Metanarsia moroccana, Bidzilya, 2022

Bidzilya, Oleksiy V., 2022, A new species of Metanarsia Staudinger, 1871 (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae) from Morocco, Nota Lepidopterologica 45, pp. 295-303 : 295

Metanarsia moroccana sp. nov.

Figs 1-3 , 7-9 , 10-11

Type material.

Holotype ♂, Marokko: Sahara, Erfout/ Maadit, 800 m, 8.x.1996, lux [at light], leg. A. Lingenhöle | coll. A. Scholz, Vöhringen, SMNS-Lep: 1999-09 (gen. slide 290/21, O. Bidzilya) (SMNS). Paratypes: 2 ♂, same data as for holotype (gen. slide 65/22, O. Bidzilya) (SMNS).

Diagnosis.

The new species is recognizable externally by its reddish brown forewing with diffuse reddish pink transverse fasciae (Figs 1-3 ) and recurved labial palps with an unmodified segment 2 and short segment 3 (Figs 7 , 8 ). Metanarsia kosakewitshi Piskunov, 1990 and Metanarsia guberlica Nupponen, 2010 have somewhat similar reddish-brown forewings but differ in the absence of fasciae. Additionally, M. kosakewitshi is lighter, uniformly reddish brown and straight labial palps ( Bidzilya 2005: figs 4, 20), and M. guberlica is brighter with distinct reddish irroration (see Junnilainen & Nupponen, 2010: fig. 12) and labial palps gently recurved. Metanarsia dahurica Bidzilya, 2005 (Figs 4-6 ) has a similar reddish-brown forewing, but differs in the presence of a pale subdorsal patch at about one-half and a distinctly broadened and straight segment 2 of the labial palpus. The new species differs clearly from the above superficially similar species in the male genitalia (Figs 10 , 11 ) having the phallus shorter than the valva (equal to the valva in related species), the sacculus much narrower in comparison with the sacculus of M. kosakewitshi and shorter than in the saccus of M. guberlica . Metanarsia dahurica differs additionally in the absence of teeth on the sacculus. Metanarsia incertella ( Herrich-Schäffer, 1861) has somewhat similar male genitalia with a short phallus and comparatively narrow saccus with three apical teeth, but can be separated by the uncus being deeply emarginated apically, the presence of a lateral tooth on the sacculus, the different forewing pattern and much longer labial palpus ( Huemer et al. 1996, fig. 8; Bidzilya 2005: figs 44-46).

Description.

Wingspan 16.5-23.0 mm. Head, thorax and tegula (Figs 7-9 ) dark yellow to reddish brown, labial palpus recurved, segment 2 light brown to greyish brown, apex and upper surface white or light yellow, segment 3 white to yellowish white, apex light brown, acute, ½ width and about ¼ length of segment 2; haustellum reduced; scape reddish brown with pecten formed of a few hair-like scales; flagellomeres dark brown ringed with white; forewing (Figs 1-3 ) reddish brown with diffuse lighter reddish pink transverse oblique fasciae at ¼ and ½, and reddish subapical rounded spot, indistinct brown spot at cell corner, fringe reddish yellow, lighter than adjacent part of forewing; hindwing light grey edged with light brown, fringe yellowish brown.

Male genitalia (Figs 10 , 11 ). Uncus tongue-shaped, slightly longer than broad, covered laterally with dense setae; gnathos slender, rod like, weakly sclerotised; tegumen a nearly equilateral triangle, anterior margin straight, strongly edged; valva digitate, weakly constricted at middle, apex rounded, densely covered with hair-like setae, extending to tip of uncus; basal half of sacculus twice as broad as distal half and about 3.5 times as broad as valva at base, posterior margin with three short teeth, inner margin straight; juxta subtriangular, 1/3 length of sacculus; saccus triangular, slightly longer than broad at base; phallus entirely sclerotised in basal half and to 1/2-2/3 width in its distal half, apex rounded, dorsal margin with distinct short pointed subapical process, 2.5 times as long as broad at mid-length, about 3/4 length of valva, basal processes short, bulbus ejaculatorius long, coiled.

Female genitalia. Unknown.

Biology.

Host plant unknown. Adults were recorded flying in early October.

Distribution.

Eastern Morocco.

Etymology.

The specific name reflects the distribution of new species in Morocco.

Figures

Figures 1 - 6. Metanarsia spp., dorsal view, males. 1 - 3. M. moroccana sp. nov.; 1, 2. Paratypes; 3. Holotype; 4 - 6. M. dahurica; 4, 5. Paratypes; 6. Holotype.

Figures 7 - 9. Metanarsia moroccana sp. nov., head; 7, 8. Lateral view; 9. Dorsal view; 7. Holotype; 8, 9. Paratypes.

Figures 10, 11. Metanarsia moroccana sp. nov., male genitalia. 10. Holotype; 11. Paratype.