Faunistic notes on Momphidae, Batrachedridae, Stathmopodidae and Cosmopterigidae from the Maltese Islands

Abstract

An annotated list of Momphidae, Batrachedridae, Stathmopodidae and Cosmopterigidae
(Lepidoptera) collected on the Maltese Islands is provided. Sixteen species are recorded (1 Momphidae,
1 Batrachedridae, 1 Stathmopodidae, 13 Cosmopterigidae), one of them is new to the Maltese Islands and
Europe: Bifascioides leucomelanellus (Rebel, 1917) and three of them are new to the Maltese Islands:
Mompha subbistrigella (Haworth, 1828), Anatrachyntis badia (Hodges, 1962), and Ascalenia echidnias
(Meyrick, 1891). Mompha subbistrigella (Haworth, 1828) and Eteobalea serratella (Treitschke, 1833) are
mentioned as new for Sardinia.

Full text

49
Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 49–63
Faunistic notes on Momphidae, Batrachedridae,
Stathmopodidae and Cosmopterigidae from the Maltese Islands
SJAAK (J.C.) KOSTER 1& PAUL SAMMUT 2
1National Museum of Natural History Naturalis, PO Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands;
e-mail: Sjaak.Koster@planet.nl
2¶Fawkner·, Dingli Road, Rabat RBT 07, Malta; e-mail: farfett@onvol.net
Abstract. An annotated list of Momphidae, Batrachedridae, Stathmopodidae and Cosmopterigidae
(Lepidoptera) collected on the Maltese Islands is provided. Sixteen species are recorded (1 Momphidae,
1 Batrachedridae, 1 Stathmopodidae, 13 Cosmopterigidae), one of them is new to the Maltese Islands and
Europe: Bifascioides leucomelanellus (Rebel, 1917) and three of them are new to the Maltese Islands:
Mompha subbistrigella (Haworth, 1828), Anatrachyntis badia (Hodges, 1962), and Ascalenia echidnias
(Meyrick, 1891). Mompha subbistrigella (Haworth, 1828) and Eteobalea serratella (Treitschke, 1833) are
mentioned as new for Sardinia.
Key words. Lepidoptera, Momphidae, Batrachedridae, Stathmopodidae, Cosmopterigidae, Maltese
Islands, new records.
Introduction
The Maltese Islands are a group of small, low-lying islands situated almost at the centre
of the Mediterranean, from 35°48·28··to 36°0·0·· N and 14°11·04·· to 14°34·37··E.
They are 92 km south of Sicily and 252 km north of the Libyan coast. The total area of
the archipelago is 320 km/sq. The Maltese archipelago is composed of three inhabited
islands, Malta, Gozo and Comino and a number of smaller, uninhabited islets and rocks.
From the ecological point of view, the most important of these are Cominotto, Filfa, St.
Paul·s Island and Fungus rock. Malta is the main island. The highest point is at Dingli,
on the west side of Malta and is 253 m above sea level. Lakes and rivers are lacking and
only a few permanent freshwater springs are to be found.
The islands are composed of sedimentary rocks, mostly limestone which were laid
down in the sea during the Oligo-Miocene period. The fi ve principal types of rock
exposed, listed in order of decreasing age are, Lower Coralline Limestone, Globigerina
Limestone, Blue Clay, Greensand and Upper Coralline Limestone.
The Maltese climate is typically Mediterranean, with mild, wet winters and hot dry
summers. Annual rainfall is variable and the average for the last forty years is about
500mm. Most of the rain falls between October and March and the period between April
and September constitutes the dry season. The mean temperature for the last 45 years
was 18.7 °C. The average for February, the coldest month is 12.36 °C, while that for
August, the hottest month is 26.39 °C. Snow never falls Relative humidity is generally
high (65–80%) all the year round. Windy conditions are the norm. About 92% of the
days of the year have a minimum of 1.85 km per hour of wind and the prevailing wind
is the mistral or the north-westerly wind.
The islands have been settled since Neolithic times. In 2000, the population was 388,
613 and the population density reached approximately 1240 inhabitants per km². These
Nota lepidopterologica, 14.08.2006, ISSN 0342-7536

50 KOSTER & SAMMUT: On some Microlepidoptera from Malta
fi gures do not take into account the number of tourists who visit the islands every year.
In the same year the estimated number of tourists who visited Malta was 1,216,000.
Agricultural land accounts for 46.8% while built up areas and roads account for 30.6%
of the land area. Only about 20% of the land is still in its natural state (Schembri et al.
1999).
The natural vegetation of the Maltese Islands is dominated by the Mediterranean
scrub communities of which the best representatives are the various types of garigue
typical of rocky ground and characterized by such species as Coridothymus capitatus,
Anthyllis hermanniae, Teucrium fruticans, Erica multifl ora and the endemic Euphorbia
melitensis (Lanfranco 1995). Garigue ecosystems, such as at Ras il-Pellegrin, Il-Kortin
tal-Mellieha and Ta· Cenc in Gozo, make up to about 10% of the natural environment.
(Lanfranco 2002). In favoured situations, such as under cliff faces, scrub community
N
The Maltese Archipelago
5 km
200 km
Fig. 1. Map of the Maltese Archipelago with the location of the collecting sites: 1. Gozo, Kercem, San
Rafl u, 2. Gozo, Wied il-Lunzjata, 3. Gozo, Xlendi, 4. Malta, Bahrija, Fomm ir-Rih, 5. Malta, Bahrija, Wied
tal-Bahrija, 6. Malta, Buskett, Wied il-Luq, 7. Malta, Delimara, 8. Malta, Gharghur, 9. Malta, Mdina, 10.
Malta, Mellieha, Ghadira, 11. Malta, Naxxar, 12. Malta, Paradise Bay, 13. Malta, Pembroke, 14. Malta,
Rabat [including Dwejra, Ta· Koronja & Wied ta· Liemu], 15. Malta, Salina, 16. Malta, Siggiewi, Ghar
Lapsi, 17. Malta, Zabbar, 18, Malta, Zebbug, Wied il-Kbir.

51
Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 49–63
occurs as maquis, with Ceratonia siliqua, Olea europaea, Pistacia lentiscus, Rhamnus
oleoides, Teucrium fl avum, Prasium majus, Lonicera impexa, Smilax aspera, Acanthus
mollis, Capparis orientalis and others (Lanfranco 1995). Less than 3% of the natural
environment is of this type (Lanfranco 2002).
No natural woods occur, although remnants of a few Quercus ilex woods, such as at
Buskett, near Dingli, at Wardija and Mellieha still remain or are reduced to maquis.
The semi-artifi cial woodland at Buskett is fairly characteristic of a Mediterranean
evergreen wood (Lanfranco 1995). Wooded areas account to only 1.4% of the natural
environment. (Lanfranco 2002).
Freshwater habitats are scarce in Malta, especially during the summer months.
Permanent streams, such as at Wied il-Luq in Buskett, Wied tal-Bahrija in Bahrija and
Wied il-Lunzjata in Gozo are dominated by plant communities comprising Arundo
donax, Cyperus longus, Holoschoenus vulgaris, Populus albus, Salix pedicellata,
Ulmus canescens, sometimes accompanied by Laurus nobilis.
Dune communities are also very rare and are largely degraded. These are characterized
by species belonging to Salicornia, Suaeda, Crithmum, Limonium, Phrgamites
australis, Juncus acutus, Pancratium maritimum, Euphorbia, Salsola, Medicaga, and
others (Lanfranco 1995). Dune areas still exist at Ghadira Bay and Rdum il-Hmar in
Mellieha, at Armier Bay and Ramla in Gozo.
The fauna of the Maltese Islands, like its fl ora is numerous, varied and very interesting.
Considering the insects alone, no less than 4200 species have been recorded so far
from the Maltese Islands (Schembri 1996), of which about 600 species belong to
the Lepidoptera. There exists a large literature on Lepidoptera. Notable summaries
include the contributions of Valletta (1972, 1973), and Sammut (1982, 1983, 1984,
1985, 2000). The fi rst mention of lepidoptera from the Maltese Islands is by De Reville
(1750) of a larva feeding on the vine, later named by Stainton as Antispila rivellei in
1855. Other important works on Maltese Lepidoptera and which also contain references
to microlepidoptera are those of Gulia (1858), De La Garde (1892), Andres (1916),
Fletcher (1904–1905), Caruana Gatto (1905), J. Borg (1922), P. Borg (1932), Amsel
(1950, 1954, 1955), DeLucca (1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1965, 1969), Valletta
(1950, 1951, 1953, 1955, 1973) and Sammut (1984, 2000).
The fi rst publication about Microlepidoptera belonging to the families mentioned in
the title of this paper was made by DeLucca (1949). Later followed by Amsel (1955)
and DeLucca (1950, 1956). Faunistic lists of Lepidoptera of the Maltese Islands were
published by Karsholt & Razowski (1996), Sammut (1984, 2000) and Valletta (1973).
The present contribution is a compilation of old records from the literature and many
new ones from collected material from the second author and others.
Material and methods
The recent material has been collected by A. Catania, P. Sammut and A. Seguna (Malta)
and H. Hendriksen, B. Petersen, U. Seneca and B. Skule (Denmark). Most material
has been collected by a mercury vapour light source (120W) or by a moth trap with an

52 KOSTER & SAMMUT: On some Microlepidoptera from Malta
actinic tube (15W) as source of light. All of the material examined, except Cosmopterix
pulchrimella which was reared from its food plant, was collected at light as explained
above.
Taxonomy and nomenclature follow Koster & Sinev (2003), and additional references
to the life histories of the single species can also be found in that work.
Abbreviations
AC coll. A. Catania
AS coll. A. Seguna
AV coll. A. Valletta
DL coll. DeLucca
PS coll. P. Sammut
ZMUC The Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen
Results
MOMPHIDAE
Mompha subbistrigella (Haworth, 1828)
Material. Malta, Naxxar, 28.v.2001, leg. A. Seguna, (AS).
Life history. Larvae feed in the seed pods of small species of Epilobium-species like
E. montanum L., E. palustre L., E. parvifl orum Schreb., and E. tetragonum L. They eat
the unripe seeds and the seed pods become distorted by these activities and have a small
hole in the side. The moths are on the wing throughout the year and are most frequently
found in spring after hibernation (Koster & Sinev 2003). Both Epilobium parvifl orum
and E. tetragonum occur on the Maltese Islands.
Distribution. The species has a wide range of distribution in Europe and is found
in most countries including in the Mediterranean area (Koster & Sinev 2003). The
most nearby location of Malta is Sicily, and recently it has also been established from
Sardinia: Sardegna merid., Musei, 120 m, 7.vi.[19]72, coll. Hartig (coll. Baldizzone)
(Koster, pers. det.).
Remarks. This is the most southern location of this species so far. New to the
lepidopterofauna of the Maltese Islands.
BATRACHEDRIDAE
Batrachedra parvulipunctella Chrétien, 1915
Eustaintonia phragmitidella Mariani, 1936
Material. Gozo, Xlendi, 9.ix.1953, 8.ix.1954, leg. C. DeLucca (DL). Malta, Buskett, Wied il-Luq,
6.vii.2004, 2 exx., leg. P. Sammut (PS).
Life history. Larvae live in white silky cases, feeding on the waxy secretions of the
coccid-species Aclerda berlesii Buffa (Homoptera: Aclerdidae) or other species of
coccids, which occur on Phragmitis australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. and Arundo donax

53
Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 49–63
L. (Poaceae). The moths are on the wing in two generations from May–June and again
in July–September.
Distribution. Southern Europe and Northern Africa (Koster & Sinev 2003).
References. DeLucca 1956: 256; DeLucca 1965: 514; Valletta 1973: 90; Mariani 1936:
97; Sammut 1984: 17; Riedl 1996: 84; Sammut 2000: 51.
Remarks. The occurrence of Aclerda berlesii as well as Phragmitis australis and
Arundo donax on the Maltese Islands demonstrates that Batrachedra parvulipunctella
is a resident species here.
STATHMOPODIDAE
Neomariania partinicensis (Rebel, 1937)
Material. Malta, Mellieha Bay, Ghadira, 19.–31.viii.1992, leg. B. Petersen, det. S. Yu. Sinev (ZMUC);
Rabat, Dwejra, 21.vi.2002, 31.viii.2001, 13.vii.2004, at light, 6 exx., leg. Sammut (PS).
Life history. Biology unknown. Adults have been collected from the end of June till
mid-September.
Distribution. Mediterranean area.
References. Riedl 1996: 83; Sammut 2000: 51; Parenti 2000: pl. 72/8.
Remarks. The systematic position of the genus Neomariania is uncertain. Rebel
(1937) placed it in Momphidae. Later the genus was transferred to Oecophoridae (Riedl
1986) and then to Stathmopodidae (Riedl 1990) and it still remains there in most recent
catalogues.
Sammut (2000) stated that the species does not occur in Malta, despite the publication
in Karsholt & Razowski (1996). At that time he was not aware of the single specimen
mentioned above, collected by a Danish hymenopterist.
COSMOPTERIGIDAE
Cosmopteriginae
Cosmopterix pulchrimella Chambers, 1875
Cosmopteryx parietariae M. Hering, 1931
Material. Malta, Gharghur, 29.viii.1953, leg. A. Valletta (AV); Salina, 19.ix.1949, leg. C. DeLucca
(DL); Zabbar, 20.iii.1995, reared from Parietaria judaica, leg. C. Farrugia (PS).
Life history. In Europethe larvae are leaf miners on Parietaria offi cinalis L. (Urticaceae).
The mine starts as a gallery that soon widens to an irregular blotch. The larva constructs
a web inside the mine which often contracts the leaf. The frass is partly removed from
the mine and the larva makes several of these mines. Pupation takes place inside the
mine. Adults fl y in several overlapping generations from spring to autumn.
Distribution. Holarctic. In Europe in the Mediterranean area north to the south of
England, Switzerland and Hungary, also on the Canary Islands and Madeira.
References. DeLucca 1950: 233; Amsel 1955: 28; Valletta 1973: 90; Sammut 1984:
17; Riedl 1996: 103; Sammut 2000: 57.
Remarks. Parietaria judaica L. has not been mentioned before as food plant of this
species.

54 KOSTER & SAMMUT: On some Microlepidoptera from Malta
Cosmopterix coryphaea Walsingham, 1908
Cosmopteryx donatellae Mariani, 1932
Cosmopteryx formosa Amsel, 1935
Material. Gozo, Wied il-Lunzjata, 19.ix.1953, 2 exx., leg. C. DeLucca (DL). Malta, Mellieha,
Ghadira, 80 m, 10.iv.2004, (southern storm), leg. B. Skule, (ZMUC).
Life history. The larvae are leaf miners on Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud.
(Poaceae). The mine starts as a gallery and widens into an elongate blotch, frass is piled
in the lower, narrower part and is partly ejected. Pupation inside the mine. Adults fl y
from the end of February till June. The specimens from Gozo have been collected in
September, indicating a second generation.
Distribution. Mediterranean area and Northern Africa towards the Near East, also on
the Canary Islands.
References. Amsel 1955: 28; DeLucca 1956: 256; Valletta 1973: 90; Sammut 1984:
18; Riedl 1996: 103; Sammut 2000: 57.
Remarks. A recent addition to the fauna of the island Malta.
Pyroderces argyrogrammos (Zeller, 1847)
Pyroderces goldeggiella Herrich-Schäffer, 1853
Material. Gozo, Kercem, San Rafl u, 15.vi.2001, leg. A. Seguna (AS); Malta, Bahrija, Fomm ir-Rih,
3.viii.2001. leg. A. Seguna (AS); Bahrija, Wied tal-Bahrija, 23.viii.2003, leg. A. Seguna (AS); Buskett,
Wied il-Luq, 6.vii.2001, 27.viii.2001, leg. P. Sammut (PS); Delimara, 22.vi.2001, leg. A. Seguna (AS);
Gharghur, 18.vii.1993, leg. A. Seguna (AS); Mellieha, Ghadira, 20.–25.v.1994, 3 exx., leg. U. Seneca,
(ZMUC); Naxxar, 28.iv.1992, 14.v.1998, 22.iv.1999, 13 and 30.v, 25.vi, 2.vii. and 10.viii.2001, 18.v.2002,
leg. A. Seguna (AS); Paradise Bay, 15.v.1999, leg. P. Sammut (PS); Paradise Bay, 19.vi.1998, leg. A.
Seguna (AS); Pembroke, 26.x.1984, 5 and 27.iv and 25.ix.1990, 4 exx., leg. A. Catania (AC); Rabat, 3.vi
and 30.vii.1983, 15.v., 4.vi., 20.vii.1999, 16.vii.2001, leg. P. Sammut (PS); Rabat, Dwejra, 13.vii.2004, leg.
P. Sammut (PS); Rabat, Ta· Koronja, 14.vi.2002, leg. A. Seguna (AS); Siggiewi, Ghar Lapsi, 23.iv.1999, 2
exx., leg. P. Sammut (PS); Zebbug, Wied il-Kbir, 21.iv.1999, leg. A. Seguna (AS).
Life history. Larvae in the seed heads of Asteraceae like Carlina spp., Centaurea spp.
and Carduus spp. where they eat from the seeds. Pupation takes place in between the
down of the seeds in a light cocoon. The moth fl ies in two generations from the end of
April to the end of Sepember, but a third generation is possible in warm seasons.
Distribution. From Central Europe (Mid-Germany) southwards to the Mediterranean
area, Canary Islands, Northern Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia. Recently also
found in Great Britain on the Channel Islands (Sterling et al., 2004).
References. DeLucca 1950: 250; Valletta 1973: 90; Sammut 1984: 18; Riedl 1996:
103; Sammut 2000: 57.
Remarks. According to DeLucca (1950) the species on Malta can be very common at
light in many places.
Pyroderces wolschrijni Koster & Sinev, 2003
Material. Malta, Mellieha, Ghadira, 30.iv., 3., 4., 5.vii.2002, leg. H. Hendriksen (ZMUC); Naxxar,
30.iv.2001, leg. A. Seguna (AS); Rabat, 1.x.2001, 11.vi.2004, 2 exx., leg. P. Sammut (PS); Rabat, Dwejra,
13.vii.2004, leg. P. Sammut (PS).

55
Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 49–63
Life history. Biology unknown. Adults fl y from mid-April to mid-May and again from
early July to mid-October, indicating two generations.
Distribution. So far the species has only been found in Spain, Morocco and Malta.
Remarks. Appears to be widely distributed on the island of Malta.
Anatrachyntis badia (Hodges, 1962)
Material. Malta, Mellieha, Ghadira, 80 m, 9., 10.iv.2004, (southern storm), 2 exx., leg. B. Skule,
(ZMUC).
Life history. Larvae on a variety of material such as lime, grapefruit, banana, cabbage,
blossoms of coconut, elm leaves and also on pine cones infested by Dioryctria sp.
(Pyralidae) and rust infected cones of several pine trees. The adults fl y in two, in the
south maybe three, generations and can be found in most months of the year.
Distribution. Originally described from North America. Recently also found outdoors
in southern Europe (Canary Islands, Spain and France) and introduced in Great Britain
and Holland.
Remarks. The species may have been introduced to Malta and may have established a
population due to the subtropical climate. New to the lepidopterofauna of the Maltese
Islands.
Coccidiphila gerasimovi Danilevsky, 1950
Material. Malta, Buskett, Wied il-Luq, 27.viii.2001, leg. P. Sammut (PS); Mellieha, Ghadira, 2.,
4., 5.vii.2002, 4 exx., leg. H. Hendriksen, (ZMUC); Naxxar, 6.iii.2001, leg. A. Seguna (AS); Rabat,
26.viii.1983, 15.v.1999, 6., 8.vii.2001, 4 exx., leg. P. Sammut (PS); Rabat, Dwejra, 31.viii.2001, leg. P.
Sammut (PS); Rabat, Wied ta Liemu, 17.viii.2001, leg. P. Sammut (PS); Siggiewi, Ghar Lapsi, 3.viii.2001,
2 exx., leg. P. Sammut (PS).
Life history. Immature stages not described. The larvae feed on the eggs of Coccidae
(Homoptera). The adults fl y from early March to October, probably in more than one
generation
Distribution. Mediterranean area, Canary Islands, Northern Africa towards the Near
East.
Remarks. The species is well established and widely distributed on the island of Malta.
Coccidiphila ledereriella (Zeller, 1850) has also been reported from the Maltese Islands
(Koster & Sinev), but since validation of this record is not possible the species will be
excluded from the list of the Maltese Lepidoptera. The species is externally very similar
to C. gerasimovi, but the yellowish colour on the forewing is more prominent.
Eteobalea intermediella (Riedl, 1966)
Material. Gozo, Kercem, San Rafl u, 15.vi.2001, leg. A. Seguna (AS). Malta, Bahrija, Fomm ir-Rih,
3.viii.2001. leg. A. Seguna (AS); Bahrija, Wied tal-Bahrija, 23.viii.2003, leg. A. Seguna (AS); Buskett,
Wied il-Luq, 6.vii., 27.viii.2001, leg. P. Sammut (PS); Delimara, 22.vi.2001, leg. A. Seguna (AS);
Gharghur, 18.vii.1993, leg. A. Seguna (AS); Mellieha, Ghadira, 20.–25.v.1994, 3 exx., leg. U. Seneca,
(ZMUC); Naxxar, 28.iv.1992, 14.v.1998, 22.iv., 13.v.1999, 30.v, 25.vi, 2.vii.10.viii.2001, 18.v.2002, leg.
A. Seguna (AS); Paradise Bay, 19.vi.1998, leg. A. Seguna (AS); Paradise Bay, 15.v.1999, leg. P. Sammut

56 KOSTER & SAMMUT: On some Microlepidoptera from Malta
(PS); Pembroke, 26.x.1984, 5., 27.iv., 25.ix.1990, 6 exx., leg. A. Catania (AC); Rabat, 3.vi., 30.vii.1983,
15.v., 4.vi., 20.vii.1999, 16.vii.2001, leg. P. Sammut (PS); Rabat, Ta· Koronja, 14.vi.2002, leg. A. Seguna
(AS); Siggiewi, Ghar Lapsi, 23.iv.1999, 2 exx., leg. P. Sammut leg (PS); Zebbug, Wied il-Kbir, 21.iv.1999,
leg. A. Seguna (AS).
Life history. Larvae in the roots of Linaria vulgaris Mill., L. pontica L., L. genistifolia
(L.) Mill., L. dalmatica (L.) Mill., and Anarrhinum bellidifolium (L.) Willd. (Scrophu-
lariaceae). The immature stages are very similar to Eteobalea serratella. Adults fl y
from late April till early November in two generations (one generation in the north and
east of its distributional area).
Distribution. Central and Southern Europe, eastwards to the Caucasus, Asia Minor,
Near and Middle East towards Central Asia. Northern Africa (Morocco, Algeria,
Tunesia)
Remarks. DeLucca (1949) reported the occurrence of Eteobalea serratella (Treitschke,
1833) on Gozo, Xlendi, at light, summer of 1953 and Malta, Salina, 6.ix.1953. This
was followed by Amsel (1955). These only known records of E. serratella cannot be
validated and the species should be removed from the list of Maltese Lepidoptera.
In that time Eteobalea intermediella and the very similar looking E. anonymella
(Riedl, 1965) have not been described for science yet. Therefore it is very well possible
that these records also refer to E. intermediella. However it cannot be excluded that
E. serratella is native on the Maltese Islands for both E. serratella and E. anonymella
occur on Sicily, and recently E. serratella has also been established from Sardinia:
Sardegna, Nuoro, 10 km W Dorgali, 26.vii.[19]99, Triberti (coll. Baldizzone) (Koster,
pers. det.).
It is recommendable that in future all collected material of the “E. intermediella-
complex” be carefully checked because it is possible that besides E. serratella,
E. anonymella, E. beata and E. sumptuosella will be found on the Maltese Islands since
these last three species also occur in the Mediterranean area.
Chrysopeleiinae
The subfamily Chrysopeleiinae is a very recent addition to the fauna of the Maltese
Islands. The four species mentioned here are widespread from Northern Africa to the
Middle East and further eastwards. They all occur in dry or desert-like habitats. For two
of them, Ascalenia acaciella and Gisilia stereodoxa, the foodplants of the larvae are
known, they both live on Acacia-species (Mimosaceae). The biology of the remaining
two species, Ascalenia echidnias and Bifascioides leucomelanellus, is unknown. It
cannot be excluded that the larvae of these two species also feed on Acacia. During
the last 25 years several species of Acacia has been introduced to the Maltese Islands
and planted often in large quantities for landscaping. Before that time Acacia were not
present on the islands. As the Maltese Islands are situated relatively close to the coast
of North Africa, the species involved could have migrated by southern winds. There
is more or less evidence for this because in 2004 two new species for the fauna of the
islands could be added, collected at nights with a strong southern wind. In the past
it was not possible for these species to settle because of lack of food plants, but this

57
Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 49–63
Figs. 2–5. Watercolours of spreaded adults. 2. Mompha subbistrigella (Haworth, 1828). 3. Anatrachyntis
badia (Hodges, 1962). 4. Ascalenia echidnias (Meyrick, 1891). 5. Bifascioides leucomelanellus (Rebel,
1917).
Fig. 6. Bifascioides leucomelanellus, sitting inside
the light trap (photo: J. J. Borg).
23
45

58 KOSTER & SAMMUT: On some Microlepidoptera from Malta
Figs. 7–8. Habitats on Malta. 7. Bahrija, Wied tal-Bahrija, with Arundo donax.8. Mellieha, Garigue at
Ghadira Bay.
7
8

59
Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 49–63
9
10
Figs. 9–10. Habitats on Malta. 9. Mdina, with shrubs of Acacia karroo.10. Malta, Paradise Bay, Garigue
with Acacia in the background.

60 KOSTER & SAMMUT: On some Microlepidoptera from Malta
situation has been changed now. Although the Chrysopeleiinae are treated as a family
in Microlepidoptera of Europe, Volume 5 (Koster & Sinev 2003), we follow here the
more widely accepted opinion (Hodges 1999; Kaila 2004; Sinev & Koster 2004) that
Chrysopeleiinae are a subfamily of Cosmopterigidae.
Ascalenia acaciella Chrétien, 1915
Scythris tergipunctella Turati, 1924
Scythris maculatella Lucas, 1937
Tischeria noviciata Gozmány, 1960
Material. Malta, Buskett, Wied il-Luq, 27.viii.2001, 4 exx., leg. P. Sammut (PS); Mdina, 16.vii.,
13., 15., 16., 27., 29.viii.2004, 17 exx., leg. P. Sammut (PS); Mellieha, Ghadira, 2., 3., 4., 5.vii.2002, 11
exx., leg. H. Hendriksen (ZMUC); Mellieha, Ghadira, 80 m, 10.iv.2004, (southern storm), leg. B. Skule
(ZMUC).
Life history. Larvae in the fl ower heads of Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd., A. karroo
Heyne, and A. tortilis (Forsk.) Hayne (Mimosaceae). Pupation amongst fl owers in a
transparent cocoon covered with frass. Adults fl y almost throughout the year, probably
in several generations.
Distribution. Not on the European mainland. From the Canary Islands (Gomera), Malta,
Northern Africa, Near and Middle East, eastwards to Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Remarks. Most probably introduced with Acacia trees which are not native to Malta
but which are widely used in landscaping. In the locality from where the Mdina
specimens were collected are numerous trees of Acacia karroo Hayne. New to the
lepidopterofauna of the Maltese Islands.
Ascalenia echidnias (Meyrick, 1891)
Ascalenia acaciella var. signatella Chrétien, 1915: 352.
Ascalenia oranella Lucas, 1939: 209.
Ascalenia satellite Gosmány, 1960: 420.
Material. Malta, Mellieha, Ghadira, 80 m, 9.iv.2004, (southern storm), 7 exx., leg. Skule, (ZMUC).
Life history. Biology unknown. Adults have been collected from April to June and in
September–October.
Distribution. From Madeira and the North African countries to Asia Minor.
Remarks. Malta is the second locality of this species in Europe. New to the
lepidopterofauna of the Maltese Islands.
Bifascioides leucomelanellus (Rebel, 1917)
Ascalenia pirastica Meyrick, 1936
Material. Malta, Mdina, 13, 15, 16, 26 and 27.viii.2004, 55 exx., leg. P. Sammut (PS); Rabat,
1.viii.2001, 24.viii.2003, 3 exx., leg. P. Sammut (PS);
Life history. Biology unknown. Adults have been collected in February and from May
till the end of August. There is probably more than one generation.
Distribution. So far only mentioned from Libya and Egypt.

61
Nota lepid. 29 (1/2): 49–63
Remarks. If the larvae feed on Mimosaceae like many of these desert species in
Chrysopeleiinae do, Acacia karroo is most likely the foodplant. It is the only species of
this plant family that is available on the site where most of the specimens of Bifascioides
leucomelanellus under study have been collected. New to the lepidopterofauna of the
Maltese Islands and Europe.
Gisilia stereodoxa (Meyrick, 1925)
Ascalenia evitans Meyrick, 1925
Stagmatophora alfi eriella Rebel, 1926
Material. Malta, Mdina, 16., 26., 29.viii.2004, leg. P. Sammut (PS); Pembroke, 20.ix.1990, leg.
A. Catania (coll. Sauter).
Life history. Larvae on the infl orescences of Acacia nilotica (L.) Dell. (Mimosaceae).
Adults have been collected in January–February, April–May and July till October.
References. Riedl, 1996: 101; Sammut 2000: 56.
Distribution. Along the coast of the Mediterranean area, Sardinia, Malta, Egypt
towards Iran and India.
Remarks. Acacia nilotica does not occur on the Maltese Islands. Acacia karroo
has been widely introduced, but also A. saligna (Labille) H.L. Wendl. and A. cyclops
A. Cunn. ex G. Don. On the collecting sites only both latter Acacia-species occur, so
the food plant of the larva can either be one of them or both.
Acknowledgements
We thank Ole Karsholt (ZMUC) for the loan of material recently collected on the Maltese Islands, we also
thank Aldo Catania (Zebbug, Malta) and Anthony Seguna (Naxxar, Malta) for making their collections
available for study, John J. Borg (Rabat, Malta) for providing us with the photograph of Bifascioides
leucomelanellus and Bjarne Skule (Veksø, Denmark) for providing additional data. We also thank Peter
Huemer (Innsbruck, Austria) and Ole Karsholt (Copenhagen, Denmark) for their contructive comments
on the manuscript.
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