Volume 28 – 2024 doi: 10.24193/entomolrom.28
The Diurnal Lepidoptera Fauna in Buila-Vânturarița National Park: One-Season Survey Cristina Craioveanu1 & Octavian Craioveanu2 1Department of Taxonomy and Ecology Babeș-Bolyai University, Clinicilor 5-7, Cluj-Napoca, 400006, Romania. Babeş-Bolyai University, Centre for Systems Biology, Biodiversity and Bioresources 3B, Cluj-Napoca, Romania 2Academic Cultural Heritage Department – Vivarium, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, 400006, Romania e-mail: cristinacraioveanu@gmail.com, octavian.craioveanu@ubbcluj.ro article no.: ER28202401 doi: 10.24193/entomolrom.28.1 Summary: Diurnal Lepidoptera, mostly Papilionoidaea, is a well-studied group of organisms, and its faunas are usually relatively well-documented all over Europe. However, the Romanian Lepidoptera fauna still lacks species lists from various regions, including National or Natural Parks. Buila-Vânturarița National Park is one of the protected areas that previously benefited from the implementation of several EC-funded projects that produced a management plan in 2005 in preparation for legislative changes with Romania’s accession to the EU. However, the Lepidoptera species mentioned in this older management plan are just some of the few of the EC-Habitats Directive species, and there are still insufficient information about their distribution and conservation status. There are no checklists for the Lepidoptera from the Buila-Vânturarița National Park ever published. In this study, diurnal Lepidoptera from open or semi-open habitats were inventoried in the Buila-Vânturarița National Park. A method for efficiently sampling habitats is presented and analysed. The results produced a list of 64 diurnal Lepidoptera, representing approximately 80% of the species that should be found in the National Park Buila-Vânturarița. Additionally, three Natura 2000 species were found, not previously mentioned in the Management Plan. Key words: Sampling design, suitable habitat, species list, Papilionoidea, Buila-Vânturarița, Romania	[details, abstract]	[pdf]
First record of the horse chestnut moth Pachycnemia hippocastanaria (Hübner, [1799]) (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Ennominae) in Romania Mihai Stănescu1u 1The “Grigore Antipa” National Museum of Natural History, Șos. Kiseleff nr. 1, sector 1, Bucharest, Romania e-mail: mihaist@antipa.ro article no.: ER28202402 doi: 10.24193/entomolrom.28.2 Summary: Based on a specimen of the Aurelian Popescu-Gorj collection, housed at the “Grigore Antipa” National Museum of Natural History, Bucharest, the horse chestnut moth Pachycnemia hippocastanaria (Hübner, [1799]) is reported for the first time in south-western Romania. This new occurrence improves the knowledge on the distribution of this species in south-eastern Europe. Rezumat: Pe baza unui exemplar din colecția Aurelian Popescu-Gorj, aflată la Muzeul Național de Istorie Naturală “Grigore Antipa”, București, Pachycnemia hippocastanaria (Hübner, [1799]) este semnalată pentru prima dată din sud-vestul României. Această nouă descoperire îmbunătățește cunoașterea distribuției acestei specii în sud-estul Europei. Key words: distribution, horse chestnut moth	[details, abstract]	[pdf]
Zerynthia cassandra (Geyer, 1828) or Zerynthia demnosia (Boisduval, 1828)? Which one is the correct name according to the International Commission of Zoological Nomenclature? David Jutzeler1 1Rainstrasse 4, CH-8307 Effretikon e-mail: david.jutzeler@bluewin.ch article no.: ER28202403 doi: 10.24193/entomolrom.28.3 Summary: The author succeeds in clarifying the taxonomic and nomenclatural uncertainties within the species complex of Zerynthia polyxena from Italy. Respecting the specific state of the Italian Festoon as proposed by Dapporto (2010), its species name must be demnosia Boisduval, 1828 with the type locality ‘San Giórgio a Colónica’ (Dapporto, 2010), which corresponds to Florence in the sense of Mann (1844). The name cassandra Geyer, 1828 has to be considered as a younger synonym of polyxena [Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775 and is not available as a species name for the Italian Festoon. The substitution of the species name cassandra sensu Dapporto (2010) by demnosia Boisduval, 1828 allows furthermore the use of the name cassandra Geyer, 1828, as a forma to denote individual and local forms with strong patterning of Zerynthia polyxena in southern Europe including the populations of southern France and eastern Liguria. Key words: Zerynthia polyxena, Z. demnosia, Z. cassandra, Lepidoptera, Papilionidae, Nomenclature, Taxonomy, International Commission of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN)	[details, abstract]	[pdf]
The Preimaginal Stages of Eulithis peloponnesiaca (Rebel, 1902) (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) László Rákosy1, Christian Ralf Papé2 1Department of Taxonomy and Ecology, Faculty for Biology and Geology, Babeș-Bolyai University, Clinicilor 5-7, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Forestry Faculty, “Ștefan cel Mare” University, Universității 13, Suceava, Romania. 2Mühlestr. 8, 79539 Lörrach, Germany; Petrovouni, 24022 Kardamyli, Messinia, Greece e-mail: laszlo.rakosy@ubbcluj.ro, chrisirp@yahoo.de article no.: ER28202404 doi: 10.24193/entomolrom.28.4 Summary: In May 2024, the authors managed to collect larvae of Eulithis peloponnesiaca (Rebel, 1902) from the Taygetos Mountains in the Peloponnese, Greece. During the breeding process in the laboratory, the first photographs of the larva, pupa and live adult were obtained for this endemic species. The photographs are accompanied by descriptions of the early stages. Rezumat: În luna mai 2024, autorii au reușit să colecteze larve de Eulithis peloponnesiaca (Rebel, 1902) în Munții Taygetos din Peloponez (Grecia). În urma creșterii realizate în laborator au fost realizate primele fotografii ale larveipupei și adultului viu aparținând acestei specii endemice. Fotografiile sunt însoțite de descrieri ale stadiilor preimaginale. Key words: Eulithis peloponnesiaca, Preimaginal Stages, Taygetos Mountains, Peloponnese, Greece	[details, abstract]	[pdf]
Paranthrene diaphana: a new clearwing moth (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) species in Romania and its preliminary response to sex attractants Cosmin-Ovidiu Manci1, Virgiliu Marius Aurelian2 & Cristian Sitar3 1“Oceanic-Club” Oceanographic Research and Marine Environment Protection Society, 41 Decebal, 900674 Constanța, Romania. Babeş-Bolyai University, Centre for Systems Biology, Biodiversity and Bioresources 3B, Cluj-Napoca, Romania 2Universitetssjukhuset Örebro, Röntgenkliniken, Södra Grev Rosengatan, 70185, Örebro, Sweden. 3Zoological Museum, Babes-Bolyai University, 5-7 Clinicilor, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Department of Cluj, Emil Racovita Institute of Speleology, Clinicilor 5, 400006, Cluj-Napoca, Romania e-mail: cosminom@gmail.com, cristian.sitar@ubbcluj.ro article no.: ER28202405 doi: 10.24193/entomolrom.28.5 Summary: The genus Paranthrene includes diurnal clearwing moths mimicking Hymenoptera and known for their impact in forestry. In Europe, it comprises three species: Paranthrene tabaniformis, P. diaphana, and P. insolitus, which are morphologically similar but distinct in host plant preferences and distribution. P. tabaniformis is widespread and a pest of Populus, while P. diaphana occurs patchily in southeastern Europe and feeds on Salix. This study reports the first records of P. diaphana in Romania, expanding the known distribution of this species in Europe. Field surveys in Romania recorded this species in the regions of Banat, Oltenia, and Muntenia, while surveys conducted in Buzău County with sex attractant lures between 2013 and 2024 revealed the presence of P. diaphana alongside P. tabaniformis, a common species in the country. P. diaphana shows an apparent distribution primarily in southern Romania. In all the habitats where P. diaphana was recorded the habitat includes willows, poplars, and agricultural fields. The findings contribute to the understanding of Paranthrene species and confirms presence of P. diaphana in Romania, expanding its known range and highlighting the need for further research, particularly into P. insolitus. Thanks to citizen science contributions the species is recorded also in Dobrodja region. Key words: Paranthrene diaphana, new records, Sesiidae, pheromons, citizen science, Romania.	[details, abstract]	[pdf]
In memoriam - In memoriam ing. Marin Goia 23.01.1939-31.04.2024 László Rákosy1 1Department of Taxonomy and Ecology, Faculty for Biology and Geology, Babeș-Bolyai University, Clinicilor 5-7, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Forestry Faculty, “Ștefan cel Mare” University, Universității 13, Suceava, Romania. e-mail: laszlo.rakosy@ubbcluj.ro article no.: ER28202406 doi: 10.24193/entomolrom.28.6	[details, abstract]	[pdf]
In memoriam - Memories of Marin Goia/Amintiri despre Marin Goia Vlad Dincă1 1”Grigore Antipa” National Museum of Natural History, Șos. Kiseleff 1, 011341, Bucharest, Romania. e-mail: vlad.dinca@antipa.ro article no.: ER28202407 doi: 10.24193/entomolrom.28.7	[details, abstract]	[pdf]
Book review - Rákosy L. 2024. A field guide to the butterflies of Romania Vlad Dincă1 1”Grigore Antipa” National Museum of Natural History, Șos. Kiseleff 1, 011341, Bucharest, Romania. e-mail: vlad.dinca@antipa.ro article no.: ER28202408 doi: 10.24193/entomolrom.28.8	[details, abstract]	[pdf]