N A T U R K U N D L I C H E S   I N F O R M A T I O N S S Y S T E M

Triodia adriaticus (Osthelder, 1931)

(zoological nomenclature: valid name, available)

General information:

Hepialus adriaticus Osthelder, 1931: 47.
Type locality: Istria, isle of Brioni Grande
Synonyms, misspellings, wrong determinations, etc.:
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Adriatischer Wurzelbohrer

Habit:

     
: Greece, Peloponnes, Tolon, 1983.10, coll. Haus der Natur      
Picture from: Kurz Michael
Detailed view		      

Description of adults. Examined: 1 , amendments following de Freina & Witt, 1990. Forewing length: 17,5 mm (wing expanse: 18 - 30 mm, 26 - 36 mm). Frons densely covered with hair-like scales, brownish; vertex more brownish-grey; eyes black-brown, hemispheric, approximately 1 mm in diameter; antennae very short, only about 1/6 of the forewing length, brown with single silvery-white scales and very short, cross lamellae to one side only; palpi very short, completely hidden by a tuft of long, hair-like scales; thorax dorsally, in the anterior part and tegulae densely covered by long, light brownish-grey, hair-like scales; metathorax and lateral sides of the thorax of beige colour; forewings umber brown with three very broad, parallel, oblique, indistinct fasciae across the whole wing width, becoming increasingly whitish distad; near the discus a black-brown, longitudinal streak; fringe brownish-grey; hindwings light brownish-grey, the costal margin more brownish; scales on the hindwing upperside narrow, not completely covering the wing membrane in the distal part; fringe beige; underside of wings light grey-brown, slightly coppery shining, without any further markings; legs and underside of thorax covered by long, light brownish-grey to beige, hair-like scales; spurs absent; abdomen brown, covered with short, brownish-grey, hair-like scales, slightly silvery shining.

Remarks. Following de Freina & Witt 1990, the ground colour may vary from light creamy with weakly developed markings only to darkened, very distinctly marked specimens.

Distribution:

T. adriatica is known with certainty from Istria, Macedonia and the Peloponnesos (de Freina & Witt 1990). Karsholt & Nieukerken (2004) record the species also from Crete and, doubtfully, from Italy. Probably, it occurs along the whole, eastern Adriatic coast. The vertical distribution reaches from near sea level to at least 1000 m a.s.l (de Freina & Witt, 1990).

Biology:

The species seems to inhabit partly woody, steppe-like areas and heathland. The adults are on the wing in one generation from the beginning of September till October and fly in the evening dawn (de Freina & Witt, 1990).

Stages in development:

The early stages are unknown.

Diagnosis:

 
 
Picture from: Kurz Michael
Detailed view		 Picture from: Kurz Michael
Detailed view		 Picture from: Kurz Michael
Detailed view		  

The species can easily be distinguished from similar species by the three light, parallel fasciae on the forewing upperside.

Worth knowing:

Sources:

de Freina, J. und T. Witt 1990. Die Bombyces und Sphinges der Westpaläarktis (Insecta, Lepidoptera), 2, Edition Forschung & Wissenschaft Verlag GmbH, München
Karsholt, O. & E. J. van Nieukerken 2004. Hepialidae. In - Karsholt, O. & E. J. van Nieukerken (eds.). Lepidoptera, Moths. – Fauna Europaea version 1.1, http://www.faunaeur.org [online 14 July 2009].
Osthelder 1931. Hepialus adriaticus nova species. Eine verkannte europäische Hepialide. — Mitteilungen der Münchner Entomologischen Gesellschaft 21: 47-51.

Publication data:

history:
Kurz Michael: 2007.01.01
Kurz Michael: 2009.07.14
Kurz Michael: 2017.03.01
not reviewed

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