Scrobipalpa subroseata ( Meyrick, 1932 )

Bidzilya, Oleksiy V., 2021, A review of the genus Scrobipalpa Janse, 1951 (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae) in the Afrotropical region, Zootaxa 5070 (1), pp. 1-83 : 18-19

Scrobipalpa subroseata ( Meyrick, 1932)

Figs 29–32 , 106–108 , 168, 169

Phthorimaea subroseata Meyrick, 1932: 196 .

Scrobipalpa subroseata ( Meyrick, 1932) — Povolný 1966: 131.

Type material examined. Holotype of subroseata ♂, “ Uganda, Kampala, 29.xi.1930, H. Hargreaves ” | “17.xi.30, Red worm in Katunkuma, Em. 29.xi.1930 ” | “ Phthorimaea subroseata s p. nov., det. E. Meyrick ” | “Pres. By Imp. Inst. Ent. Brit. Mus. 1931-139” | “ ♂, genitalia on slide 6.xi.1948, J.F.G.C. 8318” | “ Holotype ” ( NHMUK).

Material examined. Kenya: 1 ♀, Rift Valley, Turi , 8000ft, 27.ii.2000 (Agassiz) (gen. slide 453/14, O. Bidzilya) ; 1 ♂, same data, but 8.v.1999 (gen. slide 100/17, O. Bidzilya) ; 1 ♂, same data, but 27.xi.1999 (DJLA Slide No. 1423) ; 1 ♂, same data, but 21.i.1999 (DJLA Slide No. 1534 = gen. slide 298/14, O. Bidzilya) ; 1 ♀, same data, but 25.vi.1999 (DJLA Slide No. 1424) ; 1 ♀, same data, but 24.xii.1998 (DJLA Slide No. 1351) ; 1 ♂, same data, but 14.xii.1998 (DJLA Slide No. 1462) ; 1 ♀, same data, but 21.xii.1999 (DJLA Slide No. 1445) ; 1 ♀, Eastern Lewa , 2000 m, 0˚8’36”N, 37˚27’28”E, 26.xi.2011 (Agassiz) (DJLA Slide No. 1524 = gen. slide 286/14, O. Bidzilya) ; 1 ♀, Rift Valley , L. Bogoria, 1000 m, 0˚21’N, 36˚04’E, 10.viii.2007 (Agassiz) (DJLA Slide No. 1527 = gen. slide 291/14, O. Bidzilya) (all DA) . Tanzania: 3 ♀, Arusha, Ngorongoro , 7500ft, 3˚14’37”S, 35˚30’41”E, 8.v.2001 (Agassiz) (DJLA Slide No. 1515 = gen. slide 206/14, O. Bidzilya) ( DA) .

Diagnosis. Scrobipalpa subroseata is a medium sized (wingspan 12–17 mm) species with a light brown forewing with distinct blackish-brown suffusion along the margins and apex. It is similar to S. concreta , but the latter is usually lighter with less distinct dark irroration, especially at the apex, and has lighter hindwings. Scrobipalpa wolframi sp. nov. is also similar, but the dorsal margin and apex lack the darkened scales typical of S. subroseata . In addition, Scrobipalpa wieseri sp. nov. is much larger (wingspan 23–25 mm) and more uniformly coloured, lacking distinct markings. The male genitalia of S. subroseata are similar to those of S. concreta in all details, but those of the former can be distinguished by a longer and narrower saccus. The comparatively broad, ovate lobes of the ventromedial depression and the signum lacking a short medial dentation are characteristic for the female genitalia of S. subroseata . In S. concreta the lobes of the ventromedial depression are distinctly narrowed posteriorly, and the hook of signum has a short thorn in middle. For differences from S. biljurshi see the diagnosis below for that species.

Adult ( Figs 29–32 ). Wingspan 12.0–17.5 mm. Head yellowish brown; labial palpus upcurved, light brown, palpomere 2 mottled with dark brown on outer and lower surface, inner and upper surface yellowish white, segment 3 light brown with dark basal and medial rings; scape brown mixed with dark yellow, flagellomeres light brown with contrasting dark brown rings; thorax and tegulae darker than head, covered with yellowish-brown scales tipped with dark brown; forewing with margins, apex and termen with distinct blackish-brown suffusion, costal margin often with diffuse dark spots at 1/4 and 2/3, central area light brown with ochreous-brown irroration along veins and in fold, diffuse paired black spots in middle and corner of cell, short brown streak in fold, diffuse light fascia at 3/ 4 in some specimens, cilia dark yellow with black tips; hindwing dark greyish brown with grey cilia.

Male genitalia ( Figs 106–108 ). Uncus comparatively wide, subrectangular or weakly narrowed from base to 2/3–3/4, distal part subtriangular with rounded posterior margin; gnathos short, slender, weakly curved; culcitula well developed, elongated; tegumen about 2.5 times longer than wide, anterior margin with triangular emargination extending to about 1/3–1/2 length of tegumen, with gradual transition to uncus; valva slender, evenly bent, weakly narrowed in middle, apex rounded, not reaching top of uncus; sacculus 1/3 length of valva, with broad gap to valva, situated close to vincular process, with both margins weakly bent, apex with pointed, and inward-curved tip; vincular process slender, digitate, narrowed apically, as long as or slightly shorter than sacculus, separated by V-shaped incision; vinculum narrow; saccus broad at base, tapered towards apex, extending beyond top of pedunculus; phallus as long as valva, caecum weakly inflated, about 1/2 length of phallus, distal portion weakly narrowed towards pointed or weakly rounded apex, apical hook slender, down-curved.

Female genitalia ( Figs 168, 169 ). Papillae anales narrow, subtriangular, covered with setae, apophyses posteriores about 3 times as long as apophyses anteriores; segment VIII twice as long as wide, anterior margin weakly invaginated, subgenital plates unmodified; lobes of ventromedial depression ovate, comparatively broad, densely covered with foam-sculpturing, separated anteriorly by triangular incision, joined posteriorly; apophyses anteriores twice length of segment VIII, broadened at base; ductus bursae membranous, of uniform width, colliculum short; corpus bursae shorter than ductus bursae, egg-shaped, clearly differentiated from ductus bursae; signum with large basal plate, distal hook long, gradually curved, pointed, placed at 1/4 on right side of corpus bursae.

Biology. The larvae feed on “katunkuma” — Solanum anguivi Lam. (Solanaceae) . Adults are recorded from February to December.

Distribution. Uganda, Kenya (first record), Tanzania (first record).

Remarks. The photograph of male genitalia of the holotype of Ph. subroseata in Clarke (1969: pl. 82, fig. 3b) does not match the genitalia of the holotype on slide “J.F.G.C. 8318” ( Fig. 106 ).

Figures

FIGURES 21–30. Scrobipalpa spp., adults. 21–28. S. concreta. 21. Tanzania, Morogoro Town, female. 22. Tanzania, Morogoro Town, male. 23. India, Coimbatore, LT of blapsigona, male (gen. slide J.F.G.C. 8311). 24. Sudan, Ed Damer, female (gen. slide B.M. No. 23710). 25. Saudia Arabia, Wadi Marah, HT of asiri, male (gen. slide Am. 5775, D. Povolný). 26. Saudi Arabia, Wadi Marah, female (gen. slide Am. 5760, D. Povolný). 27. Ethiopia, Bahar Dar, female (gen. slide 207/18, OB). 28. Ethiopia, Bahar Dar, male (gen. slide 209/18, OB). 29, 30. S. subroseata. 29. Uganda, Kampala, HT, male (gen. slide J.F.G.C. 8318). 30. Kenya, Turi, female (gen. slide DJLA 1351). Scale bar = wingspan.

FIGURES 31–40. Scrobipalpa spp., adults. 31, 32. S. subroseata, Kenya, Turi. 31. Male (gen. slide DJLA 1423). 32. Male (gen. slide DJLA 1462). 33–36. S. biljurshi. 33. Saudi Arabia, Wadi Marah, HT, male (gen. slide 177/15, OB). 34. Saudia Arabia, Wadi Marah, PT, male (gen. slide Am. 5757, D. Povolný). 35. Saudia Arabia, Wadi Marah, PT, male (gen. slide Am. 5776, D. Povolný). 36. Ethiopia, Addis-Abeba, male (gen. slide 190/07, OB). 37–40. S. diversa, Namibia, Abachaus. 37. HT, male (gen. slide g.6052). 38. PT, female. 39. Female (gen. slide 130/21, OB). 40. Female. Scale bar = wingspan.

FIGURES 102–110. Scrobipalpa spp., male genitalia. 102–105. S. concreta. 102. Ethiopia, Bahar Dar (gen. slide 209/18, OB). 103. South Africa, Grahamstown (gen. slide 115/17, OB). 104. South Africa, Pretoria, PLT of concreta (gen. slide B.M. No. 3715). 105. India (gen. slide B.M. No. 23720). 106–108. S. subroseata. 106. Uganda, Kampala, HT (gen. slide J.F.G.C. 8318). 107. Kenya, Turi (DJLA slide No. 1462). 108. Kenya, Turi (DJLA slide No. 1423). 109, 110. S. biljurshi, 109. Saudi Arabia, Asirgebirge, HT (gen. slide 177/15, OB). 110. Ethiopia, Addis-Abeba (gen. slide 190/07, OB).

FIGURES 168–170. Scrobipalpa spp., female genitalia. 168, 169. S. subroseata, Kenya, Turi. 168. DJLA Slide No. 1351. 169. DJLA Slide No. 1445. 170. S. biljurshi, Saudi Arabia, Asirgebirge, PT (gen. slide 176/15, OB).