Greece • ♂; Crete, Omalos, Mikes House; 1075 m; 35°20’04”N, 23°53'03"E; 18 June 2025; leg. Huemer; TLMF.

Greece • 8 ♂; same data as holotype; gen. slide PYR 390 P. Huemer; TLMF • 11 ♂, same data, 20 June 2025; DNA Barcodes TLMF Lep 46643, 46444, 46645, 46646; TLMF • 2 ♂; Crete, Lakki, 4.2 km SSW; 920–930 m; 35°22’00”N, 23°54'52"E; 19 June 2025; leg. Huemer; TLMF • 9 ♂, 2 ♀; Crete, Omalos plateau, 1 km Kalergi; 1225 m; 35.3202°N, 23.9215°E; 15–20 June 2014; leg. C. Hviid, O. Karsholt & F. Vilhelmsen; ZMUC • 7 ♂; Crete, Omalos plateau; 1040 m; 35.3443°N, 24.9048°E; 14–20 June 2014; leg. C. Hviid, O. Karsholt & F. Vilhelmsen; ZMUC • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Crete, 1.7 km S Topolia; 1040 m; 35.2442°N, 23.8054°E; 14–19 June 2014; leg. C. Hviid, O. Karsholt & F. Vilhelmsen; gen. slide Kaila 6311; ZMUC • 1 ♀; Crete, 10.5 km W Omalos plateau; 760 m; 35.3489°N, 23.8154°E; 18 June 2014; leg. C. Hviid, O. Karsholt & F. Vilhelmsen; ZMUC • 1 ♂; Crete, Fassatal; 270 m; 35°24’N, 23°53'E; 11 October 1972; leg. H. Malicky; TLMF • 1 ♂; Crete, Omalos-Hotel; 1041 m [“1000 m”]; 35.34429 N; 23.9046 E; 05 July 2010; DNA Barcode BC ZSM Lep 46538; leg. W. Ruckdeschel; ZSM.

Pyralis papaleonei sp. nov. is distinguished from all congeners by its narrow white forewing markings, featuring an almost uniformly slender white median band extending across the entire wing (Figs 2, 3). In all other species of the group (Figs 4, 5), except for specimens of P. kacheticalis from Cyprus, the white pattern elements are distinctly broader, and in some cases abruptly narrowed medially or terminating in the middle of the wing. Also characteristic are the nearly uniform pale greyish-purple hindwings, which are divided into three sections by two white lines; the basal section is only slightly darker than the outer sections. In contrast, in P. kacheticalis (Fig. 4) and P. sagarrai particularly the median and also the outer sections of the hindwings are much lighter than the remaining areas, while the basal section is conspicuously darkened and clearly demarcated. The hindwings of P. regalis (Fig. 5) and P. cardinalis, which are likewise slightly darker overall, are densely suffused with a light purplish tinge of variable intensity, especially the marginal area. Moreover, the white pattern on the forewings of all these three species is broader. Finally, P. princeps and P. joannisi are easily distinguished from the new species by features such as forewing with pointed apex and with a much darker ground colour, extensive purple suffusion along the fore- and hindwing margins, and conspicuously broad and short white streaks of the forewing (see Wikström et al. 2020).

The male genitalia of P. papaleonei sp. nov. (Fig. 6) are very similar to those of the other species of the P. regalis species group. They differ from P. cardinalis, P. kacheticalis (Fig. 7) and P. princeps by the absence of cornuti in the phallus, from P. regalis (Fig. 8) and P. perversalis by the shape of the valva without abruptly widened distal part, and from P. joannisi by the smooth basal part of the juxta, without spines. The dense group of elongate spine groups in the vesica of P. papaleonei, reminiscent of that in the Oriental species P. princeps and P. joannisi (Wikström et al. 2020).

Female genitalia of P. papaleonei sp. nov. differ from all other species of the P. regalis species group by the presence of a sclerotized signum, absent in other species, and by the shape of the sterigma with broadly rounded posterior projections (Figs 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15).

Adult (Figs 2, 3). Forewing length: ♂: 7.5–9.4 mm, ♀: 10.0 mm. Proboscis well developed, basally scaled; labial palpus ascending, second segment about 2.5 times as long as third segment; maxillary palpus short, about one-quarter length of labial palpus; head rough-scaled; male flagellum ciliate, length of each cilium twice diameter of shaft; female antenna with very short cilia; head and all appendices yellow with some purple, except for purely purple flagellum. Thorax and dorsal surface of abdomen purple, ventrum yellowish mixed with some purple. Legs yellowish, forelegs and midlegs mixed with purple on outer surface.

Forewing ground colour purplish, costal area predominantly reddish brown, in medial third with orange tinge; narrow and weakly curved white fascia from costa to dorsum, last third towards fold slightly tapered; short white streak from costa at four-fifths of wing of about one-third length of wing width, with inconspicuous and barely perceptible whitish line towards dorsum; several small white or orange-white spots along costa between white markings; discal area of forewing with large orange patch; fringe purple-brown with indistinct fringe line. Hindwing almost unicolorous pale greyish-purple, divided into three sections by two irregularly jagged whitish lines; basal section at most minimally darker than outer sections; fringe purple-brown with indistinct fringe line. Forewing underside pale purple-brown, costal area predominantly ochre-brown, with several yellowish spots in basal half, and yellowish-ochre streak corresponding to outer white area of upper side; hindwing underside purple-brown with predominantly ochre-brown costal area andcurved pale-ochre line along outer two-thirds.

Male genitalia (Fig. 6). Uncus hat-shaped, anterior edge convex, posteriomedial part sub-triangular with blunt-tipped apex, laterally sparsely setose. Tegumen narrow, band-like. Gnathos arms articulated from tegumen, basally widened, distal part rod-shaped, mesially a narrow, triangular lobe terminating with abruptly bent, fused hook-shaped apex; median part of gnathos about twice as long as uncus. Valva about twice as long as wide; ventral margin weakly concave; valva slightly widened medially and ending in an increasingly narrowed, apically broadly rounded cucullus; costa straight, weakly sclerotized, dorsoproximal margin of valva with sclerotized connection to vinculum. Transtilla laterally shortly sclerotized, median part membranous, weakly spinose. Juxta broadly tongue-shaped, scobinate. Anellus membranous. Vinculum moderately long, weakly v-shaped with rounded apex. Phallus rod-like, about five times as long as maximum width; basally rounded, cylindrical, apical third narrowed. Vesica weakly spinose, without cornuti.

Female genitalia (Figs 9, 12, 13). Papilla analis dorsally fused, anteriorly widened, apically broad, rounded, ventral part densely setose. Apophysis posterioris about as long as papilla analis. Apophysis anterioris about 1.5 times as long as apophysis posterioris.

Segment VIII dorsally smoothly sclerotized, ventrolateral part with concave edge, with membranous separation from large ventromedial sterigma; sterigma plate-like, posterior edge medially emarginated with large sub-oval lateral projections, lateral edge excavated and obliquely directed outwards, with two pointed terminal extensions, anterior edge weakly convex. Ostium bursae anteriad of sterigma, membranous, covered with microtrichia, anteriorly demarcated by distinctly sclerotized, sub-oval ridge, antrum absent. Entrance of ductus bursae with dorsolaterally distinctly sclerotized, weakly funnel-shaped colliculum. Ductus seminalis incepted anterior to colliculum, without swelling or sclerotization; posterior half of ductus bursae braid-shaped, granulose, otherwise membranous, evenly widening towards corpus bursae and fusing into it. Corpus bursae elongate, oval, with large field of weakly sclerotized microthorns; lens-shaped signum well developed with strongly sclerotized microthorns.

Host-plant and early stages are unknown. Adults have been collected at light mostly in June with a single specimen in October, indicating a long flight season, or possibly a second generation. The species occurs in mountainous habitats with the vast majority of material collected at about 1000 to 1200 m (Fig. 16). No observation was made near the coast.

BIN: BOLD:AAY9338. The minimum distance to the nearest neighbour, P. kacheticalis populations from Greece (Samos), Ukraine, Armenia and Iraq is 5.78% (BIN: BOLD:ABA9291), whereas the minimum distance to P. regalis is 9.4% (BIN: BOLD:AAP5668).

Only known from few localities in the White mountains in western Crete.

The new species is dedicated to the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV. The Pontiff is a strong advocate of climate and environmental protection, and we hope that his voice may serve as an example for humanity. Furthermore, due to its distinctive coloration and overall appearance, the new species belongs to a group of Pyralidae whose species names refer to high secular or ecclesiastical offices, including Pyralis regalis, Pyralis imperialis (= P. kacheticalis), Pyralis princeps, and Pyralis cardinalis.

New country records of P. kacheticalis: Armenia • 4 ♂; Prov. Wajoz Dsor, Areni, Noravan road; 1240 m; 39.667951°N, 45.221408°E; 1–4 July 2024; leg. Rachinger; TLMF; • 1 ♂; same data, but 29 September 2024; TLMF. IRAQ • 1 ♂; Sulaimaniyya, Dukan, Zarzi village; 660 m; 35.811°N, 45.317°E; 28 June 2024; leg. Khudur; TLMF.