Syncopacma steppicolella Junnilainen

Junnilainen, Jari & Nupponen, Kari, 2010, The gelechiid fauna of the southern Ural Mountains, part I: descriptions of seventeen new species (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), Zootaxa 2366, pp. 1-34 : 30-32

Syncopacma steppicolella Junnilainen sp. n.

Figs. 65–67

Type material: Holotype: 3 (Fig. 65): Russia, S-Ural, Cheliabinsk district, 52°39’N 59°34’E, 350 m, Arkaim reserve near Amurskii village, 08–09.VII.1997, J.-P. Kaitila leg. ( JPK, to be deposited in ZMH). Paratypes (163, 10 ƤƤ): 3 3 and 4 ƤƤ same data as holotype ( JPK). Same locality as holotype: 08–09.VII.1997 (4 3, 5 ƤƤ), K. Nupponen & J. Junnilainen leg. ( JJ, TKN); 15.VI.1999 (1 Ƥ), T. & K. Nupponen leg. ( TKN). Russia: S-Ural: Orenburg district: 50°40–45’N 54°26–28’E, 170–230 m, Pokrovka village 20 km S, Schibendy valley 03–07.VI.1998 (1 3), J. Junnilainen leg. ( JJ); 18.VII.1998 (1 3), K. Nupponen leg. ( TKN); 51°23’N 56°49’E, 130–340 m, Donskoje village 6 km W, mount Verbljushka, 30.V.1998 (1 3), 31.V.1998 (2 3), 02.VI.1998 (1 3), T. & K. Nupponen leg. ( TKN); 15.VII.1998 (1 3), K. Nupponen leg. ( TKN); 27.VII.2000 (1 3), T. Nupponen leg. ( TKN); 51°26’N 57°26’E, 250 m, Kuvandyk 12 km SE, 02.VIII.2000 (1 3), T. Nupponen leg. ( TKN). Genitalia slides: J. Junnilainen prep. no. 0 0 0 22001, 0 0 0 22403, 0 2021702, 0 2022701, 02022702; K. Nupponen prep. no. 2/ 09.IV.2008. Ten further genitalia preparations preserved in glycerol.

Diagnosis. Habitually S. steppicolella sp. n. most resembles S. suecicella (Wolff, 1958) , but the latter has darker brown hindwings and the moth is overall more brownish. In the male genitalia of S. suecicella the vinculum is medially extended and strongly setose. S. albifrontella (Heinemann, 1870) and S. azosterella (Herrich-Schäffer, 1855) can easily be separated from S. steppicolella by the prescence of a white subapical fascia on the forewings. The male genitalia of S. steppicolella are also rather similar to those of S. albifrontella , but the new species differs by a relative length of basal and distal part of the aedeagus where a bulbous basal part is distinctly shorter than a slender distal part (vice versa in S. albifrontella ). The saccus of the new species is anteriorly membranous without any clear margin there (in S. albifrontella anterior margin of saccus is distinctly rounded). Syncopacma azosterella has almost straight posterior margin of vinculum, and anterior margin of saccus is medially incised. S. linella (Chrétien, 1904) differs by the distinctly black and white ringed antennae and paler brownish ground colour of the forewings without any distinct markings. The female genitalia of the new species differ from those of S. linella by indistinct lateromedial holes in the sterigma, posteriorly more rounded ostium and relatively shorter apophyses anteriores. Three species described from China ( Li 1993) differ from S. steppicolella by the following details of the male genitalia: S. shaanxiensis Li, 1993 by slender and elongate valvae a medially extended posterior margin of the vinculum with long setae and a relatively shorter saccus with deep and broad excavation at posterior margin; S. ningxiana Li, 1993 by medially joined lateral margins of the uncus, clearly shorter distal part of the aedeagus and a slender valva curved along distance; S. tibetensis Li, 1993 by black forewings without maculation and the uncus without cleft at apex.

Description. Wingspan 8.5–9.5 mm. Head, thorax, tegulae, abdomen and legs fuscous. Antenna and scape uniform dark brown. Labial palp moderately short, segments II and III of equal length; segment II dark grey except inwardly mixed whitish; segment III whitish mixed with few dark scales. Forewing ground colour dark fuscous, one blackish spot in the middle of fold, two further ones at 3/8 and at 5/ 8 in cell, ochreous preapical costal and tornal spots, fringe fuscous. Hindwing pale fuscous. Female similar to male, except preapical costal and tornal spots dilated forming rather distinct ochreous fascia.

Male genitalia (Fig. 66). Uncus subrectangular, about as long as wide, apex with cleft at middle, three pegs on both lateral sides. Gnathos hook-shaped and sclerotized, basally curved 85°, apex slightly tapered. Valva large at basal 0.3, distal 0.7 slender, medially curved, exceeding apex of uncus. Tegumen relatively short, almost 2x as long as wide. Pedunculi slender, pointed forwards. Vinculum posteriorly only gently rounded, angled, arch-shaped, anteriorly membranous. Sacculus almost 3x as long as wide, tapered towards gently curved and blunt apex. Saccus consisting of two parallel subconical plates widening posteriorly, anteriorly united with membrane structure; posterior margin rounded; anteriorly membranous without clear margin. Aedeagus longer than valva, basal 0.4 bulbous; distal 0.6 slender, thorn-like, tapered towards pointed apex.

Female genitalia (Fig. 67). Papillae anales subauriculate, moderately large; posteriorly rounded, anteriorly prolonged. Apophyses posteriores 2.5x as long as apophyses anteriores. Sterigma broad subrectangular plate with very indistinct lateromedial holes; posterior margin straight, anterior margin concave. Ostium sclerotized plate, posteriorly rounded, anteriorly concave, lateral corners anteriorly extended and joined to apophyses anteriores. Ductus bursae narrow and membranous, 2x as long as apophyses posteriores. Corpus bursae longish sack, slightly longer than ductus bursae, signum absent.

Bionomy. Probably S. steppicolella flies in two generations, because the adults have been observed in early June and mid-July. The habitats are dry steppe slopes with diversified flora. The majority of type specimens were collected by sweeping on Genista sp., possibly a host plant of the taxon.

Distribution. Russia (S Ural).

Etymology. The species name refers to the habitat of the moth.

Remarks. Elsner et al. (1999) and Bidzilya (2002) clarified the status of some previously poorly known and dubious taxa of the genus Syncopacma . Three further species of the suecicella -group were described by Li (1993); he compares S. shaanxiensis Li, 1993 with S. albifrontella (Heinemann, 1870) and S. ningxiana Li, 1993 and S. tibetensis Li, 1993 with S. suecicella (Wolff, 1958) . All these differ quite easily from S. steppicolella by details of the male genitalia.

PLATE 13. Figures 65–67. Syncopacma steppicolella Junnilainen sp. n. 65. Imago (male, holotype); 66. Male genitalia (paratype; slide KN 2/ 09.IV.2008); 67. Female genitalia (paratype; slide JJ 02021702). Figures 68–70. Helcystogramma flavescens Junnilainen sp. n. 68. Imago (female, paratype); 69. Male genitalia (paratype; slide KN 1/ 10.IV.2008); 70. Female genitalia (paratype; slide JJ 00022407).