Synanthedon myopaeformis myopaeformis (BORKHAUSEN 1789)

Garrevoet, T., Garrevoet, W. & Özbek, H., 2007, Data on the Geographic Distribution of Sesiidae (Lepidoptera) in Turkey, Linzer biologische Beiträge 39 (2), pp. 929-953 : 936

Synanthedon myopaeformis myopaeformis (BORKHAUSEN 1789)

= Synanthedon armeniaca GORBUNOV 1991 syn.nov.

M a t e r i a l: Bolu: Yeniçağa, N40°44'44.1" E31°51'30.1", 06-07-2004. Van: Gevaş, N38°17'13.8" E43°04'06.1", 12-07-2001.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: throughout Europe (to southern Scandinavia), European Russia (north to St. Petersburg), Spain, northern Italy, Turkey, Cyprus as Synanthedon myopaeformis luctuosa (LEDERER 1853) ( BARTSCH 2004), northern Egypt, Transcaucasia, Kyrgyzstan (ŠPATENKA & KALLIES 2006).

R e m a r k s: a rather rare species in Turkey, probably due to the absence of suitable food plants (fruit trees, mainly Malus sp.) in many regions. However, one of us (H. Özbek) found many larvae in an apple orchard in Çamlibel Oltu (Erzurum Province). Apparently, all Turkish specimens show a larger distal spot on the hind wing, a character becoming gradually more prominent towards eastern Turkey. This, together with a less extensive white ventral side of the males was thought to be the main distinguishing feature of S. armeniaca (GORBUNOV 1991) Considering the Turkish specimens as intermediates, we conclude S. armeniaca is a form of S. myopaeformis and therefore synonymise it with the latter.