Coleophora dikeratella Tabell & Kullberg, 2023

Tabell, Jukka, Kullberg, Jaakko, Mutanen, Marko, Tokár, Zdenko & Sihvonen, Pasi, 2023, New and little known Coleophora Hübner, 1822 species from Morocco. Part I (Lepidoptera, Coleophoridae), Zootaxa 5374 (2), pp. 151-195 : 172-173

Coleophora dikeratella Tabell & Kullberg , sp. nov.

Barcode Index Number: BOLD:-

Figs. 14, 27, 49

Type material. Holotype ♂ (GP 6212 J. Tabell, DNA sample 27460 Lepid Phyl [barcoding failed]): Morocco, Al Haouz, Oukaimeden 2580 m [31.1943 N 7.8545 W], 15.V.2011, J. & A. Kullberg leg. http://id.luomus.fi/GBT.21 (coll. MZH).

Diagnosis. Similar to many Coleophora species which share the same wing pattern, and the study of genitalia is indispensable for correct identification. The male genitalia are somewhat similar to those of C. neglecta and C. hystricella Toll, 1957 . In C. dikeratella , the gnathos is narrower, the cucullus is longer, and in the sacculus the ventral process is longer and the dorsal process shorter. Furthermore, the phallotheca is narrower and more arched, and the rods are of different lengths (in C. neglecta and C. hystricella the rods are of same lengths). Female of C. dikeratella is unknown.

Molecular data. No data available, sequencing of the holotype failed.

Description. Adult. Wingspan 11.5 mm. Antenna white, annulated with brown. Scape brown mixed white, not tufted. Labial palp white, below brown, second article 1.5x longer than third article. Head and thorax brown, tegula mixed with pale brown. Forewing brown, covered with dark brown and white scales, scales not forming stripes. Costal stripe narrow, from base to 2/3. Costal and dorsal fringe cilia pale greyish brown. Hindwing pale grey, fringe cilia pale greyish brown, apically paler.

Abdominal structures. No tergal latero-posterior bar. Transverse bar slightly curved, proximal edge strongly sclerotized, distal edge medially unsclerotized, arched. Tergal sclerite 4x as long as wide, covered with 20 conical spines (on T3).

Male genitalia. Gnathos knob oval, narrow, arm short. Tegumen reinforced by a sclerotized ”Y”. Transtilla long, ropelike. Valvula small, slightly broader than cucullus, ventral margin evenly rounded, outer margin strongly sclerotized, sinuated. Cucullus elongate, club-shaped, slightly tapered basally. Sacculus well sclerotized; ventral margin straight, oblique, ventrocaudal angle with a large horn-shaped protuberance, apex narrow and long; lateral margin straight; dorsocaudal angle with a large horn-shaped protuberance, outer margin lined with small nodules, a small triangular tooth close to dorsal margin. Phallotheca with two sclerotized rods of different length, expanded apically, both rods bifurcated, unarmed. Vesica without cornuti.

Female genitalia. Unknown.

Biology. Unknown.

Distribution. Morocco, endemic to the High Atlas Mountains.

Etymology. Greek δi = two, κέρατο = protuberance, refers to the shape of sacculus.