Manulea iberica
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 iberica

description: Manulea iberica (Mentzer, 1980) st. rest. comb. nov.
Original combination: Eilema iberica Mentzer, 1980 Entomologica Scandinavica 11: 11.
T.L.: Albarracín, (Aragón), Spain.
Material examined. SPAIN: CASTELLÓN: 11 ♂ and 9 ♀, Serra del Turmell, Vallibona, 1080 m, 2.viii.2007, R. Macià & J. Ylla leg.; CUENCA: 1 ♂ and 1 ♀, Las Majadas, Tejadillos, 1350 m, 4.viii.2001, J. Gastón leg.; 1 ♂, Huélamo, 1250 m, 14.vii.2001, J. Gastón leg.; 12 ♂ and 7 ♀, Sierra de Valdemeca, Collado Bajo, 1500 m, 31.vii.1999, R. Macià & J. Ylla leg.; TERUEL: 2 ♂, Tramacastilla, 1265 m, 3.ix.1994, J. Gastón leg.; 1 ♂, Torrecilla del Rebollar, 1200 m, 6.ix.1997, J. Gastón leg.; 3 ♀, Colomarde, 4.ix.1994, J. Gastón leg.; 12 ♂ and 10 ♀, Puntal del Ahorcado, Moscardón, 1446 m, 30TXK26, 21.vii.2001, 26.vii.2016, 4.ix.2013, R. Macià leg.; 10 ♂ and 6 ♀, Pozo del Correo, Moscardón, 1523 m, 30TXK25, 5. ix.2012, 25.vii.2016, 10.viii.2018, R. Macià leg.; 19 ♂ and 17 ♂, Valdevecar, Albarracín, 1100 m, 30TXK37, 8.ix.1987, 10.viii.1999, 12.ix.2012, 11.viii.2018, R. Macià leg.; 5 ♂ and 2 ♀, La Losilla, Albarracín, 1150 m, 27.viii.1996, R. Macià & J. Ylla leg.
Diagnosis. The main differential character of this taxon is the absence of androconial scales on the underside of the costal margin of the forewings of the males; a yellower area is visible in the space that should be occupied by these scales. The lack of these scales, means that the courtship behaviour of iberica must be different from that of complana s. str., This information directly reupgrade iberica to species level.
Re-description. Imago (Figs. 7–8). Average wingspan males 29.0 mm (n=10; 26–31 mm); average wingspan females 31.0 mm (n=10; 29–32 mm).
Genitalia (Fig. 52). Male genitalia: There are two main differences from Manulea complana: juxta topped horizontally, without the two small pointed processes, and the two cornuti are larger and with the same proportions. The sternum A7 is dome-shaped with a flattened upper part, as in complana. In Manulea pseudocomplana, the domed shape is pointed at the top. Female genitalia: The only difference from complana is the membranous wart on the upper part of the bursa, which is larger and with less density of tiny spines inside.
Molecular data. The group of three specimens belonging to Manulea iberica received a high BI support (PP=1, n=3) within the Manulea clade, showing a substantial between-group distance from Manulea complana (1.21%). RESL Cluster Analysis returned a specific cluster for Manulea iberica matching no previously published BIN.
Immature stages (Fig. 78). The last instar larva is 17 to 20 mm long. Cephalic capsule well developed, black, with a smooth vertex. Verrucae D1, D2 and SD 1 black, and L2 and L3 dark grey, all with translucent and black setae. In general, the body is very dark in colour. Dorsal line black with a narrow light grey line on each side; area from D1 to SD 1 black, with an orange spot in front of the D2 wart and attached to D1, smaller than that of complana, and two white spots behind D2. Pupa brown, smooth, less slender than in Manulea complana, with circular depressions on the posterior part of the metathorax; abdomen rounded at tip, without cremaster. The antennal case of the male pupa reaches the end of the wings, those of the female are shorter. Cocoons under lichens, and with the silk glued to the body.
Biology. Univoltine, flying in a single generation between the end of June and the beginning of September. Present in a great variety of biotopes, from lowland plains to mountains at elevations between 350 m and 1800 m. Both sexes are nocturnal and are attracted to artificial light. The larvae feed on different species of lichens (Parmelia spp.) (Ylla et al. 2010). In captivity they accept artificial diet.
Distribution (Fig. 98). Iberian endemic, thriving in some southern localities in Spain and Portugal.
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 19-20, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5191.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7144073