Ábrahám Levente (szerk.): Válogatott tanulmányok III. - Natura Somogyiensis 12. (Kaposvár, 2008)

Fazekas Imre: The species of the genus Aethes Billberg, 1821 of Hungary (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

2. Aethes hartmanniana f. piercei Obraztsov, 1952 (Fig. 5, 6, 29) Aethes piercei Obraztsov, 1952, Erit. Z. Frankf. Main, 61: 157, fig. 2. References: BRADLEY et al. 1973, FAZEKAS 1992, 1995, PETRICH 2001, RAZOWSKI 2002, SZABÓKY 1981, Comments: known distribution in Europe: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland (www.faunaeur.org: 8.2.2008). Records from Hungary are unconfirmed (SZABÓKY 1981, PETRICH 2001), and all published specimens refer to Ae. hartmanniana. Coloration and shape of markings as in Ae. hartmanniana. Male and female genitalia as in Ae. hartmanniana. According to BRADLEY et al. (1973), Ae. piercei is closely related to Ae. hartmanniana and some authors have suggested that it may be no more than an ecological form. RAZOWSKI (2002), states that it is probably a distinct species, but insufficiently known, showing however, only slight differences in facies and male genitalia. The genital characters of female require re-examination on additional material (Fig. 6). Nearly 100 specimens from different parts of Europe, which the author has examined, indicate that Ae. piercei is not specifically distinct and should be synonymised with Ae. hartmanniana. The detailed examination results will be published in a later study. The taxonomic problem of the two species was dealt with already in 1992, in which the following statements were made (FAZEKAS 1992). After FAZEKAS (1992): Following a thorough investigation of several hundred specimens, the author concludes that piercei-like examples can be found in all Hungarian populations of Ae. hartmanniana. Furthermore, one finds no single specific feature that would support justification for piercei as a distinct species. He is therefore of the opinion that the genitalia features given by Obraztsov are insufficient for an incontestable identification. On the contrary, it also increases the already known polytypical picture of the species Ae. hartmanniana. In addition to the problems that have arisen over identification, there have also been contradictions in descriptions of larval conditions and foodplants of this species. Speciation processes in West Palaearctic can often be explained by isolation of populations into separate glacial refuges with subsequent inter- and postglacial expansion to the present distribution area. When discussing the European species pair Ae. hartmanniana and Ae. piercei, the speciation of the these comparatively young semispecies evidently happened in the postglacial period. 3. Aethes margarotana (Duponchel, 1834) (Fig. 7) References: Ács & SZABÓKY 1993, BRADLEY et al. 1973, FAZEKAS 1994,1995,2005, GOZMÁNY 1968, SZABÓKY 1999. Distribution in Palaearctic: coastal areas between Armenia to British Isles and Northwest Africa. Interestingly, there is very little data from the Balkans. Chorotype: West Palaearctic. The distribution area in Hungary: Agasegyháza, Aggtelek, Alattyán, Balatonfüred, Budapest (Mátyás-hegy), Csévharaszt, Csopak, Eger, Gyenesdiás, Gyöngyös (Sárhegy), Győr-Bácsa, Győrzámoly-Patkányos, Jászberény, Kaposvár, Komjáti, Magyaróvár, Nagyvisnyó, Nyirád, Öskű, Pécs (Árpád-tető), Síkfőkút, Szabadszállás, Szin, Szinpetri. Phenology: univoltine, flight period from April to end July. Biology: monophagous. The larva lives in roots and stems of Eryngium campestre, instead of Eryngium maritimum which does not occur in Hungary. Hibernation in larval stage. According to BRADLEY et al. (.1973) by the beginning of September the larvae are all in the roots, where they continue to feed until they are full-grown in October. The interior of the root is eaten out leaving only a thin shell or skin, and the larva overwinters in this situation until the end of March, when it works its way to the upper part of