Morphology and ethology of Thaumetopoea hellenica and Thaumetopoea mediterranea (Lepidoptera Notodontidae Thaumetopoeinae).

Thaumetopoea hellenica and Thaumetopoea mediterranea were recently described from Central Greece and Pantelleria Island (Italy), respectively. In this paper, we reported some information on their morphology, biological cycle and ecology. T. hellenica and T. mediterranea are closely related to T. pityocampa differing mainly in genetic characters. Morphologically, the three species resemble each other, and can be mainly differentiated by observing wing patterns, canthus, and the male and female genitalia. Some data on egg batches, mature larvae, pupae, flight period, host plants and colonized environments were reported.