Jakšić et al., 2019, Biologica Nyssana 10(1) 10 (1) September 2019: 43-48 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3464006 Further notes on Zygaenidae (Lepidoptera) from Montenegro Original Article Predrag Jakšić Čingrijina 14/25, Zvezdara, 11000 Beograd, Serbia jaksicpredrag@gmail.com Gerhard M. Tarmann Tiroler Landesmuseen, Ferdinandeum, Naturwissen- schaftliche Abteilung, Sammlungs- und Forschung- szentrum, Krajnc-Straße 1, 6060 Hall, Austria g.tarmann@tiroler-landesmuseen.at Ana Nahirnić National Museum of Natural History, Tsar Osvobodi- tel Blvd. 1, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria ananahirnic@nmnhs.com (corresponding author) Received: April 23, 2019 Revised: July 17, 2019 Accepted: August 13, 2019 Abstract: Faunistic data on 11 species of Zygaenidae from seven pre-selected research areas in Montenegro obtained during several trips in the year 2017 are present- ed. Photographs of adults of Jordanita notata, Zygaena punctum, Z. viciae, Z. ephialtes and Z. filipendulae are shown. Interspecific mating attempts by males of Z. filipendulae with females of Z. ephialtes and Z. viciae are discussed. Key words: Zygaenidae, interspecific mating, Montenegro Apstract: Novi podaci o ziganidama (Insecta, Zygaenidae) Crne Gore Predstavljeni su faunistički podaci o 11 vrsta Zygaenidae iz sedam prethodno odabranih i istraženih područja u Crnoj Gori, dobijeni tokom više obilazaka tere- na 2017. godine. Prikazane su fotografije adulta vrsta Jordanita notate, Zygaena punctum, Z. viciae, Z. ephialtes i Z. filipendulae. Diskutovani su pokušaji inter- specijskog parenja mužjaka Z. filipendulae sa ženkama Z. ephialtes i Z. viciae. Ključne reči: Zygaenidae, interspecijsko parenje, Crna Gora Introduction As Montenegro intends to become a member of the EU, data about regional species distributions are of great importance, specifically as regards Annex II species of the Habitats Directive. On the other hand, species of the lepidopterous family Zygaenidae are excellent indicators of environmental conditions. During the last decades more than 300 papers were published dealing with the moths and butterflies of Montenegro (Jakšić & Nahirnić, 2017). According to Nahirnić & Tarmann (2014) there are about 30 publications known which contain data about Zyg- aenidae for Montenegro. In 2017 & 2018 the first author had the opportu- nity to participate in the IPA Project ‘Establishment of Natura 2000 network, Montenegro’. Some of the results are presented in this paper. Materials and methods Specimens were collected with a butterfly net. Re- search was done in preselected areas (Key Biodi- versity Areas - KBAs) some of which should be proposed as potential NATURA 2000 sites. The co- ordinates of the localities where Zygaenidae were collected were determined by using Garmin e-Trex Vista GPS device (Tab. 1). The photos in situ of specimens were taken using Nikon Camera with AF-S Micro Nikkor Lens. After preparation, we determined the specimens on the base of habitus and male genitalia. The prepa- rations were carried out following the well-known standard procedure: maceration by boiling in potash, dissecting and cleaning, clearing in xylolum and mounting in Canada balsam. Abdomen and genitalia of Zygaena purpuralis were mounted in Euparal on glass slide or were after cleaning placed in glycerol © 2019 Jakšić et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons At- tribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially under the same license as the original. 43 filled microvials. All the material is deposited in the collection of P. Jakšić. The taxonomic order follows Nieukerken et al. (2011). Results ZYGAENOIDEA Latreille, 1809 ZYGAENIDAE Latreille, 1809 Subfam. Procridinae Boisduval, 1828 Jordanita notata (Zeller, 1847) Podgorica, Cijevna (restaurant “Niagara”), 38 m, 9. May 2017, 1♂, Jakšić P. leg. et coll. Genita- lia checked, slide: CG-2871. (Fig. 1); Ćemovsko polje, 40 m, 2. June, 2017, 2♀, Jakšić P. leg et coll. Third record for Montengro! So far, this species was only mentioned once by Jakšić (1990) on Durmitor (Crno Jezero, Čeline). It has been recol- lected on Durmitor in 2015 (Tepca, Tara river, 6. June 2015; leg. P. Jakšić, 1♂, genitalia checked, slide: CG 2684). An early flying green “forester moth” (= Pro- cridinae). The preferred habitats are semidry and dry grassy places with Centaurea-species, the larval host-plants. This species is not common but wide- spread throughout southern Europe and can be found from the sea shore up to lower mountain meadows. Adscita geryon (Hübner, 1813) Durmitor Mt., Žabljak, Meždo, 1376 m, 21 July, 2017, 1♂, Jakšić P. leg et col., Genitalia checked: slide CG-2912. A widespread species that is most common in higher elevations. The preferred habitats are open mountain grassland, grassy ravines, often on steep, rocky ground and semidry and dry meadows. The larvae feed on Helianthemum spp. (Cistaceae). Adscita mannii (Lederer, 1853) Bukovica, in the vicinity of Tušina, 999 m, 21 July 2017, 1♂, Jakšić P. leg. et coll. Genitalia checked, slide: CG-2906; Bistrica, Đalovića Klisura Gorge, 780 m, 20 July, 2017, 1♀, Jakšić P. leg et col. Gen- 44 HABITATS and LOCALITIES ELEVATION (m) COORDINATE Latitudeφ (N) Longitude λ (E) 4070 Bushes with Pinus mugo and Rhododendron hirsutum (Mugo-Rhododendretum hirsuti) Prutaš, Durmitor Mt. 2262 43° 07' 47,3'' 19° 00' 04,9'' Veliki Štuoc, Durmitor Mt. 1880 43° 11' 28'' 19° 03' 25'' 6210 Semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates (Festuco-Brometalia) Meždo, Žabljak, Durmitor Mt. 1376 43° 09' 54,8'' 19° 09' 02,0'' 6520 Mountain hay meadows Tepca village, Tara River Canyon 880-920 43° 12' 19'' 19° 04' 37'' 8210 Calcareous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation Todorov Do, Durmitor Mt. 1820 – 1900 43° 07' 40'' 18° 59' 15'' 9110 Luzulo-Fagetum beech forests (meadow on forest edge) Monastery St. Nikola, Bistrica, Đalovića klisura 780 43° 04' 14'' 19° 54' 12'' Vrelo Bukovice, Durmitor Mt. 1350 43° 03' 28,8'' 19° 06' 37,4'' Bukovica, in the vicinity of Tušina Village 999 42° 57' 07'' 19° 10' 19,7'' Sušičko jezero Lake Sušica River Canyon 1180 43° 11' 46'' 19° 00' 18'' Komarnica River, before Nevidio Canyon 981 42° 59' 17'' 19° 04' 02'' 9280 Quercus frainetto woods Cijevna River, Podgorica (restaurant “Niagara”) 38 42° 22' 50'' 19° 16' 28'' 9530 (Sub-) Mediterranean pine forests with endemic black pines Sušičko jezero, Sušica River Canyon, Mala Crna Gora 1554 43° 11' 45,8'' 19° 00' 18,5'' 6410 Molinia meadows on calcareous, peaty or clayey- silt-laden soils (Molinion caeruleae) Veliko Pošćensko Jezero, Pošćenska jezera Lakes 1010 42° 59' 03'' 19° 04' 04'' Table 1. List of Annex I habitat types according to the “Catalogue of habitat types of EU importance of Montenegro” (Petrović et al., 2012) and collecting localities in Montenegro 2017 BIOLOGICA NYSSANA ● 10 (1) September 2019: 43-48 Jakšić et al. ● Further notes on Zygaenidae (Lepidoptera) from Montenegro 45 Fig. 1. Jordanita notata (Zeller, 1847), male, Podgorica, Cijevna (restaurant “Niagara”), 38 m, 9. May 2017, Photo P. Jakšić BIOLOGICA NYSSANA ● 10 (1) September 2019: 43-48 Jakšić et al. ● Further notes on Zygaenidae (Lepidoptera) from Montenegro italia checked, slide: CG-2913. This Adriato-Mediterranean species is wide- spread along the Adriatic coast inhabiting various types of biotopes like Mediterranean bushland near the sea, semidry and dry meadows, forest clearings and rocky ground with grassy spots between the rocks. In Montenegro this species occurs at the coast and in the mountains. The larvae feed on Helianthe- mum- and Cistus-species (Cistaceae). Only a few records are known for this species in Montenegro but it is expected to be more widespread. Subfam. Zygaeninae Latreille, 1809 Zygaena punctum Ochsenheimer, 1808 Podgorica, Cijevna (restaurant “Niagara”), 38 m, 9. May 2017, 4♂, 2♀, Jakšić P. leg. et coll. (Fig. 2). All populations of Zygaena punctum in Mon- tenegro belong to ssp. dalmatina Boisduval, 1834. This population group is distributed from southern Croatia and western Bosnia and Herzegovina south- wards as far as Greece. One of the main characters of this subspecies is its small size (compared with the nominotypical Z. punctum punctum from eastern central Europe) and the tendency to confluence of the red pattern on the forewing upperside. The larva of Z. punctum feeds on Eryngium species, mainly on E. campestre (Apiaceae). The preferred habitats are dry, undisturbed meadows, rocky slopes with grassy spots and abandoned cultures with low or medium high vegetation. Zygaena purpuralis (Brünnich, 1763) Bukovica near Tušina village, 900 m, 6. June, 2017, 2♀, Jakšić P. leg et col.; Meždo, Žabljak, 1376 m, 21-24. July 2017, 2♂, 1♀, Jakšić P. leg. et coll.; Veliki Štuoc, 1880 m, 22. July 2017, 1♂, 1♀, Jakšić P. leg et col.; Mala Crna Gora, right bank of Sušica River Canyon, 1554 m, 22. July, 2017, 2♂, 5♀, Jakšić P. leg et coll., genitalia checked: glyc- erin and slide ANZ573♀; Sušičko jezero (Sušica Lake), 1180 m, 22. July 2017, 3♂, 2♀, Jakšić P. leg. et coll.; Todorov Do, 1900 m, 23. July, 2017, 2♂, 2♀, Jakšić P. leg et coll., genitalia checked: glycerin and slide ANZ574♂; Prutaš, 2262 m, 22. July 2017, 1♂, 1♀, Jakšić P. leg et coll. In Montenegro only Z. purpuralis lathyri Boisdu- val, 1828 can be found. It inhabits various biotopes in hilly and mountainous areas. Zygaena minos ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775), a species which is indistinguishable from Z. purpuralis by habitus of imago, occurs in Montenegro as well (Nahirnić et al., 2013). Correct determination of these species must be based on genitalia or larvae (Nahirnić & Tarmann, 2016). Fig. 2. Zygaena punctum Ochsenheimer, 1808, female, Podgorica, Cijevna, 38 m, 9. May 2017, Photo P. Jakšić 46 Zygaena carniolica (Scopoli, 1763) Meždo, Žabljak, 1376 m, 21-24. July 2017, 3♂, 2♀, Jakšić P. leg. et coll.; Tepca village, 1260 m, Mt., 22. July 2017, 6♂, 2♀, Jakšić P. leg. et coll.; Komarnica: Nevidio and Pošćenska jezera, 1010 m, 24. July 2017, 3♂, 2♀, Jakšić P. leg. et coll.; Vrelo Bukovice, 1350 m, 24. July 2017, 3♂, 1♀, Jakšić P. leg. et coll. The populations of Z. carniolica of Montenegro belong to the nominotypical subspecies Z. carnioli- ca carniolica. This population group is distributed in the Balkans from the south-eastern Alps and the karst areas in Slovenia throughout the Dinaric Arc to northern Albania. The larva feeds mainly on Ono- brychis spp. (Fabaceae). The preferred habitats are undisturbed and unfertilized semidry and dry mead- ows. This species is known as a perfect indicator for air pollution by pesticides. It has disappeared in many agricultural and industrial areas in Europe where it was still common half a century ago (Tar- mann, 2009). Zygaena viciae ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Bukovica, in the vicinity of Tušina, 999 m, 21. July 2017, 1♀ in copula with ♂ of Z. filipendu- lae, Jakšić P. leg. et coll. (Fig. 5); Veliki Štuoc Mt., 1880 m, 22. July 2017, 3♂, Jakšić P. leg. et coll. All populations of Z. viciae in Montenegro be- long to ssp. bosniensis Reiss, 1922. This subspecies differs from the nominotypical Z. viciae viciae from central Europe by its much darker appearance and the broad dark margin on the hindwing. Zygaena viciae has so far only been found in the mountains of Montenegro around Durmitor. Its preferred habi- tats are humid meadows. The larval host-plants in Europe are Fabaceae (preferably Vicia and Lathyrus species) but nothing is known on the life history of the populations of Montenegro up to this date. Zygaena ephialtes (Linnaeus, 1767) Monastery St. Nikola, Bistrica, Đalovića klisura, 780 m, 20. July 2017, 12. ♂, 7♀, Jakšić P. leg. et coll.; Bukovica, in the vicinity of Tušina, 999 m, 21. July 2017, 12♂, 4♀, Jakšić P. leg. et coll.; 1554 m, 22. July 2017, 9♂, 2♀, Jakšić P. leg. et coll.; Komarnica: Nevidio, Pošćenska jezera, 1010 m, 24. July 2017, 4♂, 3♀, Jakšić P. leg. The specimens of Zygaena ephialtes collected during this project belong to ssp. istoki Silbernagel, 1944. This subspecies, consisting of black ephial- toid morphs only, with a mixture of red and yellow individuals that can be 5- or 6-spotted, is distrib- uted throughout large parts of the southern Balkans from Bosnia and Herzegovina and southern Serbia to Greece and eastwards to the Black Sea. There is another subspecies of Z. ephialtes known from Montenegro, viz. Z. ephialtes rauchi Hofmann, 2003. This population group is restricted to the sur- roundings of the Bay of Kotor and the coastal areas of Montenegro. It is significantly different from ssp. istoki (see Hofmann, 2003). Zygaena ephialtes pre- fers bushy habitats with presence of the larval host- plant Securigera varia L. (Lassen) (Fabaceae) and good nectar resources for the adults. It is often found on clearings, near forest roads and in river valleys with flowering Rubus bushes where the adults obtain nectar. Zygaena angelicae Ochsenheimer, 1808 Bistrica, Đalovića Klisura Gorge, 780 m, 20. July, 2017, 1♀, Jakšić P. leg et coll., Durmitor Mt., To- dorov Do, 1900 m, 23. July 2017, 1♀, Jakšić P. leg et col. A widespread species on the whole Balkans from lowland to elevations above 2000 meters. Larvae on Fabaceae, mainly on Hippocrepis comosa L. This species is represented in Montenegro by its subspe- cies Z. angelicae herzegowinensis Reiss, 1922 that inhabits the whole mountainous part of the Balkans from Slovenia to Greece and the Black Sea. Zygaena filipendulae (Linnaeus, 1758) Bukovica, in the vicinity of Tušina, 999 m, 21. July 2017, 4♂, 3♀ , Jakšić P. leg.; Meždo, Žabljak, 1376 m, 21-24. July 2017, 6♂, 3♀, Jakšić P. leg. et coll.; 1554 m, 22. July 2017, 8♂, 4♀., Jakšić P. leg. et coll.; Vrelo Bukovice, 1350 m, 24. July 2017, 1♂, 1♀, Jakšić P. leg. et coll. Zygaena filipendulae is common on the whole Balkans and occurs here in a number of different subspecies. Montenegro is inhabited by Z. filipen- dulae illyrica Holik, 1943. This species has a wider ecological tolerance than most other Zygaena spe- cies and can inhabit various biotopes from wetlands to dry environment, open meadows to forest clear- ings and roadside habitats. It can be observed in the lowlands but also in the mountains up to more than 2000 meters. The larvae live on various Fabaceae, mainly on Lotus species. Zygaena lonicerae (Scheven, 1777) Monastery St. Nikola, Bistrica, Đalovića klisura, 780 m, 20. July 2017, 4♂, 1♀, Jakšić P. leg. et coll.; Mala Crna Gora, right edge of Sušica River Canyon, 1554 m, 21. July, 2017, 1♂, Jakšić P. leg et coll. Zygaena lonicerae is widespread and common in the Balkans and in Montenegro. Its preferred habi- tats are meadows near forest or forest clearings. The larvae feed on Lotus and Trifolium (Fabaceae). BIOLOGICA NYSSANA ● 10 (1) September 2019: 43-48 Jakšić et al. ● Further notes on Zygaenidae (Lepidoptera) from Montenegro 47 Fig. 4. Interspecific mating attempt by male of Zygaena filipendulae and female of Z. ephialtes in the wild. Bukovica River, near Tušina village, 1006 m, 21. July 2017. Photo P. Jakšić Fig. 3. Zygaena filipendulae male x Z. viciae female, found in copula on Durmitor Mt., Veliki Štuoc, 1930 m, 22. July, 2017. Jakšić P. leg. Fig. 5. Interspecific mating attempt by male of Zygaena filipendulae and female of Z. ephialtes in the wild. Mala Crna Gora village, right bank of Sušica River Canyon, 1554 m, 22. July 2017. Photo P. Jakšić. Discussion and conclusion In all seven pre-selected research areas Zygaenidae species could be found. This is an important proof that these biotopes are in a good environmental condition. As stated by Šašić, Nahirnić & Tarmann (2016), Zygaenidae are extremely stenoecious in- sects and are therefore good indicator species for environmental changes. They can show us perfectly whether a biotope is in a good‚ natural condition or somehow disturbed or even contaminated. Spe- cial studies on this topic have been undertaken in northern Italy in Val Venosta (Vinschgau) (Huemer & Tarmann, 2001; Tarmann, 2000, 2009, 2016). It has been shown that destructive poisons from apple plantations (some of them commonly used plant pro- tection substances) were transported by wind into the environment over kilometres into earlier habitats and that Zygaenidae were amongst the first insects that disappeared from seemingly completely intact habitats. Several of such habitats are Annex I habitat types according to the Habitats Directive. More intensive studies on Montenegrin Zygae- BIOLOGICA NYSSANA ● 10 (1) September 2019: 43-48 Jakšić et al. ● Further notes on Zygaenidae (Lepidoptera) from Montenegro 48 Nahirnić, A., Tarmann, G.M. 2016: On the early stages of species of the Zygaena purpuralis – com- plex on the Balkan Peninsula and adjacent regions (Zygaenidae, Zygaeninae). XV International Sym- posium on Zygaenidae, Mals/Malles, Südtirol/Alto Adige, Italy: 30. Nahirnić, A., Tarmann, G.M., Jakšić, P. 2011: A review of faunistical data on Zygaenidae (Lepidop- tera) in the central-western Balkan peninsula. In: Bulić Z. (ed.), International Conference, Nature Pro- tection in XXI century, Proceedings of the confer- ence, Thematic sessions, abstracts, poster presenta- tions. Book No 2: 451–455. Nahirnić, A., Tarmann, G.M., Jakšić, P. 2013: New data on rare Zygaenidae from the Balkan pe- ninsula. XVIII European Congress of Lepidopterol- ogy, Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria: 58. Petrović, D., Hadžiablahović, S., Vuksanović, S., Mačić, V., Lakušić, D. 2012: Katalog tipova staništa Crne Gore značajnih za Evropsku Uniju. Podgorica – Beograd - Zagreb. 116 p. Šašić, M., Nahirnić, A., Tarmann, M.G, 2016: Zygaenidae (Lepidoptera) in the Lepidoptera Col- lections of the Croatian Natural History Museum. Natura croatica, 25(2): 233-248. Tarmann, G. 1999: Tagfalter und Widderchen in Südtiroler Wiesen. Ein Fallbeispiel einer sch- leichenden Umweltkatastrophe. In Gepp, J., Ento- mologische Forschung in den Alpen, ÖEG-Fachge- spräch 16. Oktober 1999, Dornbirn. Kurzfassung der Vorträge: 15–16. Tarmann, G.M. 2009: Die Vinschger Trockenrasen – ein Zustandsbericht auf Basis der Bioindikatoren Tagfalter und Widderchen (Lepidoptera: Rhopal- ocera, Zygaenidae). Wissenschaftliches Jahrbuch der Tiroler Landesmuseen, 2: 306–350. Tarmann, G.M. 2016: The decline of Zygaenidae in the valleys of the Alps during the last 100 years, p. 39. In: Tarmann, G. M., Tremewan, W. G. & Spalding, A. (eds), Abstracts of the XV International Symposium on Zygaenidae, Mals, 11–18 September 2016: I–XX, 1–47. Tremewan, W.G. 2006: Ecology, phenotypes and the Mendelian genetics of Burnet moths (Zygaena Fabricius, 1775). Gem Publishing Company, Wall- ingford. 190 p. nidae and especially their ecology and biology are needed as there is little known about their exact dis- tribution in the country, local larval food plants, their nectar resources, preferred habitat requirements, parasites and predators. During this study three interspecific copulae could be observed. This is a well-known phenom- enon in Zygaenidae and has been studied by various authors. The reason is a somehow unspecific phe- romone system that leads to the attraction of males of various species by females. However, hybrids can only be produced between extremely closely relat- ed species. Such hybrids are known only for a few species. They can not only be produced by artificial rearing experiments but are also found in nature. The species combinations found in copula in Mon- tenegro in 2017 (Figs. 3-5) cannot produce fertilized eggs as they are not very closely related species. In his monographic study, Tremewan (2006) provided data for 200 literature sources that provide examples of this phenomenon. In these data 73 different com- binations of species are listed. 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