Krutzschius nanarius, Mey, 2025

Mey, Wolfram, 2025, First records of species of Gelechioidae from Bitterfeld amber (Insecta, Lepidoptera) and notes on two gelechioid species from Baltic amber, Zitteliana 99, pp. 63-73 : 63-73

Krutzschius nanarius sp. nov.

Figs 10–12 , 13, 14 , 15–17

Type.

• Holotype ♂ and Paratype ♂, Bitterfeld amber, Goitsche, Serie 11, 1987, Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, inventory number: MB.I.17.489 und MB.I.17.490 ( paratype) .

• 1 ♂ Paratype, Bitterfeld amber, Goitsche, Bernstein GmbH, inventory number: T-I-SM-39 ; 1 ♀ Paratype, same locality, Bernstein GmbH, inventory number: Rapp-SM 2 .

Preservation.

The holotype is completely preserved. The left wings are moderately separated and allow the study of venation. Right fore- and hindwings are overlapping. The male paratype held the wings overlapping with apical third of right forewing cut off. The small amber pieces with the inclusion are embedded each in a block of polyester resin, as well as the female paratype ( Rapp-SM 2 ). The male paratype T-I-SM-39 is contained in a small, flat amber piece.

Description.

( Holotype), male (Figs 10–12 ): Small adult moth with 2.2–2.4 mm wing length, and 2.1 mm body length, wing expanse approximately 5.2 mm. Forewings densely covered by scales not forming a pattern, hindwings with a coverage of scales in the subcostal area (Figs 13 , 14 ). Head in frontal view (Fig. 15 ) with frons and vertex covered by appressed, laminate scales; eyes small, in ventro-lateral position, interocular index 0.3; ocelli and chaetosema absent; antenna filiform, nearly as long as the length of forewing, flagellomeres densely covered by whorls of scales, scape short, without pecten, pedicel as long as following segments, 31 flagellomeres present, becoming somewhat longer than wide towards tip; pilifers and maxillary palpi not visible (probably vestigial), proboscis long, scaled basally, labial palpi thin, not diverging and slightly up-curved (but embedded in drooping position), scaled, two segments visible, terminal segment shorter than preceding segment, pointed apically.

Thorax slightly wider than head, scaled; fore- and hindwings lanceolate, wing index 0.26 (forewing) and 0.22 (hindwing). Venation heteroneurous (Figs 13 , 14 ): forewing with four radial veins, M 1 connate with R 4 + 5, Cu 1 a and Cu 1 b present, hindwing venation reduced, with one radial and three medial veins present; legs slender, small epiphysis beyond middle of foreleg present, two spurs on median tibia and four spurs on hind tibia, medial pair on hind tibia well before middle, inner spurs longer; length of basal tarsomere as long as remaining tarsal segments together, all tarsal segments with apical pair of short spines ventrally.

Male genitalia (Fig. 16 ): base of segment IX narrow, but partially covered by preceding segment, underside of paw-like tip of uncus visible between valvae, sacculus of valva as a broad spine, with apex acute and curved dorsad, valva elongate, truncate at apex.

Female genitalia (Fig. 17 ): segment VIII elongate, tubular; terminal part of oviscapt visible showing long papillae anales with short hairs.

Remarks.

The systematic position of Krutzschius gen. nov. within Gelechioidea remains unresolved, due to the absence of clear symplesiomorphies. Concerning male genitalia the new species resembles species of Autostichidae .

The family Autostichidae is known from Baltic amber via Microsymmocites Skalski, 1977 and the questionably included genera Symmocites Kusnezov, 1941 and Oegoconites Kusnezov, 1941. By comparing their original descriptions with the characters found in Krutzschius gen. nov., the new genus is clearly distinct from these named taxa. However, Skalski (1977: fig. 7) illustrated the wing venation of an unnamed species which he thought should belong to Heliodinidae . The species has remained undescribed. Interestingly, the venation is very similar to that of Krutzschius gen. nov., rather than to any species of Heliodinidae . Since no other morphological traits were communicated, the species cannot be identified even at the family level.

Figures

Figures 10–12. Krutzschius nanarius sp. nov.: 10. Dorsal view; 11. Ventral view; 12. Head, ventro-frontal view.

Figures 13, 14. Krutzschius nanarius sp. nov.: 13. Venation (scale: 1 mm); 14. Hindwing with scaled subcostal area.

Figures 15–17. Krutzschius nanarius sp. nov.: 15. Head, ventro-frontal; 16. Male genitalia, ventro-lateral; 17. Female oviscapt, ventral.