Scrobipalpa agassizi, Bidzilya, 2021

Bidzilya, Oleksiy V., 2021, A review of the genus Scrobipalpa Janse, 1951 (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae) in the Afrotropical region, Zootaxa 5070 (1), pp. 1-83 : 42-43

Scrobipalpa agassizi sp. nov.

Figs 89, 90 , 151, 152 , 196

Type material. Holotype 1 ♀, Kenya, Rift Valley , Turi, 8000 ft, 14.iii.1999, D.J.L. Agassiz ( DA) . Paratypes: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, same data as holotype (gen. slide 1392 ♂, 1396 ♀, O. Bidzilya) ; 1 ♂, same data, but 10.vii.2000 ; 1 ♂, same data but 15.v.2000 (gen. slide 319/20, O. Bidzilya) (all in DA) . Ethiopia: 1 ♀, Bahar Dar , xii.1968 (Scköuffele) ( SMNS) .

Diagnosis. The new species is easily distinguished externally by the light brown forewing with a unique wing pattern, consisting of distinct white irroration along the veins, a black irregular patch before the middle of the wing, and black spots in the cell. The male genitalia are unmistakable within Scrobipalpa , having a conspicuously large gap between the sacculus and the vincular process; characteristically gradually curved valva; a very short, narrow sacculus; and an extremely long, slender phallus without sclerotization in the ductus ejaculatorius. The female genitalia are easily distinguished by strongly the sclerotized posterolateral corners of the subgenital plates; a distinct subtriangular anteromedial projection of sternum VIII; a long, narrow ductus bursae; and a very narrow signum.

Description. Adult ( Figs 89, 90 ). Wingspan 17.0–19.0 mm. Head covered with light brown, grey tipped scales; labial palpus upcurved, light brown, palpomere 2 black or dark brown on lower surface, outer surface mixed with black, palpomere 3 about 1/2 length and width of palpomere 3, acute, base slightly mixed with black; scape and flagellum light brown with indistinct grey rings; thorax light brown with three grey longitudinal stripes; forewing light brown with white veins, three black spots in middle of wing, another one at 2/3 mid-width, black patch of irregular shape at mid-length from costal margin to 2/3 width, black-tipped scales under costa, along dorsal margin, and at apex; cilia light brown, black-tipped; hindwing and cilia light grey with brown veins.

Variation. Black pattern in middle of wing partially reduced in some specimens.

Male genitalia ( Figs 151, 152 ). Uncus twice as long as broad, distinctly narrowed in distal 1/2, apex rounded; gnathos broad, weakly curved; tegumen narrow, longer than broad at base, anteromedial emargination extending to about 1/3 length; valva gradually curved inwards, broad in basal 2/3, then strongly narrowed, distal 1/4 distinctly inflated, inner margin covered with setae, extending to 3/4 length of uncus; sacculus very small, slender, about 1/7 length of valva; vincular process short, subtriangular, separated from sacculus by very broad gap, posterior margin of vinculum with very narrow medial incision; saccus very narrow, extending slightly beyond top of pedunculus; distal portion of phallus very slender, as long as tegumen, weakly curved at 3/4 length with large apical hook, caecum distinctly broader, about 1/3 length of phallus.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 196 ). Papillae anales ovate, densely covered with short setae; apophyses posteriores twice as long as segment VIII; sternum VIII evenly sclerotized, posterior margin with broad medial emargination; postvaginal plates with strongly edged, sharp posterolateral corners, outer margin of segment VIII weakly outwardly broadened, with distinct anterolateral corners and conspicuous transition to apophyses anteriores, anterior margin of sternum VII strongly sclerotized with distinct triangular anteromedial projection, apophyses anteriores narrow, slightly longer than segment VIII; ductus bursae long, narrow, gradually broadened in distal 1/3, with distinct transition towards rounded corpus bursae; signum with basal plate long and narrow, distal hook very slender, weakly curved.

Biology. Host plant unknown. Adults were collected in March, May, July and December at an altitude of about 2400 m in Kenya.

Distribution. Ethiopia, Kenya.

Etymology. The new species is named in the honor of David Agassiz who collected most of the type series of new species.

Figures

FIGURES 81–90. Scrobipalpa spp., adults. 81. S. geomicta, Namibia, Auas Mts., male. 82–84. S. portosanctana, South Africa. 82. Port Elizabeth, male. 83. Petersburg, male. 84. Petersburg, male. 85. S. swakopi, Namibia, Swakopmund, HT, male (gen. slide 13/10, OB). 86. S. ethiopica, Ethiopia, Simien Mts, HT, female (gen. slide 444/07, OB). 87. S. aptatella, South Africa, Rustenburg, male (gen. slide 143/167, OB). 88. S. ergasima, Namibia, Otjikondo W Outjo, Holstein farm, male. 89, 90. S. agassizi sp. nov., Kenya, Turi. 89. HT, female. 90. PT, male. Scale bar = wingspan.

FIGURES 149–152. Scrobipalpa spp., male genitalia. 149. S. aptatella, South Africa, Rustenburg (gen. slide 143/17, OB). 150. S. ergasima, Namibia, Brandberg (gen. slide 339/07. OB). 151, 152. S. agassizi sp. nov., Kenya, Turi, PT. 151. Gen. slide 1392, OB. 152. Gen. slide 319/20, OB.

FIGURES 194–196. Scrobipalpa spp., female genitalia. 194. S. atpatella, Ethiopia, Addis-Abeba (gen. slide 191/07, OB). 195. S. ergasima, South Africa (gen. slide 90/12, OB). 196. S. agassizi sp. nov., Kenya, Turi, PT (gen. slide 1396, OB).