Manulea palliatella

Manulea palliatella (Scopoli, 1763)

Original combination: Phalena palliatella Scopoli, 1763, Entomologica Carniolica: 248, fig. 636.

T. L.: Carniolia [Slovenia / Italy].

Material examined. SPAIN: ÁVILA: 1 ♂, Solana de Ávila, 1350 m, 24.viii.2017, J. Gastón leg.; 5 ♂ and 2 ♀, Sierra de Ávila, Amavida, 1454 m, 1.ix.2003, 9.IX.2007, R. Macià & J. Ylla leg.; BARCELONA: 4 ♂, Vespella, Gurb, 650 m, 2.ix.2001, R. Macià & J. Ylla leg.; 5 ♂ and 2 ♀, Pla del Om, Gurb, 680 m, 31TDG34, 15.vii.2013, R. Macià & J. Ylla leg.; 3 ♂ and 1 ♀, Manso El Vicenç, Manlleu, 460 m, 15.vii.2019, A. Weiss leg. in coll. MCNB.; BURGOS: 2 ♀, San Martín de Don, 800 m, 9.ix.2000, J. Gastón leg.; 5 ♂, La Vid, 954 m, 30.viii.2003, R. Macià & J. Ylla leg.; CÁCERES: 2 ♂, Jerte, 604 m, 3.viii.1994, R. Macià leg.; CASTELLÓN: 8 ♂ and 5 ♀, Serra del Turmell, Vallibona, 1080 m, 2.viii.2007, R. Macià & J. Ylla leg.; CUENCA: 5 ♂ and 3 ♀, Sierra de Valdemaca, Collado Bajo, 1500 m, 31.vii.1999, R. Macià & J. Ylla leg.; 3 ♂ and 1 ♀, Herreria de los Chorros, Tragacete, 1510 m, 30.vii.2009, R. Macià & J. Ylla leg.; GIRONA: 3 ♂, Font del Home Mort, Quealbs, 1750 m, 6.viii.2004, R. Macià & J. Ylla leg.; HUESCA: 3 ♂, Ontiñena, 137 m, 30.viii.2008, R. Macià & J. Ylla leg.; LA RIOJA: 1 ♀, Jubera, 650 m, 5.ix.1986, J. Gastón leg.; 4 ♂ and 6 ♀, Ortigosa de Cameros, 1069 m, 27.vii.2018, R. Macià leg.; SEGOVIA: 1 ♂ and 2 ♀, Casla, Sª de Arcones, 1165 m, 7.ix.2007, J. Gastón leg.; SORIA: 1 ♂ and 1 ♀, Ciria, 1100 m, 5.viii.2005, J. Gastón leg.; 3 ♂ and 1 ♀, Puerto del Temeroso, Calatañazor, 1080 m, 10.ix.2007, R. Macià & J. Ylla leg.; TARRAGONA: 1 ♂, Monte Caro, 1100 m, 17.viii.1981, J. Gastón leg.; 5 ♂, El Tillar, Vimbodí i Poblet, 891 m, 5.viii.2013, R. Macià leg.; TERUEL: 1 ♂, Moscardón, 1350 m, 10.viii.1996, J. Gastón leg.; 8 ♂ and 6 ♀, Valle de Valdevecar, Albarracín, 1100 m, 23.viii.1997, R. Macià leg.; 3 ♂ and 2 ♀, La Losilla, Albarracín, 1150 m, 27.viii.1995, R. Macià leg; 11 ♂ and 9 ♀, Camino Forestal, Calomarde, 1550 m, 30TXK26, 2.viii.2017, 12.ix.2018, R. Macià leg.; ZAMORA: 2 ♂ and 1 ♀, Monte la Reina, 1050 m, 13.ix.2004, R. Macià & J. Ylla leg.; ZARAGOZA: 3 ♂ and 1 ♀, Torralba de los Frailes, 1050 m, 6.viii.1999, J. Gastón leg.; 17 ♂ and 15 ♀, El Ciervo, Retuerta de Pina, 350 m, 24.ix.2000, 21.ix.2001, 24.ix.2005, 17.ix.2006, R. Macià & J. Ylla leg.

Diagnosis. Manulea palliatella is distinguished from Manulea complana, Manulea pseudocomplana, Manulea costalis and Eilema caniola caniola by the narrower and more elongated wings and uniform yellowish grey coloration, without the pale costal stripe. However, some specimens are difficult to identify on external morphology.

Re-description. Imago (Figs. 13–14). Average wingspan males 32.6 mm (n=10; 30–36 mm); average wingspan females 32.0 mm (n=10; 28–36 mm).

Genitalia (Fig. 54). Male genitalia: Uncus of medium length, thick and sclerotised; the rest of the genital structure does not differ from that of Manulea pseudocomplana, apart from the aedeagus, in which the central cornutus is larger. Female genitalia: The bursa copulatrix does not turn to the right, as in the preceding species, it is ovoid and with a single signum, as in Manulea pseudocomplana. Manulea complana has two signa. The membranous process that leads to the ductus seminalis has a great density of thorns inside.

Immature stages (Fig. 80). The last instar larva is 20–25 mm long. The cephalic capsule is clear brown with the upper zone dark. It has very short setae, with clear grey verrucae; the body is yellowish white, with an orange spot under D1 and another behind L2. Prothoracic shield with 4 verrucae. Pupa thick and rugged, very similar in both sexes. Cocoon between lichens.

Molecular data. Manulea palliatella constitutes a well-supported clade (PP=1, n=4) with a low within-group distance (0.31%). RESL Cluster Analysis returned a single cluster matching a published BIN (BOLD: AAZ9153).

Biology. Univoltine, in flight from June–July to September–October. It prefers calcareous soils with markedly xerothermic conditions, at elevations from the sea level to 1500 m. Adults are mainly nocturnal, and are attracted to artificial light, but are also active by day feeding at Scabiosa flowers. The larvae feed on lichens (Cladonia). In captivity, they accept withered leaves and flowers of some angiosperms such as Genista (Ylla et al. 2010) and also artificial diet.

Distribution (Fig. 100). Eurasian. Present in most parts of Europe apart from an extensive northern area. In the Iberian Peninsula, there are scattered populations in a wide area over practically the entire northern third. In Portugal, it is is likely to occur in the most northeastern zone. Unknown from the Balearic Islands.