Elachista antonia, Kaila, Lauri, 2007

Kaila, Lauri, 2007, A taxonomic revision of the Elachista bedellella (Sircom) complex (Lepidoptera: Elachistidae: Elachistinae), Zootaxa 1629, pp. 1-25 : 7-9

Elachista antonia sp. n.

( Figs. 9, 10 , 38–41 , 58 G, H)

Holotype, ď: Greece: W. Crete, Omalos, 1200 m, 25.–30.V.2000 M. Fibiger, P. Svendsen, D. Nilsson & A. Madsen leg., L. Kaila prep. 3258 ( ZMUC). Paratypes (2 ď): Greece: W. Crete, Omalos, 1100–1200 m, 28.VII.–2. VIII.2001 1 ď D. Nilsson, A. Madsen, M. Fibiger & G. Jeppesen leg. (L. Kaila prep. 4282, ZMUC); W. Crete, Kallergi mts., 1450–1550 m, 28.–30. VII.2001 1 ď D. Nilsson, A. Madsen, M. Fibiger & G. Jeppesen leg. (L. Kaila prep. 4388, MZH).

Diagnosis. Elachista antonia is a small, uniformly mottled ochreous species ( Figs. 9, 10 ). It is distinguished from the other species by the short juxta lobes ( Figs. 40, 41 ) and by the lack of cornutus in the male genitalia ( Figs. 58 G, H).

Description of male. Forewing length 2.8 – 3.8 mm. Length of labial palpus 1.1–1.2 times diameter of head, pale ochreous, slightly fuscous below. Head and neck tuft ochreous. Scape and pedicel of antenna ochreous with grey scales, flagellum grey, annulated with paler rings. Scales of tegula and thorax ochreous. Foreleg leaden grey, midleg pale grey, tibia and tarsal articles darker with pale distal rings, hindleg pale ochreous grey, tibia and tarsi grey with pale distal rings. Forewing costa basally narrowly dark grey, ground colour of forewing consisting of ochreous, slightly darker tipped scales giving a weakly mottled appearance; shorter fringe scales distally grey forming indistinct fringe line, fringe scales ochreous. Underside of forewing dark ochreous grey, fringe scales concolorous. Hindwing pale grey above, darker ochreous grey below, with concolorous fringe scales.

Male genitalia. Uncus lobes oval-shaped, 1.5 times longer than broad, distally rounded, with a few setae laterodistally, separated by narrow, deep incision. Gnathos elongate oval, broadest medially, 2.5 times longer than wide, tapered towards pointed apex. Valva 3.5 times longer than wide at its widest point in the middle; costa evenly convex medially, slightly emarginated at about 3/4 length; sacculus slightly emarginated at about 1/4 length, otherwise straight, distally bent, with narrow sclerotised reinforcement, joining cucullus at a right angle; distal margin of cucullus straight, cucullus somewhat bent towards costa. Digitate process small, basally narrow, distally blunt and setose, extending to 1/10 length of valva. Juxta lobes mesally produced as tongue-shaped, bent lobe with a few setae distally, length equal to diameter of median plate of juxta, laterally produced to form sclerotised triangular keel that is joined to valval process. Vinculum small, broad. Phallus half the length of valva, slightly bent at basal third, otherwise parallel-sided but distal third distinctly narrower than other parts; caecum short, rounded; apex with eversible lobe, shaped as in Figs. 58 G, H; no cornuti present.

Female unknown.

Distribution. Only known from Greece: Crete.

Figures

FIGURE 58. Male genitalia of Elachista species (phallus in lateral view). A: E. bedellella (Sircom), L. Kaila prep. 3414; B: E. bedellella (Sircom), L. Kaila prep. 3340; C: E. lugdunensis Frey, lectotype, BM 19385; D: E. lugdunensis Frey (paratype of E. coeneni Traugott-Olsen), L. Kaila prep. 4106; E: E. titanella Kaila & Jalava, paratype, L. Kaila prep. 3416; F: paratype, L. Kaila prep. 4111; G: E. antonia sp. n., holotype, L. Kaila prep. 3258; H: paratype, L. Kaila prep. 4388.

FIGURES 7 – 12. External appearance of Elachista species. Fig. 7 and 8: E. titanella Kaila & Jalava, ♂ paratypes (Russia: C. Caucasus); Fig. 9: E. antonia sp. n., ♂ holotype; Fig. 10: E. antonia sp. n., ♂ paratype (Greece, Crete); Fig. 11: E. slivenica sp. n., ♂ holotype; Fig. 12: E. slivenica sp. n., Ψ paratype (Bulgaria, Sliven).

FIGURES 38 – 41. Male genitalia of Elachista antonia sp. n. Figs. 38, 39: general view, 40, 41: juxta in ventral view. Figs. 38, 40: holotype, L. Kaila prep. 3258; Figs. 39, 41: paratype, L. Kaila prep. 4388.