Scythris farsi, D’Entrèves, Pietro Passerin & Roggero, Angela, 2009

D’Entrèves, Pietro Passerin & Roggero, Angela, 2009, Eastern Palaearctic Scythrididae (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea): description of a new genus and some new species, Zootaxa 2263, pp. 1-20 : 15

Scythris farsi sp. nov.

( Figs 11 A, 11B, 11C, 11D)

Type material. Holotype 3 ( NHRM), “ Iran, Fars, 1937, Strasse Kazeroun-Bouchir Tchouroum 1000 m, leg. Brandt” [genital slide 9424 PdE]. Paratype: 1 3 ( NHRM), “ Iran, Fars, Strasse Ardekan, Talochoaroe, Com, 2600 m, 1937, leg. Brandt [genital slide 9423 PdE].

Diagnosis. The species has male genitalia well differentiated from any other known scythridid species, and is easily identified on the basis of the characteristic shape of the subrectangular uncus with a notch at distal margin and the rectilinear valvae with apices abruptly inwardly turned. Also the external features of the species, with the ovalar dots on forewings, are different from features of the other species on the Iranoturanian region.

Description. Wingspan 22 mm. Forewing pale brown, carrying on proximal three-fifths a cream-coloured line, and two cream-coloured oval spots, one at four-fifth and one at apex; fringe brown. Hindwing glossy brown, fringe brown. Head, thorax and abdomen brown. Legs pale brown. Antenna brown.

Male genitalia. Uncus well-developed, bifid, with deep incision and two rounded projections at distal third, base with two arms apically downturned and joined to middle of proximal arms of gnathos. Gnathos proximal arms semi-crescentic, distal arm narrow, sinuate, downturned, sharp at apex. Tegumen globular, as long as wide. Valvae symmetrical, rectilinear, narrow, with inwardly turned rounded apices. Vinculum almost as long as valvae, with margin rounded. Phallus downcurved and small, one third length of valvae, apex sharp; juxta half as long as phallus. S8 elongate, narrow, hind margin bifid, fore margin with deep oval notch; T8 elongate, as long as S8, narrower in distal third, apex with broad and short notch, proximal margin with deep triangular notch.

Variation. The white line and spots on the forewing are very pale brown in some specimens.

Etymology. The species is named after the region of Fars ( Iran), where the species was collected in 1937.

Remarks. The species does not belong to any known species-group.

Note about the type localities. The type localities as indicated on the labels are somewhat imprecise. Kazeroun [= Kazerun] is situated in the Fars Province in southwestern Iran, on a plain among high limestone ridges. It is situated 250 km from Bouchir [= Bushehr], which is the administrative centre of the Bushehr Province in southern Iran, bordering the Persian Gulf. Tchouroum [= Tchouran = Cherum], formerly in Fars province, is now in Kohkilouyeh Boyerahmad Province. Ardekan [= Ardakan] is the second major city of Yazd Province, and it is known also as Sepidan. “Talochoaroe is a misprint on label. The correct name for the site is Tal-e-Khosro, which is a historical mound in Kohkilouyet Boyerahmad Province. Com [= Kommeh] is now Komehr in the Fars Province.

Figures

FIGURE 11. Scythris farsi sp. nov. A—Male. B—Male genitalia, (ventral aspect) Uncus-gnathos-tegumen-juxtavalvae-vinculum complex. C—Male genitalia, VIII Sternite and VIII Tergite. D—Male genitalia, (lateral aspect) Uncusgnathos-tegumen-juxta- valvae-vinculum complex. The vinculum is tightly connected to the abdomen, so after dissecting the genitalia two triangular laminae remain attached to the vinculum.