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http://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/zoology/

Turkish Journal of Zoology Turk J Zool(2016) 40: © TÜBİTAKdoi:10.3906/zoo-1512-22

Anatrachyntis badia (Hodges, 1962) (Lepidoptera: Cosmopterigidae): the first report from Turkey and a case of importation to Poland

Łukasz DAWIDOWICZ*, Robert ROZWAŁKADepartment of Zoology, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Lublin, Poland

* Correspondence: mori666@o2.pl

1. IntroductionThe genus Anatrachyntis Meyrick 1915 comprises more than 50 moths species, mostly abundant in the Oriental Region but also known from Australia, New Zealand, Africa, both Americas, and S Europe (here mainly as introduced accidents) (Lepesme, 1947; Zimmerman, 1978; Cock and Burris, 2013). The moths from this genus are characterized by small sizes, noticeably narrow forewings with more or less reddish ground color, and very narrow and pointed hindwings with prominent cilia characterizing the whole family. So far, only 3 representatives of this genus have been recorded from Europe: A. badia (Hodges, 1962), A. simplex (Walsingham, 1891), and A. rileyi (Walsingham, 1882) (Koster and Sinev, 2003; http://www.fauna-eu.org/). All these species are small, are similar to each other, and have a quite variable wing pattern. Thus, examination of genital structures is recommended for proper species determination, especially in cases of worn specimens. A. badia is a species originally described from North America. It is predominantly known from southern part of the USA including Hawaii, Florida, California, Maryland, and Louisiana (Hodges, 1962, 1978; Zimmerman, 1978; Adamski et al., 2006). The species has been introduced accidentally to Southern Europe, probably with some plants. The first confirmed record in Europe derives from southern France in 2000 (Varenne and Nel, 2001; Koster

and Sinev, 2003; Heckford and Sterling, 2004) (Figure 1). A. badia has a reddish brown head, reddish brown thorax with mixed darker brown, dark grayish posteriorly. Forewings are narrow, reddish brown with whitish cream color basally, at one-fifth and two-fifths are patches of black scales surrounded by whitish cream scaling. Hindwings are gray with concolorous prominent cilia. Abdomen is gray to dark gray with segments 1–3 ochreous or yellowish dorsally. The wingspan of this species ranges between 9 and 10 mm (Hodges, 1962; Koster and Sinev, 2003). The larva of this species is characterized by a brown head that is blackish posteriorly and dull pink color of body without any distinct pattern. It measures ca. 7–8 mm. The pupa is pale reddish-brown, semitransparent, and surrounded by a whitish cocoon (Heckford and Sterling, 2004; Adamski et al., 2006). The caterpillars are scavengers and they feed on various plants, including limes, grapefruits, bananas, peaches, cabbage, pomegranates, blossoms of coconut, elm leaves, Cycas spp., or even pine cones infected by Dioryctria spp. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) (Hodges, 1962, 1978; Koster and Sinev, 2003; Heckford and Sterling, 2004; Bella and Mazzeo, 2006).

2. Materials and methodsThe collected material derives from pomegranates from big shopping centers in Lublin, Poland. The pomegranates

Abstract: Anatrachyntis badia (Hodges, 1962) (Lepidoptera: Cosmopterigidae) is an opportunistic species native to the southern part of North America. This species was given from several dozens of plants therein from many cultivable plants, such as limes, grapefruits, bananas, peaches, cabbage, blossoms of coconut, Cycas spp., and even pine cones. Thus, it was accidentally introduced to many other countries with appropriate climate with some plants. It can be considered as a plant pest in some cases (e.g., sorghum). The species quite often occurs conjointly with other pest insects, such as mealybug or honeydew moth Cryptoblabes gnidiella (Millière, 1867) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). This paper presents the first report of this North American species from Turkey and a case of its importation to Poland by pomegranates deriving from Spain and Turkey. The mentioned data simultaneously constitute the first records about the species in Poland.

Key words: Alien species, introduction, pest, pomegranate, first record, Poland, Turkey, Spain

Received: 07.12.2015 Accepted/Published Online: 03.05.2016 Final Version: 00.00.2016

Research Article

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with visible traces of insects’ feeding grounds in the remnants of fruits’ corollas were chosen and subsequently carried to the laboratory. Thereafter, the feeding grounds were precisely observed with a stereoscopic microscope (Olympus SZ11) in order to look for some stages of Anatrachyntis badia. Parts of fruits with settled feeding grounds were ablated and put into small vessels. The vessels with preimaginal stages were kept in conditions similar to the natural ones for this species. The time of breeding ranges from 3 to 4 weeks. The photograph of the depicted individual was taken with a Nikon D5100 camera + Nikon Nikkor Micro 105 mm lens. The photographs of male genital structures were taken with an Olympus BX63 microscope + Olympus DP26 camera.

3. ResultsAll the collected material came from imported pomegranates, Punica granatum L., stored and sold in big chain stores in Poland. The data below constitute the first records of this adventive species in Poland and the first indirect proof of the occurrence of this North American species in Turkey. The records are as follows: • Lublin [UTM: FB 17]; large shopping center at Witosa

32a Str.:

- 22.10.2014; 1 larva; Turkey; 12.11.2014 (male) (Figure 2)

- 31.10.2014; 1 larva; Turkey; 02.12.2014 (female) (Figure 3)

• Lublin [UTM: FB 17], discount store at Grabskiego 1 Str.:- 09.10.2015; 2 larvae; Spain; 01.11.2015 (male) and

07.11.2015 (female)(date of finding; amount and stage; origin of fruit; date

of emerged adult specimen, respectively).All in all, a few hundred pomegranates were examined

in many big shopping centers or discount stores in Poland during October–December 2014 and 2015.

In addition to the above records, in many displayed fruits there were observed excrements, feeding signs, exuviae, pupae, and larvae of honeydew moth Cryptoblabes gnidiella (Millière, 1867) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Both species occurred conjointly in pomegranates. The reference material is deposited in the first author’s collection.

4. Discussion Anatrachyntis badia is a North American species predominantly known from the southern part of the United States (Hodges, 1962, 1978; Zimmerman, 1978;

Figure 1. Distribution of Anatrachyntis badia (Hodges, 1962) in Europe (the new records are marked by a red dot; the crosshatched areas represent countries where the species was previously recorded; the blank areas represent countries without any records of the species in question; the arrows depict the ways of importation).

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Adamski et al., 2006). It has been confused with the previously described species A. rileyi (Walsingham, 1882) for many years (Zimmerman, 1978; Heckford and Sterling, 2004). Thus, many older papers concerning the latter species were misleading. Only Hodges separated and distinguished these two species in 1962 (Hodges, 1962).

The genus Anatrachyntis has a pantropical distribution and its appearance in Europe is caused by the importation of some cultivable plants (Koster and Sinev, 2003; Bella and Mazzeo, 2006; Koster and Sammut, 2006). Its occurrence in the natural environment in Europe is scarce in the Mediterranean region. So far, A badia has been recorded from France, Spain, Malta, Italy, and Greece

in nature and from the Netherlands as well as Great Britain by accidental importation (with fruits) (Koster and Sinev, 2003; Heckford and Sterling, 2004; Bella and Mazzeo, 2006; Koster and Sammut, 2006; Seguna and Sammut, 2007; Higgott, 2009; http://www.fauna-eu.org/) (Figure 1). In the last country there were also records ofa very similar species, A. simplex (likewise by pomegranate importation) (Heckford, 2004).

A. badia is a polyphagous species and its caterpillars can feed on many cultivable plants, such as limes, grapefruits, bananas, peaches, cabbage, pomegranates, blossoms of coconut, or even pine cones infected by Dioryctria spp. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). It has two or three generations per year and adult specimens can be found for most of the year (Hodges, 1962; Koster and Sinev, 2003; Heckford and Sterling, 2004; Bella and Mazzeo, 2006). The species may have economic importance. It is sometimes considered a pest because it can cause serious damages in some crops, e.g., sorghum (White et al., 2005). In the recorded cases, the larvae of the species in question were found with accompanying mealybugs. Hence, it is sometimes supposed as a secondary pest connected with other insects and phytophagous agents, like the rest of the genus Anatrachyntis (Busck, 1917; Bella and Mazzeo, 2006). The larvae of a certain congeneric species, A. terminella (Walker, 1864), can even lead a predacious lifestyle (Austin, 1977). Honeydew moth Cryptoblabes gnidiella (a secondary pest, predator caterpillars) has a very similar biology; it was first recorded in Poland almost at the same time (Dawidowicz

Figure 2. Male genitalia of Anatrachyntis badia (Hodges, 1962): a- lateral view ofa whole structure; b- left anellus lobe (nomenclature follows Zimmerman (1978)).

Figure 3. Anatrachyntis badia (Hodges, 1962): imago.

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and Rowałka, 2016). These two species have a similar set of host plants and slightly overlapping niches. Due to this fact they were found conjointly in pomegranates. It is highly likely that they may constitute a constant element of fauna in pomegranate orchards in the Mediterranean region.

In conclusion, the presented data are the first records of A. badia in Poland as well as the first report of the species from Turkey (Buszko and Nowacki, 2000; Seven Çalışkan, 2014). The lack of any previous records and observations about this moth in Turkey and Poland (as well as in the

other Mediterranean regions where pomegranates are commonly grown or other European countries where pomegranates are frequently imported) is likely to result from it being overlooked due to its small size and secretive lifestyle. Another cause could be that warehoused fruits and vegetables are not common research objects for entomologists. Nevertheless, this can constitute a brilliant instance how easily certain species can be spread in an invisible way (by the importation of natural products) and potentially constitute a threat to native crops.

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