Doubts about the validity of the species name Hipparchia hermione (Linnaeus, 1764), it being associated with the two species Hipparchia alcyone ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) and Hipparchia genava (Fruhstorfer, 1908) following the designation of a lectotype by Kudrna (1977) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae, Satyrinae) - First part -

In 1977, Otakar Kudrna (*1939-†2021, obituary see Balletto and Leigheb, 2021) published his “Revision of the Genus Hipparchia”, where he classified all the known species and forms of this genus according to characters of wings, androconia, male genital armatures and further subjective criteria. Until today, Kudrna’s study is considered as the guideline of systematics of the genus Hipparchia. He selected there a lectotype specimen of a Rock Grayling male in the Linnaean collection. “Hipparchia hermione Linnaeus, 1764” is therefore, at the moment, the technically correct name to identify the species. The “International Commission of Zoological Nomenclature” (ICZN) has nothing to add at this point; it only comments on cases submitted to it in the Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature. Within the meaning of the present study and in accordance with Verity (1913), this damaged specimen without abdomen represents the same species as Ignaz Schiffermüller – allegedly the only author of the Vienna directory (see Kudrna and B., 2005, p. 5) – has described under H. alcyone from the Vienna region by referring to a coloured copper engraving published by Rösel von Rosenhof (1755). Kudrna’s “Revision” became the starting point of an extended scientific research activity during my free time containing, as a matter of priority, the examination of problem cases of systematics by checking the preimaginal characters of many rearing series from different sites. It turned out that a number of classifications proposed by Kudrna (1977) had to be reassessed as soon as characters of the pre-imaginal stages were available. The most complex case I have verified concerned the third European Grayling species which Leraut (1990) introduced under the name of Hipparchia genava (Fruhstorfer, 1908). Kudrna (1977) failed to separate this species from H. alcyone (D. & S., 1775). Throughout his life, he never agreed with Leraut’s opinion. In recent years, Kudrna had hoped that genetic examinations would make redundant every rearing attempt by amateur lepidopterists and furnish the proof that his opinion was the correct one. Since he never undertook any rearing experiments, his systematics were based only on prepared imagines being housed in museum collections. He saw himself as a person with the competency to decide within a few minutes upon complex questions of taxonomy and ignored completely the assessments of others. For verifying the effective rank of H. genava, I had to examine also the two most closely related species: Hipparchia fagi and H. alcyone by rearing them all ex ovo with material from several widely spaced sites. Already on finalising my rearing work of this group, it became apparent that Leraut (1990) had been on the absolutely right path by accepting a third Grayling species, within this group. For the first time, I published the results of my rearing attempts between 2002 and 2006 in several articles in the quarterly bulletin Linneana Belgica and I readily provided information on this case to interested colleagues. Over time only, I realized that the Rock Grayling I knew from the volume on butterflies (Diurna) by Forster and Wohlfahrt (1955) as from the guides by Higgins and Riley (1970-84) under the name of H. alcyone had become H. hermione, because of the lectotype designation by Kudrna (1977). A stony path was in front of me to substantiate the factual correctness of the view taken by Leraut (1990). Complex clarifications by Peter Russell furnished well-founded arguments on the complex scientific issue why the use of the name “hermione Linnaeus, 1764” should be rejected for the Rock Grayling previously known as H. alcyone.

Poecilocampa alpina (Frey & Wullschlegel, 1874) (Lepidoptera, Lasiocampidae), first record for Romania

Poecilocampa alpina (Frey & Wullschlegel, 1874) is reported for the first time in the Romanian fauna. The specimen was collected from Porumbenii Mari, Harghita County, Romania. According to the distribution area, respectively to the ecological requirements, Romanian population belongs to the subspecies P. alpina canensis. This reported population is currently the easternmost known population of this species.

Contribution to the knowledge of the Curculionoidea fauna of the Danube Delta and the Dobruja Region (Romania)

Presently 724 species are known from the Danube Delta and Dobruja. From these, 270 in the Danube Delta and Dobruja, 50 to Romania and 2 to science are new (the description of the species is in progress). The species new to Romania are the following: Noxius curtirostris (Mulsant & Rey, 1861); Bruchela cana (Küster, 1848); B. concolor (Fåhraeus, 1839); B. parvula (Motschulsky, 1875); Perapion (Perapion) connexum (Schilsky, 1902); Ceratapion (Echinostroma) scalptum caviceps (Desbrochers des Loges, 1870); Metapion ermischi (Voss, 1969); Protapion angusticolle (Gyllenhal, 1833); Allomalia quadrivirgata (Costa, 1863); Corimalia fausti fausti (Reitter, 1890); Bagous (Macropelmus) claudicans Boheman, 1845; B. (Macropelmus) dieckmanni Gratshev, 1993; B. (Macropelmus) lothari Caldara & O'Brien, 1998; Brachycerus lutosus Gyllenhal, 1833; Stenopelmus rufinasus Gyllenhal, 1835; Tanysphyrus ater Blatchley, 1928; Aulacobaris kiesenwetteri (Faust, 1890); Labiaticola despicatus Faust, 1889; L. melas (Boheman, 1836); Ceutorhynchus levantinus Schultze, 1898; C. merkli Korotyaev, 2001; C. scrobicollis Neresheimer & H. Wagner, 1924; C. talickyi Korotyaev, 1980; C. varius Rey, 1895; Microplontus millefolii (Schultze, 1897); Ranunculiphilus (Austroceutorhynchus) italicus (C. N. F. Brisout de Barneville, 1869); Thamiocolus roubali Dieckmann, 1973; T. sinapis (Desbrochers des Loges, 1893); Gymnetron tibiellum Desbrochers des Loges, 1900; Miarus hellenicus Dieckmann 1978; M. solarii Smreczyński, 1957; Philernus ponticus Korotyaev, 1979; Sibinia (Sibinia) femoralis Germar, 1823; S. (Sibinia) variata Gyllenhal, 1835; Tychius (Tychius) ochraceus Tournier, 1873; T. (Tychius) subsulcatus Tournier, 1874; Ptochus (Ptochus) porcellus Boheman, 1834; Omias murinus (Boheman, 1842); Otiorhynchus (Pseudocryphiphorus) zebei Stierlin, 1861; Argoptochus (Argoptochus) markovensis Angelov, 1987; Polydrusus (Conocetus) baudii (Faust, 1889); Sitona ophthalmicus Desbrochers des Loges, 1869; Chlorophanus viridis balcanicus Behne, 1989; Rhabdorrhynchus echii Brahm, 1790; Bangasternus planifrons (Brullé, 1832); Larinus (Larinomesius) atomarius Capiomont, 1874; L. (Larinomesius) canescens Gyllenhal, 1835; L. (Larinomesius) syriacus Gyllenhal, 1835; L. (Phyllonomeus) filiformis Petri, 1907; Lixus (Epimeces) scolopax Boheman, 1835.

Dicranomyia (Idiopyga) nigristigma Nielsen, 1919 (Diptera, Limoniidae) recorded for the first time from calcareous springs in Romania

Dicranomyia (Idiopyga) nigristigma Nielsen, 1919 (Diptera, Limoniidae) is recorded for the first time from Romania. The species was collected in some calcareous springs in the Apuseni Mountains and highlight an overlooked Limoniidae diversity in similar habitats from the karstic area from here.

New and rare noctuid species (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) in the fauna of the Republic of Moldova

Data on 17 rare species of noctuids (Noctuidae) in the fauna of the Republic of Moldova are given in the present paper. The investigations were carried out during 2012-2020 in 26 sites throughout the Republic of Moldova. The genus Actebia Stephens, 1829 and the species Actebia praecox (Linnaeus, 1758) and Xylena solidaginis (Hübner, 1803) are reported as new for the fauna of the Republic of Moldova. Thus, the number of noctuid species in the fauna of the Republic of Moldova reached 427. The species: Acontia titania (Esper, 1798), Aedophron rhodites (Eversmann, 1851), Periphanes delphinii (Linnaeus, 1758), Eucarta amethystina (Hübner, 1803), Dasypolia temples (Thunberg, 1792), Oxytripia orbiculosa (Esper, 1799), Euxoa cos (Hübner, 1824), Gortyna cervago (Eversmann, 1844), Meganephria bimaculosa (Linnaeus, 1758) and Cucullia argentea (Hufnagel, 1766) needs protection and conservation, so it is recommended according to IUCN criteria to be included in the next edition of the Red Book of the Republic of Moldova and the elaboration of concrete management measures.

Xestia sextrigata (Haworth, 1809) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) a new species expanding into Romania

Records from Austria, Hungary, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova collected in the last 30 years suggest that Xestia sextrigata (Haworth, 1809) is extending its range towards South-Eastern Europe. Here we report the first genuine record of X. sextrigata from Romania. Older records from the literature are shown to be erroneous.