead Lepidoptera, mostly moths, and LP remarked jokingly it would be a last chance to find nufrellensis floating on the water surface. Only a few minutes later, on the way down, LP found a dead male nufrellensis floating in one of these pools (Plate 2.f). It was quite worn, but still showed enough features for a positive Identification: the typical blue colour and submarginal ocelli of P. coridon nufrellensis (Plate 2.g & h). This was the first proof that this endemic subspecies occurs elsewhere than in the a Muvrella area. The site, at around 970 m, is only a few metres below the H. conradiae tuft the authors had just discovered. Further search in the vicinity yielded no more adults in the pools nor living adults feeding at D. corsicum flowers growing in the same area. With a cloudless sky the next day, the authors climbed back to the divide. They decided to explore the north-east fork of the Fango valley towards the high peaks in the direction of the Spasimata valley (Fig. 2), with the idea of looking for other localities for nufrellensis between the South-East part of the Fango and the upper Spasimata valley. This climb even seemed tougher than that on the previous day but was slighty facilitated at some point when tracés of an ancient path were found and used to reach a higher level. A full afternoon's work spent on climbing and searching this difficult terrain failed to reveal any sign of nufrellensis or the hostplant associated with it. Just a few D. corsicum plants were found in the area, in typical places but more enclosed at this altitude, and amongst dense vegetation consisting of trees and bushes along the riverside. 3.2 Identification of eggs found on H. conradiae in Fango valley The three eggs found on 19 July were taken home for further investigation and proper determination, using the techniques described above. a. Egg 1 This was found on a leaf petiole. Unfortunately, it had hatched before it could be properly examined, leaving an empty egg shell and a hatched Caterpillar, which soon died. A picture of the empty egg shell was used for comparison with previously identified nufrellensis eggs obtained from the females taken in the Spasimata valley, and the Caterpillar was used for DNA analysis as a positive control. Results of a comparison of this egg shell with a series of pictures of eggs of nominotypical coridon and subsp. nufrellensis (Spasimata) eggs are shown on Plate 3 (from left to right): a. Polyommatus coridon coridon (origin: Inor, France); b. P. coridon nufrellensis from female collected in Spasimata valley; c. P. coridon nufrellensis egg shell, from same female; d. Egg 1 egg shell from Fango valley. Differences in egg chorion structure and the micropylar region of nominotypical coridon and nufrellensis are clearly visible. So we were able to differentiate between nominal coridon and nufrellensis eggs. The empty egg shell matched nufrellensis, but unfortunately the Caterpillar had emerged via the micropyle, so impeding unambiguous identification. Nonetheless, we were confident that this egg had been laid by a nufrellensis female. DNA analysis was then applied as a control on Egg 1. (RVcoll.l2-Q572) and the dead Caterpillar (RVcoll.12- Q574). Both samples RVcoll.l2-Q572 and RVcoll.l2-Q574 had identical COI sequences and the BLAST revealed them as most similar to several P. ( Lysandra ) coridon (four or five nucleotide differences), and also to a few specimens of P. ( Lysandra ) bellargus Rottemburg (five nucleotide differences). This is not surprising, as P. coridon and P. bellargus are suspected of introgression (e.g. Dinca et al. 2011). Flowever, since P. bellargus is unknown on Corsica (Kudrna et al. 2011), our specimens can only belong to P. coridon nufrellensis, the only Polyommatus subgenus Lysandra taxon present on the island. These results are consistent with the observations in the Spasimata valley, where a female was seen egglaying on H. conradiae - further evidence that H. conradiae is the hostplant of P. coridon nufrellensis. b. Egg 2 and Egg 3 These two eggs were found towards the centre of the plant on totally dried out leaves (brown coloured) close to the soil. When the time came for detailed study, Egg 2 was still unhatched, and focus stacking pictures were used satisfactorily for a confident identification. By then, however, Egg 3 had already hatched, and the same identification steps were taken as used in 3.2.a. Pictures of Egg 2 and Egg 3 are shown on plate 4: a. Egg 2 (lateral, frontal view and detailed view of micropylar region), b. Egg 3 (only lateral view, because of hatched Caterpillar), c. For comparison, we used SEM pictures of P. bellieri, published by Jutzeler et al. (2003). From our focus stacking pictures, we draw the following conclusions: Phegea 41 (2) 01.vi.2013: 32 ISSN 0771-5277 Plate. 2. Fango Valley. 19.vii.2012. New locality for Polyommatus coridon nufrellensis and Hippocrepis conradiae. a. View from base camp (ca. 510 m). First observation of yellow flowers of Doronicum corsicum in this valley (red arrows); b. Detailed picture of D. corsicum; c. "Abyssal" tuft of H. conradiae growing in the Fango valley below 1000 m; d. Feeding tracés of a Caterpillar on H. conradiae leaves; e. Some eggs were found on dead leaves and petioles on this plant (arrow indicates an egg of Piebejus bellied); f. Dead P. coridon nufrellensis o71 in a small pool in the river bed. g.-h. Upper and underside of set P. coridon nufrellensis $. All photos: L. Parmentier. ISSN 0771-5277 Phegea 41 (2) 01.vi.2013: 33 Fig 2. Map of Corsica, Haut-Asco region around Spasimata, Asco and Fango valley. Indicated on the map: big rivers (blue line) and mountain ridges (dotted red line), base camp in Fango valley; Indicated from literature or by authors' observations: Polyommatus coridon nufrellensis (eggs and/or adults), foodplants ( Hippocrepis conradiae and/or Hippocrepis comosa) and nectaring plants ( Doronicum corsicum and other species). Map by L. Parmentier. 1. Lateral view; Egg 2 and Egg 3 are identical; we conclude that both eggs belong to the same taxon; 2. The outer egg structures on the frontal pictures as well as the distance between egg chorion structures in the lateral view on pictures of Egg 2 correspond with the SEM-photos shown in c; we conclude Egg 2 and Egg 3 are those of P. bellieri. As a control, the same DNA-identification method, described under 2.2.b and 3.2.a on the hatched Caterpillar from Egg 3 (RVcoll.l2-Q573) was applied. Sample RVcoll.l2-Q573 was most similar to that of several specimens of Plebejus argyrognomon (Bergstrasser, 1779) (only one nucleotide difference), and also to several Plebejus idas (Linnaeus, 1761) and Plebejus christophi (Staudinger, 1874) (two nucleotide differences). These three species have been shown to have similar DNA barcodes (Lukhtanov et al. 2009, Dinca et al. 2011). However, none of them are found on Corsica, and therefore our samples are assigned to P. bellieri, a taxon with controversial status, but closely related to P. idas (Kudrna et al. 2011). Comparisons with unpublished COI sequences by Vila & Dinca confirmed the BLAST results. Visual Identification with focus stacking pictures and by DNA analysis both gave the same result, and we conclude that both these eggs were laid by a P. bellieri female on H. conradiae, the first evidence that this is a hostplant of this Blue butterfly. 4. Discussion 4.1. The distribution of Hippocrepis in Corsica Until now, various articles and field guides (e.g. Tolman & Lewington 1997, Lafranchis 2000, Tshikolovets 2011) cite H. comosa as the only hostplant of P. coridon nufrellensis, following the original report made by Mrs. Conrad of the presence of this plant in non-calcareous sediments (Conrad 1980). Subsequent attempts to relocate H. comosa on Corsica have been unsuccessful, but its presence, particularly in the "stations abyssales" (around 1000 m) cannot be excluded, as these were not included in the given altitudinal distribution area for H. conradiae (1200 to 1850 m) (Gamisans et al. 2011). However, the present authors made the unambiguous discovery of an "abyssal" H. conradiae (compare illustrations on Plate l.e and Plate 2.d) just below 1000 m in the Fango valley. The altitude and biotope of our observation is consistent with that made by Conrad in the eighties, and is strongly suggestive that the old "abyssal H. comosa" in the Spasimata is in fact an "abyssal H. conradiae". Therefore, we conclude: Phegea 41 (2) 01.vi.2013: 34 ISSN 0771-5277 ISSN 0771-5277 Phegea 41(2) 01.vi.2013: 35 E. Zinszner (d); All focus stacking pictures: S. Cuvelier, processed by L Parmentier. Plate 4. Focus stacking and SEM pictures of Plebejus. bellieri eggs: a. comparison between outer egg chorion structures from a known P bellieri egg (c.) and unknown "Egg 2"(a.) and "Egg 3" (b.) found on a H. conradiae plant in upper Fango valley; origins: a./b. France, Corsica, Fango valley, 19.vii.2012; c. SEM pictures by U. Jauch (Jutzeler et al. 2003); Leg. & coll: L. Parmentier (a.) and E. Zinszner (b.); All focus stacking pictures: S. Cuvelier, processed by L. Parmentier. a) All Corsican references to H. comosa as the foodplant of nufrellensis given in the literature almost certainly refer to H. conradiae and this should be borne in mind in future articles and field guides. b) The altitudinal distribution of H. conradiae is broader than hitherto described and should be extended in the Mt. Cinto area to between 995 m and 1865 m (Fig. 2). Phegea 41 (2) 01.vi.2013: 36 ISSN 0771-5277 Monthly rainfall (mm) in Calvi March I April 8 lil May 8' 22: i : l il o Scncm (NcsiyS | | IiuIl 11 § June July August Tmax monthly average (°C) in Calvi r March April May IW June July August # hours of Sun in Month Calvi co O 8 1 LiSl U 2003 U 2004 «J 2005 U 2006 ü 2007 LI 2008 □ 2009 LJ 2010 sa 2011 U 2012 - 1981-2010 average □ 2003 U 2004 u 2005 J 2006 ü 2007 □ 2008 u 2009 M 2010 u 2011 ki 2012 - 1981-2010 average ü 2003 U 2004 u 2005 ü 2006 ui 2007 □ 2008 □ 2009 M 2010 □ 2011 □ 2012 - 1991-2010 average March April May June July August Plate 5. Average weather statistics for Calvi, period 2003 - 2012. 1. Monthly rainfall (mm); 2. Average monthly maximum temperature; 3. Average monthly hours of sunshine. Data: Météo-France, summarized by E. Zinszner. ISSN 0771-5277 Phegea 41 (2) 01.vi.2013: 37 c) H. conradiae grows in a wider range of habitats than previously thought: between stones in open, drier and higher habitat as well as in wetter lower "abyssal" localities in a forested habitat. d) H. conradiae is likely to occur over a greater altitudinal range in the Spasiamata valley as well, especially in inaccessible places. 4.2. Flight period of nufrellensis and variation in abundance in different years The optimal flight period indicated in literature is given as late July to early August (Tolman & Lewington 1997, Lafranchis 2000, Tshikolovets 2011). However, in 2012, nufrellensis was already well out by 16th July in the Spasimata valley. About 70% of the males were already worn, and many females were past their best, and it was already quite late to expect to see copulations in mid July. We sought a possible correlation between the variation in abundance of the butterfly and weather conditions. For this purpose, we compared the weather data over several years for the region, using data for Calvi from Météo-France (http://climat.meteofrance. com). Even though the mountainous microclimate on Monte Cinto can differ from that at the seaside in Calvi, the monthly climate bulletin by Météo-France shows that observed weather data trends for Calvi are valid to use for the Monte Cinto area, as shown on graphs in Plate 5. First, we discuss the variation in abundance of nufrellensis. In 2006, K. Schurian and later Fl. Descimon (Diringer 2009) located just a single specimen, while in other years, e.g. the summers of 2008 (Cuvelier, pers. comm.) and 2012 (LP and EZ) several dozens of adults were seen in the same biotope. In the spring of 2008 and 2012 rainfall, was abundant and far above average in April and May (Plate 5.1). This may have resulted in a good growth of H. conradiae, which in turn would have allowed the caterpillars to flourish, and by the end of the spring in those years, to successful pupation. This reasoning is supported by an inverse observation: UK populations of P. bellargus, the larvae of which feed on H. comosa, suffered as a result of an extreme drought in 1976 (Thomas 1983). Many of the more isolated populations have not recovered from this event (Harper et al. 2003, 2008). Thus there is evidence that drought causing Hippocrepis to wilt can be a major threat to successful development in these butterflies, and could explain the significant variability in abundance of nufrellensis in recent years as observed by different lepidopterists (Cuvelier 2008, Diringer, 2009, LP, pers. observation). Secondly, we suggest an explanation for the early appearance of adults of nufrellensis as observed by both authors in 2012 and in a lesser extent in 2011 by LP. In terms of average temperature (Plate 5.2) or sunshine (Plate 5.3) the spring of 2012 did not differ significantly from that of previous years. Flowever, it is a striking fact that the maximum monthly temperature (T max in Plate 5.2) and the average number of hours of sunshine (# hours sun in Plate 5.3) were significantly higher in 2012. These conditions imply that the eggs would have hatched earlier in the season, due to higher T max and more # hours of sunshine in March, and that the development time of the caterpillars and emergence of pupae was brought forward due to higher T max and more # hours sunshine in June. Therefore, the overall cycle underwent not only one but two accelerations, which may explain the presence of worn males and females by mid July. The above average abundance of nufrellensis adults in 2012, with an optimal flight period at least 2 or even 3 weeks earlier than given in literature, was probably due to these conditions. Further, the lower position in the Fango valley, surrounded by high mountain ridges (Fig. 2) could have resulted in a warmer local microclimate and probably an earlier shift in flight period compared to that in the Spasimata valley. In the last decade, most of the years have been warmer than average for the last thirty years, a result of global warming (Plate 5.2). Possible changes in the flight period of nufrellensis in relation to this trend will need to be monitored in the future. 5. Update on the biology, distribution and ecology of P. coridon nufrellensis 5.1. Endemic butterfly-plant relationship: biology It took 26 years following its description to get the first knowledge about nufrellensis’ biology. Here, we discuss our new observations in the light of the complex relationship between nectar sources and Hippocrepis as foodplant for nufrellensis and other Corsican endemic Polyommatus species. A. Nectar sources In the contributions by Schurian and co-workers (2006), and Gamisans et al. (2011), a complex relationship between P. coridon nufrellensis adults and their sources of nectar is discussed, and Doronicum corsicum is given as the only plant known to be attractive. We confirm that D. corsicum is attractive in wetter places, but more importantly, we also observed nufrellensis feeding at the flowers of Erica terminalis, Armeria leucocephala and Allium schoenoprasum (described under 3.1.1). Together, they form an altitudinal gradiënt: at the lowest level in the valley, D. corsicum grows close to the riverside; higher up, E. terminalis occurs along the sides of the valley until just below the first H. conradiae foodplants, where Armeria leucocephala and Allium schoenoprasum are growing. The last two species were seen growing together with H. conradiae (Plate l.d). We found that E. terminalis is a second, excellent food source because of the abundance of flowers and its robustness in comparison with D. corsicum. Conversely, the few flowers on the much smaller A. leucocephala and A. schoenoprasum offer only a small amount of food for the Blues. Even so, nufrellensis was strongly attracted to these flowers, and when females were feeding on them, they showed a typical "pseudo" ovipositioning behaviour. This behaviour was seen at different localities and by other lepidopterists as well (S. Cuvelier, pers. comm.); this behaviour has to be called "pseudo" or real, depending on the presence of H. conradiae in its proximity or not. Phegea 41 (2) 01.vi.2013: 38 ISSN 0771-5277 Next, we can have a closer look at the distribution of all known nectar sources around Mt. a Muvrella (Fig. 2). In the Spasimata valley, we discussed an altitudinal gradiënt of different nectar sources. In the Fango valley we observed only D. corsicum, but starting at a much lower altitude from as low as 510 m. It can be assumed that other nectar sources also exist in this valley, but more field work is needed to find whether there is an altitudinal gradiënt for nectar plants and also for nufrellensis in the Fango and other valleys. According to the literature, nufrellensis has also been observed east of a Muvrella, in the Asco valley around the ski station. In the summer of 2003, M. Gascoigne-Pees saw two specimens feeding on 'thistle' flowers (Sala et al. 2005). This is evidently a third nectaring place and possible breeding site for nufrellensis, if the food plant is located there. To summarise, we updated the former insights (by Schurian et al. 2006) regarding nufrellensis' nectaring sites and demonstrated there are far more sites present, even next to their hostplant and breeding habitat. This is more in line with the relationship observed between P. coridon coridon populations and H. comosa growing in the mainland of Europe (Tolman & Lewington 1997, Bink 1992). B. Hippocrepis conradiae as a hostplant for Lycaenidae We have already shown (under 4.1.) that H. conradiae is more widespread than previously described in the Monte Cinto range, but populations of this endemic plant are patchy and very local (Schurian et al. 2006, Gamisans et al. 2011, pers. observations). Next, we brought the first evidence that H. conradiae is a foodplant for P. coridon nufrellensis and also for P. bellieri and demonstrated herewith that the assumed "co-evolved" unilateral relationship between H. conradiae and P. coridon nufrellensis (Gamisans et al. 2011) is more complex. Moreover, the extent to which this scarce plant is affected by the attentions of various caterpillars is unknown. According to the literature, P. bellieri is far more abundant than nufrellensis, but the caterpillars also feed on other (endemic) Corsican Fabaceae including Cytisus praecox Beauverd and G. salzmannii. Therefore it must be less dependent on H. conradiae unless when several foodplants occur together, H. conradiae is more attractive for the caterpillars. It is worth mentioning that P. bellieri was found quite commonly in the Spasimata valley, just below the TL of H. conradiae, feeding together with nufrellensis at flowers of E. terminalis. P. bellieri flies earlier in the season (Tolman & Lewington 1997, Tshikolovets 2011). If its caterpillars are attracted to H. conradiae, they would be ahead of those of nufrellensis, but as yet there is no evidence that the presence of P. bellieri caterpillars earlier in the season would have any detrimental effect on the survival of nufrellensis. There are also other Lycaenidae caterpillars of which H. conradiae could be a hostplant: Plebejus argus corsicus Bellier de la Chavignerie and Polyommatus icarus Rottemburg seem to be good candidates. P. argus corsicus is known to feed on G. salzmannii and Anthyllis hermanniae Linnaeus (Jutzeler & Leestmans 1999), and H. comosa is a well-known foodplant of P. argus argus Linnaeus on the European mainland (Tolman & Lewington 1997). Furthermore, it is known that P. argus corsicus occurs in the Spasimata valley and east of Mt. a Muvrella around 1500 m (Jutzeler & Leestmans 1999), although it is not known in the Fango valley. P. argus corsicus has been seen accompanying nufrellensis in the Spasimata valley (Schurian et al. 2006), and there is good reason to suppose that a third endemic taxon is also associated with H. conradiae. P. icarus is a successful species which feeds on many hostplants including Fabaceae (Tolman & Lewington 1997, Tshikolovets 2011) and it was quite plentiful scattered along Spasimata and Fango valleys, feeding at flowers in the vicinity of H. conradiae. More research is needed to elucidate the relationship between these Lycaenid butterflies and H. conradiae. In any case, it is important that the few known localities for the rare H. conradiae are protected. 5.2 Distribution and ecology The populations of nufrellensis are closely related to the very patchy distribution of the larval foodplant. It seems that the largest population of H. conradiae is at the TL, but a single population of that size would be insufficiënt to sustain the long term survival of nufrellensis, and such a highly specialized butterfly is more threatened than the larval foodplant by habitat fragmentation because of its higher trophic position (Brückmann et al. 2010). On the mainland of Europe, P. coridon is considered to be a sedentary butterfly (Bink 1992, Schmitt et al. 2006) that can build up populations of high density locally. Exchange of individuals, and hence genes, between fragmented populations are possible because wanderers occasionally move over longer distances (Asher et al. 2001, Bereton et al. 2007). The altitudinal gap between the first described locality of nufrellensis, 1900-2200 m (Schurian 1977, Tolman & Lewington 1997), and those where it was rediscovered, 1200-1450 m (Schurian 2006) suggests the presence of a wider metapopulation of this species in the Spasimata valley where the foodplant is present, which supports shifts in the core distribution of the butterfly over time, in response to local stress. However, exchanges between metapopulations are limited by altitudinal or longitudinal barriers, and because of the low natural dispersal ability of Hippocrepis species (Hennenberg et al. 2003) and the rarity of H. conradiae in the Mt. Cinto mountains (see Fig. 2), these factors are likely to be a serious obstacle to the spread of nufrellensis. The Fango valley locality of nufrellensis is about 8 km away from those in the Spasimata valley, and therefore it is not clear whether the Fango population is a separate metapopulation or conjunct with the Spasimata population. The fact that the lower locality in the Fango valley is surrounded by several high mountain peaks (Fig. 2) suggests a formidable geographical barrier for such a sedentary butterfly, but in the absence of more data this ISSN 0771-5277 Phegea 41 (2) 01.vi.2013: 39 can only be assumed. Further exploration of the Monte Cinto area and of very similar mountain ranges further south could lead to the discovery of other nufrellensis populations. The discovery of the historie biotope and its rediscovery almost three decades later was greatly facilitated by the nearby presence of the GR20. Without GR20 and road leading to Haut-Asco, nufrellensis might very well have remained unknown. A less welcome consequence of the GR20 is that the Spasimata valley attracts many tourists who walk along the path and go sunbathing within the valley, activities which stress the biotope where the "abyssal" foodplant of nufrellensis might grow. A good conservation strategy for the survival of both very local endemics demands a delicate balance between their needs and human activities in the area. 6. Conclusion Our expedition revealed the presence of P. coridon nufrellensis in a new locality in the Fango valley, and observed oviposition on H. conradiae. Eggs which were found on this endemic foodplant proved, by DNA analysis on (empty) eggs and a comparison of focus stacking pictures, to be those of P. coridon nufrellensis. We also found eggs of P. bellied, another endemic Polyommatus species, on the same plant, another unique observation. The "co-evolved" relationship between P. coridon nufrellensis and H. conradiae, as suggested by Gamisans et al. (2011) seems not to be exclusive, as H. conradiae is also one of the hostplants of P. bellied. This complex relationship between these restricted endemic species needs further investigation. The new locality in the Fango valley for P. coridon nufrellensis is situated below 1000 m in a habitat completely different from the known places in the Spasimata valley. We conclude that the distribution area of this subspecies is wider than previously thought, because both the foodplant (H. conradiae) and main nectar source (D. corsicum) are quite widespread and in various habitats. The distribution of other newly discovered nectar sources, Erica terminalis, Armeria leucocephala and Allium schoenoprasum and that of the foodplant H. conradiae, at different altitudes needs further investigation in order to find possible new localities for P. coridon nufrellensis, perhaps in other poorly explored Corsican high mountains. It seems essential to have the foodplant and at least one nectaring plant in the same area, but adjacent contact zones would be interesting to investigate. Finally, alterations to the habitat brought about by an increase in tourism and global climate change could be detrimental to the survival of both adult and early stages of this unique subspecies, and a broader habitat range with some hardly accessible localities would be beneficial for its long time survival. These factors should be addressed by European and national governments charged with conservation, in order to develop thoughtful conservation strategies to ensure the survival of this elusive lycaenid and its endemic hostplant. Acknowledgements We wish to thank R. Vila and V. Dinca (Institut de Biologia Evolutiva, Barcelona, Spain) for the DNA analyses and interpretation of these results, J. Gamisans for providing detailed information about the distribution of H. conradiae, U. Jauch and D. Jutzeler for permission to reproduce SEM pictures. We especially thank and express our gratitude to S. Cuvelier for his valuable advice prior to our entomological excursion, for the focus stacking pictures and for improving the quality of the draft version of this paper. Finally we are thankful to J. Jakusch for linguistic corrections of the German abstract, editor W. De Prins and two anonymous reviewers whose constructive comments and suggestions helped to clarify and improve the overall quality of this paper. References Asher J., Warren M., Fox R., Harding P., Jeffcoate G. & Jeffcoate, S. 2001. The millennium atlas of butterflies in Britain and Ireland. — Oxford University Press, Oxford, 456 pp. Bereton T., Warren M., Roy D. & Stewart K. 2007. The changing status of the Chalkhill Blue butterfly Polyommatus coridon in the UK: the impacts of conservation policies and environmental factors. — Journal of Insect Conservation 12: 629-638. Bink F. 1992. Ecologische Atlas van de Dagvlinders van Noordwest-Europa. — Haarlem, Schuyt & Co. Uitgevers en Importeurs, 512 pp. Brückmann S., Krauss J., van Achterberg C. & Steffan-Dewenter I. 2010. The impact of habitat fragmentation on trophic interactions of the monophageous butterfly Polyommatus coridon. — Journal of Insect Conservation 15 : 707-714. Conrad M. 1980. Contribution a l'étude de la flore Corse. — Le monde des plantes 401: 7. Cuvelier S. 2003. "Papilloner" a partir de la Toscane par la Sardaigne et a travers la Corse (Lepidoptera, Rhopalocera) - "Vlinderen" via Toscane over Sardinië naar Corsica (Lepidoptera, Rhopalocera). — Bulletin du Cercle des Lépidoptéristesde Belgique/ Bulletin van de Belgische Lepidopterologische Kring 32(1): 11-15. Cuvelier S. 2008. Eté 2008, Italia : farfalle, mare, isole e vulcani et la Corse : l'lle de Beauté (Lepidoptera : Papilionoidea & Hesperioidea) - Zomer 2008, Italia : farfalle, mare, isole e vulcani & Corsica : l'lle de Beauté (Lepidoptera : Papilionoidea & Hesperioidea). — Bulletin du Cercle des Lépidoptéristes de Belgique/ Bulletin van de Belgische Lepidopterologische Kring 37(2— 3): 41-56. Descimon H. & Mallet J. 2010. Bad species. - In: Settele J., Shreeve T. G., Konvicka M. & Van Dyck H. (eds.) Ecology of Butterflies in Europe. — Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. pp. 219-249. Phegea 41 (2) 01.vi.2013: 40 ISSN 0771-5277 Dinca V., Zakharov E. V., Hebert P. D. N. & Vila R. 2011. Complete DNA barcode reference library for a country's butterfly fauna reveals high performance for temperate Europe. — Proceedings of the Royal Society B 278: 347-355. Diringer Y. 2009. Chronique élevage 1: Historique de la découverte et élevage du coridon corse, Polyommatus ( Lysandra ) coridon nufrellensis Schurian (1977) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). — Lépidoptères, Revue des Lépidoptéristes de France 18: 103-110. Dodinval A. 2012. Compte rendu de la séance du 11 fevrier 2012/ Verslag van de vergadering van 11 februari 2012. — Bulletin du Cercle des Lépidoptéristes de Belgique/ Bulletin van de Belgische Lepidopterologische Kring XXXXI(l): 5. Gamisans J. & Jeanmonod D. 2004. Asteraceae II. Complements au Prodrome de la Flore Corse. — Editions des Conservatoires et Jardins Botaniques, Geneva, 256 pp. Gamisans J., Hugot L, El Kadiri M. & Kegel G. 2010. Hippocrepis comosa L. - In: Jeanmonod D. D. & Schlussel A. (eds.), Notes et contributions a la flore de la Corse, XXIII. — Candollea 65: 285. Gamisans J., Hugot L. & Jutzeler D. 2011. Hippocrepis conradiae Gamisans & Hugot (Fabaceae), une nouvelle espèce de Corse, liée a un papillon endémique. — Candollea 66: 273-280. Harper G. L, Maclean N. & Goulson D. 2003. Microsatellite markers to assess the influence of population size, isolation and demographic change on the genetic structure of the UK butterfly Polyommatus bellargus. — Molecular Ecology 12: 3349-3357. Harper G. L, Maclean N. & Goulson D. 2008. Molecular evidence for a recent founder event in the UK populations of the Adonis blue butterfly (Polyommatus bellargus) — Journal of Insect Conservation 12 147-153. Hebert P. D. N., Penton E. H., Burns J. M., Janzen D. H. & Hallwachs W. 2004. Ten species in one: DNA barcoding reveals cryptic species in the neotropical skipper butterfly Astraptes fulgerator. — Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA 101: 14812-14817. Hennenberg K. J. & Bruelheide H. 2003. Ecological investigations on the northern distribution range of Hippocrepis comosa L. In Germany — Plant Ecology 166: 167-188. Institut Geographique National (IGN). 2004. Carte de randonnée - Corte - Monte Cinto (4250 OT). — IGN Paris, Édition 3. Jeanmonod D. & Gamisans J. 2007. Flora Corsica. — Edisud, 920 pp. Jutzeler D. & Leestmans R. 1999. Évaluation du degré de speciation atteint par Plebejus argus corsicus (Bellier, 1862) basée sur l'étude des stades pré-imaginaux (Lepidoptera : Lycaenidae). — Linneana Belgica 17: 87-100. Jutzeler D., Leigheb G., Manil L., Villa R. & Volpe G. 2003. Deux espèces de Lycènes négligées de l'espace tyrrhénien : Lycaeides bellieri Oberthür (1910) de Sardaigne et de Corse et Lycaenides villai sp. n., de l'ïle Elbe (Lepidoptera : Lycaenidae). — Linneana Belgica 19: 65-81. Kleinebuhle J. 1999. Die Tagfalter (Rhopalocera) Sardiniens aus biogeographischer Sicht. — Oedippus 16: 1-60. Kudrna O., Harpke A., Lux K., Pennerstorfer J., Schweiger O., Settele J. & Wiemers M. 2011. Distribution atlas of butterflies in Europe. — Gesellschaft für Schmetterlingschutz, Halle, Germany, 383 pp. Lafranchis T. 2000. Les papillons de jour de France, Belgique et Luxembourg et leurs chenilles. — Biotope, Mèze, 448 pp. Lukhtanov V., Sourakov A., Zakharov E. & Hebert P. 2009. DNA barcoding Central Asian butterflies: increasing geographical dimension does not significantly reduce the success of species identification. — Molecular Ecology Resources 9: 1302-1310. Paolini }., Muselli A., Bernardini A.-F., Bighelli A., Casanova J. & Costa J. 2007. Thymol derivatives from essential oil of Doronicum corsicum L. — Flavour Fragrance Journal 22: 479-487. Sala G., Crnjar R. & Guidi M. 2005. Polyommatus coridon nufrellensis Schurian, 1977 (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) rediscovered. — Linneana Belgica 20: 121-122. Schmitt T., Habel J. C., Besold J., Becker T., Johnen L., Knolle M., Rzepecki R., Schultze J. & Zapp A. 2006. The Chalk-hill Blue Polyommatus coridon (Lycaenidae, Lepidoptera) in a highly fragmented landscape: How sedentary is a sedentary butterfly? — Journal of Insect Conservation 10: 311-316. Schurian K. G. 1977. Eine neue Unterart von Lysandra coridon Poda (Lep., Lycaenidae). — Entomologische Zeitschrift, Stuttgart 87: 13-18. Schurian K. G., Gascoigne-Pees M. & Diringer Y. 2006. Contribution to the life-cycle, ecology and taxonomy of Polyommatus (Lysandra) coridon nufrellensis Schurian (1977) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). — Linneana Belgica 20: 180-192. Schurian K. G., Westenberger A., Diringer Y. & Wiemers M. 2011. Contribution to the biology and taxonomy of Polyommatus (Lysandra) coridon nufrellensis (Schurian, 1977) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae), Part II: An experimental hybridization of P. (L.) c. gennargenti x P. (L.) c. nufrellensis. — Nachrichten des Entomologischen Vereins Apollo 31: 177-186 Thomas J. 1983. The ecology and conservation of Lysandra bellargus (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in Britain. — Journal of Applied Ecology 20: 59-83. Tolman T. & Lewington R. 1997. Field Guide of the Butterflies of Britain and Europe. — Harper Collins Publishers, London, 320 pp. Tshikolovets V. 2011. Butterflies of Europe & the Mediterranean area. — Tshikolovets Publications, Pardubice, 544 pp. ISSN 0771-5277 Phegea 41(2) 01.vi.2013: 41 Coleophora vacciniella (Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae), new to the Belgian fauna Steve Wullaert Abstract. At the end of October 2010 some cases of Coleophora vacciniella Herrich-Schaffer, 1861 were found on Vaccinium myrtillus at Signal de Botrange at Waimes, Hautes Fagnes (Belgium, province of Liège). The species had already been found in the years 1990 in Belgium by Hugo van der Wolf, but this has never been mentioned before. Details about the distribution and biology are presented. Samenvatting. Coleophora vacciniella (Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae), nieuw voor de Belgische fauna Eind oktober 2010 werden in de Hoge Venen op het Signal de Botrange te Botrange (Waimes) op grote stukken met blauwe bosbes verschillende kokers verzameld, die later als Coleophora vacciniella Herrich-Schaffer, 1861 gedetermineerd werden. Deze soort werd reeds eerder in België waargenomen door Hugo van der Wolf in de jaren 1990, maar die gegevens bleken nooit gepubliceerd te zijn. Informatie over de verspreiding en de biologie van deze soort worden gegeven. Résumé. Coleophora vacciniella (Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae), nouvelle espèce pour la faune beige A la fin du mois d'octobre 2010, plusieurs fourreaux ont été trouvés sur des myrtilles prés du Signal de Botrange (Waimes (Province de Liège). Plus tard ces fourreaux furent déterminés comme appartenant a Coleophora vacciniella Herrich-Schaffer, 1861. Cette espèce était déja signalée en Belgique dans les années 1990 par Hugo van der Wolf, mais ces données n'ont jamais été publiées. Key words: Coleophora vacciniella - Faunistics - First record - Belgium. Wullaert S.: Vaartstraat 18, B-8710 Wielsbeke Belgium. sw.demijnen@gmail.com Introduction On 31 October 2010, at the highest point of Belgium (694 m), at Signal de Botrange, Waimes (Province of Liège) several cases of a Coleophoridae were found on Vaccinium myrtillus. At that time no other reports were known about C. vacciniella in Belgium. However, it turned out that the species had been found earlier in our country, while on 20 October 1990, Hugo van der Wolf, a Dutch specialist in Coleophoridae, found several cases on Vaccinium myrtillus at Baraque Michel, Jalhay (Province of Liège). After hibernation, adults emerged on 10.iv.l991, 14.iv.1991, 18.iv.1991, 20.iv.1991 and on 21. iv. 1991 (H. van der Wolf, pers. comm. 2011). Furthermore, cases from the same species were found on 02 November 2009 in the domain "Kutenhard" at Eupen, this time on Vaccinium uliginosum, and also in an area nearby called "Brackvenn", both on V. myrtillus and V. uliginosum. And at Angleur "Sart Tilman" on 1.x. 2011 one case was found on Vaccinium myrtillus (all J.-Y. Baugnée pers. comm. 2011). Recently one case was found at Lommel (Limburg) by Heidi Dries on Vaccinium myrtillus (Natuurpunt 2012). Figs. 1 -4. Coleophora vacciniella Herrich-Schaffer, 1861, cases on Vaccinium myrtillus. Fig. 1. Window feeding, Bütchenbach (Liège), 15.V.2011, leg. S. Wullaert. Fig. 2. Window feeding, Angleu, SartTilman-Streupas (Liège), 01.x. 2011, leg. & coll. J.-Y. Baugnée. Figs. 3-4. Overwintering cases at underside of leaf, Botrange -Signal de Botrange (Liège) 30.x. 2010, leg. & coll. S. Wullaert (Photographs S. Wullaert). Phegea 41 (2) 01.vi.2013: 42 ISSN 0771-5277 Figs. 5-6. Coleophora vacciniella Herrich-Schaffer, 1861. 5 — Adult bred from larva collected at Rocherath (LG) on 30.X.2010, e.l. 21.iv.2011, leg. 6 coll. S. Wullaert (Photograph S. Wullaert). 6 - Adult bred from larva collected at Rocherath (LG) on 30.X.2010, e.l. 21.iv.2011, leg. & coll. S. Wullaert, bar = 1 mm (Photograph J. De Prins). Figs. 7-8. Coleophora vacciniella Flerrich-Schaffer, 1861; 7 - First abdominal segments; 8 - Male genitalia, nr. JDP 3799, bar =100 pm (Photographs J. De Prins). Coleophora vacciniella had already been mentioned for the Belgian fauna from the "Zoniënwoud", Brussels (De Crombrugghe 1913). This record is repeated by Lhomme (1946-1963: 886). However, Francis Coenen checked the specimen, which is deposited in the KBIN, and found out it was Coleophora vitisella (Gregson, 1856) (Coenen 1986). Consequently, the species was deleted from the Belgian list (De Prins 1998: 68). The last Coleophoridae species added to the Belgian list was number 106, Coleophora trigeminella Fuchs, 1881, discovered by Jean-Yves Baugnée in 2007 at Crupet, Namur (Baugnée 2011). Now, with Coleophora idaeella (J.-Y. Baugnée, in litt.) and C. vacciniella we reach 108 different species of Coleophoridae in Belgium (De Prins & Steeman 2012). Biology The young larvae of Coleophora vacciniella makes at first a small blotch mine, they cut out the mined part and use it to make the first case. The excision is not round but oval. Later, the Caterpillar makes one or rarely two more mines to enlarge the case until it reaches a maximum length of 8 to 15 mm. The case is brown and it has a mouth angle of 40 to 55°, the rim of the mouth is not round but slightly wrinkled (Toll 1962) (Fig. 4). The Caterpillar eats pieces at the upper side of the leaf creating Windows in the leaves (Figs. 1-2). That is different from another similar species found on Vaccinium vitis-idaea: Coleophora idaeella the larva of which makes mines at the under side of the leaf while Coleophora vacciniella eats Windows on the upper side. Young larvae are found from July onwards, they are full grown in autumn. They hibernate in the case and pupate shortly after the winter (Hering 1957, Ellis 2013). Moths are found from late April until mid June (Patzak 1971: 240). The caterpillars feed on Ericaceae: Vaccinium vitis- idaea, V. myrtillus and V. uliginosum (Patzak 1971). Coleophora vacciniella has been found once in Sachsen (Germany) on 31 October 2010, feeding on Andromeda polifolia (Ericaceae) by Friedmar Graf which was confirmed by Jukka Tabell (Lepiforum 2012). In Belgium, this plant species occurs exclusively in the Hautes Fagnes where it is very local and rare. It is endangered and protected by law. Genitalia The valva is rather short, valvula with a short hook at its tip, the sacculus with some small hooks at its dorsal end; aedoeagus with two small groups of cornuti, the first close to the base, the other at the apex (Toll 1962: 627). Compare some pictures on Lepiforum (2012). Distribution The species is spread in Europe mostly in the central and northern part (Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, and The Netherlands). It is absent on all the European islands, i.e. the British Isles and the islands in the Mediterranean (Baldizzone & van der Wolf 2012). ISSN 0771-5277 Phegea 41 (2) 01.vi.2013: 43 The species was discovered in The Netherlands by De Graaf & Snellen in 1871 and it occurs rarely and locally mainly in the Hoge Veluwe, and some isolated localities close to the German border (Kuchlein 1993). In France, C. vacciniella is mentioned from mountainous areas, and only from 3 départements: Doubs, Haut-Rhin and Savoie (Lhomme 1946-1963: 885- 886). In Germany, the species has been recorded from 6 Bundeslander after 1981, among which Nordrhein- Westfalen, and from 3 Lander before 1980 (Gaedike & Heinicke 1999: 69). Acknowledgements Thanks to Willy de Prins who commented on this paper and to Jurate De Prins who prepared and photographed the genitalia. References Baldizzone G. & van der Wolf, H. 2012. Fauna Europaea, Coleophoridae. - In: Karsholt O. & van Nieukerken, E. J. (eds.) Lepidoptera, moths, Fauna Europaea, Version 2.5. — www.fauna.org (accessed on 15 November 2012). Baugnée J. Y. 2011. Coleophora trigeminella (Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae), new to the Belgian fauna. — Phegea 39(4): 156-159. Coenen F. 1986. Coleophora vitisella Gregson (1856) (Microlepidoptera, Coleophoridae): espèce nouvelle pour la faune beige. — Unneana belgica 10: 261-265. De Crombrugghe 1913. Note sur un Lépidoptère nouveau pour la faune beige. — Annales de la Société entomologique beige 57: 330. De Prins W. 1998. Catalogue of the Lepidoptera of Belgium. — Studiedocumenten van het Koninklijk Belgisch Instituut voor Natuurwetenschappen 92: 1-236. De Prins W. & Steeman C. 2012. Catalogue of the Lepidoptera of Belgium. — www.phegea.org (accessed on 15 November 2012). Ellis, W. N. 2012. Leafminers of Europe / Bladmineerders van Europa. — www.bladmineerders.nl (accessed on 15 November 2012). Gaedike R. & Heinicke W. 1999. Verzeichnis der Schmetterlinge Deutschlands. — Entomologische Nachrichten und Berichte, Beiheft 5: 1-216. Hering E. M. 1957. Bestimmunstabellen der Blattminen von Europa: einschliesslich des Mittelmeerbeckens und der Kanarischen Insein . — Vol. 1-2: 1-1185; 3: 1-221. Junk, 's Gravenhage. Karsholt O. & van Nieukerken E. J. 2004. Fauna Europaea. — In: Karsholt, O. & van Nieukerken, E.J. (eds.) Lepidoptera, Moths, Fauna Europaea version 2.5. — www.faunaeur.org (accessed on 15 November 2012). Kuchlein J. H. 1993. De kleine vlinders - Handboek voor de Faunistiek van de Nederlandse Microlepidoptera. — Pudoc, Wageningen, 715p. Lepiforum 2012. Bestimmung von Schmetterlinge ( Lepidoptera ) und ihren Praimaginalstadien. — www.lepiforum.de (accessed 15 November 2012). Lhomme L. 1946-1963. Catalogue des Lépidoptères de France et de Belgique. Volume II Microlépidoptères. (deuxième partie). — Le Carriol, par Douelle (Lot), p. 489-1253. Natuurpunt 2012. Coleophora vacciniella. — www.waarnemingen.be (accessed 20 December 2012). Patzak H. 1971. Beitrage zur Insektenfauna der DDR: Lepidoptera - Coleophoridae. — Beitrage zur Entomologie 24(5-8): 153-278. Toll S. 1962. Materialen zur Kenntnis der palaarktischen Arten der Familie Coleophoridae (Lepidoptera). — Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia 7(16): 577-780, pis. 1K-14K, 1F-10F, 1A-43A, 1M-19M, 1W-14W, 1S-33S. Phegea 41 (2) 01.vi.2013: 44 ISSN 0771-5277 Triaxomasia caprimulgella (Lepidoptera: Tineidae, Nemapogoninae); nieuw voor de Belgische fauna Adriaan Peeters Samenvatting. Op 24 juni 2012 werd een exemplaar van Triaxomasia caprimulgella Stainton, 1851 waargenomen op een boomstam in het domein "Vordenstein" te Schoten (provincie Antwerpen). Het dier werd alleen gefotografeerd en niet verzameld. Dit is de eerste waarneming van deze soort voor de Belgische fauna. Abstract. Triaxomasia caprimulgella (Lepidoptera: Tineidae, Nemapogoninae), new for the Belgian fauna On 24 June 2012 a specimen of Triaxomasia caprimulgella Stainton, 1851 was found sitting on a tree trunk during a daytime walk through "Vordenstein", a wooded park at Schoten (Belgium, province of Antwerpen). The specimen was neither collected nor moved, only some pictures were taken. This species was not observed in Belgium before. Résumé. Triaxomasia caprimulgella (Lepidoptera: Tineidae, Nemapogoninae), espèce nouvelle pour la faune beige Le 24 juin 2012, un exemplaire de Triaxomasia caprimulgella Stainton, 1851 fut observé posé sur un tronc d'arbre pendant une promenade au cours de la journée, dans le pare "Vordenstein" (Belgique, Province d'Anvers). L' exemplaire n'a jamais été capturé, seules des photos ont été prises. C'est la première fois que cette espèce est observée en Belgique. Key words: Triaxomasia caprimulgella - faunistics - Belgium - first record. Peeters, A.: Voorkempenlaan 40, B-2900 Schoten, peetersadriaan@gmail.com Inleiding Op 24 juni 2012 werd tijdens een zondagse wandeling door het park "Vordenstein" te Schoten (prov. Antwerpen) een onbekend nachtvlindertje zittend op de stam van een beuk (Fagus sylvatica ) opgemerkt. Daar het onverstoord bleef zitten werd besloten enkel foto's te nemen zonder het beestje te beroeren (fig. 1). Bij thuiskomst bleek echter dat het wel eens een zeldzame soort uit de familie Tineidae kon wezen en dus werd Willy De Prins gecontacteerd. Gelukkig kon deze op basis van de foto's bevestigen dat het inderdaad Triaxomasia caprimulgella Stainton, 1851 betrof, een meevaller dus! Voor zover bekend is dit de eerste maal dat deze soort in België werd waargenomen. Een Nederlandse naam heeft het vlindertje echter al wel gekregen: Ivoorkroeskopje. Uiterlijke kenmerken Met een spanwijdte van 9-11 mm. behoort de soort tot de kleinere Tineidae. Herkenning is zoals gezegd tamelijk eenvoudig: door de drie costale en twee dorsale weinig met de verder donkere voorvleugels contrasterende vale, okerkleurige vlekken en okerkleurige kop is verwarring met andere Tineidae uitgesloten. Dikwijls zijn de eerste costale en eerste dorsale vlekken verbonden tot een dwarsband. De franje is eveneens weinig contrastrijk gekleurd met een lichte basis en een donkere rand (Pelham-Clinton 1985: 185). Biologie De larven zouden zich voornamelijk voeden met rottend hout (Emmet et al. 1988: 46). Voor Groot- Brittannië worden vermeld: beuk (Fagus sylvatica), eik (Quercus sp.) en iep ( Ulmus sp.). Daarbuiten worden ook winterlinde (Tilia cordata ) en noorse esdoorn (Acer platanoides) bij naam genoemd (Bengtsson et al. 2008: 451). Fig. 1. Triaxomasia caprimulgella Stainton, 1851. Schoten (Antwerpen), 24.vi.2012 (foto: A. Peeters). De imago's worden dikwijls gevonden roerloos hangend in een spinnenweb in een holle boom of schuur zonder dat zij door de spinnen gestoord worden. Zowel Pelham-Clinton als Bengtsson leiden hieruit af dat de larven zich mogelijk eveneens te goed doen aan dode insecten in spinnenwebben. In de nabijheid van de vindplaats werd enkele dagen later inderdaad een vermolmde boom met bijhorende spinnenwebben aangetroffen. Deze boom werd ISSN 0771-5277 Phegea 41 (2) 01.vi.2013: 45 kortstondig nagekeken op eventuele nieuwe vondsten, echter zonder succes. De vliegtijd volgens de literatuur loopt van juni tot juli in het Verenigd Koninkrijk en van juli tot augustus in Scandinavië. Verspreiding Triaxomasia caprimulgella kan gevonden worden over het hele Europese grondgebied met meldingen uit Albanië, Denemarken, Duitsland, Frankrijk, Griekenland, Groot-Brittannië, Hongarije, Italië, Kroatië, Macedonië, Nederland, Noorwegen, Oekraïne, Oostenrijk, Polen, Portugal, Roemenië, Slowakije, Tsjechië, Zweden en Zwitserland (Gaedike 2012). Noordelijk is de verspreiding beperkt tot het zuiden van Noorwegen en Zweden (Bengtsson et al. 2008), ook uit Groot-Brittannië zijn enkel waarnemingen uit het Zuidoosten bekend (Pelham- Clinton 1985). De oostelijke grens ligt in Oekraïne, de zuidelijke in de landen aan de Middellandse Zee. Het betreft echter een over het hele verspreidingsgebied zelden waargenomen soort! Zo is zij bijvoorbeeld wel bekend van Portugal en Frankrijk maar niet van Spanje. Bibliografie Bengtsson B. A. Nationalnyckeln till Sveriges flora och fauna. Fjarilar: Kakmalar - sackspinnare. Lepidoptera: Micropterigidae- Psychidae. — ArtDatabanken, Sveriges Lantbruksuniversitet (SLU), Uppsala. Emmet A. M. (ed.) 1988. A field guide to the smaller British lepidoptera. Second edition. — Reprint 2010. Henry Ling Limited. Gaedike R. 2012. Fauna Europaea, Tineidae. - In: Karsholt O. & van Nieukerken E. J. (eds.) Fauna Europaea: Lepidoptera, Moths. Fauna Europaea version 2.5. — www.faunaeur.org (accessed 21 oktober 2012). Pelham-Clinton E. C. 1985. Tineidae. - In: Heath J. (ed.): The Moths and Butterflies ofGreat Britain and Ireland. Volume 2. Cossidae - Fleliodinidae. — Harley Books, Great Horkesley, pp. 152-207. Phegea 41 (2) 01.vi.2013: 46 ISSN 0771-5277 Cochylis molliculana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae, Tortricinae), new to the Belgian fauna Willy De Prins Abstract. On 30 June 2012, W. Mertens photographed a specimen of Cochylis molliculana Zeiler, 1847 at Middelkerke (West Flanders), det. W. Veraghtert. This is the first record of this species for the Belgian fauna. Samenvatting. Cochylis molliculana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae, Tortricinae), nieuw voor de Belgische fauna Op 30 juni 2012 werd door W. Mertens een exemplaar van Cochylis molliculana Zeiler, 1847 gefotografeerd te Middelkerke (West-Vlaanderen), det. W. Veraghtert. Het is de eerste maal dat deze soort in België werd waargenomen. Résumé. Cochylis molliculana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae, Tortricinae), espèce nouvelle pour la faune beige Le 30 juin 2012, un exemplaire de Cochylis molliculana Zeiler, 1847 fut photographié par W. Mertens a Middelkerke (Flandre occidentale), det. W. Veraghtert. II s'agit de la première observation de cette espèce en Belgique. Key words: Cochylis molliculana - Belgium - Faunistics - First record. De Prins W.: Dorpstraat 401B, 3061 Leefdaal. willy.deprins@gmail.com On 30 juni 2012 a specimen of Cochylis molliculana Zeiler, 1847 was photographed (fig. 1) in the domain "Warandeduinen" at Middelkerke (West Flanders) by W. Mertens, det. W. Veraghtert (Natuurpunt 2012). This species was never before mentioned for the Belgian fauna. C. molliculana is distributed in Croatia, France (incl. Corsica), Great Britain, Greece, Italy (incl. Sicily), Malta and Spain (Razowski 1970, Aarvik 2012). This scattered distribution could mean that the species is overlooked in many other places. It was discovered in the Netherlands (province of Zeeland) some years ago by J. van Vuure. It has a rather late arrival in Great Britain as well, where the first specimen was observed only in 1993. Since then, it became more common along the south coast of England and on the Isle of Wight (Wall 2012). The larva of C. molliculana lives in the seedheads of Picris echioides (Asteraceae). This plant is especially common along the Belgian sea coast, and occurs also more inland, but it is almost absent south of the line Sambre-Meuse (IFBL 2012). Fig. 1. Cochylis molliculana Zeiler, 1847. Domain "Warandeduinen", Middelkerke, West Flanders, 30.vi.2012, det. W. Veraghtert (Photograph W. Mertens). Bibliography Aarvik L. 2012. Fauna Europaea: Tortricidae. - In: Karsholt O., van Nieukerken E. J. & de Jong Y. S. D. M. (eds.) Fauna Europaea. Lepidoptera, Moths. Version 2.5. — www.faunaeur.org. (accessed 12 December 2012). IFBL 2012. IFBL data portal - Explore Flora Checklists of Belgium. — projects.biodiversity.be/ifbl (accessed 12 December 2012). Natuurpunt 2012. Cochylis molliculana. — waarnemingen.be/soort/view/159801 (accessed 12 December 2012). Razowski J. 1970. Cochylidae. - In: Amsel H. G., Gregor F. & Reisser H. (eds.), Microlepidoptera Palaearctica, Band 3. — Verlag Georg Fromme & Co., Wien. Wall M. 2012. Hantsmoths. — www.hantsmoths.org.uk/ (accessed 12 December 2012). ISSN 0771-5277 Phegea 41 (2) 01.vi.2013: 47 Lissodema cursor (Coleoptera: Salpingidae) aan de westrand van Brussel Willy Troukens Samenvatting. Een exemplaar van Lissodema cursor (Gyllenhall, 1813) werd in een lichtval aangetroffen te Dilbeek (VB) op 1 augustus 2012. Gegevens over de verspreiding en biologie van deze in België zeldzame kever worden meegedeeld. Abstract. Lissodema cursor (Coleoptera: Salpingidae) at the westside of Brussels, Belgium The author discusses the capture of a specimen of Lissodema cursor (Gyllenhall, 1813) in a light trap at Dilbeek (VB). This little beetle is rather rare in Belgium. Details on its distribution and biology are provided. Résumé. Lissodema cursor (Coleoptera: Salpingidae) a la périphérie ouest de Bruxelles, Belgique L'auteur explique la capture d'un exemplaire de Lissodema cursor (Gyllenhall, 1813) dans un piège lumineux a Dilbeek (VB). En Belgique cette espèce est plutöt rare. Des informations concernant la distribution et la biologie sont données. Key words: Belgium - faunistics - Lissodema cursor- Coleoptera. Troukens, W.: Ninoofsesteenweg 782/8, B-1070 Anderlecht. nicole.sengier@skynet.be Op l.viii.2012 vond ik in mijn kleine Heath-val op het Roelandsveld te Dilbeek (VB) een exemplaar van Lissodema cursor (Gyllenhall, 1813) (fig.1). Fig. 1. Lissodema cursor (Gyllenhall, 1813). Dit zwartbruine kevertje behoort tot de familie der Salpingidae (Vorst 2010: 145). In de klassieke keverliteratuur moet men hem echter zoeken bij de Pythidae. L. cursor is vrij slank en meet 2,5 a 3,6 mm. Sprieten en poten zijn roestrood. De snoervormige sprieten zijn 11-ledig en bezitten 3 verdikte eindleden. De tarsen van de achterpoten zijn 4-ledig; de andere 5- ledig (Auber 1971: 25). Halsschild ongeveer rond, dicht bestippeld en opzij met 5 tandjes. De dekschilden met duidelijke puntrijen. L. cursor komt voor in geheel Europa en in Aziatisch Rusland (Löbl & Smetana 2008: 418). Hij leeft onder schors en in dorre takken van verschillende loofbomen zoals eik en linde, meestal in gangen van diverse houtkevers (Keer 1930: 782). In België wordt dit kevertje maar zelden opgemerkt (fig. 2). Men vindt hem nog het meest van april tot augustus in lichtvallen. Fig. 2. Vindplaatsen van Lissodema cursor (Gyllenhall, 1813) in België. De Salpingidae worden in ons land vertegenwoordigd door een 10-tal soorten. Behalve L. cursor vond ik aan de westrand van Brussel nog 3 andere soorten, nl. Rabdocerus gabrieli (Gerhardt, 1901), Salpingus (=Rhinosimus) planirostris (Fabricius, 1787) en Vincenzellus ruficollis (Panzer, 1794). Hierover verscheen vroeger al een uitgebreid artikel in Phegea (Troukens 2006: 99-104). Dankwoord Informatie en gegevens voor dit artikel werden mij vriendelijk bezorgd door Alain Drumont (KBIN, Departement Entomologie, Brussel) en Luc Crevecoeur (Genk). Hiermee kon het verspreidingskaartje samen- gesteld worden. Hartelijk dank! Bibliografie Auber L. 1971. Atlas des Coléoptères de France, Belgique, Suisse. Tomé II. — Boubée & Cie, Paris (VI). Keer P. M. 1930. Calwer keverboek. — W. J. Thieme & Cie, Zutphen. Löbl L. & Smetana A. 2008. Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera. Volume 5. Tenebrionoidea. — Apollo Books, Stenstrup. Troukens W. 2006. Schijnsnuitkevers, vuurkevers, snoerhalskevers en waaierkevers aan de westrand van Brussel (Coleoptera: Pythidae, Pyrochroidae, Anthicidae & Rhipiphoridae). — Phegea 34(3):99-104. Vorst O. 2010. Catalogus van de Nederlandse kevers (Coleoptera). — Monografieën van de Nederlandse Entomologische Vereniging 11, Amsterdam. SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION LIBRARIES 3 9088 00700 6786 Phegea 41 (2) 01.vi.2013: 48 ISSN 0771-5277