HETEROLOCHA LAMINARIA (HERRICH-SCHÄFFER, 1852) (LEPIDOPTERA: GEOMETRIDAE) — A NEW SPECIES FOR THE UKRAINIAN FAUNA

Abstract

The first records of Heterolocha laminaria (Herrich-Schäffer, 1852) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) in Ukraine are presented. Until the recent past, the European registrations of H. laminaria had been only reported from Rostov Region of Russia. New records were made at several localities within Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa and Poltava regions, in Southern, South-Western, South-Eastern and Central Ukraine. These findings were revealed from mid-June to mid-August in various habitat types: steppes, artificial deciduous and mixed forests, agrocenosis. The current records significantly shift westward the range limits of H. la­mi­na­ria. Thus, a newly-discovered locality in Savran Forest is the westernmost point in the entire species range. Most likely the westward expansion of this species has occurred in recent decades. The habitats, adults, and male genitalia of H. laminaria are illustrated.