A new host plant record for Dioszeghyana schmidtii (Dioszeghy, 1935) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) from Greece: implications for larval ecology and conservation

I report the first larval host plant record for the rare and protected noctuid moth Dioszeghyana schmidtii (Dioszeghy, 1935) in Greece. Two larvae were observed feeding on Valonia oak Quercus ithaburensis subsp. macrolepis in a fire-affected Mediterranean oak forest north of Alexandroupoli, Evros (northeastern Greece), representing a previously undocumented host plant association for this species. This finding expands the known ecological amplitude of D. schmidtii, whose biology remains largely unknown despite its inclusion in Annexes II and IV of the EU Habitats Directive. The finding occurred near a Natura 2000 site recently affected by the catastrophic wildfires of 2023, highlighting the importance of post-fire monitoring for rare Lepidoptera. This short communication contributes to the biological knowledge and conservation planning of D. schmidtii and underscores the need for further ecological study of early life stages in noctuid moths of conservation concern.