Teleiopsis paulheberti, Huemer, Peter & Mutanen, Marko, 2012

Huemer, Peter & Mutanen, Marko, 2012, Taxonomy of spatially disjunct alpine Teleiopsis albifemorella s. lat. (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) revealed by molecular data and morphology — how many species are there?, Zootaxa 3580, pp. 1-23 : 8-17

Teleiopsis paulheberti sp. nov.

( Figs 7–10 , 15–18 , 22–24 , 29–32 , 36–38 )

Type material. Holotype 3, ‘ Italien Prov. Cuneo Valdieri N, RN Junip. phoe. 7°23´52´´E, 44°17´1´´N 900–1000 m, 11.6.2009 leg. Huemer’ ‘P. Huemer GEL 1159 3’ ‘ BC TLMF Lep 00964’ ( TLMF).

Paratypes. Italy: 3 3, 1 Ƥ, same data as holotype (gen. slide GEL 1162); 4 3, same data, but 29.6.2008; 5 specimens (in ethanol), same data, but 1.8.2010 ( ZMUO); 1 Ƥ, same data, but 2.7.2008, leg. Karsholt ( ZMUC); 7 3, 2 Ƥ, same data, but 9.6.2009, leg. Wieser (LMK); 1 3, 2 Ƥ, same data, but 1.6.2009, leg. Wieser (LMK); 1 3, Prov. Cuneo, Colle de la Lombarda, 2300 m, 23.7.2009, leg. Skule & Skou ( ZMUC); 22 3, 8 Ƥ, Prov. Cuneo, N Colle della Lombarda, 1750 m, 17.7.2012, leg. Huemer; 8 3, Prov. L´Aquila, NP Gran Sasso, ex Miniera di Lignite, 13°42,8´E, 42°25,6´N, 1750 m, 14.– 15.7.2010, leg. Huemer (gen. slide GEL 1169); 1 3, same data, but leg. Mayr (coll. Mayr, Feldkirch); 1 3, 1 Ƥ, Prov. Chieti, PN Majella, Taranta Peligna, Grotta del Cavallone, 750 m, 23.7.2011, leg. Wieser (LMK); 1 3, same data, but 790 m, 21.7.2011, leg. Mayr (coll. Mayr, Feldkirch); 2 3, Prov. Rieti, Monte Terminillo, 13°0,6´E, 42°29,0´N, 1730–1780 m, 11.7.2010, leg. Huemer; 2 specimens (in ethanol), same data ( ZMUO); 3 3, same data, but leg. Mayr (coll. Mayr, Feldkirch). France: 10 3, Dep. Alpes- Maritimes, PN Mercantour, N Col del la Cayolle, Col de la Boucharde N, 6°44´36´´E, 44°17´N, 1930–1950 m, 26.7.2009, leg. Huemer; 1 3, 1 Ƥ, same data, but 7.7.2012; 1 3, same data, but 1970 m, 7.7.2010, leg. Mayr (coll. Mayr, Feldkirch); 5 3, 3 Ƥ, same data, but Col de la Cayolle, 1850 m, 9.7.1988, leg. Fibiger ( ZMUC); 15 3, 5 Ƥ, same data, but 3.– 4.8.1988, leg. Fibiger ( ZMUC); 1 3, Dep. Alpes-Maritimes, Col de Tende, Fort de la Marguerie, 1840 m, 18.7.1998, leg. Mayr (coll. Mayr, Feldkirch); 2 3, Dep. Alpes-Maritimes, PN Mercantour, La Minière de la Vallauria, 1510 m, 10.– 12.8.2007, leg. Fibiger & Karsholt ( ZMUC); 7 3, 1 Ƥ, Dep. Alpes-Maritimes, PN Mercantour, 6 km NW Tende, Mont Chajol, 2000 m, 11.8.2007, leg. Fibiger & Karsholt ( ZMUC); 1 3, same data, but 5.7.2008, leg. Karsholt ( ZMUC); 2 3, 1 Ƥ, Dep. Alpes-Maritimes, PN Mercantour, St. Dalmas le Selvage SW, Vall. St. Dalmas, 6°50´58´´E, 44°16´38´´N, 1620 m, 24.7.2009, leg. Huemer; 1 3, same data, but leg. Mayr (coll. Mayr, Feldkirch); 3 3, 3 Ƥ, Dep. Alpes-Maritimes, PN Mercantour, Saorge, W Maurion, 7°30´38´´E, 43°59´57,6´´N, 620–650 m, 20.5.2010, leg. Huemer (gen. slides GEL 1160, GEL 1161, GEL 1170); 4 specimens (in ethanol), same data ( ZMUO); 1 3, same data, but 22.5.2010; 4 Ƥ, Dep. Alpes-Maritimes, Mont-Gelas-Massiv, Madonne de Fenestre, 1850 m, 24.7.1990, leg. Huemer & Tarmann; 35 3, 25 Ƥ, Dep. Alpes-Maritimes, Col de la Lombarde, 2350 m, 18.– 19.8.2012, leg. Huemer; 1 Ƥ, Dep. Alpes-Maritimes, Col de la Bonette, 2100 m, 14.8.1977, leg. F. Dujardin (gen. slide GU 88/073); 2 3, Dep. Alpes-Maritimes, St. Martin-Vésubie, L´Hagas, 1100 m, 21.6.1958, leg. F. Dujardin; 1 Ƥ, Dep. Alpes-Maritimes, Boreon, 1937, leg. Praviel; 2 3, Dep. Alpes-de-Haute- Provence, Oraison, 550 m, A.9.1973, leg. Zürnbauer; 1 Ƥ, Dep. Hautes-Alpes, Prelles, 1200 m, E.8.1973, leg. Zürnbauer (gen. slide GU 88/076); 4 3, 1 Ƥ, Dep. Hautes-Alpes, Pelvoux, 1850 m, E.8.1973, leg. Zürnbauer (gen. slides GU 88/079, GEL 1171, GEL 1172; 1 3, Dep. Hautes-Alpes, La Bessee, A.6.1966, leg. Pfister; 2 3, 2 Ƥ, Dep. Hautes-Alpes, 4 km E La Grave, Villar d´Arêne, 1700 m, 26.7.2000, leg. Skou ( ZMUC); 1 3, Dep. Hautes- Alpes, Vallée de Freissinieres, Les Viollins, 1400 m, 23.8.2001, leg. Mayr (coll. Mayr, Feldkirch); 1 Ƥ, Dep. Vaucluse, Beaumont du Ventoux, 4.7.1987, leg. Nel (gen. slide 01448); 1 Ƥ, Dep. Hautes-Pyrénées, Vallée d´Ossoue, 1450 m, 16.7.1961, leg. Burmann; 1 Ƥ, Dep. Hautes-Pyrénées, Vallée d´Ossoue, Pont de Neige, 2000 m, 4.8.2002, leg. Nel (gen. slide 14397). Spain: 1 3, 1 Ƥ, Prov. Lerida, 23 km E Vielha, P. d. l. Bonaiagua, 2050 m, 31.7.1988, leg. Fibiger ( ZMUC); 3 3, 4 Ƥ, Prov. Huesca, 12 km N Bielsa, by tunnel, 1900 m, 27.7.1992, leg. Fibiger ( ZMUC); 1 3, Prov. Gerona, Dorria, 1590 m, 18.7.2006, leg. Mayr (coll. Mayr, Feldkirch) (all unmarked specimens coll. TLMF).

Diagnosis. Teleiopsis paulheberti sp. nov. is externally very similar to T. albifemorella but usually differs by the cream rather than white forewing ground colour and the grey-brown rather than light grey hindwings without nacreous lustre. Specimens from siliceous substrate in particular are darker. In T. albifemorella the forewings in general are more whitish and the hindwings are almost always light grey and more contrasting with the forewings. In the male genitalia the two taxa differ slightly in the shape and length of the uncus which is abruptly tapered to an apical tip and shorter than the gnathos in T. paulheberti sp. nov., whereas it narrows more gradually and is of about the same length as the gnathos in T. albifemorella . Furthermore the apical part of the sacculus is comparatively slender in the new species, and the base of the costa is situated more posteriorly. Rarely these characters are intermediate. Other sometimes valuable characters for species delimitation within Teleiopsis such as the shape of the pregenital segments are not of diagnostic value for separation of T. paulheberti sp. nov. and T. albifemorella . The diagnostic structures of the female genitalia are similarly small, the most reliable is found in the entrance of the antrum which is almost sub-quadrate in T. paulheberti sp. nov. and elongated rectangular in T. albifemorella . As with T. albifemorella the new species differs from T. rosalbella T. diffinis , T. bagriotella , T. laetitiae and T. lunariella by the cream-white ground colour of the forewing and in male genitalia by the apically pointed uncus whereas the female genitalia can be separated from relatives by a combination of characters such as the entrance and pouch of the antrum. In the barcode region (5’ end of COI gene), T. paulheberti sp. nov. can unequivocally be separated from T. albifemorella by having “T” at the position 382, while T. albifemorella always has “A” at that position.

Description. Adult ( Figs 7–10 ). Head cream-white; second segment of labial palpus cream-white, brown at base and apex, and tinged brown medially; thorax and tegula mottled cream and light brown, or rarely plain cream. Forewing length 3, 9.2–11.4 mm, Ƥ, 9.1–10.0 mm; forewing ground colour predominantly cream, with some greyish mottling, particularly extensive in material from the Pyrenees; oblique fascia of raised black scales from basal part of costa to dorsum; three black dots of raised scales edged with ochreous in middle of forewing; two further spots before whitish subapical fascia; apical part greyish with black spots along termen; fringes grey. Hind wing grey-brown to moderately light grey, with some variation depending on substrate.

Male genitalia (including pregenital abdomen) ( Figs 15–18 , 22–24 ). Eighth tergite with tongue-shaped posterior lobe, distinct lateral brush of strong coremata and a single stiff spine with small apical hook arising from a moderately distinct lateral protuberance and extending slightly beyond apex of posterior lobe; anterior part of tergite with deep U-shaped emargination, lateral lobes with brush of long coremata; eighth sternite about half length and two times width of medial part of tergite, posterior margin broadly convex, densely covered with coremata, anterior margin with lateral sclerotized ridges connected to tergite. Uncus narrow, abruptly tapered to distinct apical tip, shorter than apex of gnathos; gnathos about same width as uncus, apex broadly rounded; tegumen anteriorly widened, with broad pedunculi, separated by sinusoid emargination with medial sclerite; costa needle-shaped, distinctly shorter than sacculus, base of costa slightly beyond sclerotized medial teguminal margin; sacculus basally broad, distal half more or less abruptly narrowing, apical part weakly curved with moderately small dentate apex; phallus long and slender, weakly curved, anteriorly fused with broad and long tube connected to anterior edge of vinculum; ductus ejaculatorius with long sclerotized lamina.

Female genitalia ( Figs 29–32 , 36–38 ). Apophysis posterior about three times length of apophysis anterior; eighth segment smooth, without pouches or other particular structures; antrum tubular with cylindrical posterior half, about length of eighth segment including apophysis anterior, entrance with broad and short, almost subrectangular dorsal emargination, anteriorly with a small though distinct sclerotized patch, longitudinal sclerotized fold from about one-third to anterior end of antrum; ductus about length of antrum, slender; corpus bursae round; signum variable, pair of serrated-edged lobes of different width separated by broad medial ridge.

Bionomics. Host-plants and early stages are unknown but it is most likely that this species like T. albifemorella lives on Rumex scutatus , which occurs in all localities where the adults have been observed. The adults have been collected from late May to early September, occurring later in the season at higher altitudes. The species is probably partially bivoltine at lower altitudes where it has been observed i.e. in May and again in August in the same locality. The moths are easily attracted to artificial light at night. Habitats are scree and rock formations on limestone and siliceous substrates at elevations ranging from about 600 m to 2350 m.

Distribution (Map 1). Locally distributed in the south-western Alps of Italy (Cuneo) and France (Alpes- Maritimes, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Hautes-Alpes), from the Apennines (L´Aquila, Rieti) and the French and Spanish Pyrenees. A specimen originating from the Cantabrian mountains (Picos de Europa) in Northern Spain and bred from Rumex scutatus by Robert Heckford probably belongs to T. paulheberti sp. nov., but we have not been able to prove the identity by examination.

Etymology. The species is dedicated to our highly esteemed colleague Paul Hebert (Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, University of Guelph, Canada) in recognition of his outstanding contribution to DNA barcoding which finally enabled us to re-evaluate this and other problems of alpine lepidopterology.

Figures

FIGURES 7 – 10. Adults of Teleiopsis paulheberti sp. nov., males. 7, paratype, Italy (Cuneo); 8, paratype, Italy (L´Aquila); 9, paratype, France (Alpes-Maritimes); 10, paratype France (Hautes-Alpes).

FIGURES 15 – 18. Male genitalia of Teleiopsis paulheberti sp. nov. 15, holotype, Italy (Cuneo), slide GEL 1159; 16, paratype, Italy (L´Aquila), slide GEL 1169; 17, paratype, France (Hautes-Alpes), slide GEL 1172; 18, as 17, diagnostic details of uncusgnathos region.

FIGURES 19 – 24. Segment VIII of male Teleiopsis. 19 – 21, T. albifemorella: 19, Austria (North Tyrol), slide GEL 1166; 20, Austria (Upper Austria), slide GEL 1167; 21, Slovenia, slide GEL 1163. 22 – 24, T. paulheberti sp. nov.: 22, holotype, Italy (Cuneo), slide GEL 1159; 23, paratype, Italy (L´Aquila), slide GEL 1169; 24, paratype, France (Hautes-Alpes), slide GEL 1172.

FIGURES 29 – 32. Female genitalia of Teleiopsis paulheberti sp. nov., segment VIII and antrum. 29, paratype, Italy (Cuneo), slide GEL 1162; 30, paratype, France (Alpes-Maritimes), slide GEL 1161; 31, paratype, France (Hautes-Alpes), slide GEL 1171; 32, as 31, diagnostic details of antrum.

FIGURES 33 – 38. Female genitalia of Teleiopsis albifemorella, details of signum. 33 – 35, T. albifemorella: 33, Austria (North Tyrol), slide GEL 1165; 34, Austria (Upper Austria), slide GEL 1168; 35, Slovenia, slide GEL 1164. 36 – 38, T. paulheberti sp. nov.: 36, paratype, Italy (Cuneo), slide GEL 1162; 37, paratype, France (Alpes-Maritimes), slide GEL 1161; 38, paratype, France (Hautes-Alpes), slide GEL 1171.