Scrobipalpa nigrigrisea sp. n.

(Figs. 7, 24, 45)

Type material. Holotype, 3, China: Bayizhen, Nyingchi County (29°34' N, 94°30' E), Xizang (Tibet) Autonomous Region, 2900 m, 11.vii.1983, leg. Houhun Li, genitalia slide no. 88/08. Paratype: 1 Ƥ, same data as holotype except dated 14.vi.1983, genitalia slide no. 86/08.

Description. Adult (Fig. 7): Wingspan 13.0 mm. Head, thorax and tegula black, mottled grey; frons grey. Labial palpus black, inner surface light grey. Scapus black, other antennal segments black, grey-ringed basally. Forewing grey, with two indistinct black dots in middle of cell, and black diffused spot at two-thirds near dorsal margin; cilia grey, black-tipped. Hindwing light grey,

Male genitalia (Fig. 24): Uncus long and narrow, apex rounded. Gnathos small, slender, slightly curved. Tegumen long and narrow. Valva gradually curved inwards, of equal width, not exceeding top of uncus. Sacculus about one-quarter length of valva, straight, nearly parellel-sided; apex weakly rounded, with small pointed tip. Paired processes on posterior margin of vinculum slightly shorter than sacculus, narrow with pointed and outwards curved tips; medial incision deep, sub-oval. Saccus stout, broad, abruptly cut apically. Aedeagus basally swollen, distal portion straight, thin; apex distinctly pointed, with small cornutus.

Female genitalia (Fig. 45): Papilla analis sub-oval, covered with rare short setae. Segment VIII subrectangular, distinctly longer than broad, covered almost entirely with foamy sculpure. Postvaginal plates digitate, rounded apically, with well developed foamy sculpture in distal portion, slightly exceeding anterior margin of sternite VIII, divided by deep triangular incsion. Apophysis anterioris weakly curved, distinctly shorter than segment VIII. Ductus bursae very long; cingulum narrow. Corpus bursae rounded; signum short, weakly curved, serrated basally.

Diagnosis. Scrobipalpa nigrigrisea sp. n. is characterized superficially by the dark grey forewing with black spots near the dorsal margin. The male genitalia more or less resemble those of S. mongolica Povolný, but differ in distinctly narrower uncus, broader saccus, differently shaped valva and aedeagus. The female genitalia resemble those of S. maniaca Povolný, but differ in slightly shorter, not entirely sclerotized foamy postvaginal plates and shorter signum.

Biology. Host-plant unknown. Adults fly in June and July at 2900 m altitude.

Distribution. China (Tibet).

Etymology. The specific name is derived the Latin prefix nigr- – black, and the Latin griseus – grey, referring to the blackish-grey forewing.