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Zeitschrift/Journal: Newsletter of the Societas Europaea Lepidopterologica

Jahr/Year: 2018

Band/Volume: 60

Autor(en)/Author(s): diverse

Artikel/Article: Newsletter of the Societas Europaea Lepidopterologica 60 1 Volume 60 – February 2018

The Newsletter of the Societas Europaea Lepidopterologica

A kind reminder: please pay your membership fee – Rappel pour les paiements – Zur Erinnerung: bitte zahlen Sie Ihren Mitgliedsbeitrag ...... 2 Changes to the list of members – Änderungen zur Mitgliederliste – Changements à la liste des membres ...... 3 Partial Council meeting 2017 in Frankfurt ...... 4 New SEL committees ...... 5 Print of Nota Lepidopterologica delayed ...... 5 New Books ...... 6 The case of a female gypsy urticating: a lepidopterist caught lepidopterism ...... 7–8 Do you think that size really matters? ...... 9 About Cydalima perspectalis in Belgium ...... 10 The salicis complex: a request for material () ...... 11 Focus on Africa ...... 12 Ambassadors of the Neotropical Lowland Rainforest ...... 13–22 10th International Congress of Forum Herbulot in Stuttgart (Germany) – registration has started ...... 23 Butterflies of the Middle East –rd 3 International Congress ...... 24 Combined Annual Meeting of the Lepidopterists' Society and Societas Europaea Lepidop- terologica ...... 25 Membership 2018 – Mitgliedschaft 2018 – Cotisation 2018 ...... 26 Local SEL treasurers – Les trésoriers nationaux de la SEL – Die lokalen SEL-Schatzmeister ...... 26 Application for membership – Aufnahmeantrag – Bulletin de souscription ...... 27

1 SELepidoptera News (ISSN 0721- 8117) is published by the Societas A kind reminder: please pay your membership fee Europaea Lepidopterologica Editor: Dear SEL members, Franziska Bauer Please check whether you have transferred your membership fee for 2018 [email protected] and previous years: [email protected] Ordinary member: 50€ President: Corporate member: 65€ Erik van Nieukerken [email protected] The membership fee is due on January 1 of every year. Please transfer your (yet missing) membership fee to the account below. Alternatively you may Vice President: also pay the amount to your local treasurer (see page 26). Thank you! A Thomas Simonsen letter with membership card and payment reminder will be sent to all mem- [email protected] bers in February 2018. If your address has changed, please inform the Mem- bership Secretary Hossein Rajaei ([email protected]). General Secretary: Carlos Lopez Vaamonde [email protected] Rappel pour les paiements

Treasurer: Chers membres de la SEL, Wolfgang Eckweiler Merci de vérifier que vous avez bien payé votre cotisation pour 2018 et les [email protected] années précédentes.

Membership Secretary: Membres ordinaires: 50€ Hossein Rajaei Institutions et entreprises: 65€ [email protected] La cotisation annuelle est due à compter du 1er janvier. Merci d’opérer le Ordinary council members: transfert bancaire de votre cotisation 2017 (et éventuellement celles des an- Joaquín Baixeras Almela nées précédentes) au compte bancaire ci-dessous. Vous pouvez aussi payer à [email protected] votre trésorier national, dont la liste est à la page 26 de SELepidoptera News. Franziska Bauer En Février 2018, une lettre sera envoyée à chaque membre pour leur adres- [email protected] ser leur carte de la SEL et leur demander de payer au plus vite la cotisation David Lees pour 2018. Merci d'informer Hossein Rajaei, le secrétaire aux membres, de [email protected] votre nouvelle adresse, si elle a changée ([email protected]). Iva Mihoci [email protected] Pasquale Trematerra Zur Erinnerung: Bitte zahlen Sie Ihren Mitgliedsbeitrag [email protected] Liebes SEL-Mitglied, Web Committee: bitte prüfen Sie, ob Sie Ihren Mitgliedsbeitrag für 2018 und die vorangegan- Richard Mally genen Jahre bezahlt haben. [email protected] Franziska Bauer Einfache Mitglieder: 50€ [email protected] Institutionelle Mitglieder: 65€

Webmaster for SEL website: Ihr SEL-Mitgliedsbeitrag wird immer zum 1. Januar eines jeden Jahres fäl- Richard Mally lig. Bitte überweisen Sie Ihren (ggf. noch ausstehenden) Betrag auf das un- [email protected] ten stehende Bankkonto. Alternativ können Sie den Betrag auch an Ihren Gregor Kunert SEL-Schatzmeister vor Ort (siehe Seite 26) bezahlen. Vielen Dank im Vor- [email protected] aus! Ein Brief mit Mitgliedskarte und Zahlungserinnerung wird im Februar 2018 an alle Mitglieder versendet. Falls sich Ihre Adresse geändert haben Publication: sollte, wenden Sie sich bitte an den SEL-Mitgliedersekretär Hossein Rajaei Nota Lepidopterologica ([email protected]). Editors: Maria Heikkilä [email protected] Bank: Postbank Köln David Lees [email protected] IBAN: DE63 3701 0050 0195 6505 07 http://www.soceurlep.org BIC: PBNKDEFF

2 Newsletter of the Societas Europaea Lepidopterologica Changes to the list of members – Changements à la liste des membres – Änderungen zur Mitgliederliste Hossein Rajaei, SEL membership secretary; [email protected] Changes to the list of members / Changements à la liste des membres / Änderungen in der Mitgliederliste Abbreviations – abréviations – Ab- Koren, Toni Deleted members – Membres kürzungen now living in Croatia, radiés – Gelöschte Mitglieder* SI: special interests – Interessen – in- [email protected] téresses BIOSIS (Information Authority De- Shaw, Mark partment) (U.S.A.) [email protected] Behzadi, Mohammad Reza (Iran) New members – Nouveaux mem- Belik, Alexei G. (Russia) bres – Neue Mitglieder Bidychak, Roman (Ukraine) Deceased – Décédé – Verstorben Hauenstein, Werner (Switzerland Holzhause, Chantal Laiho, Juha (Finland) Stuttgart, Germany van Oorschot, Harry (September 28, McNamara, Donald S. K. (UK) EM: [email protected] 2017) Park, Kyu-Tek (South Korea) SI: Geometridae Cox, Anton (May 5, 2016) Réal, Pierre J. G. (France) Kurz, Marion Elisabeth (November Rymen, René (Belgium) 20, 2017) Summers, Glenn Brian (France) Changes in email addresses – Changements d’adresses e-mail – *exclusion from SEL after being in arrears Geänderte E-Mail-Adressen Resignations – Radiation – Aus- with payment of fee for more than two tritte years – la radiation de la SEL est automa- Aalto, Antti Viktor tique au bout de deux années civiles sans [email protected] Hill, Leslie John (UK) paiement de la cotisation statutaire – Aus- Kinoshita, Soichiro (Japan) schluss aus der SEL wegen Zahlungsrück- Baron, Thomas Tshikolovets, Vadim (Czech Republic) ständen über mehr als zwei Jahre now living in Germany, Weisert, Friedrich (Austria) ■ [email protected] Zubek, Anna (Poland)

Charmeux, Jean-Francois [email protected]

Danchenko, Alexander [email protected]

Franz, Raimund [email protected]

Franzen, Markus [email protected]

No. 60 February 2018 3 Partial Council Meeting in Frankfurt 2017 Erik van Nieukerken, SEL president

On September 19 and 20 president house and discuss especially fi- in the program Filemaker and Erik van Nieukerken visited Wolf- nances together with membership make the collaboration much easi- gang Eckweiler in Frankfurt, in or- secretary Hossein Rajaei and with er. Membership cards and remind- der to make Wolfgang’s position as Marianne Espeland, who volun- er letters can now immediately be SEL treasurer official according to teered to become member of the printed from this database. German law (Fig. 1). For this they financial committee (see also be- Several other matters were dis- visited the Ortsgericht in Frank- low) (Fig. 2). Marianne will assist cussed in preparation of the com- furt/Main on the 20th where their Wolfgang especially with regards ing SEL Council meeting in Lon- signatures were validated by a No- to communication with mem- don 2018. tary. bers around financial matters. The ■ This opportunity was taken to member and financial databases meet also on the 20th in Wolfgang’s for SEL were designed by Wolfgang

Figure 1. Wolfgang Eckweiler (right) is the new official treasurer of the SEL.

Figure 2. Informal Council meeting on September 20, 2017 in Frankfurt/Main (Germany). Membership secretary Hossein Rajaei, President Erik van Nieukerken, Marianne Espeland, and Treasurer Wolfgang Eckweiler (fltr).

4 Newsletter of the Societas Europaea Lepidopterologica New SEL committees SEL President Erik van Nieukerken; [email protected]

In the previous SELepidoptera van Nieukerken, members Vazrick teered to assist Treasurer Wolfgang News 59 (page 13) we announced Nazari and Richard Mally have Eckweiler, particularly in dealing two new committees to assist volunteered to become member with mailing of membership cards, council for the coming years. Since of this committee. The purpose of invoices and correspondence about then some members willing to par- this committee is to generate dis- arrears in fees. Being all in Germa- ticipate have stepped forward, and cussion on how SEL should evolve ny, the lines are short and they can here we can report that both com- in the coming years, and what meet up now and then as needed. mittees have started off. Since these measures we need to take, e.g. in Wolfgang remains the responsible are not permanent committees changing Statutes and By-laws. See council member for all financial in the sense of our By-laws , they more details in the previous News- matters, but it is possible that oth- will not be elected by the General letter (no. 59). If you are still inter- er committee members may be in Meeting. ested to join this club, let us know! contact with you when needed. Future of SEL. Next to council Finances. Marianne Espeland ■ members Hossein Rajaei and Erik and Robert Trusch have volun-

Print of Nota Lepidopterologica delayed

Council regrets that due to the change of printing company, the ISSN 2367-5365 (online) ISSN 0342-7536 (print) printed version of Nota volume 40 (2017) was unfortunately much delayed. The volume will be posted NOTA early February 2018. If you did not receive Nota by March, please no- LEPIDOPTEROLOGICA tify membership secretary Hossein Rajaei at hossein.rajaei@smns-bw. de. The late issue of the printed volume does not affect publication dates, which are always the dates for the online publication of the individu- al articles at https://nl.pensoft.net/ articles. ■

http://nl.pensoft.net Volume 40 • Numbers 1 and 2 • 2017 http://nl.pensoft.net !

No. 60 February 2018 5 New Books Checklist of the of Germany, volume 3 in ENTOMOFAUNA GERMANICA, 2nd edi- tion, edited by Reinhard Gaedike, Matthias Nuss, Axel Steiner & Robert Trusch in collaboration with the Entomofaunistische Gesellschaft e. V., 362 pp, 16 colour plates. Price: €30 plus shipping. The 2nd edition of the checklist by Gaedike & Heinicke (eds, 1999) presents a distributional list of all 3,682 Lepidoptera species recorded from Germany. The distribution of each species in the federal states is indicated in four periods: recorded only until 1900, last recorded 1901–1980, last recorded 1981– 2000, and last recorded 2001–2016. A separate chapter deals with 312 non-native species which were accidentally introduced, recorded erroneously or whose occurrence is unexplained or doubtful. Order via Entomofaunistische Gesellschaft, Geschäftsstelle, Postfach 202731, D-01193 Dresden or email: klausnitzer.col@t-online. de

Das Verzeichnis der Schmetterlinge Deutschlands (2. Auflage) enthält auf 362 Seiten (incl. 16 Farbtafeln) 3.682 Arten, die aus Deutschland sicher nachgewiesen sind. Das Vorkommen der Arten in den ein- zelnen Bundesländern wird in vier Zeitstufen angegeben: Nachweise bis 1900; Nachweise 1901–1980; Nachweise 1981–2000; Nachweise 2001–2016. Die Verbreitungsta- belle wird ergänzt durch zahlrei- che Anmerkungen zur Faunistik und Taxonomie einzelner Arten. In einem eigenen Kapitel werden 312 fragliche Nachweise, irrtüm- lich gemeldete, mutmaßlich einge- schleppte und nicht bodenständige Arten kommentiert. Bestellungen bitte an die Ento- mofaunistische Gesellschaft, Ge- schäftsstelle, Postfach 202731, D-01193 Dresden oder E-Mail: [email protected]

6 Newsletter of the Societas Europaea Lepidopterologica The case of a female gypsy moth urticating: a lepidopterist caught lepidopterism Jaan Viidalepp, Zoology collections, Institute of Agriculture and Environmental Studies, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia; [email protected] Alar Viidalepp, North Estonia Medical Centre Foundation, Tallinn, Estonia

Abstract. The gypsy moth has invaded 2016 the first mass outbreak of a calendula extract and hydrocor- Estonia 2009. The first population gypsy moth population was dis- tizone gel. Antihistamine tablets outbreak in oak forest was detected covered in Kõrkküla, Saaremaa (one per day) were also used and 2016. A case of strong urtication by a (58º16'N, 22º16'E). The dispersal of the allergic reaction disappeared in female specimen of the gypsy moth, the gypsy moth in Estonia is now four days. Lymantria dispar (Linnaeus, 1758), is monitored (Õunap 2013). The case described above may described. Urtication cases caused by be exceptional, but the possibility gypsy moth larvae and, more often, by The first case of lepidopterism in of urtication disease must be tak- some other hairy larvae of from Estonia. An Estonian lepidopterist en into account in areas with gypsy the Lymantriidae and Thaumetopoeidae was out moth-collecting on Hari- moth outbreaks, via felling of dried families have only rarely been mentioned laid Peninsula, Western Saaremaa trees near settlements, and one in Europe. Treatment of allergic urticaria 58º58'N, 23º05'E), on a warm night should keep eye on children play- is discussed. on August 16, 2017. About twenty ing nearby. The gypsy moth larvae female specimens of L. dispar were are like handsome, multi-coloured, The object studied. The gypsy attracted by the light source and living toothbrushes. moth is a widespread moth species, a pair of voucher specimens was occurring in Eurasia and North trapped. The gypsy moth females About bioecology of the gypsy America. It inhabits the deciduous are driven to find secure places to moth (Lymantria dispar). The forests zone of Europe. The north- lay their eggs. One of these moths moths are on wings during the sec- ern distribution limits of Lymantria found the collector’s sleeve to be ond half of summer, with the males dispar and its abundance are ruled suitable for this purpose, crawled being day-active and flying at night by climatic conditions. in, reached the elbow region, and as well; the females, after mating, The recent climate change has started to struggle. After only a seek ovipositing places after sun- triggered the northward expansion minute it set away, and mild skin set. Mating probably occurs soon or northward shift of the distribu- irritation was felt a few minutes lat- after a female has left its pupal skin, tion area of this and other er on the proximal side of this arm. because the specimens coming to species. From 2009, first sporadic The allergic itching spread over the light begin to deposit eggs immedi- specimens were encountered on hand and also to the right side of ately (pers. obs. by the first author the mainland part of Estonia by the torso (Fig. 1). The man felt bad in East Siberia, concerning both forest service and amateur ento- the next morning, but he was able Lymantria dispar and rosy gypsy mologists (Õunap 2013). The first to drive home to Tallinn. The aller- moth, L. mathura aurora Butler, specimen on Saaremaa island was gic reaction and itching was treat- 1877). Moths lay their eggs in por- taken in 2011, and, soon after, in ed at home using compresses with tions on trunks and the twigs of food trees, using a sticky secretion to fix eggs on the substrate (Spuler 1908: pg. XXIV). The gypsy moth female oviposits its 500-800 eggs, if not disturbed, in one more-or-less compact clump and covers it with scales from the tip of the abdomen. The larvae hatch from eggs after hibernating. Young larvae may use silk threads for airborne dispersal as juvenile spiders do (CABI 2017). They feed preferably on oak (Quer- cus robur), but may also make use of other deciduous trees. The gypsy moth larvae have dorsal secretory glands on abdominal segments. The secretion from these glands is disseminated on hairs and makes the larvae unpalatable to birds. As Figure 1. The allergic urticaria spread from the inner side of hand onto body. the hairs are easily breakable by

No. 60 February 2018 7 contact, these may cause skin irri- ial reactions is mostly supportive ical-Importance-Sixth-Edition/God- tation or urticating reactions in an- and only in rare cases necessitates dard/p/book/9781439850855 (visited imals and humans. This way, some a visit to the ER. As a supportive 24.09.2017) sticky secretion is used by gypsy measure, it is recommended to Gottschling, S., Meyer, S. 2006. An moth females to cover their eggs, wash the affected skin using soap epidemic airborne disease caused by the and by their larvae as well, in to be and water without overly rubbing oak processionary caterpillar. Pediatric unpalatable. or massaging the area. After softly Dermatology 23 (1): 64–66. www.uks. drying the site, gently stripping the eu/fileadmin/UKS/Einrichtungen/Klin- What is lepidopterism? Lepidop- site with adhesive duct tape can be iken-und-Institute/Kinder-und-Jugen- terism is a disease caused by the ur- useful in removing the remaining medizin/GIZ/ Publikationen (visited ticating scales and toxic secretions setae from the skin. Topical swab- 12.10.2017) of adult moths, butterflies, and bing with alcohol or application of Hoover, G.A. 2000. Gypsy Moth their larvae (Pallara et al. 2016). ice packs is useful for the cooling Lymantria dispar (Linnaeus). Insect Ad- Most published cases of lepidop- effect that reduces the local inflam- vice from Extension. ento.psu.edu/ex- terism in Europe have been caused matory reaction (Diaz 2005; Norris tension/factsheets/gypsy-moth (visited by contact with oak processionary 2007). Urticarial lesions typically 24.09.2017). caterpillars, Thaumetopoea proces- respond well to topical corticoster- Kikuchi, T., Kobayashi, K., Sakata, K., sionea (Linnaeus, 1758) (Burri & oid lotions and oral antihistamine Akasaka, T. 2012. Gypsy moth-induced Schniepper 2009; Maronna et al. drugs that effectively reduce the in- dermatitis: a hospital review and com- 2008); their venom is also studied. tensity of the symptoms. In case of munity survey. European Journal of Der- It is “a protein cocktail containing acute respiratory symptoms or an- matology, 22 (3): 384–390 DOI: 10.1684/ thaumetopoein, a histamine-liber- aphylaxis, quick medical interven- ejd.2012.1722 ating toxin” (Gottschling & Meyer tion in the emergency department Maronna, A., Stache, H., Sticherling, 2006). Urtications caused by gyp- is required. M. 2008. Lepidopterism — oak proces- sy moth larvae are investigated in sionary caterpillar dermatitis: Appear- USA (Wirtz 1984; Goddard 2012) Acknowledgements ance after indirect out-of-season contact. and Japan (Kikuchi et al. 2012), We thank Aare Lindt for taking the pho- JDDG, Journal of the German Society but allergic reactions from adult to and allowing us to use it in the publi- of Dermatology 6 (9): 747–750. DOI: moths of this species are seemingly cation. Our thanks go to the team of Oü 10.1111/j.1610-0387.2008.06652.x (visit- rare (Anderson et al. 1983; Hoover Tõlketee (Tartu, Estonia) for the linguistic ed 24.09.2017) 2000; Mullen & Durden 2009). revision of the text. Mullen, G.R. & Durden, L.A. [eds.] 2009. Medical and Veternary Entomolo- Urticarial reaction. Both me- References gy. - ScienceDirect, www.sciencedirect. chanical irritation and injection of Anderson, J.F., Furniss, W.E. 1983. Ep- com/science/book/9780125104517 (visit- venom by the caterpillar spines or idemic of urticaria associated with first ed 10.10.2017) hairs contribute to the urticarial re- instar larvae of the gypsy moth (Lepidop- Norris, R.L. 2007. Caterpillar enveno- sponse in humans (Goddard 2013). tera: Lymantriidae). Journal of Medical mation treatment & management. Med- The gypsy moth larvae possess two Entomology, 20 (2): 146–150. scape: Drugs & Diseases. - Emedicine. types of defensive setae. Longer, Burri, M., Schniepper, M. 2009. Be- medscape.com/article/772949-treatment slender setae cause irritation to the ware of caterpillars with urticating hairs. (visited 10.10.2017) skin, primarily due to mechanical https://www.waldwissen.net/technik/ Õunap, H. 2013. Ohtlikud invasiivsed damage. The shorter, smoothly holzernte/arbeit/wsl_schmetterlings- metsakahjurid. Eesti Mets 2013 (4): 7–13. tapered setae are connected with raupen_brennhaare/Index_EN (visited Pallara J.W., Mohan, A., Mohan, N., poison glands that produce his- 24.09.2017) Raghuveeran, V., Parayil, S., Thara, M. tamine (Mullen & Durden 2009). CABI Lymantria dispar (gypsy moth). L., Raghava, V. T., Koyikkal, K. V., An- The urticaria is thus likely caused 2017: Invasive Species Compendium. jana, N. 2016. Population Explosions by both a hypersensitivity reac- www.cabi.org/isc/ datasheet/31807 (visit- of Tiger Moth Lead to Lepidopterism tion and a direct histamine release ed 10.10.2017) Mimicking Infectious Fever Outbreaks. by the larva. Reactions vary from Diaz, J.H., 2005. The evolving global PlosOne, https://doui.org/10.1371/jour- mild to moderately severe pruritus, epidemiology, syndromic classification, nal.pone.0152787. (visited 24.09.2017) erythema, and papule formation. management, and prevention of cater- Spuler, A. 1908. Die Schmetterlinge First symptoms appear quickly and pillar envenoming. American Journal of Europas, Band 1. Stuttgart, Schweitzer- most cases resolve in a few days. Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 72 (3): bartsche Verlagsbuchhandlung. CXX- In rare cases a systemic reaction 347–357. https://doi.org/10.4269/ajt- VII+385 S. is possible. The airborne hairs of mh.2005.72.347 (visited 24.09.2017) Wirtz, R.A. 1984. Allergic and Toxic adult gypsy moths can also cause Goddard, J. 2012. II. Dermatitis and Reactions to Non-Stinging . hypersensitivity reactions and ir- urticaria from exposure to larval Lepidop- Annual Review of Entomology 29 (1): 47– ritation to the eyes and the upper terans. In: Physician's Guide to Arthro- 69. PMD6362550:doi:10.1146/annurev. respiratory tract. pods of Medical Significance. CRC Press/ en/29.010184.000403 (visited 24.09.2017) Taylor Francis, Boca Raton, Florida, USA.: ■ Treatment of urticaria. The gen- 113–462. https://www.crcpress.com/Phy- eral management of such urticar- sician's-Guide-to-Arthropods-of-Med-

8 Newsletter of the Societas Europaea Lepidopterologica Maybe you don't. Or you do. In any could be weighted as they are, as case, you might want to lend this a far as the weight of the pin can be hand, and you can if you can spare estimated. However the a few male specimens, reasonably mounted with minutiae have to be identified at least to genus level. 'de-pinned' (because the weight of Details: I would like to design the minutiae is not constant and a size index for the Lepidoptera, often is much larger than that of such that 'size' could be estimated the insects themselves). While they from a few linear measurements as won't be destroyed (and in case of a correlate to dry body weight. To damage I would do my best to fix do this I need the dry body weight the pieces), it is fair to admit that of male specimens a taxonomically there is about a 50% probability varied sample of species of this or- that they will be more or less seri- der. A first approach was published ously damaged. Fully understand- in Nota (https://nl.pensoft.net/arti- able, this is a reason why many cle/5218/) where you can check for institutional and non-institutional the details. Soon after publication I entomologists do not even answer decided that increasing sample size my messages… wouldn't probably be so difficult… while some entomologists would If, under these conditions, you can be able to contribute specimens lend a hand, please contact me for of taxa not yet represented in my details; I would send the full list samples. of taxa already represented in my So I still need specimens of samples, and the 'desiderata'. Also, many 'rare' families (e.g. Cecido- you might be able to suggest con- sidae, Agathiphagidae, Tineodi- tacts of potential donnors. What dae, Andesianidae, Eriocottidae, would you gain? Just Glory. Maybe Hedylidae…) but also of some you want to co-author the resulting taxa that are probably represented paper: this will probably be sub- in most collections, especially of mitted to Nota and will – no doubt microlepidoptera, such as Incur- – represent a milestone in the his- variidae, Prodoxidae, Carposini- tory of lepidopterology. Perhaps dae, Batrachedridae, Heliodinidae there are other options, please let and others, from anywhere in the me know! world. The problem: relatively large spec- Enrique García-Barros, Dept. Bi- imens (say, larger than 15 mm in ology, Universidad Autónoma de wingspan if mounted with regular Madrid, Madrid, Spain; garcia.bar- European insect pins and in num- [email protected] bers of three or more per species) ■

No. 60 February 2018 9 About Cydalima perspectalis in Belgium Willy De Prins; [email protected]

The first Belgian specimen of Cydal- like Steve Wullaert, operating light brown stripe just above the inner ima perspectalis, the box tree moth, traps powered with 125W, 160W margin of the fore wing (Fig. 3). has reached in 2010 in the north of and even 250W lamps, counted The two colour forms are much the country, vicinity of Antwerpen. up to 2000 specimens of the box less common than the nomino- Since then, the species has slowly tree moth in various localities in typical white form and therefore, I spread through all the Flemish Flanders. In the Catalogue of the tried to calculate the percentage of provinces (Antwerpen, Limburg, Belgian Lepidoptera, published on each three of them. Every weekend Oost-Vlaanderen, Vlaams-Brabant 2nd December 2016, the species from mid-August till mid-Septem- and West-Vlaanderen) and in this was not recorded from the Walloon ber I caught all specimens of this year it has been extremely com- provinces at all, but in the course species and counted the number of mon in many areas, sometimes in of 2017, the species spread over the each form. In total I counted 1,169 large numbers. In my own garden five southern Belgian provinces moths divided as follows: at Leefdaal (prov. Vlaams-Brabant) as well: Brabant Wallon, Hainaut, white form: 870 specimens, 74.4% I counted up to 200 specimens Liège, Luxembourg and Namur. brown form: 195 specimens, 16.7% each night in a small light trap with This is particularly annoying since form with brown line: 104 speci- an 8W actinic blue lamp, though I our own native Buxus species, Bux- mens, 8.9% do not grow Buxus in my garden. us sempervivens, will probably be It would be interesting to com- My two neighbours do (did!) and, destroyed as well. pare these figures with other pop- although in springtime there were Apart from the well-known ulations and especially to study no signs of any frass, their bushes white form (Fig. 1), there is also the genetic background. Mendel were completely devoid of leaves at a complete brown morph (Fig. 2) would be happy! the end of summer. Entomologists and a form that has a conspicuous ■

Figures 1–3. Known morphs of Cydalima perspectalis.

Figure 4. Hundreds of Cydalima perspectalis coming to light at Paal (Prov. Limburg, Belgium), 28.VIII.2017 (photo: Steve Wullaert)

10 Newsletter of the Societas Europaea Lepidopterologica The Stigmella salicis complex: a request for material (Nepticulidae) Erik J. van Nieukerken, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, PO Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, Netherlands; [email protected]

Stigmella salicis (Stainton, 1854) to tackle with geometric morpho- adults could be useful, especial- was until recently regarded as a metrics of the genitalia, already ly when from southern Europe. widespread, variable leafminer of partly successfully. Also leafmines We already have a good coverage various sallows and willows (Sa- show some differences e.g. in egg of material from most of Fennos- lix species), particularly the Great position. The study is a collabo- candia, the Netherlands and NW Sallow (), the Com- ration by a number of Europe- France and Great Britain, but ma- mon Sallow (S. cinerea and S. atro- an scientists, but we realise at the terial from every other place in cinerea) and the Eared Sallow (S. moment that we need more mate- Europe (and West Asia or North aurita). There had been doubts rial especially from some parts of Africa) is welcome. Please contact whether more than one species Europe to understand the distri- me when you think you can con- was involved over time and some bution better and to get sufficient tribute. Apart from miners on the names were variously considered adult material to describe some of cited species of Salix, members of as synonym or not, but overall the the clusters. The clusters 1, 2 and 3 the complex can also be found on consensus was a single species, un- are widespread in Europe, clusters , S. eleagnos, S. pur- til a DNA barcoding study showed 5 and 6 are much more restricted purea, S. dasyclados (=gmelinii), S. that material identified asS. salicis and some others occur in the Ibe- phylicifolia and various alpine and and S. vimineticola (Frey, 1856) rian peninsula and the Mediterra- boreal species. together formed seven well sepa- nean islands. We are studying all rated barcode clusters, supported names given in the group to de- Reference also by other genes (van Nieuker- cide which names are available for Nieukerken, E.J. van, Mutanen M., ken et al. 2012). Since that paper some of these, while other clusters Doorenweerd, C. 2012. DNA barcoding we recognise now even three more need to be described as new spe- resolves species complexes in Stigmella clusters, and it was also shown that cies. We would welcome additional salicis and S. aurella species groups and S. arbusculae (Klimesch, 1951) material, particularly reared speci- shows additional cryptic speciation in is a good species (cluster 4 in the mens, if possible together with the S. salicis (Lepidoptera: Nepticulidae). 2012 paper). Distinguishing the leafmines, and leafmine material Entomologisk Tidskrift 132: 235–255. clusters morphologically, particu- with larvae, either kept in ethanol, http://www.repository.naturalis.nl/ larly in the genitalia, remained a or dried within the mine, allow- document/363525 problematic point that we now try ing DNA barcoding. Also trapped ■

Figure 1. Stigmella salicis leafmine on Salix atroci- nerea, Netherlands (ZH), Leidschendam, Vlietland, 16.x.2017.

Figure 2. Stigmella salicis cluster 2 leafmine on Salix caprea, Netherlands (LI), Bunde, Meerstraat, 5.xi.2017.

Figure 3 Stigmella salicis cluster 6, male, Great Britain (Hampshire), Portsmouth, leg. Langmaid & Thirwell 14.x.2011, reared in Leiden 11.iv.2012.

No. 60 February 2018 11 Focus on Africa David Agassiz; [email protected]

At the SEL Congress in Croatia in tute of Systematics and Evolution Lepidoptera workshops had April 2017 it became clear that a of , Polish Academy of taken place in Ghana in 2011 and considerable number of lepidop- Sciences. Uganda in 2014 and one is planned terists have a special interest in the Most stayed at a hotel within in Madagascar in April 2018. African fauna. walking distance of the Institute Members are considering possible Accordingly a gathering was which is close to the historic Town locations for a fourth such work- convened in Kraków on 30th Square in Kraków old town. A se- shop, this requires good contacts Sept/1st October 2017. Despite an ries of scientific presentations was within the country and satisfactory unfortunate clash with the meeting followed which included the Afro- arrangements for obtaining per- of German speaking microlepi- moths website and the African missions. dopterists no less than 32 people Natural History Research Trust, as The hope was also expressed that attended (Fig. 1). well as taxonomic and faunistic pa- space might be found for an Africa The meeting was organised by pers. After the presentations mem- workshop within future SEL Con- Lukasz Przybylowicz assisted by bers were able to see the collections gresses. his colleague Jakub Sternalski with of the Institute on Saturday and of ■ the generous support of Dr Sebas- MZUJ (Zoological Museum of Jag- tian Tarcz, Director of the Insti- iellonian University) on Sunday.

Figure 1. Workshop on African Lepidoptera in Kraków, Poland.

12 Newsletter of the Societas Europaea Lepidopterologica Ambassadors of the Neotropical Lowland Rainforest Armin Dett, Germany; [email protected] (all photos and figures in this article were produced by the author)

I’m sitting on the bus, traveling pean and Tropical butterflies and things. Triggered by a traumatic on the Panamericana from San moths. Their patterns, colours and event, I was searching for joy and José to southern Costa Rica. This forms have cast a spell over me ever happiness not burdening other is kilometre treinta y siete (37), since. As a child I painted them, people. I was looking for some- near Rio Claro, Golfito. Zipping marvelled at them from every an- thing constructive, something that by me, nothing but endless kilo- gle or tried to find out their names. I could do in the midst of night- metres of palm oil plantations and In those days, neither mares and sleeplessness and for- I’m already looking forward to browsers nor internet were availa- tunately I remembered from my the fragrance of the garden at Re- ble. In books I could find coloured childhood those brightly coloured, search Station La Gamba and to prints or mostly painted pictures delicate butterflies. What followed the steaming lowland rainforest of rainforest habitats chock full of was the book project “Scarlet Ti- that has survived there as a chain butterflies that looked simply un- ger and Nun – Shedding light on of large nature reserves. It is one of believable. For the first time, I fell the secret lives of moths”. It shows the most diverse regions of Central victim to “tropical fever”! Even approximately 230 moth species America in terms of animals and then it made me happy just to from my own garden in southern plants. My mission there: to attract gaze in amazement at those mul- Germany. moths in the rainforest and photo- ticoloured butterflies. A beautiful graph them live. I’m an enthusias- rainforest butterfly would leave A further traumatic event came tic lover of nature which never fails me day-dreaming and the next day on top of the other and thus I de- to inspire me and do me good. As would inspire my performance on cided finally to fulfil my dream of a designer and fan of the rainfor- the soccer field. I was sure that I “exploring” in the rainforest. But est and butterflies and moths (Fig. wanted to become a rainforest ex- explore what, and how and when? 1), my idea is to capture the beauty plorer. Yet it all came about quite I’m not a scientist and certainly not and variety of moths in the rainfor- differently. an entomologist – I’m a design- est of La Gamba in a book (Fig. 2) er and thus closer to the fine arts to show it to others as an art pro- I studied communication de- than to research. But I am very fa- ject created through knowledge. sign and so I have been working miliar with colours and forms and self-employed for 26 years as a de- so I developed an “artistic project” How it all began signer and received several inter- in order to be able to “explore”. It Butterflies have been fascinating national design awards. However, was to be a nature guide for moths me since my early childhood; my my interest in butterflies remained in a rainforest and intended to father owned a collection of Euro- – even if it was displaced by other convince people that there are

Figure 1. Armin Dett in the Costa Rican rainforest. Figure 2. Cover of "Moths of Costa Rica's Rainforest" authored by Armin Dett

No. 60 February 2018 13 Figure 3. Locality and climatographs of the study area in Costa Rica.

fantastically beautiful moths that book for a rainforest was a stay at would retouch for example spots, animate the heavens every night the La Gamba Tropical Station in dust and scales that had fallen off and that need our attention and southwestern Costa Rica (Fig. 3), the moths: painstaking work that appreciation before they, together together with my family, which at took several months. with the rainforest that they enliv- that time was still intact. Its unique Anyone who has ever been out en, disappear, giving way to palm location at the edge of the Piedras and about in rainforests will be able oil plantations, forever. My idea Blancas National Park and its spe- to understand that even just mov- was to attract moths at night us- cies-rich forests, the friendly and ing around in a rainforest is rather ing an artificial light source and to open people at the Station, in par- strenuous. Particularly when bur- photograph them in the way they ticular among the administrators, dened with two motorcycle bat- live and move. A plan for its imple- the encounters with scientists from teries, a good number of empty mentation was needed. various research areas, and the plastic containers and buckets, a good working conditions includ- 2-metre-tall light tower with two The experimental set-up ing the laboratory and the station’s 60 cm fluorescent tubes (Blacklight An absolutely decisive factor in garden, helped me form my plan. Blue, Phillips 18 Watt/12 V and realizing my vision of a moth Setting out during the day from Sylvania 20 Watt/ 12 V), with a wa- the Station on the rainforest paths ter bottle and some small emergen- (Figs 4, 5), I sought out locations cy items – and all of this in rubber where I could set up an artificial boots. On top of that the majori- light source at night mounted on a ty of the time alone, with sudden light tower. Once having lured the streaming downpours of rain on nocturnal butterflies, I carefully slippery forest paths. With strange, trapped them in clear plastic con- loud background noises and in ab- tainers and photographed them at solute darkness for in the rainfor- the station’s laboratory. To do this est you can see neither moon nor I developed a light plan with a stu- starlit sky. I often felt overwhelmed dio set-up that I crafted myself in and yet each night at the light trap order to achieve final images that I found myself filled with great ten- were consistently of the same good sion and expectation: What beauti- quality. In order to do justice to the ful moth will I be able to discover richness of moth species, I limit- for myself this day of my life? For ed myself each night to a relative- me these rainforest nights were ly small number of species that I very moving experiences that al- had not yet seen until then. In this lowed me to forget injuries and way I was gradually able to become losses and transported me into an acquainted with the great diversi- absolute perception of the here- ty of species. Each trove of moths and-now. Highly concentrated yet was then followed by a conceptu- deeply relaxed, happy and joyful. al photo session that ended with releasing the moths undamaged. Each night at the light trap in the Thus several thousand images in rainforest is an experience RAW format were collected into In the nights at the light trap I en- a photo archive. From this archive countered a great number of other the approximately 1,100 photos for animals and experienced beautiful this book in the form of a printed and intensive natural phenomena. moth collection have come. Each Frog concerts, luminous branches, Figure 4. Impressions from the study individual image was followed by poisonous snakes, and time and area's rainforest. an image development in which I again fantastically beautiful moths.

14 Newsletter of the Societas Europaea Lepidopterologica Needless to say, as an artist and na- ture-lover I would ask myself upon each encounter: what was that this time then? Many other interesting insects of other genera (e.g. pray- ing mantises) also came to the light trap in the forest – many of them immediately began to prey upon the moths landing on the light tow- er. So from the context of my moth project it is understandable that in this book I should also present a few frogs and reptiles and other in- sects – they too live in the rainfor- est and are moth predators. They are part of the overall experience when you are out on the paths at night in the rainforest or when you are scanning the plants with head lamp and flashlight for moths that have landed on them. Anyone who rebuilt my test set-up would be able to make similar observations. In addition, the fortunate circum- stance that at the Tropical Station La Gamba you can meet other re- searchers and have the chance to talk to them informally and yet in a focused manner fills these tan- gential experiences with knowl- edge and unforgettable stories. Re- sulting from these exchanges with herpetologists, botanists and other scientists are the various contri- butions in this book, e.g. on the rainforest and on forest corridor projects (COBIGA and AMISTO- SA) in southern Costa Rica and the nature conservation work (conser- vation and reforestation) that these Figure 5. Impressions from the study area's rainforest. involve. At least to some degree then, I would like to present my for them. In the process it was im- I was on a night excursion on my La Gamba moth project to readers portant for me to use images that way to the light trap site of the pre- also in the form of an overall expe- make it possible to identify them vious evening. I was looking for rience. And especially to thank the or to assign them at least roughly moths that were still perhaps in authors of the expert contributions to families, subfamilies, or even hiding when suddenly three armed for their wealth of knowledge. to genera. Doing this all readers park rangers on patrol stopped and of this book will in future be able checked me. Of the native moths Art is free, asks questions, explains to identify by themselves a large they knew only the most promi- and makes visible – as does science. number of Neotropical moths by nent representatives (e.g. the Roth- Through my book “Moths of Cos- close observation. I have focused schildia), but they showed great in- ta Rica's rainforest” I would like to predominantly on large moths and terest and were quite moved after I give a visual presence to unknown representatives of families that are told them about my project. They moths. Normally you find Neo- frequently encountered. Normally positively lit up when they saw my tropical moths only in collections regional nature field guides con- moth pictures and there was quite and then you stand amazed at their tain only a handful of butterfly and a buzz in the air when I showed beauty. Or you find them circling moth species, mainly well-known them the draft pages of this book around lights in the garden of a ho- day-flying Lepidoptera, if any at on my laptop. tel or you startle them when join- all. It can be assumed that even One can surely assume that it ing a guided night excursion. For local people seldom tend to know would be impossible for any one this book I have put together 450 species of butterflies and moths. person to see all the species of but- moth species and designed layouts I became conscious of this when terflies and moths that exist during

No. 60 February 2018 15 their lifetime, let alone recognize My art project shows at least a patterns like threatening, warn- them. In Costa Rica alone, which small portion of the butterfly and ing, feigning death, preening and is small in terms of surface area, it moth species that live in the for- posing naturally (Fig. 8). Such be- is suspected that there are around ests at La Gamba. In all probability, haviours are very difficult to doc- 16,000 species (including both the relatively small light source in ument in collections – but often small and large species of butter- the forest lured only those moths, these are the very observations that flies and moths). By comparison: that were residing in direct prox- help with identification and catch in Germany there exist around imity to the light or actively flying attention in the field. All photos 3,700 species. Worldwide there around, or itinerant ones that had show details in optimum quality are approximately 160,000 known come across the light of my lamp (e.g. definition and chromaticity) species. Other statistics that circu- and were attracted. Large sphinx but of course there were also limits late are similar: Many researchers and silk moths (Sphingidae and to what was possible depending on take as a basis 174,000 described Saturniidae) would often circle the photo and its two-dimensional species of butterflies and moths, fiercely around the light tower just digital parameters, for example, in with around 800 new species being to disappear again in the darkness cases in which specific body parts added annually. A large proportion before I could collect them. Dur- (e.g. hindwings or undersides) of these will surely never be able to ing other nights, huge numbers of were not visible to aid identifica- be fully described or even appear species and individuals of those tion because of the moth’s posture. in print – because, among other species arrived that it was hard for However, the overall appearance of reasons, field work done by biolo- me to decide which ones to restrict a moth species can still always be gists or taxonomists continues to myself to for photographing. The reproduced and the interested na- decline. Probably many rainforests species compiled in the book are ture-lover can find further infor- and other habitats will disappear sorted at the beginning according mation with the aid of the internet before their diversity of animals to their design and for the most and the species name. and plants was assessed. I am con- part according to the degree of To me as an artist, the photo- scious of the fact that after just relationship (superfamily, fami- graphically superior shot was of three sojourns at the Station (2014, ly, subfamily, genus, species) (Fig. higher importance when select- 2015 and 2016) I have document- 6) and specimens are arranged to ing images than was the most im- ed only a fraction of La Gamba’s scale to each other on single or portant feature for identification. moth species. double pages (Fig. 7). Some en- When taking the photos I at times Still, in my book 22 moth fami- largements and some downsizings also was not even yet familiar lies are documented out of ca. 137 were necessary, not at least because with the important distinguish- that exist worldwide. Ironically, in Costa Rica some of the world’s ing characteristics. As previously however, this very fact shows the largest butterfly and moth species mentioned, several thousands of immense plethora of species and are found (e.g. Thysania agrippi- individual images resulted from the task researchers are facing. na). Pages more suitable for iden- the three stays at the Station (2014, tification are followed by others 2015 and 2016). After digital- that display significant behavioural ly processing them, I went ahead

Figure 6. The sequence of moth displays follows current classification and systematics.

16 Newsletter of the Societas Europaea Lepidopterologica Figure 7. Moths are arranged to scale to each other in the book. with sorting the species by degree on the other hand, can age. To me, books on the range of topics that of relationship (e.g. family) and the fact that I have the opportunity cover Neotropical butterflies and distributing them over the pages and the freedom to show Neotrop- moths. There is probably no oth- of the book. To do this I studied all ical moths in book form to many er book of this kind and with this accessible sources, internet pages readers on various continents is a kind of layout for any other rain- and some collections and books, really great thing. I received this forest, and even the renowned re- but unfortunately this made me re- opportunity and likewise trust search stations in northern and alize that many ambiguities and of- from the Verlag Benteli publishing central Costa Rica do not have ten even erroneous identifications house represented by Markus Se- any comparable presentation of or name duplications circulated bastian Braun. Much more than a the butterflies and moths in the online. Again many months passed screen, a beautifully designed page forests that surround them. Surely in order for me to deal with this sit- in a book is an invitation to study, the species found in these areas are uation. Endless night hours spent to spend some time, to repose and different from those of he lowland at the computer followed, this time yet be attentive. Without any elec- rainforest around La Gamba. But at home. tronic support the “Moths of Cos- my book on moths and butterflies ta Rica's rainforest” can be placed does offer an introduction to com- A moth book in a digital world? on your lap, given as a present or mon moth families – at least for As I see it, an art project needs a taken down from the bookshelf night-flying moths. certain “physical quality” that to be studied repeatedly. To my touches people (intellectually and knowledge there is much more to physically): a quality that is mani- be found on the internet than in fested, that can survive over a cer- tain time span, that can be re-ex- perienced, and that also holds a certain personal level that it gets from its author. I believe that a book meets this need particularly well – not a single millimetre of a book happened by chance; each image, each word is set in its place and in its form and size. Multiple copies are made and distributed in order to have an impact on people, perhaps to stimulate or motivate them. In contrast to a book, an internet page is quickly forgotten and who knows for how long there will be the internet anyway? Books, Figure 8. Moths are shown live and with natural body postures.

No. 60 February 2018 17 Defenceless but full of tricks – and bees. Likewise some saturniids to the bold histrionics with which moth survival tricks (e.g. Hemileucinae) imitate large they contort their contrasting col- Every day and every night, eggs, animals by means of eye spots on ours of the abdomen, which they larvae, caterpillars and butterflies their hindwings. The development display with wings directed up- wage a tough battle for surviv- of these mimicry strategies is based ward, they also release the sticky al against adverse environmental on the fact that predators “remem- brown, evil-smelling contents of conditions, lethal fungi and mur- ber” a bad experience because they their intestines. derous wasp stings, birds, bats and memorize the external appearance Frequently moths feign death by other insects. In this battle they of unpalatable butterflies and in drawing their antennae and legs use several survival tricks and be- the future avoid butterflies that protectively up against the body or haviours that are in part illustrated have such an effect. This, however, display the contrasting colors and/ in sequences in this book. Here I requires surviving the unpleasant or shaggy setae of their body seg- have concentrated on showing the encounter. Yet not only external ments (e.g. Hemileucinae, Pseudo- tricks of the adult moths. It is true appearance can be deludingly imi- dirphia, Hyperchiria, Molippa and that the image concept and the stu- tated; so too can behaviour. For ex- Periphoba) (Fig. 10). In this way dio lighting against a white back- ample, if a moth of the Megalopygi- they manage to simulate annoyed ground lead to a detachment of the dae family is repeatedly disturbed, bees and bumblebees that are pro- moth from its surrounding land- it gives off a scent that smells like tecting themselves by stinging. scape. But it is then all the more as- vinegar and makes a buzzing Representatives of the Phobetron tonishing and convincing that the sound like that of a bumblebee. genus (Limacodidae) are spectac- moths still resemble rotten leaves, Automeris postalbida (Hemileuci- ular not only as caterpillars. When broken twigs or animals with gi- nae, Saturniidae) first tries to res- their adults feel disturbed, they ant eyes. I would like to deal more cue itself from a threat by using the perform impressive spider imita- specifically with two basic survival camouflage attire of its forewings tion by moving their legs which tricks that are to be found in dif- – if the camouflage is not sufficient are covered with lots of dark se- ferent classifications: mimicry and to get rid of the attacker, it abruptly tae. They stretch out their legs to mimesis. unfolds its wings and directs them all sides of their body and retract towards the troublemaker, flaps them again, which makes the Mimicry in moths them rhythmically and presents moth’s body seem situated central- Mimicry (faking of signals) de- their eye spots (Fig. 9). In this way ly like in a spider. At the same time scribes a phenomenon in which it may be imitating a large the wings are closely attached to a harmless species imitates shape that has been disturbed and that the body, which reinforces the im- or coloration of an animal that is is possibly threatening or attack- pression of a wiggling spider. The capable of putting up a fight, e.g. ing. This way the already quite im- slug moth Perola sericera fiercely a moth imitating a wasp, in order pressive size of Automeris postal- moves its front legs, which it keeps to thereby gain better chances of bida becomes visually even larger. interlocked and cocked, stretching survival. Examples here are spe- Species of the Hypercompe genus them well out in front of the head. cies of Neotropical tiger moths (Arctiinae) (Fig. 11) also resort to The behaviour patterns and ad- (Arctiinae), which imitate wasps the chemical tricks list: In addition aptations described above always

Figure 9. Mimicry versus mimesis in Automeris postalbida (Saturniidae).

18 Newsletter of the Societas Europaea Lepidopterologica In addition to camouflage colours, warning colours with lots of con- trast also play an important role in the moths’ fight for survival. Of- ten both strategies are evenly em- ployed. Othreis memorans uses the full arsenal of tactics: the forewings have camouflage colours, with bright colour pigments and struc- tural colors (iridescent effects) be- ing featured. By contrast the hind- wings have bright-yellow warning hues, set off by black stripes. Many moths intensify the deceptive effect of their wing patterns and colours by holding their body in a particu- lar posture when at rest. It is very Figure 10. Feigning death in Hemileucine. impressive to observe this in repre- sentatives of the , Ura- aim to deceive a possible aggres- On the other hand, representatives niidae and Mimallonidae families. sor by means of signals and create of the Geometrinae (Geometri- While Cicinnus incerta (Mimallon- at the least confusion: moths gain dae) are for the most part green in inae) (Fig. 13) imitates a dried-out time in which they can attempt to color, like fresh leaves with blotch- and twisted leaf, Erosia veninotata flee. Automeris postalbida, for ex- es. Many Prominent moths (Noto- folds its hindwings protectively ample, suddenly flies off after sev- dontidae) resemble broken twigs over its vulnerable abdomen turn- eral attempts to irritate and then and little sticks. They sit with wings ing its four-winged habitus into a disappears in the rainforest. closed, roof-shaped, on branch- torn piece of leaf clinging to a tree es, on tree trunks or close to the trunk. Epia muscosa (Bombycidae) Mimesis in moths ground. Hapigia gaudens (Noto- holds its forewings of contrasting Some of the most frequent survival dontidae, ) even colours in an almost rectangular tricks of moths is imitating the hab- imitates green lichens, whereas shape with the hindwings hidden itat that surrounds them or parts of other representatives of the same behind and the hairy legs and the it, especially plant parts. The cam- subfamily imitate light or dark bark body practically blending in with ouflage, which correlates with the (e.g. the genus Ginaldia), moss or the substrate. Within a moth fam- habitat, is effective most particu- leaves, or perhaps even frogs (e.g. ily a certain uniformity of appear- larly against enemies that are vis- Phalerinae, deolis). The ance may predominate (e.g. La- ually orientated. Thus, moths, that objective of many markings on siocampidae, ), but are active at night, are also pro- moth wings is to use their pattern there are also groups of extremely tected during the day. Particular- to visually break up the moth’s variable habitus (e.g. ). ly in Costa Rican rainforests, that shape (e.g. Nystaleinae, Callede- Thus, identification of the species are inhabited by a great number ma contingata) or to distract from of diurnal, insectivorous animals, the vitally important head and camouflage during the day is im- draw attention to “false eyes” (e.g. portant for survival. This is espe- Spilomelinae, Acentropinae). It is cially true since day and night are particularly impressive to study almost equal in length. If you roam this in the Eulepidotinae. Big bars the rainforest of La Gamba during distract from the vulnerable head the day the forest seems practically and lead the eye towards the eye dead with all the animals being so spots on the hindwings, which at well camouflaged. The camouflage the same time also have little tails, experts include e.g. geometrids looking like false antennae. Large (Geometridae) of the genera Mi- white wing sections additionally corgonia and Oxydia (Fig. 12). break up the overall shape of the These are of predominantly brown moth at rest. However, in the plant hues of all shades, with a few spots kingdom it is not just brown and and a line that often runs seemingly green hues that protect. Butterflies continuously across all four wings also camouflage themselves with causing the impression of a midrib flashy, shining colors when imitat- of a leaf. The moths sit with open ing blossoms, fruits, rotting perfo- wings among dry leaves and at rest rated leaves, bark, lichens, moss, can barely be distinguished de- even light and shade. Anything is Figure 11. Hypercompe sp. feigning death spite their quite considerable size. possible and also put into practice. after excreting a repelling yellow fluid.

No. 60 February 2018 19 Figure 12. Geometrid moths, masters of camouflage.

in this book was laborious at times. Hedylidae family, which is current- that follow are displays of behavior The printed Neotropical moth ly regarded as part of the true but- patterns and decorative overviews collection – selection of the spe- terflies (Papilionoidea). Because of with various perspectives. On each cies for this book being treated previously as part of page the moths are illustrated in In this book more than 450 species the typical moth families I decid- correct proportion to each other in of 22 families are presented in a ed to include hedylids in the fauna size. way that makes their beauty shine. of Costa Rica. One fascinating as- It further intends to provide spe- pect of these “moth-butterflies” is Figure 13. Cicinnus incerta (Mimalloni- cies names and make the species the possession of a tympanal organ dae) feigning death and imitating a dried- recognizable for the reader. I have for detecting the calls of noctur- out and twisted leaf. therefore restricted myself to vis- nal bats. This mix of butterfly and ually eye-catching moths to repre- moth characteristics species to- sent their respective kin – species gether with the fact that they were that can be identified live in the attracted to the light trap was cru- field. The selection consists pre- cial in my decision to display them dominantly of large moths (mak- prominently in this book. rolepidopterans), but also a few In cases of identification mis- small moths (microlepidopterans) takes I ask for your forbearance. are shown because on the one hand Both the helpful experts and I have they were the absolute majority of made efforts to clarify all identifi- the moths at the light traps but on cation issues. But possibilities were the other I could not be sure of limited, not least by the combina- their identification. Ultimately all tion of time constraints, absence of animals were photographed live any collected specimen (because and subsequently released. there were only photos), lack of Each night at the light trap, I knowledge and editorial dead- already limited the selection of lines. The arrangements on the moths to trap and photograph to pages follow my own formal ideas 20–25 individuals. Most of them and do not match scientific classi- are males since females do not fication standards. Wherever it is come to lights so frequently. I take helpful for identification for exam- all the more pleasure in having still ple, I have arranged the moths in some females in this book. Their the same positions and sizes (e.g. presence confirmed that I was right Hemiceratinae, Hemiceras sp.). in the middle of their reproductive Families are presented in page se- habitat. quence whereby as a rule first a In the book I have included species representative of a fami- representatives of the nocturnal ly is shown magnified. The pages

20 Newsletter of the Societas Europaea Lepidopterologica Point, line, area, symbols and While it is thought that the ally fortunate encounters: first of contrasts – butterflies and moths Palaearctic ecozone has around all meeting my mentor Dr. Anton from the designer’s perspective 24,000 butterfly species, in the Ne- Weissenhofer (University of Vi- The designer, who often must take otropics there are more than 55,000 enna), who has been patiently an- complex content and functions and species. Each species of butterfly/ swering every email since 2014 no give them aesthetic and functional moth is a painting worthy of being matter on what continent he hap- form, frequently stands speechless discovered, studied and preserved. pened to be botanizing or whether and in awe when confronted with In every phase of development he was sweating out in the field! Or nature’s great variety and beau- each species has a role in nature’s meeting Prof. Dr. Konrad Fiedler ty. At least this is what happens to integral system that is of signifi- (University of Vienna), who with me when I am studying, let’s say, cance and that cannot be extin- great expertise guided and coun- butterflies, and particularly with guished without consequences for selled me. But particularly I would moths. Nothing seems to be im- nature’s network of relationships. here like to mention most especial- possible in terms of cerativity and This is the message I would like to ly Dr. Gunnar Brehm (University every stylistic device learned when point out with this book with its of Jena). Starting from my very studying design can be found: photographic, artistic insight into first request he demonstrated his points, lines and areas (Fig. 14). the vast number of moth species interest and was most helpful and Also, all contrasts according to It- to be found in just one small for- particularly knowledgeable with ten can be detected: hue contrast, est region. Along with their extinc- regard to both science and art. area contrast, cold-warm contrast, tion we would as well lose pieces of Much of this book’s commitment bright-dark contrast, quantity beauty and a wealth of ideas that and integrity is due to him. contrast, quality contrast, comple- bring us joy and happiness. mentary contrast and successive Many friends and acquaintances contrast. Compositions with ten- My heartfelt thanks! have supported me in this art pro- sion or with tranquillity, restraint Without any doubt at all, interper- ject on moths and so at this point or dominance, every conceivable sonal relationships figure among I would like to extend my particu- form and structure – the full spec- the very best experiences in this lar thanks to: Dr. Werner Huber, trum of artistic stylistic devices art project. At the beginning of the Dr. Wolfgang Wanek and Daniel and aspects could be adduced for project I felt rather “alone” – not Schaber for their contributions to an image description of just one only at night in the Costa Rican the Research Station La Gamba single moth wing. I draw happiness rainforest but also at home at the and its surrounding rainforest; Dr. and joy from this, and in search for computer. Granted, I never met an- Anton Weber for his contribution this nocturnal diversity, I first set yone who was not interested in my to bioluminescence; Andreas Berg- out for my own garden in southern project and the beautiful moths. er for his introduction to parasit- Germany (Palaearctic), and then But where and how do you find ic wasps and fungi in connection for Costa Rica (Neotropical) to experts who also help you, without with moths, for his spirited work encounter an plethora I had never running up expensive bills? Here collecting in San Miguel and for seen before. is where I can mention some re- his meticulous proofreading; Mi-

Figure 14. Point, line, area – moths from a designer's point of view.

No. 60 February 2018 21 chael Franzen for his generous have even accompanied me to the generous encouragement and fi- contributions on amphibians and light traps in the forest and Hele- nancial support, and best of all, reptiles; Dominik Rabl for his ex- na assisted in measuring captured again and again their understand- pertise on moth communities at La moths. The days spent with my ing for my restless nightly project. Gamba. My thanks go to Dr. Ian friend Paul who lives in Costa Rica Kitching (Sphingidae), Dr. Alex- with his loving wife Ches and who ander Schintlmeister (Notodonti- accompanied and supported me Information about the book: dae), Dr. Rolf Mörtter (Erebidae, unconditionally in our firm, trans- “Moths of Costa Rica’s Rainforest” Noctuidae), Dr. Konrad Fiedler (all atlantic friendship. He interpreted by Armin Dett (editor, author of text and families), Dr. Michel S. Laguerre my wishes in all respects and also pictures, image processing and layout) (Arctiini), Dr. Ryan St. Laurent finally translated the German texts 336 pp, 1.200 figures, in English, (Mimallonidae, Saturniidae), Al- for the book. Neither must I for- Verlag Benteli, released in 10/2017 berto Zilli PhD (Noctuidae); Har- get Elias Padilla and his wife Ma- first edition: 1,200 pcs, ald Krenn, Klaus Riede and Viktor ria who were kind hosts at Finca ISBN: 978–3–7165–1840–3, Hartung (other insect genera), et Alexis: I was even allowed to hunt Price: 58,–EUR al. moths at night in their living room! My travels and the absence that From all members of the Tropical A travelling exhibition is available with they caused have been supported Research Station La Gamba and large-sized photo prints that can be loaned and endured by my children Ame- especially from the Association for a fee (contact [email protected] lie and Helena Dett and my girl- for Promotion of the Tropical Re- in case of interest). friend Sigrid. Sigrid and Helena search Station La Gamba I received ■

Figure 15. Automeris in action.

22 Newsletter of the Societas Europaea Lepidopterologica 10th International Congress of Forum Herbulot in Stuttgart (Germany) – registration has started Hossein Rajaei, Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart, Germany; [email protected]

Hossein Rajaei (Stuttgart, Germa- interest. Additionally, we will have Date: June 11–16, 2018. ny) and Axel Hausmann (Munich, much time for discussions and for Venue: State Museum of Natural Germany) would like to welcome ‘social networking’. We invited sev- History Stuttgart, Germany (Fig. you to the 10th International Con- eral keynote speakers from around 1). gress of Forum Herbulot, entitled the world. “Integrative Taxonomy, a multidis- The congress will be closed with For registration and more informa- ciplinary approach to answer com- two attractive sightseeing pro- tion please contact Hossein Rajaei, plicated taxonomic questions”. grams (visiting the Black Forest, email: [email protected] In this congress the attendees the city of Tübingen and the fa- ■ have the opportunity to present mous Hohenzollern Castle). new results from their research on We encourage students to ap- geometrid moths, but also other ply. There are several travel-grants Lepidoptera if they are in common available for them.

Figure 1. State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart (Germany).

No. 60 February 2018 23 1st day, Thursday - 30/5/2018 Opening of the Congress and First Session with an emphasis on the butterflies of the Middle East: the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Tel Aviv Univ., 12 Klausner Street, Ramat-Aviv, Tel Aviv. Registration - 08:00, Lectures - 09:00 - 16:00. Welcome by Museum Chair - Prof. Tamar Dayan.

2nd day, Friday - 1/6/2018 Second session with an emphasis on butterfly monitoring in Israel and other countries: Ramat HaNadiv, Zikhron Ya'akov, Registration - 08:00, Lectures - 09:00 - 14:00. Welcome by Mr Hugo Jan Trago Ramat Hanadiv CEO & Sustainability Coordinator - Dr. Racheli Schwartz-Tzachor.

3rd day, Saturday - 2/6/2018 Field Trip to Mt. Hermon. Meeting at the lower Hermon cable car parking - lot at 09:30. Guides: Dubi Benyamini, Stav Talal.

4th day, Sunday - Field Site to another Biotop - optional

Registration to the Congress: Fee - $200 foreign guests, Register at - [email protected] Free hosting and transportation in houses of members of the Israeli Lep. Soc. - for first 8-10 foreign guests.

24 Newsletter of the Societas Europaea Lepidopterologica No. 60 February 2018 25 Membership 2018 – Mitgliedschaft 2018 – Cotisation 2018

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26 Newsletter of the Societas Europaea Lepidopterologica Societas Europaea Lepidopterologica (SEL)

Membership Secretary Dr. Hossein Rajaei Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde www.soceurlep.eu Rosenstein 1 D-70191 Stuttgart, Germany E-mail: [email protected]

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