Sergeya prominula ( Meyrick, 1913 ) Bidzilya & Mey & Rajaei, 2024

Bidzilya, Oleksiy V., Mey, Wolfram & Rajaei, Hossein, 2024, First record of the genus Sergeya Ponomarenko, 2008 (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae) from the Afrotropical and Oriental regions, with description of ten new species, Zootaxa 5493 (5), pp. 486-506 : 490-492

Sergeya prominula ( Meyrick, 1913) comb. nov.

( Figs 1–3 , 24 , 27, 28 )

Aristotelia prominula Meyrick, 1913 . Annals of the Transvaal Museum, 3 (4): 282; TL: South Africa: Barberton, Three Sisters. Lanceopenna prominula ( Meyrick, 1913) ; Janse 1950. The Moths of South Africa, 5 (2): 119.

Systematics remark. Aristotelia prominula Meyrick, 1908 was transferred to Lanceopenna by Janse (1950) based on similar forewing pattern and general similarity in male genitalia. However, this species matches perfectly to diagnostic characters of Sergeya (e.g., by having similar wing pattern; uncus and tegumen are the same shape; cucullus covered with modified feather-like scales; and well developed glandiductor terminated in strong needle-shaped process). Hence, we transfer A. prominula to Sergeya : S. prominula ( Meyrick, 1913) comb. nov., whereas L. pseudogaleotis remains in the Lanceopenna , and we continue to treat it as monotypic genus.

Type material examined. Lectotype (here designated) ♂, [ South Africa] Barberton , 18.i.1911, A.J.T. Janse | 4679 | Aristotelia prominula Meyr. , ♂, Type No. 704 (gen. slide 520/23, O. Bidzilya) ( DMSA).

Further material examined. 1 ♂, South Africa, Transvaal , Nelspruit, 29.xii.1995, leg. O. Karsholt (gen. slide 256/24, O. Bidzilya) ( ZMUC) . 1 ♂, Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls , 11–13.xii.1993, leg. W. Mey & K. Ebert (gen. slide 110/24, O. Bidzilya) ( MfN) .

Nomenclature remarks. Meyrick (1913) described this species based on a series of five syntypes, including both sexes from Barberton and Three Sisters (Mpumalanga Province, South Africa). To stabilizing nomenclature, a male specimen from Barberton is designated here as lectotype .

Diagnosis. Sergeya prominula externally resembling S. korongotaji sp. nov., as in both species the medial spot on dorsal margin of the forewing is absent. However, in S. korongotaji sp. nov. the tornal spot on 3/4 of dorsum is larger and more distinct than one in L. prominula . The male genitalia of S. prominula are most similar to those of S. hackeri sp. nov., but differ in cucullus that in S. prominula is not constricted in distal 2/3 on dorsal margin (constricted in S. hackeri sp. nov.); and juxta extending to 1/4 length of cucullus (extending to 1/2 of cucullus in S. hackeri sp. nov.). The female genitalia of S. prominula are characterized in having elongate corpus bursae with signum represented by small elongate sclerite ( Janse 1950: 126–127; pl. 14, fig. 2), in contrast to all other Sergeya species.

Redescription ( Figs 1–3 ). Wingspan 7.8–9.0 mm. Head yellowish-white, frons pale, brown scales above eyes and at base of antenna; labial palpus recurved, segment 2 brown mottled with yellow and with yellow apex, inner and upper surface yellow; segment 3 brown with white basal and apical rings; antennal scape yellowish brown densely mixed with dark brown, flagellum in basal half brown ringed with yellow, distal half alternating with 2–3 dark brown and 1–2 pale flagellomeres, terminal 1–2 flagellomeres white; thorax and tegulae yellow. Forewing yellow, costal margin narrowly suffused with brown, mottled with white in its distal 3/4, brown spot on 1/2 under costal margin, fringe grey; hindwing and fringe light grey.

Male genitalia ( Figs 27, 28 ). Uncus slender, elongate, broadest in middle, weakly narrowed apically, densely covered with modified feather-like scales and strong setae, slightly longer and about 2/3 width of tegumen, extending to 1/3 length of cucullus; tegumen rounded, slightly broader than long, anterior margin gradually produced; cucullus straight, of even width, densely covered with hair-like scales in its distal 3/4, apex rounded; glandiductor inflated on base, distal process slender, extending to about 1/4 length of cucullus; juxta lobes short, narrow; vinculum slightly broader than long; saccus narrow, triangular, slightly extending top of pedunculus; phallic tube straight, slender, weakly narrowed towards pointed apex.

Female genitalia (after Janse 1950: 127–127; pl. 14, fig. 2). Papilla anales elongate, ovate; apophyses posteriores 3 times longer than apophyses anteriores; the latter about same length as sternum VIII; sternum VIII weakly sclerotized, unmodified except for folds near ostium; ductus bursae short, moderately broad; corpus bursae elongate, 3 times longer than ductus bursae; signum a small, sclerotized patch.

Biology. Host plant unknown. Adults have been recorded from November to March ( Janse 1950: 127).

Distribution. This species is known only from South Africa and Zimbabwe (new record for the latter country).

Figures

FIGURES 1–10. Wing pattern of Sergeya species. 1–3. S. prominula, male. 1. Holotype, South Africa: Barberton (gen. slide 520/23, O. Bidzilya). 2. South Africa: Nelspruit (gen. slide 256/24, O. Bidzilya). 3. Zimbabwe: Victoria Falls (gen. slide 110/24, O. Bidzilya). 4–5. S. hackeri sp. nov. 4. Holotype, male, Yemen: Naqil Man (gen. slide 124/24, O. Bidzilya). 5. Paratype, female, Yemen: Jabel, Burra. 6. S. olei sp. nov., Holotype, male, Thailand: Chieng Mai (gen. slide 283/24, O. Bidzilya). 7. S. chuii sp. nov., Holotype, male, DR Congo: Eala (gen. slide 201/24, O. Bidzilya). 8. S. bunsoensis sp. nov., Holotype, male, Ghana: Bunso (gen. slide 553/23, O. Bidzilya). 9, 10. S. palescens sp. nov. 9. Holotype, male, Uganda: Mpanga Forest (gen. slide 550/23, O. Bidzilya). 10. Paratype, female, South Africa: Asante-Sana (gen. slide 137/21, O. Bidzilya).

FIGURES 21–26. 21–23. Sergeya spp., heads. 21. S. palescens sp. nov., Holotype, male (gen. slide 550/23, O. Bidzilya), lateral view. 22. S. harambee sp. nov., Holotype, male (gen. slide 210/24, O. Bidzilya), frontal view. 23. S. malawica sp. nov., Holotype, male (gen. slide 555/23, O. Bidzilya), lateral view. 24–26. Sergeya spp., male abdominal segments I–II. 24. S. prominula, Zimbabwe: Victoria Falls (gen. slide 110/24, O. Bidzilya). 25. S. malawica sp. nov., Holotype, Malawi: Sambara River (gen. slide 555/23, O. Bidzilya). 26. S. davidi sp. nov., Kenya: Lake Bogoria, Paratype (gen. slide 38/22, O. Bidzilya).

FIGURES 27–34. Sergeya spp., male genitalia. 27, 28. S. prominula. 27. Holotype, South Africa: Barberton (gen. slide 520/23, O. Bidzilya). 28. Zimbabwe: Victoria Falls (gen. slide 110/24, O. Bidzilya). 29. S. hackeri sp. nov., Holotype, Yemen: Naqil Man (gen. slide 124/24, O. Bidzilya). 30. S. olei sp. nov., Holotype, Thailand: Chieng Mai (gen. slide 284/24, O. Bidzilya). 31. S. chuii sp. nov., Holotype, male, DR Congo: Eala (gen. slide 201/24, O. Bidzilya). 32. S. bunsoensis sp. nov., Holotype, male, Ghana: Bunso (gen. slide 553/23, O. Bidzilya). 33, 34. S. palescens sp. nov., Uganda: Mpanga Forest. 33. Holotype (gen. slide 550/23, O. Bidzilya). 34. Paratype, lateral view (gen. slide 199/24, O. Bidzilya).