Manulea pseudocomplana
Creators: name: Macià, Ramon
name: Ylla, Josep
name: Gastón, Javier
name: Huertas, Manuel
name: Bau, Josep
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2022
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Erebidae
Manulea
Manulea pseudocomplana

description: Manulea pseudocomplana (Daniel, 1939)
Original combination: Lithosia pseudocomplana Daniel, 1939 Mitteilungen der Münchner Entomologischen Gesellschaft 29: 48.
T. L.: Sultan-Dagh, Ak-Chehir, (Anatolia) Turkey.
Material examined. SPAIN: LLEIDA: 2 ♂ and 1 ♀, Barradós, Val d´Aran, 1964 m, 31TCH23, 5.viii.1995, R. Macià leg.; 1 ♂, Riu de Son, Esterri, Pallars Sobirà, 1030 m, 31TCH42, 10.viii.2007, J. Dantart & J. Juvany leg.
FRANCE: 5 ♂ and 3 ♀, Ampus, Var, Provence-Alpes Côte d´Azur, 600 m, 20.viii.2004, JP. Herzet leg.
CZECH REPUBLIC: 7 ♂ and 5 ♀, Lukov, Znojmo, Moravia, 24.viii.1997, P. Vitek leg.; 4 ♂ and 3 ♀, Havraniky, Znojmo, Moravia, (República Checa), 15.viii.1995, P. Vitek leg.; 2 ♂, Podmolí, Znojmo, Moravia, 5.viii.1995 and 6 ♀, 1.viii.2019, P. Vitek leg.
Diagnosis. Manulea pseudocomplana can be separated separated from Manulea complana by the absence of androconial scales on the costa of the underside of the forewings, but can be confused with the Manulea iberica which also lacks them. It can also be confused with Eilema caniola caniola and Manulea palliatella, from which it is distinguished by the absence of greyish diffusion in the costal area of the underside of hindwings. For a safe determination, a genital study is required: comparison of the everted vesicae of Manulea complana and Manulea pseudocomplana readily distinguishes them.
Re-description. Imago (Figs. 9–10). Average wingspan males 30.5 mm (n=10; 28–32 mm); average wingspan females 31.4 mm (n=10; 29–33 mm).
Genitalia (Fig. 53). Male genitalia: Structure similar to that of Manulea complana from which it differs in the following aspects: uncus somewhat longer; valvae ovoid as in Manulea complana, but cucullus somewhat less pointed; apical process of sacculus equally arched as in Manulea complana, but more acute, more sclerotic and with narrower base. Aedeagus similar to that of Manulea complana, differing in the strongly sclerotised apical spur of the apical fascia, tipped with a more powerful hook than in Manulea complana; there are also differences in the everted vesica as both diverticula bearing cornuti project towards the same side of the aedeagus in Manulea pseudocomplana, while in complana the basal diverticulum with the large cornutus projects distally from the aedeagus shaft. The sternum of the 7th abdominal segment has a pointed vaulted shape, while in Manulea complana and Manulea iberica it is flattened at the top). Female genitalia: Similar to those of Manulea complana but with a slightly wider ductus bursae; corpus bursae with a single signum; larger membranous wart on the top of the bursa with several distinct lobes filled with a multitude of tiny spines.
Immature stages (Fig. 79). The last instar larva is 18 to 19 mm long. Cephalic capsule black. Body with very short setae, with grey verrucae; dorsal line black with grey groundcolour on both sides, with black spots around the verrucae D1, D2, SD 1, L2 and L3, the wart L1 undeveloped; body grey with black spots, and an orange subtriangular spot behind L2. Pupa brown, smooth, with circular depressions on the back of the metathorax; tip of abdomen rounded, without cremaster, very similar in both sexes. The cocoon, adhering to the body, among lichens.
Molecular data. Manulea pseudocomplana constitutes a monophyletic clade (PP=1) which is most closely related to the Manulea complana and Manulea iberica group (PP=0.94). The sequence from the two samples analysed in this study also match very closely the three Manulea pseudocomplana sequences already published in BOLD and RESL Cluster Analysis returned a single cluster matching a published BIN (BOLD: ABW5869). In accordance with the morphological similarities mentioned above, this species is also especially close to Manulea palliatella, and the three species form the Manulea complana group, with moderate BI support (PP=0.64) and consistently low genetic distances for both mitochondrial and nuclear markers (Tables 2 and 3).
Biology. Univoltine, in flight from July to August in localities from the sea level to 1700 m, predominantly in xerothermal, rocky biotopes, with sparse or scrub vegetation. The moths are nocturnal and are attracted to artificial light. The larvae feed on lichens; in captivity they accept articial diet.
Distribution (Fig. 99). Asian-Mediterranean. Known from several countries in central and southern Europe. In the Iberian Peninsula, Manulea pseudocomplana is known for certain only in some localities in the Catalan Pyrenees, where it is sympatric with Manulea complana. Reports from some localities of Castellón and Teruel are probably due to confusión with Manulea iberica. Not cited from Portugal or the Balearic Islands.
Observations. In the Iberian Peninsula, there is a historical confusion between Manulea complana, Manulea iberica and Manulea pseudocomplana, and a comprehensive revision of faunal records is needed.
description: Published as part of Macià, Ramon, Ylla, Josep, Gastón, Javier, Huertas, Manuel & Bau, Josep, 2022, The species of Eilema Hübner, [1819] sensu lato present in Europe and North Africa (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini), pp. 1-87 in Zootaxa 5191 (1) on pages 20-21, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5191.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7144073