Scythris gobiensis, D’Entrèves & Roggero, 2006

D’Entrèves, P. & Roggero, A., 2006, New And Little-Known Species Of Scythridid Moths Collected By Z. Kaszab In Mongolia (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea, Scythrididae), Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 52 (1), pp. 49-75 : 60

Scythris gobiensis sp. n.

( Fig. 7 )

Holotype. m MONGOLIA: Gobi Altaj aimak, Zachuj Gobi , 10 km N von Chatan chajrchan Gebirge 1150 m Exp. Dr. Z. KASZAB, 1966 / Nr. 594 27.VI.1966 / Prep. Gen. N. Passerin d’E. / 4075 m / Genital slide no. 4075 Passerin d’Entrèves / Holotypus Scythris gobiensis P.E. & R .

Male. Wingspan 14 mm. Fore wings light brown, with a lighter line along the median venation, extending from the base to two thirds of the wing and bifurcating at one-half of the wing. The wing surface also presents a brown triangular patch at apex and a small yellowish linear patch on distal half of the costa, mirroring a brown one near the base. Long brown fringe. Hindwings whitish, with a light fringe darkening toward apex. Head, thorax and abdomen light brown. Legs light brown. Antennae brown, two thirds as long as forewing.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 7 A and B ). Uncus U-shaped, with apices converging inward. Gnathos well developed, the joining arms elongate and converging in the middle, with a long median process. Tegumen globose, valvae very reduced, as long as the vinculum, spatulate, membranaceous at apex. Aedeagus enlarged and bifid at apex, one tip tubular and the second enlarged and rounded. T8 triangular, rounded at apex, S8 triangular, with a quadrangular notch at apex.

Female. Unknown.

Distribution. Known only from Mongolia.

Biology. The species was collected in Mongolia at the end of June, at the edge of a sandy desert.

Remarks. S. gobiensis sp. n. is not related to any known group of species and presents very peculiarly-shaped genitalia, partially fused.

Etymology. The species is named after the Gobi Altay aimak.

Figures

Figs 6–7. 6 = Female genitalia of S. bajanlegi sp. n. 7 = Male genitalia of S. gobiensis sp. n. A = uncus-tegumen-gnathos-aedeagus-valvae complex; B = T8 and S8. Scale bars = 0.5 mm