Caryocolum fibigerium Huemer, 1988

Huemer, Peter, 2022, Underestimated cryptic diversity in the Caryocolum tricolorella species complex (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae), ZooKeys 1103, pp. 189-209 : 189

Caryocolum fibigerium Huemer, 1988

Caryocolum fibigerium Huemer 1988: 510, figs 86, 153, 214.

Type material.

Holotype. [Spain] • ♀; Granada, Sierra Nevada, road to Veleta; 2200 m; 16 Jul 1962; K. Sattler leg; NHM.

Paratypes. [Spain] • 2 ♂, 2 ♀; Andalucia, Sierra Nevada, Cam. d. Veleta; 2000 m; 24 Jul 1983; E. Traugott-Olsen leg.; • 9 ♂, 1 ♀; Andalucia, Sierra Nevada, Cam. d. Veleta; 2300 m; 19 Aug 1984; E. Traugott-Olsen leg.; all TLMF.

Other material.

[ Spain] • 2 ♂; Andalucia, Sierra Nevada, Cam. d. Veleta; 2250 m; 1 Aug 1986; E. Traugott-Olsen leg.; • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Andalucia, Sierra Nevada, Cam. d. Veleta ; 2250 m; 3 Aug 1986; E. Traugott-Olsen leg. ; • 1 ♂; Andalucia, Sierra Nevada, Cam. d. Veleta ; 2250 m; 4 Aug 1986; E. Traugott-Olsen leg. ; • 1 ♂; Andalucia, Sierra Nevada, Cam. d. Veleta ; 2250 m; 4 Aug 1986; E. Traugott-Olsen leg. ; • 2 ♂, 1 ♀; Andalucia, Sierra Nevada , Camino de la Veleta; 2250 m; 21 Jul 1985; [genitalia slide numbers] GEL 1211 ♂, GEL 1095 ♀, P. Huemer ; G. Baldizzone and E. Traugott-Olsen leg. ; • 1 ♂, 2 ♀; Castellon, Penygolosa N-Hang, Banyadera ; 1500 m; 31 Aug 2005; [DNA barcode ids] BC TLMF Lep 03257, BC TLMF Lep 03258; P. Huemer leg. ; • 4 ♂, 5 ♀; Alicante, Alcoj, Font Roja, W El Menejador, S-Hang; 1300 m; 4 Sep 2005; [DNA barcode ids] BC TLMF Lep 08899, BC TLMF Lep 08899; P. Huemer leg.; all TLMF; • 1 ♂; Almeria, Sierra de Gador ; 2020 m; 31 Jul 2019; [genitalia slide number] 6810 ♂, J. Gastón, [DNA barcode id] TLMF Lep 30599; J. Gastón leg.; • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Burgos, Castrobarto ; 770 m; 13 Sep 2020; [genitalia slide numbers] 8273 ♂, J. Gastón, 8253 ♀, J. Gastón [DNA barcode ids] TLMF Lep 30600, TLMF Lep 30601; J. Gastón leg.; all RCJG; [ France] • 1 ♂; Languedoc-Rousillon, Dourbies, Lac de Pises ; 1300 m; 13 Sep 2020; [genitalia slide number] Gla 020/1984 ♂, G. Labonne, [DNA barcode id] TLMF Lep 30991; G. Labonne leg.; 1 ♀; Languedoc-Rousillon, Le Caylar; 740 m; 25 Aug 2016; [genitalia slide number] Gla 016/2825 ♀, G. Labonne, [DNA barcode id] TLMF Lep 30990; G. Labonne leg.; all RCGL; • 1 ♂; Hautes Pyrénées, Pic du Midi de Bigorre ; 2400 m; 7 Aug 2002; [genitalia slide number] 14427 ♂, J. Nel; [DNA barcode id] BC TLMF Lep 06904; J. Nel leg.; • 1 ♂; Cantal, Lessenat ; 700 m; 10 Aug 1995; [genitalia slide number] 3610 ♂, J. Nel ; J. Nel. leg. ; • 1 ♂; Alpes Maritimes, Caussols ; 1100 m; 14 Aug 1971; [genitalia slide number] GU 88 / 136♂, P. Huemer; F. Dujardin leg; 1 ♂; Alpes Maritimes, Col de Vence ; 11-12 Jun 1981; 1100 m; F. Hahn leg ; • 1 ♂; Basses-Alpes, Montagne de Lure ; 1500 m; 20 Jul 1992; J. Nel leg. ; • 1 ♂; Basses-Alpes, Montagne de Lure ; 1720 m; 8 Jun 1994 e.l. ( Cerastium ); [genitalia slide number] 2035 ♂, J. Nel ; J. Nel leg. ; • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Var, Rougiers, Val. de Pourien ; 28 Apr 1994 e.l. ( Cerastium ); [genitalia slide numbers] 1944 ♂, 1945 ♀, J. Nel ; J. Nel leg. ; all TLMF.

Diagnosis.

Caryocolum fibigerium differs from C. tricolorella by its distinctly smaller size on average and the less extensive ochreous markings. It can be distinguished from C. herwigvanstaai and C. olekarsholti by the smaller, white costal and tornal spots and the reduced white mottling of the medial and subbasal fasciae. The male genitalia differ from C. tricolorella in the shorter valva and sacculus and the additional humps of the posterior margin of the vinculum. Caryocolum fibigerium is very similar to C. herwigvanstaai and C. olekarsholti in this character, but with a weakly developed lateral hump. Furthermore, the sacculus is wider than in C. herwigvanstaai . The antrum of the female genitalia is much larger than in C. tricolorella and also in the latter two species, exceeding the length of the apophysis anterior, furthermore the dorsolateral flaps of segment VIII are larger compared to C. herwigvanstaai and C. olekarsholti .

Description.

Adult (Fig. 3 ). Forewing length. ♂ 4.8-6.2 mm ( ø = 5.30 mm, n = 5), ♀ 4.6-5.1 mm ( ø = 4.90 mm, n = 5). Head with fuscous vertex, frons cream-white; second segment of labial palpus cream-white on inner and upper surface, predominantly grey-brown on outer surface, third segment dark brown with a few white scales particularly at apex; antenna black, weakly ringed whitish. Thorax and tegula dark brown occasionally slightly intermixed ochreous. Abdomen dorsally grey, ventrally whitish, pale grey at margins. Forewing predominantly fuscous in costal and terminal area, dorsum mixed fuscous and ochreous with scattered white scales, extending into middle of wing particularly at 1/5 and at about middle of wing, distinct white costal and tornal spots separated by ochreous or fuscous scales, irregularly shaped black patch from fold to costa at about 1/3 interrupted by ochreous scales, black plical and discal spot; cilia light grey with fuscous ciliary line, buff beyond line. Hindwing light grey, cilia greyish buff.

Variation: the extent of ochreous scales varies considerably and occasionally they are completely absent. Specimens from the Hautes Pyrénées and Alps are larger on average than those from southern Spain with fewer ochreous scales.

Male genitalia (Fig. 7 ). Uncus long, suboval, posterior edges rounded; gnathos with large mesial sclerite, culcitula small; posterior 1/3 of tegumen slender, anterior part strongly widened towards broadly rounded pedunculi of about twice size of uncus, anterior margin with deep concave emargination; transtilla membranous with few microtrichia; valva basally curved ventrad, moderately short, slender, apical part weakly constricted, oblique apex with group of stiff setae; sacculus long, nearly length and width of valva, apex rounded, with dorsally pointed projection; vinculum wide and short, posterior margin moderately sclerotized, with shallow medial incision and distinctly rounded lateromedial projections, lateral projections shallow, anterior margin with strongly sclerotized concave ridge; saccus slender, basally weakly widened, gradually narrowing towards pointed apex, slightly exceeding length of apex of valva to anterior margin of vinculum; anellus with pair of needle-shaped sclerites; phallus stout, distal part weakly curved and contorted, coecum weakly inflated, longitudinal ridge from about middle to apex, two small sclerotized hooklets at apex.

Female genitalia (Fig. 11 ). Apophysis posterior about 4 times length of apophysis anterior; segment VIII with suboval sclerotized dorsolateral zones, with distinct dorsolateral flaps, posterior and inner edge strongly sclerotized, membranous ventromedial part with numerous microtrichia; apophysis anterior about length of segment VIII; antrum large, funnel-shaped, slightly extending beyond apex of apophysis anterior and basally 2/3 width of segment VIII between bases of apophyses anteriores, posterior edge weakly convex; ductus bursae about twice length of apophysis anterior; corpus bursae semi-oval, signum a crescent-shaped basal plate with moderately long and stout hook.

Molecular data.

BIN: BOLD:AAU3076. A genetically variable species, mainly due to a deviating specimen from Spain. The intraspecific average distance of the barcode region is 0.89%, the maximum distance 2.41% (p -distance) (n = 11) with all sequences clustering in a single BIN. The minimum distance to the nearest neighbour, C. olekarsholti sp. nov., is 3.37%.

Distribution.

Caryocolum fibigerium in its current taxonomic sense is confirmed from the Iberian Peninsula (Spain) and southern parts of France ( Huemer and Karsholt 2010), whereas other published records from Morocco ( Huemer 1988), Portugal ( Corley 2015), and northern Italy ( Karsholt and Huemer 1995) require re-examination including DNA barcode analysis.

Bionomics.

In Portugal the larva has been found from November to mid-December on Arenaria montana , living between two spun leaves, usually at tip of a shoot. Young larvae are suspected as probable leaf-miners ( Corley 2002). However, identity of these populations has to be re-assessed. Unpublished breedings from France from Cerastium sp. by Jacques Nel show a possibly wider spectrum of host-plants. The adults have been found in from early June to early September at artificial light sources near rock and scree at altitudes of about 700-2400 m.

Remarks.

Caryocolum fibigerium was described from two disjunct Mediterranean areas, from Morocco to Spain and from Bulgaria to Greece, with the holotype from southern Spain. However, this study indicates that material from Morocco requires verification, populations from the Balkans belong to C. olekarsholti , and unpublished records from central Italy are C. herwigvanstaai .

Figures

Figures 2 - 5. Adults 2 Caryocolum tricolorella, male, Germany 3 C. fibigerium, male, paratype, Spain 4 C. herwigvanstaai sp. nov., male, holotype, Italy 5 C. olekarsholti, male, holotype, Greece.

Figures 6, 7. Male genitalia 6 Caryocolum tricolorella, Germany, slide GEL 1218 P. Huemer 7 C. fibigerium, Spain, slide GEL 1211 P. Huemer.

Figures 10, 11. Female genitalia 10 Caryocolum tricolorella, Germany, slide GEL 1092 P. Huemer 11 C. fibigerium, Spain, slide GEL 1095 P. Huemer.