Megacraspedus leuca (Filipjev, 1929)

Šumpich, Jan, 2022, Megacraspedus (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) of the Altai Mountains with description of a new species belonging to the M. majorella group, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 62 (2), pp. 401-409 : 406-408

Megacraspedus leuca (Filipjev, 1929)

( Figs 10–12 )

Nothris leuca Filipjev, 1929 . Type locality: Russia (Sajan Mts).

= Megacraspedus kaszabianus Povolný, 1982 . Type locality: Mongolia.

Records. PONOMARENKO (2008) (checklist); HUEMER et al. (2017): Sajlyugem River valley near Kokorya village, Tabozhok River valley near Kosh-Agach village; HUEMER & KARSHOLT (2018): environs of Kosh-Agach village, environs of Kurai village, Tabozhok River valley near Kosh-Agach, Sajlyugem River valley near Kokorya village, Aktash village; PONOMARENKO (2019) (checklist).

Material examined. RUSSIA: ALTAI REPUBLIC: Aktash vill., 50°19′12″N; 87°36′00 ″E, grassy steppe, rocks, 1400 m, 11.vii.2014, 1 ♂, J. Šumpich leg. ( NMPC); Kosh-Agach Distr., Kurai env. (6.5 km SW), 50°10′35 ″N; 87°53′55 ″E, grassy steppe, 1550 m, 9.–10.vii.2014, 19 ♂♂, J. Šumpich leg. ( NMPC); the same locality but 30.vii.2017, 9 ♂♂ (Barcode NMPC-LEP-0385 ), J. Šumpich leg.; Belyashi ( Dzhazator ) env. (25 km NW), confluence of Argut and Karagem rivers, 49°51′56 ″N, 87°10′22 ″E, rocky steppe, 1400 m, 27.–28.vii.2017, 101 ♂♂ (Barcode NMPC-LEP-0386 ), J. Šumpich leg.; Kosh-Agach Distr., Chagan-Uzun env., Krasnaya Gorka hill, 50°05′00 ″N; 88°25′15 ″E, rocky steppe, 1870 m, 29.vi.2015, 1 ♂, J. Šumpich leg.; the same locality but 1.–3.vii.2019, 5 ♂♂, J. Šumpich leg.; Belyashi env. (56 km SE), 49°38′N; 88°12′E Dzhazator valley, mountain meadows near Tara river, 2300 m, 25.–26. vii.2017, 1 ♂, J. Šumpich leg.; Kosh-Agach Distr., Zhana-Aul env., 49°48′28 ″N, 88°56′17 ″E, steppe, rocky steppe, 2000 m, 24.vii.2017, 17 ♂♂, J. Šumpich leg. (all NMPC) .

Molecular data. BIN BOLD:ACB3260 (n = 12; 10 public, 10 from Altai). The average intraspecific divergence of the barcode region is 0.05% (maximum 0.32%). The distance to the nearest neighbours, M. attritellus Staudinger, 1871 ( BIN: BOLD: ACE 2700) and M. skulei Huemer & Karsholt, 2018 ( BIN: BOLD: ACM 0982), is 6.6% (p-dist). Distribution. Russia (Altai Republic, Buryatia, Chitin Region, Tuva) ( PONOMARENKO 2019), Mongolia ( POVOLN Ỷ 1982).

Remark. The species is widely distributed in the Altai Mountains and is the most common gelechiid species there.

Figures

Figs 8–14. Adults of Megacraspedus taxa recorded in Altai Mts. (Russia). 8–9 – M. dolosellus (Zeller, 1839): 8 – Aktash (barcoded); 9 – surroundings of Dzhangyskol lake (barcoded). 10–12 – M. leuca (Filipjev, 1929): 10–11 – Karagem valley; 12 – Kurai. 13–14 – M. podolicus (Toll, 1942): 13 – Chulyshman valley; 14 – Aktash.