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Shape and size of the lamella antevaginalis, and width and length of the posterior part of the corpus bursae are
variable and should be treated with caution.

Distribution. Endemic to Corsica (France).
Phenology. According to Robineau (2007) it is univoltine, but this is true probably only at higher altitudes
(where it flies from June to early August), while on the coast the species has been collected from May to June and
from October to November (Rungs 1982).
Biology. Larva has been recorded to feed on needles of Pinus laricio (Bellier 1861, Robineau 2007) and on P.
pinaster (= maritima) (Mabille 1867). In captivity it has been reared on Pinus sylvestris (Reisser, 1929). Larva is a
twig or needle-mimic, green, with transverse yellowish stripes or reddish-brown with diamond-shaped patterns
dorsally (Lepiforum 2013).
Habitat. In pine forests and places with more scattered pine trees. It is found mostly in the mountains from 500
to 1500 metres, but it occurs also at sea level (Rungs 1982).
Similar species. All four species in Palaearctic Hylaea fasciaria species group are similar. The diagnostic,
external characters shown in Figures 6–9 are somewhat tentative and should not be used in isolation, but should be
combined with information on biology, collecting locality, male and female genitalia and DNA barcodes. An
overview of diagnostic morphological features is given in Table 1.
Genetic data. Genetically homogeneous (n=4), mean and maximum intraspecific variation 0.0%. Nearest
species: Hylaea fasciaria (minimum pairwise distance 3.9%). See Figure 26.
Variation (Figure 3).Very little. Ground colour varies from light green to light yellowish-green. Only green
specimens are known.

Hylaea compararia (Staudinger, 1894), revised status

compararia Staudinger, 1894, Dt. ent. Z. Iris 7: 289, (Ellopia?). Syntypes male, female, Algeria, near Tenied el Had.

Description. External characters and pregenital abdomen (Figures 4, 9) (diagnostic characters underlined):
Wingspan male 28–30 mm, female 29–31 mm. Small species, wings dull green, medial lines weak, whitish. Medial
line absent or very weak, basal part not parallel with costa. Postmedial line weak, straight, angled before it reaches
costa well before apex, straight on inner margin. Medial area concolorous with rest of wing. Terminal line and
fringes whitish, forewing apex whitish. Hindwing postmedial line weak, straight. Discal spots absent. Wings below
as above, but paler. Frons pale brown, thorax and abdomen concolorus with wings. Area between antennae (vertex)
white. Antennae white dorsally, male antennae bipectinate, female antennae fasciculate. Hindleg tibia of both sexes
with 2+2 spurs. Tympanal organs medium-sized. Sternites and tergites 3–8 of both sexes undifferentiated.

Male genitalia (Figure 13): Generally as in H. fasciaria (Linnaeus), H. mediterranea and H. pinicolaria
(Bellier). Aedeagus with additional arm, apex expanded in H. compararia (not expanded in above-mentioned
species). Base of vesica with angled row of microcornuti, reaching aedeagus apex in H. compararia (with straight
row of microcornuti, not reaching aedeagus apex in above-mentioned species).

Female genitalia (Figure 17): Generally as in H. fasciaria, H. mediterranea and H. pinicolaria, but with
following quantitative differences: genitalia small in H. compararia (large in above-mentioned species). Signum
absent or minute in H. compararia (signum large in H. mediterranea). Shape and size of the lamella antevaginalis,
and width and length of the posterior part of the corpus bursae are variable and should be treated with caution.

Distribution. Known from northern Algeria (>100 specimens in the NHM), cf. Prout (1912–1916) and Tunisia
(one male in ZSM).

Phenology. Potentially bivoltine. Specimens have been taken in May, June, July and in September.
Biology. No data. Larva potentially feeds on needles of coniferous trees.
Habitat. According to the original description (Staudinger, 1894: 289) ’putatively in coniferous forest’.
Similar species. All four species in Palaearctic Hylaea fasciaria species group are similar. H. compararia is
small, medial lines are weak, microcornuti in vesica reach the aedeagus apex and signum is absent or minute (H.
fasciaria, H. mediterranea and H. pinicolaria are larger, medial lines are more visible, microcornuti in vesica do
not reach the aedeagus apex and signum is larger). The diagnostic, external characters shown in Figures 6–9 are
somewhat tentative and should not be used in isolation, but should be combined with other information including

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