Open AccessNew and recent records of hawk moths (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) from Seychelles, with a description of a new insular subspecies
Author(s) -
Ivan N. Bolotov,
Yulia S. Kolosova,
Elizaveta A. Spitsyna,
Vitaly M. Spitsyn
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
ecologica montenegrina
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.534
H-Index - 10
eISSN - 2337-0173
pISSN - 2336-9744
DOI - 10.37828/em.2021.39.12
Subject(s) - subspecies , biology , lepidoptera genitalia , range (aeronautics) , zoology , aedeagus , sphingidae , taxonomy (biology) , ecology , larva , manduca sexta , materials science , composite material
In this study, we examine a recent sample containing two hawk moth species (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) from Praslin and Mahé, Seychelles. It was widely accepted that the hawk moth species Temnora peckoveri (Butler, 1876) has a disjunctive range covering Madagascar and the Inner Seychelles. However, the Seychelles population of what was thought to be Temnora peckoveri shares a set of diagnostic morphological differences from both this species and T. fumosa (Walker, 1856) in the male genitalia structure. In particular, it remotely resembles Temnora fumosa based on the structure of aedeagus but differs from T. fumosa and T. peckoveri with respect to the harpe shape. Based on this evidence, we describe Temnora fumosa seychellensis Bolotov & Spitsyn ssp. nov. as a subspecies with restricted range, being endemic to the Inner Seychelles. The range of this subspecies covers Praslin (first record), Mahé, Silhouette, La Digue, Cousine, and Denis. Additionally, we report on recent occurrences of Agrius convolvuli (Linnaeus, 1758) from Praslin (second record) and Mahé. The adult moths were recorded feeding on inflorescences of Dracaena reflexa var. angustifolia Baker (Asparagaceae) for the first time. Finally, we present a complete list of Temnora fumosa seychellensis ssp. nov. and Agrius convolvuli occurrences from Seychelles.