Scrobipalpa arenicola, Bidzilya, 2023

Bidzilya, Oleksiy V., 2023, Two new species of the genus Scrobipalpa Janse, 1951 (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae) from Ukraine, Nota Lepidopterologica 46, pp. 125-134 : 125

publication ID	https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/nl.46.103595
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:76420E50-AF6C-4C79-BF76-624209EB2263
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/F8774C76-7A67-48DF-9FF3-A08FE3F28676
taxon LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:act:F8774C76-7A67-48DF-9FF3-A08FE3F28676
treatment provided by	Nota Lepidopterologica by Pensoft
scientific name	Scrobipalpa arenicola
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Scrobipalpa arenicola sp. nov.

Figs 2-5 View Figures 2–9 , 10-13 View Figures 10–15

Scrobipalpa cf. hyoscyamella (Stainton) - Huemer and Karsholt 2010: 402, fig. 94a.

Material examined.

Holotype: UKRAINE • ♂; Kherson reg., Holopristanskiy distr., Burkuty vill. env.; 21 Jun. 2017; O. Bidzilya leg; gen. slide 150/17, O. Bidzilya; TLMF Lep 28327; BankIt 2704426 gnl|uoguelph|PALEA032-20.COI-5P; OQ992194 View Materials ; ZMKU.

Paratypes: UKRAINE • 2 ♂; same data as for holotype; gen. slide 149/17, O. Bidzilya; TLMF Lep 28328; TLMF Lep 28329; BankIt 2704426 gnl|uoguelph|PALEA034-20.COI-5P; OQ992195 View Materials ; ZMKU • 9 ♂, 1 ♀; Ukraine, Tchernomorskiy Nature Reserve, Ivano-Rybalchanskiy loc.; 28-30 Apr. 1999; E. Rutjan leg.; gen. slide 40/09 ♂, 89/ 10♀, 59/ 23♂, 143/ 23♂, O. Bidzilya; 01 1061♂ , PH; TLMF; ZMKU; ZMUC.

Diagnosis.

Externally (Figs 2-5 View Figures 2–9 ) S. arenicola sp. nov. is almost indistinguishable from S. arenbergeri Povolný, 1973 (Fig. 6 View Figures 2–9 ) and S. pauperella (Heinemann, 1870) but the forewing is narrower, with a less distinct black pattern, and is smaller in wingspan (9.7-10.0 mm as opposed to 11.0 mm in S. arenbergeri and 12-15 mm in S. pauperella ). Scrobipalpa proclivella (Fuchs, 1886) is also extremely similar to the new species but the black spots are usually elongate and the underside of the abdomen is paler cream (Gregersen and Karsholt 2022: 194). The male genitalia are identifiable by the trapezoidal uncus with straight or weakly emarginated posterior margin, short valva (not reaching top of uncus), long sacculus (1/3 length of valva) and a slender saccus. Scrobipalpa karadaghi ( Povolný, 2001) has similar valva, sacculus and vincular process (Fig. 15 View Figures 10–15 ), but the new species clearly differs in the trapezoidal uncus and very slender saccus. The differences from S. burkutica sp. nov. are explained under the diagnosis of that species.

Description.

Adult (Figs 2-5 View Figures 2–9 ). Wingspan 9.7-10.0 mm. Head covered with grey brown-tipped scales, labial palpus recurved, segment 2 grey mottled with brown, outer and upper surface white, lower surface with groove beneath, segment 3 1/2 length and 1/2 width of segment 2, pointed acute, greyish brown with diffuse medial ring and white apex; scape grey mixed with brown, flagellum grey ringed with brown; thorax and tegula concolorous with head; forewing covered with grey scales tipped with brown or black, a pair of black spots in middle of cell, black spot at cell corner and on fold, veins and fold weakly mottled with light brown, fringes grey brown-tipped; hindwing and fringes grey.

Variation. Specimens may appear lighter or darker depending on the development of black-tipped scales on the forewing; black markings are reduced in some specimens.

Male genitalia (Figs 10-13 View Figures 10–15 ). Uncus trapezoidal, gradually narrowed posteriorly, posterior margin straight or weakly emarginate; distal sclerite of gnathos short, weakly curved; tegumen broad, with indistinct transition to uncus, anteromedial emargination broadly rounded, extending to 1/3 length of tegumen; valva slender, gradually curved, of even width except weakly inflated apex, extending to 1/2-2/3 length of uncus; sacculus gradually curved inwards, extending almost to 1/2 length of valva, twice as broad as adjacent part of valva, with pointed apex; vinculum twice as broad as long, posteromedial emargination deep, triangular, vincular process short, subtriangular, with distinct pointed tip, as broad at base as sacculus, extending to 1/2 length of sacculus; saccus broad at base, then slender, parallel-sided, apex obtuse, extending slightly beyond pedunculus; phallus nearly parallel-sided, weakly narrowed apically, apical arm slender, coecum strongly inflated, almost equal in length to phallic trunk.

Variation. Uncus varies in length, vincular processes slightly vary in width and length.

Female genitalia. Unknown (the genitalia slide 89/10 with the female genitalia was broken).

Molecular data.

BIN, BOLD:ACT3383. The intraspecific average distance of the DNA barcode region is 0.12% (n = 3). The minimum distance to the nearest neighbor, S. inexplictata Bidzilya, Huemer & Šumpich, 2022 (BIN, BOLD:ADE0187), is 5.77% (p-dist) (Fig. 1 View Figure 1 ).

Biology.

Adults have been recorded in late April and late June. The species inhabits dunes and sand steppes in the Lower Dnipro Sands in the Kherson region of Ukraine (Figs 18-21 View Figures 18–21 ).

Distribution.

Ukraine: Kherson region.

Etymology.

The specific epithet is derived from the Latin words " arena " - sand, and " colo " - to inhabit, and indicates the restriction of the new species to sandy habitats.