Thiotricha sumpichi, Bidzilya & Huemer & Karsholt, 2023

Bidzilya, Oleksiy V., Huemer, Peter & Karsholt, Ole, 2023, Thiotricha sumpichi sp. nov. - a new species of Thiotrichinae (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae) from south-eastern Europe, ZooKeys 1173, pp. 85-96 : 85

Thiotricha sumpichi sp. nov.

Figs 2-8 , 9-13 , 14-20

Material examined.

Holotype: Greece • ♂; Peloponnes, Exochori, Viros Gorge ; 36°54'23"N, 22°16'29"E; 470 m a.s.l.; 12-13 Sep. 2020; P. Huemer leg.; TLMF 2020-007; DNA barcode TLMF Lep 29897; TLMF.

Paratypes: Greece • 3 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀ ; same data as for holotype; DNA barcode TLMF Lep 29876; DNA barcode TLMF Lep 29879; DNA barcode TLMF Lep 29880; TLMF • 22 ♂♂, 29 ♀♀; Peloponnes, 3 km SW Poulithra ; 37°05'36"N, 22°52'48"E; 450 m a.s.l.; 25 Sep. 2020; P. Huemer leg.; TLMF • 1 ♀; Peloponnes, above Pikiulionako / Mystras ; 37°04'58"N, 22°20'31"E; 890 m a.s.l.; 22 Sep. 2020; P. Huemer leg.; TLMF • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Peloponnes, Taygetos mts. E, Gorge Stavros-Kalamata ; 37°04'46"N, 22°18'30"E; 780 m a.s.l.; 21 Sep. 2020; P. Huemer leg.; TLMF • 1 ♂; Peloponnes, Mani pen., SE Pyrrhichos ; 36°38'10"N, 22°27'11"E; 360 m a.s.l.; 17 Sep. 2020; P. Huemer leg.; TLMF • 1 ♀; Peloponnes, Chelmos mts., above Zachlorou ; 38°06'11"N, 22°09'16"E; 845 m a.s.l.; 27 Sep. 2020; P. Huemer leg.; TLMF • 1 ♀; Lakonia , 5 km S Monemvasia; 30 m a.s.l.; 7 Oct. 1977; G. Christensen leg.; ZMUC • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; 9 Oct. 1977; G. Christensen leg.; gen. slide 88/20, Bidzilya; ZMUC • 3 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; 15 Sep. 1979; G. Christensen leg.; ZMUC • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; 20 Sep. 1979; G. Christensen leg.; ZMUC • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; ZMUC • 2 ♀♀; 27 Sep. 1979; ZMUC • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; 13 Oct. 1979; G. Christensen leg.; ZMUC • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; 31 Aug. 1980; G. Christensen leg.; ZMUC • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; 12 Sep. 1982; G. Christensen leg.; ZMUC • 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 20 Sep. 1982; gen. slide 4416, 4417, H. Hendriksen; ZMUC • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 22 Sep. 1982; G. Christensen leg.; ZMUC • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 11 Oct. 1982; G. Christensen leg.; ZMUC • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 1 Oct. 1983; G. Christensen leg.; ZMUC • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 6 Oct. 1983; G. Christensen leg.; ZMUC • 2 ♂♂; 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 7 Oct. 1983; G. Christensen leg.; ZMUC • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; 11 Oct. 1983; G. Christensen leg.; ZMUC • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 6 Oct. 1986; G. Christensen leg.; ZMUC • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Lakonia , 7 km SW Monemvasia; 14 Sep. 1979; G. Christensen leg.; ZMUC • 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; 22 Sep. 1979; G. Christensen leg.; gen. slide 184/21, O. Bidzylia, gen. slide 5539, R. Sutter; ZMUC • 1 ♂; 25 Sep. 1979; G. Christensen leg.; gen. slide 3722, O. Karsholt; ZMUC • 1 ♂; Lakonia, Monemvasia ; 10 Oct. 1983; L. Gozmány leg.; ZMUC • 1 ♂; Crete; 1966; H. Reisser leg.; gen. slide 25/23, O. Bidzilya; SMNK • 1 ♂; Crete, Koutsounari ; 4 Nov. 2004; 100 m a.s.l.; W. Ruckdeschel leg.; DNA barcode TLMF Lep 21329; TLMF • 1 ♂; Crete; Xekollimenos, Kirtomados ; 27 Sep. 2001; ca. 40 m a.s.l.; W. Ruckdeschel leg.; DNA barcode TLMF Lep 21330; TLMF • 1 ♂; Crete; 3 km N Kapsodasos ; 19 Sep. 2022; 650 m a.s.l.; P. Huemer leg.; TLMF • 3 ♂♂; Crete; 2 km NW Kolymbari, Astratigos ; 1 Oct. 2016; 210 m a.s.l.; K. Larsen leg.; ZMUC • 1 ♀; Crete; 2 km N Kolymbari ; 1-3 Oct. 2016; 10 m a.sl.;, leg. K. Larsen; ZMUC • 1 ♂; Crete; Chania, Kolymbari ; 35°32'10"N, 23°48'4"E; 25 Sep. 2018; 5 m a.s.l.; K. Berggren leg.; KBE • 1 ♀; Kolymbari “W”; 35°32'10"N, 23°48'4"E; 102 m a.s.l.; 10 Sep. 2019; K. Berggren leg.; KBE • 1 ♂; 1 ♀; Crete; 1.7 km S Topolia ; 2-3 Oct. 2016; 380 m a.s.l.; K. Larsen leg.; ZMUC • 1 ♂; 1 ♀; Prov. Etolia-Akanania, by Amvrakikos Bay, Katafourka ; 8 Sep. 2008; 2 m a.s.l.; P. Skou leg.; ZMUC .

Croatia • 1 ♂; Zaostrog ; 6 Sep. 2002; DNA barcode TLMF Lep 25652; Z. Tokár leg.; ZMUC ; • 6 ♂♂; Zaostrog ; 6 Sep. 2002; Z. Tokár leg.; gen. pr. Z. Tokár , ♂, 7978; ZT • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Drvenik , Gornja Vala; 7-11 Sep. 2008; I. Richter leg.; DNA barcode TLMF Lep 25211; NMPC .

Diagnosis.

Thiotricha sumpichi sp. nov. can be separated externally from other European species of the genus by the grey forewing with brown longitudinal streaks. Thiotricha coleella (Constant, 1885) from southern France remotely resembles Th. sumpichi sp. nov. by the forewing pattern, but differs in the presence of black spots rather than streaks. The male genitalia are characterized by having the valva distinctly broadened in the basal half, strongly edged posteromedial emargination of the vinculum and a short broadly rounded saccus. Other species of Thiotricha have unmodified or weakly broadened basally valva, gently edged posterior margin of the vinculum and short, usually subtriangular saccus. Segment VIII in the male is distinct by having a very short band-shaped tergum and large subtriangular sternum with broadened basal lobes separated by broadly rounded medial emargination, and narrow posterior portion with short apical incision. In T. subocellea segment VIII is similar in general, but the sternum is deeper bifurcated. Comparatively short (shorter than segment VIII) apophyses anteriores, antrum with narrow band of small triangular sclerites and long, slender longitudinal ridge-shaped signum are characteristic for the female genitalia of the new species. Thiotricha subocellea has somewhat similar female genitalia, but apophyses anteriores are longer that segment VIII, the antrum lacks sclerites and the signum is crescent-shaped.

Description.

Head (Figs 4-6 ) white, smooth, ocelli absent; labial palpus white mottled with brown, strongly recurved, smoothly scaled, slender, 2.3 times as long as eye diameter, segment 2 as broad as and longer than segment 3; antenna without pecten, flagellomeres brown ringed with grey, shortly ciliate on underside in male (Figs 7 , 8 ). Thorax and tegulae white. Forewing (Figs 2 , 3 , 9 ) elongated, with apex distinctly narrowed and pointed; venation (Fig. 9 ): Sc to about 1/2 of costa; R1 and R2 separated, to costal 2/3-3/4, pterostigma between Sc and R1; R3-R5 on common stalk, R3 and R4 to costa, R5 to termen; M1 and M2 parallel; CuA1 almost united at base to CuA2; A1+2 to 1/2 of dorsum; wingspan 9.5-10.5 mm, ground colour grey with brown suffusion along costal margin and in apical ¾, diffuse brown streak in fold, under costal margin to mid length, and from 2/3 of dorsal margin to wing apex, fringes white. Hindwing and fringes white, with costal margin arched and thickened to 1/2, then straight, parallel to dorsal margin, excavation distinct, apex narrow, pointed; venation (Fig. 9 ) with Sc+R1 to 1/2 of costa; Rs almost to apex; M1 weakly indicated, almost stalked with Rs, to termen; M2 to 1/2 of termen; M3 and CuA1 almost united at base; CuA2 to 2/3 of dorsum. Abdomen. Male. Tergum VIII very short, band-shaped (Fig. 10 ), sternum VIII (Fig. 10 ) subtriangular, broad anteriorly, with deep rounded anteromedial emargination and distinctly exceeding basal corners, distal portion narrow, posterior margin with shallow medial emargination, coremata absent; sternum II (Fig. 11 ) without group of sensory setae, apodemes short, free, venulae absent. In male genitalia (Figs 14-17 ) uncus broadly spatulate, twice as long as wide, densely covered with hairs in distal part; gnathos-hook about length of uncus, strongly curved at middle, apex weakly inflated with pointed tip; tegumen elongated with large lateral folds, parallel-sided, 2 times longer than wide, anteromedial excavation broadly rounded, extending to ¼ length of tegumen, lateral folds broad, curved inwards, transition to uncus distinct, large pedunculi sub-trianguar; valva long and stout, dorsal margin weakly bent, basal part with inwardly curved lobes two times broader than distal part, distal part as broad as uncus, with short subapical ridge, covered with short hairs, apex broadly triangular, exceeding apex of uncus, valvella ovate with apical bristle, extending to ¼ length of valva; vinculum short, band-shaped, posteromedial excavation deep, broadly cup-shaped, strongly edged; saccus short, broadly rounded; phallic tube as long as valva, with moderately inflated caecum, distal portion as long as caecum, with extension on ventral margin and with distinct trunk along dorsal margin, apex pointed or rounded, bulbus ejaculatorius about 1.5 times longer than phallic tube, with internal band-shaped sclerotization in anterior part.

Female. Tergum and sternum VII unmodified (Fig. 12 ), weakly emarginated posteriorly, tergum 1.5 times as long as broad, sternum 1.5 times as broad as long; sternum II (Fig. 13 ) without group of sensory setae, apodemes free, curved inwards, venulae absent. In female genitalia (Figs 18-20 ) papillae anales subovate, covered with short setae, apophyses posteriores about 2 times longer than segment VIII; apophyses anteriores shorter than segment VIII; tergum VIII evenly sclerotized, unmodified, trapezoidal, ostium opening indistinct, near anterior margin of sternum VIII, antrum cylindrical, U-shaped posteriorly, with narrow band of small triangular sclerites; ductus bursae moderately broad, with distinct transition to corpus bursae; corpus bursae ovate, membranous; signum long, 1/3 length of corpus bursae, with slender longitudinal ridge, in posterior portion of corpus bursae.

Etymology.

The new species is dedicated to Jan Šumpich (NMPC) in recognition of his contribution to the study of Palaearctic Lepidoptera .

Distribution.

Greece (south-western part, Crete), Croatia.

Molecular analysis.

BIN: BOLD:ADM1812 (N = 8). Intraspecific average distance within BIN is 0.72%, maximum distance is 1.14%. The minimum distance to the nearest congeneric neighbour, T. subocellea , is c. 10% (Table 1 ).

Biology.

Host plant and immature stages unknown. Adults have been observed flying from late August to early November and were collected in large number at light (P. Huemer). The habitat is insufficiently known, but the species has been observed in a wide spectrum of different vegetation, mainly in open oak and maple forests intermixed with Mediterranean macchia (Fig. 21 ).

Figures

Figure 21. Habitat of Thiotricha sumpichi sp. nov.: Greece, Viros Gorge.

Figures 2 - 8. Thiotricha sumpichi sp. nov., Greece, paratypes 2, 3 adults, dorsal view 2 male 3 female 4 - 6 head, males 4, 5 lateral view 6 fronto-lateral view 7, 8 antenna, males 7 frontal view 8 slide 1 / 23, O. Bidzilya.

Figures 9 - 13. Thiotricha sumpichi sp. nov., Greece, paratypes 9 venation 10 - 13 abdominal segments 10 male segment VIII, tergum (left), sternum (right) 11 male segments I-II, tergum I-II (left), sternum II (right) 12 female segment VII, tergum (left), sternum (right) 13 female segments I-II, sternum II (left), tergum I-II (right).

Figures 14 - 20. Thiotricha sumpichi sp. nov., Greece, paratypes 14 - 17 male genitalia 14 unrolled. Gen. slide 25 / 23, O. Bidzilya 15 unrolled. Gen. slide 88 / 20, O. Bidzilya 16 ventral view. Gen. slide 164 / 23, O. Bidzilya 17 valvella with apical bristle, enlarged. Gen. slide 88 / 20, O. Bidzilya 18 - 20 female genitalia 18 ventral view 19 antrum and ostium, enlarged 20 signum, enlarged.