Scrobipalpa flavinerva sp. n.

(Figs. 15, 38)

Type material. Holotype, 3, China: Zhaohe, Damao Qi, Baotou (40°39' N, 109°49' E), Inner Mongolia, 1700 m, 11.viii.2007, leg. Houhun Li and Bidzilya. Paratypes: 1 3, same data as holotype, gen. prep. 194/07; 1 3, same data as holotype except dated 10.viii.2007, leg. Houhun Li, genitalia slide no. L06123; Mongolia: 1 3, Vostochnyi aimak, oz. Khuh-Nur, 25.vi. [1]976, leg. Kerzhner (ZIN); 1 3, Vostochnyi aimak, Tamsag- Bulak, 25.vii. [1]976, leg. Kerzhner (ZIN).

Description. Adult (Fig. 15): Wingspan 14.0–15.0 mm. Head, thorax and tegula grey. Labial palpus recurved; segment 2 light grey mottled brown on outer surface; segment 3 grey, pointed. Forewing grey, veins cream, yellowish-white; fresh specimens with small dark stripe at two-thirds length and small black dot at corner of cell; cilia light grey. Hindwing light grey, with dark veins.

Male genitalia (Fig. 38): Uncus prolonged, about two times longer than wide, sub-triangular distally. Gnathos basally broad; distal sclerite small, slender, weakly curved. Tegumen comparatively long and narrow. Valva slender, dilated distally, not exceeding top of uncus. Sacculus digitate, about one-quarter length of valva; outer margin weakly curved, inner margin almost straight, apex pointed. Paired processes on posterior margin of vinculum very short and narrow, pointed apically; medial excision deep, V-shaped. Saccus triangular, but very broad at base in paratype from Mongolia. Aedaegus short, slightly inflated at base; distal portion moderately broad, with distinct down-curved apical cornutus.

Female: Unknown.

Diagnosis. Scrobipalpa flavinerva sp. n. is similar to S. nigrosparsea Povolný, 1969 . It can be easily separated externally from rest of Scrobipalpa species by the grey forewing with distinct cream-coloured veins. The male genitalia are characterized by the very short, narrow, pointed vinculum processes in combination with prolonged uncus and tegumen, as well as digitiform sacculus.

Biology. Host-plant unknown. Adults occur from the end of June to middle of August.

Distribution. China (Inner Mongolia), Mongolia (East aimak).

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Latin flavus – yellow, nervus – vein, referring to the wing pattern.