Records of larentiine moths (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) collected at the Station Linné in Sweden.

BACKGROUND: The island of Öland, at the southeast of Sweden, has unique geological and environmental features. The Station Linné is a well-known Öland research station which provides facilities for effective studies and attracts researchers from all over the world. Moreover, the station remains a center for ecotourism due to extraordinary biodiversity of the area. The present paper is aimed to support popular science activities carried out on the island and to shed light on diverse geometrid moth fauna of the Station Linné. NEW INFORMATION: As an outcome of several research projects, including the Swedish Malaise Trap Project (SMTP) and the Swedish Taxonomy Initiative (STI) conducted at the Station Linné, a list of larentiine moths (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) collected on the territory of the station is presented. Images of moths from above and underside are shown. Of the totally 192 species registered for Sweden, 41 species (more than 21%) were collected in close proximity to the main building of the Station Linné. Malaise trap sampling of Lepidoptera is discussed.

Introduction

The island of Öland, at the southeast of Sweden, is famous for its dominant environmental feature, an Ordovician limestone pavement, which is called the Stora Alvaret (= the Great Alvar). Alvars are semi-natural grasslands which have been formed and developed due to long periods of human influence, including grazing (Rosén 1982). The Stora Alvaret has been designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO due to its unusual biodiversity and prehistory. Station Linné is situated on the island of Öland being a center for research, popular science activities, and ecotourism. The research station is named after Carl von Linné who visited Öland in 1741.

The Swedish Malaise Trap Project (SMTP), funded by the Swedish Species Information Centre (ArtDatabanken), is based at the Station Linné. The project aims to provide species determinations for the specimens obtained from Malaise traps sampling at a wide range of landscapes and habitats. For many groups, including geometrid moths, the final data release is still awaited. The present paper is aimed to present a first list of the larentiine moths collected at the Station Linné.

Materials and methods

Material for study was mainly collected using a UV light trap (UV), a mercury vapor light trap (MV) and net sweeping (NS) by O. Schmidt in 2014 (June 24-29, July 1-4) and 2015 (July 20-31) in the Mörbylånga kommun, Skogsby, Station Linné (56.6186 N, 16.4989 E). The UV light trap was placed between the tree and shrub rows along a walking path, with a meadow on one side and a swampy area on the other side (Fig. 1). The mercury vapor light trap was situated nearby, at the edge of the swamp (Fig. 2). The two light traps were separated by a row of trees and shrubs.

Figure 1.

UV light trap

Figure 2.

MV light trap

Furthermore, material collected as part of the SMTP in 2007 and 2008 using a Malaise trap (MF) located close to the main building of the Station Linné (see http://www.stationlinne.se/sv/forskning/the-swedish-malaise-trap-project-smtp/traps/trap-id-2006-skogs, Trap ID 2006) was checked and the larentiine moths identified. This Malaise trap was placed on a lawn, about 100 m north of the Alvar edge (56.6190 N, 16.4973 E) and was running from April 2007 until November 2008. A note is given for the species recorded from Malaise trap samples only.

Additional material has been collected in the following locations: Borgholms kommun, Ismantorp; Borgholms kommun, Petgärdeträsk; Mörbylånga kommun, near Arontorp; Mörbylånga kommun, Gårdby; Mörbylånga kommun, Gillsättra_wet, Gillsättra_dry; Mörbylånga kommun, Jordtorpsåsen_wet, Jordtorpsåsen_dry; Mörbylånga kommun, Kalkstad; Mörbylånga kommun, Södra Sandby (Suppl. material 1). Specimens collected by net sweeping on Öland outside the station are marked with asterisk (NS*).

The genitalia of all small-sized moths were studied to correctly identify the species. The material was identified using the collection of the Zoologische Staatssammlung München (ZSM, Germany) and publications by Mironov (2003), Elmquist et al. (2011) and Hausmann and Viidalepp (2012).

Checklists

List of larentiine moth species collected at the Station Linné

(Hufnagel, 1767)

http://eol.org/pages/4031647/overview

http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Phibalapteryx_virgata

Notes

Figs 3, 4

Figure 3.

, above

Figure 4.

, underneath

(Forster, 1771)

http://eol.org/pages/283762/overview

http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Cidaria_Fulvata

Figs 5, 6

Figure 5.

, above

Figure 6.

, underneath

(Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)

http://eol.org/pages/277279/overview

http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Colostygia_olivata

Figs 7, 8

Figure 7.

, above

Figure 8.

, underneath

(Knoch, 1781)

http://eol.org/pages/278481/overview

http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Colostygia_Pectinataria

Figs 9, 10

Figure 9.

, above

Figure 10.

, underneath

(Linnaeus, 1758)

http://eol.org/pages/270324/overview

http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Cosmorhoe_Ocellata

Figs 11, 12

Figure 11.

, above

Figure 12.

, underneath

(Linnaeus, 1758)

http://eol.org/pages/281849/overview

http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Eulithis_Prunata

Figs 13, 14

Figure 13.

, above

Figure 14.

, underneath

(Fabricius, 1787)

http://eol.org/pages/284564/overview

http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Eulithis_Mellinata

Figs 15, 16

Figure 15.

, above

Figure 16.

, underneath

(Linnaeus, 1761)

http://eol.org/pages/286201/overview

http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Eulithis_Testata

Figs 17, 18

Figure 17.

, above

Figure 18.

, underneath

(Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)

http://eol.org/pages/4017307/overview

http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Gandaritis_Pyraliata

Figs 19, 20

Figure 19.

, above

Figure 20.

, underneath

(Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)

http://eol.org/search?q=Plemyria+rubiginata&search=Go

http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Plemyria_Rubiginata

Figs 21, 22

Figure 21.

, above

Figure 22.

, underneath

(Thunberg, 1792)

http://eol.org/pages/298019/overview

http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Thera_cognata

Figs 23, 24

Figure 23.

, above

Figure 24.

, underneath

(Clerck, 1759)

http://eol.org/pages/285123/overview

http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Eupithecia_absinthiata

http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=7586.1

Figs 25, 26

Figure 25.

, above

Figure 26.

, underneath

(Hübner, 1813)

http://eol.org/search?q=Eupithecia+denotata&search=Go

http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Eupithecia_denotata

http://www.euroleps.ch/seiten/s_art.php?art=geo_denotata

Figs 27, 28

Figure 27.

, above

Figure 28.

, underneath

(Hübner, 1813)

http://eol.org/pages/284131/overview

http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Eupithecia_exiguata

Figs 29, 30

Figure 29.

, above

Figure 30.

, underneath

(de Villers, 1789)

http://eol.org/pages/281026/overview

http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Eupithecia_icterata

Figs 31, 32

Figure 31.

, above

Figure 32.

, underneath

(Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)

http://eol.org/pages/283937/overview

http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Eupithecia_Linariata

Figs 33, 34

Figure 33.

, above

Figure 34.

, underneath

(Hübner, 1813)

http://eol.org/pages/287885/overview

http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Eupithecia_nanata

Figs 35, 36

Figure 35.

, above, abdomen missing

Figure 36.

, underneath, abdomen missing

(Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)

http://eol.org/search?http://eol.org/search?q=Eupithecia+pusillata&search=Go

http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Eupithecia_Pusillata

Figs 37, 38

Figure 37.

, above

Figure 38.

, underneath

(Hübner, 1813)

http://eol.org/pages/292707/overview

http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Eupithecia_satyrata

Figs 39, 40

Figure 39.

, above

Figure 40.

, underneath

(Haworth, 1809)

http://eol.org/pages/286559/overview

http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Eupithecia_Subfuscata

Figs 41, 42

Figure 41.

, above

Figure 42.

, underneath

(Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)

http://eol.org/pages/287281/overview

http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Eupithecia_subumbrata

Figs 43, 44

Figure 43.

, above, abdomen missing

Figure 44.

, underneath, abdomen missing

(Linnaeus, 1758)

http://eol.org/pages/292925/overview

http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Eupithecia_succenturiata

Figs 45, 46

Figure 45.

, above

Figure 46.

, underneath

(Hübner, 1813)

http://eol.org/pages/285093/overview

http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Eupithecia_tenuiata

Figs 47, 48

Figure 47.

, above

Figure 48.

, underneath

(Hübner, 1813)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eupithecia_valerianata

http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Eupithecia_Valerianata

Figs 49, 50

Figure 49.

, above

Figure 50.

, underneath

(Mabille, 1870)

http://eol.org/pages/4031644/overview

http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Pasiphila_Chloerata

Figs 51, 52

Figure 51.

, above

Figure 52.

, underneath

(Linnaeus, 1758)

http://eol.org/pages/277386/overview

http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Pasiphila_Rectangulata

Figs 53, 54

Figure 53.

, above

Figure 54.

, underneath

(Thunberg, 1784)

http://eol.org/pages/286763/overview

http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Hydriomena_furcata

Figs 55, 56

Figure 55.

, above

Figure 56.

, under

(Linnaeus, 1758)

http://eol.org/pages/284799/overview

http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Pelurga_Comitata

Figs 57, 58

Figure 57.

, above

Figure 58.

, underneath

(Linnaeus, 1758)

http://eol.org/pages/4012784/overview

http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Mesotype_Didymata

Figs 59, 60

Figure 59.

, above

Figure 60.

, underneath

(Linnaeus, 1758)

http://eol.org/pages/295004/overview

http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Perizoma_Alchemillata

Figs 61, 62

Figure 61.

, above

Figure 62.

, underneath

(Hufnagel, 1767)

http://eol.org/pages/296282/overview

http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Philereme_transversata

Figs 63, 64

Figure 63.

, above

Figure 64.

, underneath

(Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)

http://eol.org/search?http://eol.org/search?q=Philereme+vetulata&search=Go

http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Philereme_vetulata

Figs 65, 66

Figure 65.

, above

Figure 66.

, underneath

(Linnaeus, 1758)

http://eol.org/pages/295986/overview

http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Scotopteryx_Chenopodiata

Figs 67, 68

Figure 67.

, above

Figure 68.

, underneath

(Retzius, 1783)

http://eol.org/pages/297593/overview

http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Pterapherapteryx_sexalata

Figs 69, 70

Figure 69.

, above

Figure 70.

, underneath

(Linnaeus, 1758)

http://eol.org/search?http://eol.org/search?q=Camptogramma+bilineata&search=Go

http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Camptogramma_Bilineata

Figs 71, 72

Figure 71.

, above

Figure 72.

, underneath

(Hufnagel, 1767)

http://eol.org/pages/276073/overview

http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Catarhoe_cuculata

Figs 73, 74

Figure 73.

, above

Figure 74.

, underneath

(Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)

http://eol.org/pages/279041/overview

http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Catarhoe_Rubidata

Figs 75, 76

Figure 75.

, above

Figure 76.

, underneath

(Müller, 1764)

http://eol.org/search?q=Epirrhoe+alternata&search=Go

http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Epirrhoe_Alternata

Figs 77, 78

Figure 77.

, above

Figure 78.

, underneath

(Hübner, 1790)

http://eol.org/pages/285918/overview

http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Epirrhoe_Hastulata

Figs 79, 80

Figure 79.

, above

Figure 80.

, underneath

(Linnaeus, 1758)

http://eol.org/pages/285474/overview

http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Epirrhoe_Tristata

Figs 81, 82

Figure 81.

, above

Figure 82.

, underneath

(Clerck, 1759)

http://eol.org/pages/288630/overview

http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Xanthorhoe_ferrugata

Figs 83, 84

Figure 83.

, above

Figure 84.

, underneath

Discussion

Results and discussion

Totally, 192 species of are recorded for Sweden (Elmquist et al. 2011, http://www2.nrm.se/en/svenska_fjarilar/svenska_fjarilar.html). Bert Gustafsson listed 156 species occurring on Öland (http://www2.nrm.se/en/catalogus.html.se). Currently, 41 species are recorded for the territory of the Station Linné, which comprises 26.3% of the Öland species and more than 21% of the Swedish larentiine fauna. Interestingly, 37 species were sampled during 22 nights of light trapping in summer 2014 and 2015, when the weather was not quite favorable for collecting. For comparison, a recent rapid biotic survey at a 365 hectare Charitable Research Reserve in Ontario (Canada) revealed only nine larentiine species (Telfer et al. 2015). An unusual biodiversity registered for a small collecting site on Öland can be explained by use of effective sampling methods.

Most of the larentiine species were collected using a UV light trap. The exceptions are as follows: one specimen of and one specimen of were attracted only to the Mercury vapor lamp. The efficiency of different types of traps in this study should be compared with caution. The Mercury vapor trap and the surrounding vegetation was checked once at night between 11 p.m. and 12 p.m. and emptied in the morning, after completion of light trapping, whereas the UV trap has been checked continuously and the geometrid moths flying near the trap and sitting on the leaves of trees and bushes were collected permanently. , , and were recorded only in Malaise trap samples collected during July 24 – August 12, 2008, May 12 – June 5, 2008, June 5-21, 2008, and June 1-15, 2007 respectively.

Morphological differences within (Denis & Schiffermüller)

A series of specimens presumably belonging to the species have been collected. The specimens display variation in the wing pattern above and underneath, in the male genitalia (the shape of the saccus) and in the female genitalia (the length of the ductus bursae and the shape of the signum). The specimens require more detailed study.

Malaise trap sampling of Lepidoptera

Malaise traps are effectively used for collecting small flying insects for many decades, after the trap has been described by Malaise (1937). Although butterflies and moths are sometimes target groups of large-scale malaise trap sampling for ecological and conservation studies (e.g. Basset et al. 2007, Campbell and Hanula 2007, Lamarre et al. 2012), collecting by means of malaise traps is a challenging method. Designed for and , a malaise trap indeed effectively samples , as they get trapped within the malaise tent, flying upward towards either the sun (during the day) or the moon (at night) (see Lamarre et al. 2012). However, the specimens fall into a collecting jar filled with Ethanol, whereby the wing scales rub off easily. Generally, only specimens with distinct wing pattern can be reliably identified from the samples in Ethanol. The older the samples are, the more difficult it is to get a correct identification of . For small moths it is necessary to study the genitalia or to perform a molecular analysis. Considering the results of present study, using only malaise traps for sampling is advisable for well-studied faunas. Traditional methods, like net sweeping, light trapping or bait-traps deliver more suitable results.

List of larentiine moth species (: ) of the Station Linné

Data type: occurences

File: oo_64905.xls