Entomologica Romanica Vol. 25 / 2021
2021
Comparing these data with the data obtained in the last eight years of studies following the systematic collection in two sites in the northern and central area of the Republic of Moldova, there is a decrease in the number of species, most specimens being collected in Brânzeni village (Edineț district) on the night of 24.06.2016 was 81 (Țugulea 2020). The small number of noctuid species present on various Red Lists is due to the insufficient study of this group of insects, both nationally and internationally, which does not allow for risk assessment disappearance based on population distribution or status. Insufficient data and lack of information on the distribution, abundance, bioecological particularities classify many species of noctuids in an endangered category. It explains the status of extinct species (EX) attributed to many noctuids that have not been previously assessed and qualified in any category of endangered species. The same situation is attested in the Republic of Moldova. Before our investigations, there were no data on the endangered status of Noctuidae, and the Red Book of the Republic of Moldova does not mention a single species from the Noctuidae family. We recommend adding some rare and endangered Noctuidae species to the Red Book of the Republic of Moldova and the National Operational List in order to ensure protection and the necessary information for the population and authorities. Material and Methods The materials of this work were obtained during the years 2012-2020 from different natural and anthropic habitats of the Republic of Moldova. The noctuid collections were carried out from March to November on 26 sites in the north, center and south of the Republic of Moldova, distributed the entire territory and all habitats suitable for moths (fig. 1). The noctuids were collected by the following methods: manual collection, with the entomological net, at the standard electric lamp (100 W), with the help of an illuminated white cloth and by installing ultraviolet and white light traps. The entomological traps with white and ultraviolet light were located at a distance of 15 m from each other. The collection was carried out with a periodicity of two days per week. The nomenclature and classification was given according to Fibiger and Hacker (2005) and Witt and Ronkay (2011). For species identification we have used the works by Rákosy (1996), Klyuchko (2006), the 13 volumes of Noctuidae Europeae and the Lepiforum website (http://www.lepiforum.de). We have also made genitalia examination for species that are difficult to determine. Results and Discussions The paper presents 17 species of noctuids (Noctuidae) rare in the fauna of the Republic of Moldova, taxonomically classified in 8 subfamilies: Acontiinae (1 species), Heliothinae (2), Condicinae (1), Xyleninae (5), Noctuinae (5), Oncocnemidinae (1) Psaphidinae (1) and Cuculliinae (1 species). The data presented in the paper are mostly the first or second report of noctuid species in the fauna of the Republic of Moldova. The genus Actebia Stephens, 1829 with the species A. praecox (Linnaeus, 1758) and Xylena solidaginis (Hübner, 1803) represent new taxa for the country’s fauna. 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 templi (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. The other species mentioned in the paper need to be included in the National Operational List of the Republic of Moldova and further directed research Fig. 1. Diagram of the location of noctuid collection sites on the territory of the Republic of Moldova. 2