SHILAP Revta. lepid., 49 (195) septiembre 2021: 413-415 eISSN: 2340-4078 ISSN: 0300-5267 Mythimna umbrigera (Saalmüller, 1891) new to the Maltese Islands (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) J. Agius Abstract Mythimna umbrigera (Saalmüller, 1891) is reported for the first time from the Maltese Islands. Distribution and habits of the adult are included. A Maltese name is proposed for this new record. KEY WORDS: Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Mythimna umbrigera, Malta. Mythimna umbrigera (Saalmüller, 1891) nueva para Malta (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Resumen Mythimna umbrigera (Saalmüller, 1891) se menciona por primera vez para Malta. Se incluye la distribución y hábitat del adulto. Se propone un nombre maltés para este nuevo registro. PALABRAS CLAVE: Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Mythimna umbrigera, Malta. Introduction The genus Mythimna Ochsenheimer, 1816 has a worldwide distribution as it spans from the northernmost parts of Canada into Northern, Central and South America, the Palearctic, Africa, Asia and straight to Australia. There are around 270 species worldwide, 25 of which have been recorded in Europe (HACKER et al., 2002). In Malta seven species have been recorded so far. Some species such as Mythimna unipuncta (Haworth, 1809) and Mythimna languida (Walker, 1858) breed locally whilst other species such as Mythimna vitellina (Hübner, [1808]) are pure migrants and do not breed in Malta but migrate from North Africa when the season is right, and the southern winds are favourable. Mythimna umbrigera (Saalmuller, 1891) can be easily separated from other Mythimna species found in Malta by the black abdominal coremata and the snow-white shine on the male’s hindwings. Females hindwings have less shine and can be smoky grey with dark venation instead of white. Material ––az. -Z. ebbug. , Wied Qirda, 17 11, 25-IV-2020, 26-IV-2020, 15-VII-2020, 13-VIII-2020, MALTA: H 20-VIII-2020, 04-XI-2020 at light, leg. J. Agius. (Fig. 1). Distribution Mythimna umbrigera (Saalmüller, 1891) is an Afrotropical species which was first described in 413 J. AGIUS Madagascar but can be found from Morocco, throughout Africa and has even been recorded in SW Arabia. In Europe, it is only found on the southern parts of Spain and Greece, and in 2012 it was discovered in nearby Sicily (CABELLA & MAIOGLIO, 2013). A B C ––az. -Z. ebbug. , Wied Qirda 15-VII-2020 A and Fig. 1.– Mythimna umbrigera (Saalmüller, 1891) MALTA, 1 1, H B showing upper parts and C showing both the glossy undersides and the black abdominal coremata. Discussion The early stages of Mythimna umbrigera (Saalmüller, 1891) are still unknown and undescribed but apparently the larvae feed on sugarcane (Saccharum officinalis L.). Sugarcane is occasionally cultivated in Malta but potentially the larvae might have switched to closely related grasses such as Phragmites, Arundo or Sorghum species. Arundo is common in the valley system where the species was discovered. Even though according to HACKER et al. (2002), the species is bivoltine in Europe, the fact that the author found a number of specimens during spring, summer and autumn in the same location with a three months gap in between each generation shows that the species breeds locally and produces at least three broods. The species is new to the Maltese Lepidopterenfauna. I propose the Maltese name Mitimna taddell, after a transliteration of the scientific name. With the addition of Mythimna umbrigera (Saalmüller, 1891) to the Maltese Lepidopterenfauna, the Mythimna species recorded from Malta are: 414 SHILAP Revta. lepid., 49 (195) septiembre 2021 MYTHIMNA UMBRIGERA (SAALMÜLLER, 1891) NEW TO THE MALTESE ISLANDS Mythimna (Hyphilare) albipuncta ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Mythimna (Hyphilare) l-album (Linnaeus, 1767) Mythimna (Hyphilare) umbrigera (Saalmüller, 1891) Mythimna (Morphopoliana) languida (Walker, 1858) Mythimna (Mythimna) vitellina (Hübner, [1808]) Mythimna (Prodigithymna) prominens (Walker, 1856) Mythimna (Pseudaletia) unipuncta (Haworth, 1809) Mythimna (Sablia) sicula (Treitschke, 1835) Acknowledgments The author is grateful to Dr. László Ronkay from the Hungarian Natural History Museum for the identification of the species, to Dr. Antonio Vives for the Spanish abstract and to Mr. Stephen Mifsud for suggesting potential grasses associated with sugarcane. BIBLIOGRAPHY CABELLA C. & MAIOGLIO, O., 2013.– Prima segnalazione di Mythimna umbrigera (Saalmüller, 1891) (Lepidoptera Noctuidae) per la fauna Italiana.– Il Naturalista Siciliano, 37(2): 565-571. HACKER, H., RONAKY, L. & HREBLAY, M., 2002.– Noctuidae Europaeae. Noctuinae IV, 4: 193-194. Entomological Press, Søro. FIBIGER, M. SAMMUT, P., SEGUNA, A. & CATANIA, A., 2006.– Recent records of Noctuidae from Malta, with five species new to the European fauna, and a new subspecies.– Nota lepidopterologica, 29(1/2): 193-213. SAMMUT, P., 2000.– Kullana Kulturali. 12. Il-Lepidoptera: X + 246 pp. Pubblikazzjonijiet Indipendenza, Malta. J. A. 166 ‘Infinity’ Vjal ix-Xarolla MT-Zurrieq, ZRQ1617 MALTA / MALTA E-mail: jonagius@msn.com https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4875-0524 (Recibido para publicación / Received for publication 16-XII-2020) (Revisado y aceptado / Revised and accepted 2-II-2021) (Publicado / Published 30-IX-2021) SHILAP Revta. lepid., 49 (195) septiembre 2021 415