Megacraspedus neli, Huemer, Peter & Karsholt, Ole, 2018

Huemer, Peter & Karsholt, Ole, 2018, Revision of the genus Megacraspedus Zeller, 1839, a challenging taxonomic tightrope of species delimitation (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae), ZooKeys 800, pp. 1-278 : 52-53

Megacraspedus neli sp. n.

Examined material.

Holotype ♂, [France] "NEL Jacques [leg.] [Dep. Vaucluse, Montange de] Lure. Ou. 1700 m. 12.VI.1999" "P. Huemer GEL 1218 ♂" (TLMF). Paratypes. Italy. 1 ♂, prov. Torino, Valsusa, Mompantero, Monte Rocciamelone, 2200 m, 3.vii.1993, leg. G. Bassi, genitalia prep. (in glycerin) (ZMUC); 1 ♂, same data, but loc. Riposa, 2200 m, 16.vii.1993, leg. G. B. Delmastro (TLMF).

Description.

Adult. Male (Figure 39). Wingspan 11 mm. Segment 2 of labial palpus with scale brush shorter than segment 3, blackish brown on outer surface, white mottled with brown on inner surface, white on lower and upper surface; segment 3 longer than segment 2, cream-white with darker tip. Antennal scape with a single fine pecten; flagellum blackish brown ringed with grey. Head, thorax and tegula cream-white. Forewing cream coloured mottled with light brown and some black-tipped scales; base of costa dark grey; indistinct black dots in fold and at 3/5 in middle of wing and at end of cell; some black-tipped scales along termen; fringes light grey. Hindwing grey with light grey fringes.

Female. Unknown.

Variation. Unknown.

Male genitalia (Figure 173). Uncus moderately small, sub-rectangular, apical corners rounded, apical edge nearly straight; gnathos hook moderately slender, straight, apically pointed, 1.3 times length of uncus; anterior margin of tegumen with suboval emargination, sclerotised ridges from anterior edge converged in medial part of tegumen; pedunculi small, suboval, with irregular ridge; valva about width of uncus, stout, extending to about base of uncus, digitate distal part, apex rounded; saccular area densely covered with setae, with longitudinal ridge, without separated sacculus; posterior margin of vinculum distinctly emarginated, with shallow lateral humps, vincular sclerite elongated sub-ovate, with sclerotised posterior edge; saccus broadly V-shaped, ratio maximum width to length approximately 0.85, posterior margin with distinct projections, separated by broad incision, medial part with long sclerotised ridge from posterior margin to apical third, lateral sclerites 0.7 times length of maximum width of saccus; phallus weakly curved at about one-quarter, with weakly inflated coecum, 1.5 times wider than distal part, distal part 3 times length of coecum, sclerotised dorsal ridge, ventrally wrinkled, apex broadly rounded; ductus ejaculatorius with linear internal sclerotisation.

Female genitalia. Unknown.

Diagnosis.

Megacraspedus neli sp. n. is a rather uncharacteristic species of Megacraspedus , which may be recognized by its small size with a single pecten on the an tennal scape. The holotype is somewhat worn and specimens in better condition may reveal additional diagnostic characters. It resembles M. pentheres (Figure 130), but that species has more distinct black dots in the forewing.

The male genitalia are similar overall to M. faunierensis sp. n. (Figure 174) but differ in several characters such as the larger uncus, the more slender valva, and in particular the much broader and shorter saccus.

Molecular data.

Not available, barcoding failed.

Distribution.

France (Dep. Vaucluse), Italy (prov. Torino).

Biology.

Host plant and early stages are unknown. The species was collected from the middle of June to mid-July at altitudes from ca. 1700 to 2200 m.

Etymology.

The species name (a noun in the genitive case) is dedicated to Jacques Nel, France, who collected the holotype of this species and numerous other Megacraspedus specimens used for our study.

Remarks.

The holotype was collected in the western part of Montagne de Lure, at the edge of the road at 1700 m altitude, between "the Refuge the Lure" and the "Signal de Lure" (J Nel in litt.).