Paracossulus thrips (Hübner, 1818)

Beshkov, Stoyan & Nahirnić-Beshkova, Ana, 2022, Paracossulus thrips (Hübner, 1818) (Cossidae) and Lignyoptera fumidaria (Hübner, 1825) (Geometridae) - two Lepidoptera genera new for Serbia with a review of the distribution of these two Habitats Directive species in the Balkan Peninsula, Ecologica Montenegrina 51, pp. 65-80 : 66-74

Paracossulus thrips (Hübner, 1818)

In the Balkan Peninsula Paracossulus (= Catopta ) thrips was known only from Bulgaria and Romania (Beshkov & Nahirnić- Beshkova, 2021), Fauna Europaea: https://fauna-eu.org/cdm_dataportal/taxon/132e6f9c-78c2-47cd-9c43-06997fcb1952. In Bulgaria known localities are summarized in Beshkov & Nahirnić- Beshkova (2021): Sliven, Plovdiv, Burgas and Balchik-Topola on the northern Black Sea coast. Beshkov & Nahirnić- Beshkova (2021) added one new remote locality: Tri Ushi Hills between Slivnitsa and Dragoman towns, above Aldomirovsko Blato Swamp , 739 m, N42.90403, E022.98705, 10.VIII.2020. They determined the habitat there as 02E1 Mountain petrophytic steppes with Stipa, Silene, Saturea , Artemisia alba , Amygdalus nana, Centaurea, Limonium , Crataegus , and Rosa . According to Beshkov & Nahirnić- Beshkova (2021) the locality Resselets near Tcherven Bryag ( Beshkov, 1995) is doubtful and should be discounted. Over the last eighty years P. thrips was collected in the early and middle 1990s only in Balchik area ( Beshkov, 2011) and recently in Dragoman Natura 2000 protected area (Beshkov & Nahirnić- Beshkova, 2021). All these localities are at altitudes from sea level up to about 740m. During more than 120 years of survey on the Bulgarian Lepidoptera , there are only seven recorded specimens from Bulgaria ( Beshkov, 2011, Beshkov & Nahirnić- Beshkova, 2011). Sliven, Burgas and Plovdiv are big cities from where P. thrips was reported long ago. Nowadays, without any doubt, these localities are urban areas or agricultural fields. In the surroundings of Sliven (Sinite Kamani) and Burgas ( Atanassovsko Ezero lake ) towns, P. thrips was searched for in suitable habitats several times, but without results. Areas where P. thrips was searched for before are listed below. For a long time, localities near Balchik represented 100% of the population of P. thrips in Bulgaria and a great part of the Balkan population. In the Balkan Peninsula P. thrips is also present in the Romanian part of Dobrogea ( Székely, 2010, Iacob et al., 2021) and with some doubt apparently also in the Greek mainland (Fauna Europaea website). According to Székely (2016) in the Romanian part of Dobrogea this species has the status “Data deficient”, known only from Babadag, Beştepe Hill, Izvoarele, Visterna (Gura Dobrogei) and Hagieni-Limanu (in total 6 specimens)”. The localities for this species in Romania are presented on the distributional map in Rákosy et al. (2021) and summarized in Rákosy & Goia (2021) and Iacob et al. (2021). In the Balchik area it has not been confirmed for more than 22 years, although it was intensively searched for during the Natura 2000 mapping project and several more times, including in 2021. The reason for this is altered or completely destroyed habitats by three golf-courses and accompanying infrastructure ( Beshkov, 2011). The last steppes of the northern Black Sea coast and Bulgarian part of Dobrogea that represent potential habitat of P. thrips are also strongly affected or destroyed by wind-generators and infrastructure (Beshkov & Nahirnić- Beshkova, 2021). Paracossulus thrips has been the subject of intensive field survey in other parts of Dobrogea with potential habitats visited several times, but it has not been found. According to Hristova & Beshkov (2016) “the Bulgarian subpopulation is marginal, strongly isolated and habitats are fragmented. This species has been subject of unsuccessful field survey. Very likely it is already regionally extinct or is on the way to become extinct in Bulgaria. CI [chronological index]= 7; CR B2ab(iii)”. Very likely this is why Fauna Europaea https://fauna-eu.org/cdm_dataportal/taxon/132e6f9c-78c2-47cd-9c43- 06997fcb1952 lists P. thrips as absent for Bulgaria.

Paracossulus thrips is a steppe species regarded as a post-glacial relict associated with cold Artemisia steppes, originating in Central Asia (Rákosy et al., 2021). Habitats are open steppe or semi steppe areas (Rákosy et al., 2021). According to Schnaider (1978), in the steppe areas in Poland the moth is collected near Artemisia plants. In some other literature sources (Macek, 2000) the larva is mentioned to feed within the roots of the food plant – Artemisia absinthium , A. glacialis , A. vulgaris and other Artemisia species. In more recent literature sources, Phlomis sp. is mentioned as a food plant, with the larvae developing inside stems and roots of the plants ( Sum, 2014, Rákosy et al., 2021). In the Bükk National Park in Hungary, Tamás Korompai has found that the larvae feed in the roots of Phlomis tuberosa ; the supposed Artemisia feeding is based only on literature and requires confirmation in the field (Ádam Kiss, e- mail to SB February, 1 st 2021). In a recent study P. tuberosa was confirmed as a larval food plant in Romania ( Iacob et al., 2021). Phlomis tuberosa is rare in Serbia and is protected by the Law on Nature Protection ( Anonymous, 2010 –2016). It is known from Vidlič Mt. ( Marković et al., 2015). In the localities in Western Bulgaria and Serbia, where P. thrips was recorded by us, it is very possible that P. tuberosa is also present, but Artemisia alba is frequent and abundant. We have no opinion yet which is the larval food plant in Bulgaria and Serbia.

The species, particularly in the Balkans, has a strongly disjunctive range ( Fig. 10 ). Localities are remote from each other and, after extinction of the species from a particular locality, re-colonization is practically impossible. At present, only BG0000322 Dragoman Natura 2000 protected area from EEC 92/43 Habitat Directive (Approved on 12.XII.2008 by the European Commission) seems to have stable populations and a large area of occupancy.

In Europe apart from the Balkan Peninsula P. thrips is known from several more localities in Romania (Transylvanian Plain and Moldavia) ( Rákosy & Goia, 2021, Rákosy et al., 2021) and from Hungary and South Poland ( Schnaider, 1978, Macek et al., 2007). The range of P. thrips to the south is extended to Armenia, eastern Turkey to Prov. Hakkari in Kurdistan (de Freina & Witt, 1990), south-west of the former USSR, Caucasus, west Kazakhstan, west Siberia ( Zagulajev, 1978), southern Ural Region, Krasnoyarsk Region, Prae-Altai Region to the east of Russia ( Yakovlev, 2019). Without any doubt, the new localities reported here with an altitude of 913-1167 m are the highest in Europe. In Central Asia it reaches an altitude up to 2000 m ( Macek, 2007). The phenomenon of such “mountain” localities in the Balkans can be explained by the fact that these localities are the most southern ones in the range of the species, much more southerly than are those in Central and Eastern Europe. Moreover, these localities are on stony and steep slopes which have survived change from agriculture and other land usage, while the potential habitats in lowland have been completely destroyed long ago by human activities. The south-western exposition of slopes further contributes to the xerothermic character of the habitats and this enables thermophilous species to occur at higher altitudes.

In August, 2021 the authors worked on a Species Action Plan for P. thrips in Bulgaria and made a survey in Dragoman Natura 2000 area and surrounding areas with potential habitats for P. thrips . During the survey P. thrips was found in several new localities as follows:

1. Kostinbrod district , between Ponor and Bezden Villages, 913 m, N42.91343, E023.09819, 07.VIII.2021, 4 males, S. Beshkov, A. Nahirnić- Beshkova, Z. Tokar & L. Srnka leg.;

2. Kostinbrod district , between Ponor and Bezden Villages, 912 m, N42.9146, E023.1023 ( Fig. 1 ), 07.VIII.2021, 1 male ( Fig. 2 ), S. Beshkov & A. Nahirnić- Beshkova leg.;

3. Above Aldomirovsko Blato Swamp, 700 m, 42°54'6.79" N 22°59'12.08" E, 06.VIII.2021, 1 male, Z. Tokar & L. Srnka leg.;

4. 1 km SW of Ponor Village , 920 m, 42°54'47.34" N 23°7'36.13" E, 11.VIII.2021, 3 males, Z. Tokar & L. Srnka leg.

5. Chepan Hill, below Petrovski Krust summit, 1167 m, N42.94797, E022.95211 ( Fig. 3 ), 10.VIII.2021, 1 male ( Fig. 4 ), S. Beshkov & A. Nahirnić- Beshkova leg.

Finding P. thrips in these localities suggested its possible presence over the border in Serbia. The authors continued their survey in the neighbouring territories in Serbia in the same habitat types – steppe-like grasslands.

Serbian record: Dimitrovgrad (=Caribrod) district, Vidlič Mt. , above Gulenovci Village , Kapana, 967 m, N43.1190, E022.8019 ( Fig. 5 ), 12.VIII.2021, S. Beshkov & A. Nahirnić- Beshkova leg., at lamps on generator, 1 male ( Figs 6 and 7 ) at 22:30 h local time. It is ca 22.5 km distant from the nearest locality in Bulgaria, Chepan Hill. It is a large limestone slope with south-western exposition and inclination of ca 20- 30°. The habitat can be described as dry rocky grassland with Artemisia alba Turra and Satureja montana L. with scattered trees and bushes: Cornus mass L., Prunus spinosa L., Crataegus pentagyna Waldst. & Kit. ex Wild. , Syringa vulgaris L., Quercus pubescens Wild. , Fraxinus ornus L., Acer campestre L. and Rosa sp. The habitat type can be identified as 02E1 Mountain petrophytic steppes. Relationships with habitat classifications: EUNIS: E1.21 Helleno-Balkan [ Satureja montana ] steppes; PAL. CLASS.: 34.311 Helleno-Balkan savory steppes; HD 92/43: 62A0 Eastern sub-Mediterranean dry grasslands (Scorzoneretalia villosae) ( Tzonev, Dimitrov & Gussev, 2015). The habitat in the Serbian locality is the same as in Chepan Hill and in the other localities in Dragoman Natura 2000 protected area which is steppe-like grasslands. Paracossulus thrips is a species listed in Annexes II and IV of the Council Directive 92/43/EEC, Code 4028. The species from Annex II of the Directive are species of community interest, thus it “requires the designation of special areas of conservation”. The locality is ca 2-3 km distant from the protected area “Stara planina” Nature Park. Syntopic and synchronic species to P. thrips in the Serbian locality are:

Geometridae : Lygdia adustata ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775), Narraga tessularia (Metzner, 1845) , Heliomata glarearia ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775), Isturgia murinaria ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775), Ematurga atomaria (Linnaeus, 1758) , Idaea elongaria (Rambur, 1833) (genitalia checked), Scopula decorata ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775), Scopula incanata (Linnaeus, 1758) , Scopula marginepunctata (Goeze, 1781) , Anticollix sparsata (Treitschke, 1828) , Scotopteryx moeniata (Scopoli, 1763) , Cataclysme riguata (Hübner, 1813) , Euphyia frustata (Treitschke, 1828) , Horisme vitalbata ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775), Horisme corticata (Treitschke, 1828) , Eupithecia semigraphata Bruand, 1851 (genitalia checked);

Sphingidae : Sphinx ligustri Linnaeus, 1758 ; Notodontidae : Thaumetopoea processionea (Linnaeus, 1758) , Phalera bucephaloides (Ochsenheimer, 1810) ; Erebidae : Gynaephora fascelina (Linnaeus, 1758) , Phragmatobia fuliginosa (Linnaeus, 1758) , Eilema caniola (Hübner, [1808]) , Eilema palliatella (Scopoli, 1763) (genitalia checked), Eilema pygmaeola pallifrons (Zeller, 1847) (genitalia checked), Setina irrorella (Linnaeus, 1758) , Lygephila craccae ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775), Odice arcuinna (Hübner, 1790) ;

Noctuidae : Acronicta auricoma ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775), Acronicta euphorbiae ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775), Pyrrhia umbra (Hufnagel, 1766) , Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner, [1808]) , Cryphia algae (Fabricius, 1775) , Bryophila raptricula ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775), Caradrina terrea Freyer, [1839] , Caradrina aspersa Rambur, 1834 , Holpodrina blanda ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775), Hoplodrina superstes (Ochsenheimer, 1816) , Actinotia polyodon (Clerck, 1759) , Chloantha hyperici ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775), Calamia tridens (Hufnagel, 1766) , Mesoligia furuncula ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775), Sideridis lampra (Schawerda, 1913) , Sideridis reticulata (Goeze, 1781) , Mythimna conigera ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775), Mythimna vitellina (Hübner, [1808]) , Mythimna alopecuri (Boisduval, 1840) , Mythimna albipuncta ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775), Mythimna ferrago (Fabricius, 1787) , Ochropleura plecta (Linnaeus, 1761) , Chersotis multangula (Hübner, [1803]) , Noctua fimbriata (Schreber, 1759) , Noctua interposita (Hübner, 1790) , Noctua janthina [Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775), Xestia baja ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775), Xestia stigmatica (Hübner, [1813]) , Xestia c-nigrum (Linnaeus, 1758) , Eugnorisma depuncta (Linnaeus, 1761) .

Areas where P. thrips was searched for, but not found, in Bulgaria:

Above Kostinbrod Town , between Ponor and Bezden villages, 915 m, N42.91422, E023.10242, 16.VIII.2020;

Above Kostinbrod Town , near Ponor Village, 949 m, N42.91642, E023.12922, 16.VIII.2020;

Above Kostinbrod Town , Beledie Han Village surroundings, above Lyulyaka Chalet, 847 m, N42.89910, E023.16802, 16.VIII.2020, 22.VIII.2020 ;;

Above Kostinbrod Town , Beledie Han Village surroundings, above Lyulyaka Chalet, 846 m, N42.8996, E023.16666, 31.VII.2021;

Above Kostinbrod Town , near Ponor Village, 949 m, N42.91642, E023.12922, 22.VIII.2020;

Above Kostinbrod Town , above Beledie Han Village, 775 m, N42.89210, E023.15772 22.VIII.2020, 31.VII.2021;

Above Kostinbrod Town , above Beledie Han Village, 800 m, N42.89231, E023.15850, 08.VIII.2021;

Above Buchin Prohod Village , Godech district, 900 m, N42.95841, E023.16046, 08.VIII.2021;

Above Komshtitsa Village , Godech district, 1163 m, N43.1017, E023.0096, 09.VIII.2021;

E Stara Planina Mts , Sinite Kamani above Sliven Town, 420 m, N42.71023, E026.39693, 16.VIII.2021;

S. Black Sea Coast, Atanassovsko Ezero lake , 13 m, N42.57490, E027.49409, 17.VIII.2021;

N. Black Sea Coast, Silvercoast, between Balchik and Topola, 165 m, N43.40717, E028.20929, 18.VIII.2021;

N. Black Sea Coast, Silvercoast, above Balchik town , 177 m, N43.40689, E028.17666, 19.VIII.2021;

N. Black Sea Coast, Kavarna district , SW Cape Kaliakra, 73 m, N43.38065, E028.45163, 20.VIII.2021;

N. Black Sea Coast, Shabla district , Durankulak lake near Vaklino Village, 22 m, N43.6468, E028.52067, 21.VIII.2021;

Areas where P. thrips was searched for, but not found, in Serbia:

Dimitrovgrad (=Caribrod) district, Vištin Kamen above Bačevo Village, 763 m, N43.0271, E022.8239, 11.VIII.2021;

Bela Palanka district, Šljivovički Vis Mt., above Šljivovik Village , 1043 m, N43.1519; E022.3848, 13.VIII.2021;

According to Rákosy et al. (2021) its habitats are altered by replacement with pine or black locust plantations, overgrazing or overgrowing by shrubs. Burning of dry vegetation and overgrowing by natural succession are the main potential threats at the Serbian locality. The most serious threat is land use for agricultural purposes or for infrastructure in Bulgaria. The historical localities in the lowlands in Bulgaria (Plovdiv, Sliven and Burgas) without any doubt were destroyed long ago; ploughing would not only destroy the habitats, but also directly crush the preimaginal stages of the species, which live in the roots of the host-plant in the ground. The locality near Balchik is destroyed by three golf courses and the accompanying infrastructure. We recommend P. thrips to be included in the list of protected species in Serbia. As a species on Annex II of the Council Directive 92/43/EEC, P. thrips “requires the designation of special areas of conservation”.

Here we propose the vernacular Serbian name for P. thrips – stepski pelinkovac. Stepski (Eng.: steppic) derives from its habitats which are steppe and steppe-like grasslands, the latter being its habitat in Serbia, while “pelinkovac” derives from “pelin” which is Serbian vernacular name for Artemisia spp. , bearing in mind that P. thrips occurs in habitats where Artemisia spp. are abundant, although it is not proven that they are its larval host-plant.

Figures

Figure 1. Habitat of Paracossulus thrips between Ponor and Bezden Villages, 912 m.

Figure 2. Paracossulus thrips male, between Ponor and Bezden Villages, 912 m.

Figure 3. Habitat of Paracossulus thrips at Chepan Hill, below Petrovski Krust Summit, 1167 m.

Figure 4. Paracossulus thrips male at Chepan Hill, below Petrovski Krust Summit, 1167 m.

Figure 5. Habitat of Paracossulus thrips at Vidlič Mt., above Gulenovci Village, 967 m.

Figure 6. Paracossulus thrips male at Vidlič Mt., above Gulenovci Village, 967 m.

Figure 7. Paracossulus thrips male from Vidlič Mt., above Gulenovci Village, 967 m. Scale bar = 1 cm.

Figure 10. Distribution of Paracossulus thrips in the Balkan Peninsula. Red dots represent the new localities; black dots – published localities; yellow dot – false published locality.