The first record of Catocala helena Eversmann, 1856 (Lepidoptera, Erebidae) in Europe with notes on its distribution in Russia

Abstract

First record of the nemoral Eastern Palaearctic species Catocala helena Eversmann, 1856 is reported from Samara Region as new to Europe. New localities in the South Urals and West Siberia are reported for the first time. The present records expand the species distribution for more than 2500 km to the west. The general species’ distribution and bionomics is provided. Species’ habitats in the South Urals are illustrated.

The first record of Catocala helena Eversmann, 1856 from Kazakhstan (Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea: Erebidae: Catocalini)

“…Catocal helena is a Manchurian, nemoral-subboreal species which is introductory in West Palaearctic. The species is known from China, Korea, Mongolia, Russian Far East (Amur, southern Khabarovsk and Primorye Regions) and Transbaikalia (Kononenko 2010), and has recently been found in West Siberia (Novosibirsk Region), South Ural (Republic of Bashkortostan, Orenburg Region), European part of Russia (Samara Region) (Knyazev 2011;Knyazev et al 2021), and Central and Northeast Kazakhstan (the present study) (Fig. 6).…”

“…Larvae of the related C. deuteronympha Staudinger, 1861 feed on various Ulmus L. species (Ulmaceae) (Kononenko 2010). Since woods and forests with dominance of Ulmus are typical habitats of C. helena throughout its range, it is possible to consider Ulmus as a probable food plant of the species (Knyazev et al 2021). Both localities of the species in Kazakhstan are urbocenoses in the steppe natural zone.…”

“…Catocala helena Eversmann, 1856 is a Manchurian nemoral-subboreal species historically distributed in East Palaearctic (China, Korea, Mongolia, south of the Russian Far East and Transbaikalia) (Kononenko 2010). The species was recently found in West Siberia, South Ural and the south of the European part of Russia (Knyazev 2011;Ismagilov & Krivosheev 2020;Knyazev et al 2021). Those numerous findings indicate that C. helena increases its range in West Palaearctic after it was presumably introduced.…”