Spiniphallellus eberti, Bidzilya & Karsholt, 2019

Bidzilya, Oleksiy & Karsholt, Ole, 2019, Two new species of Spiniphallellus Bidzilya & Karsholt, 2008 (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae) from Afghanistan and Iran, Nota Lepidopterologica 42 (1), pp. 113-119 : 115-116

Spiniphallellus eberti sp. nov.

Type material.

Holotype ♂, W Iran, Kordestan, Strasse Baneh-Marivan, 86 km SE Baneh, 1950 m, 5.vii.1975 (Ebert & Falkner) (genitalia slide 64/17, O. Bidzilya) ( SMNK). Paratypes: 2 ♂, 1 ♀, same data as for holotype (genitalia slide 55/17♂; 60/17♀, O. Bidzilya) ( SMNK).

Diagnosis.

The new species is characterized superficially by a greyish brown forewing with black markings. It can be separated from its congeners by the hindwing which is distally more narrowed. The male genitalia are unique in having a short and broad valva with a lateral process and well developed distal triangular sclerite of the gnathos. The female genitalia are defined by the presence of distinct medial sclerites on sternum VIII, strongly sclerotized anterior margin of segment VIII and a long anterior apophysis. S. fuscescens differs in the weaker sclerotized anterior margin of sternum VIII, the shorter posterior apophysis, less distinct medial sclerites and a rounded rather than tubular antrum.

Description.

Adult (Figs 1-3 ). Wingspan 15-17 mm. Head, thorax and tegulae covered with grey scales with light brown tips, labial palpus greyish brown, segment 2 twice as broad and slightly longer than segment 3, lower surface with short brush of modified scales, apex and upper surface light grey, scape grey with pale apex, flagellum ringed black and grey; forewing narrow, pale greyish brown, with indistinct black spots at base and in middle, sub-costal vein mottled with grey, light grey sub-apical transverse fascia at ¾ wing length, cilia grey. Hindwing covered with grey, brown-tipped scales, medial third pale grey, distinctly narrowed from base to ¾ length of wing.

Variation. The female is more unicolorous brown, and the grey pattern on the subcostal vein and sub-apical fascia are not developed.

Male genitalia (Figs 5 , 6 ). Uncus broadly rounded, posterior margin with long setae; distal sclerite of gnathos short, triangular, strongly edged; tegumen broader than long in middle, anteromedial emargination trapezoidal, about 1/3 length of tegumen; valva about 1.5 times as long as broad, strongly sclerotized, with distinct lateral process, posterior margin weakly serrated and thickened, densely setose, extending to the top of uncus; transtilla lobes reduced; vinculum 2.5 times as broad as long, posterior margin broadly emarginated with narrow drop-shaped medial incision; saccus twice as broad as long, narrowed at base, anterior margin broadly rounded. Caecum as long and twice as wide as phallus, rounded, distal part of phallus gradually narrowing towards rounded apex, lateromedial process thorn-shaped.

Female genitalia (Fig. 7 ). Papilla analis sub-ovate, densely covered with short setae; posterior apophysis as long as the length of ductus bursae; anterior apophysis twice as long as segment VIII; sternum VIII sub-rectangular, slightly broader than long, anterior margin strongly sclerotized, paired narrow ribbon-like gradually curved sclerite extending from posterolateral corner of sternum VIII to sub-rhomboid ostium; antrum short, tubular, as broad as ductus bursae, strongly sclerotized laterally; ductus bursae long, nearly of equal width; corpus bursae sub-oval, elongated; signum a sub-oval plate with serrated margins and transverse medial ridge, near the entrance of corpus bursae.

Biology.

Host plant unknown. Adults have been collected in early July at an elevation of about 2000 m.

Distribution.

Iran.

Etymology.

The new species is named after one of its collectors, Günter Ebert, who collected a huge amount of material of Lepidoptera, including Gelechiidae , in Iran and Afghanistan.

Figures

Figures 1 - 4. Adults of Spiniphallellus spp. 1 - 3. S. eberti sp. nov. 1. Holotype (genitalia slide 64 / 17, O. Bidzilya). 2. Paratype, ♂ (genitalia slide 55 / 17, O. Bidzilya). 3. Paratype, ♀ (genitalia slide 60 / 17, O. Bidzilya). 4. S. naumanni sp. nov., holotype (genitalia slide 46 / 17, O. Bidzilya).

Figures 5 - 8. Genitalia of Spiniphallellus. 5 - 7. Spiniphallellus eberti sp. nov. 5, 6. Male genitalia. 5. Holotype (genitalia slide 64 / 17, O. Bidzilya). 6. Paratype, unrolled (genitalia slide 55 / 17, O. Bidzilya). 7. Female genitalia (genitalia slide 60 / 17, O. Bidzilya). 8. S. naumanni sp. nov., male genitalia, holotype, unrolled (genitalia slide 46 / 17, O. Bidzilya).