taxonID	type	description	language	source
6769506EF09F54609D48F73559A668B2.taxon	description	Figs 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18	en	Huemer, Peter (2025): The supposedly unmistakable mistaken: Carcina ingridmariae sp. nov., a surprising example of overlooked diversity from Europe and the Near East (Lepidoptera, Peleopodidae). Alpine Entomology 9: 51-63, DOI: 10.3897/alpento.9.158239
6769506EF09F54609D48F73559A668B2.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. The new species cannot be distinguished phenotypically from C. quercana with certainty (Figs 2 – 7). However, there is a clear tendency towards a reduction of markings of the forewings, especially in the males, and the ground color of the forewings is often more pale orange-brown and not red- to pink-brown. Furthermore, the yellow costal blotch of the forewing is usually more slender and yellow markings in the basal half of the forewing as well as dark markings of the forewing are reduced. In contrast, the genital structures of both species differ significantly. Carcina ingridmariae males have a slender gnathos only about half as wide compared to that of C. quercana. They further differ by a very broad and long detached cucullus, more slender juxta lobes and, judging from the few specimens available so far, the absence of cornuti (Figs 8 – 13). In the female sex, the new species differs from C. quercana above all by the conspicuous, broadly tubular antrum (Figs 14 – 19). The other congeneric taxa cannot be confused externally. Furthermore, C. luridella, which is somewhat similar in the male genitalia, differs particularly by the much broader gnathos (Ponomarenko and Chernikova 2018).	en	Huemer, Peter (2025): The supposedly unmistakable mistaken: Carcina ingridmariae sp. nov., a surprising example of overlooked diversity from Europe and the Near East (Lepidoptera, Peleopodidae). Alpine Entomology 9: 51-63, DOI: 10.3897/alpento.9.158239
6769506EF09F54609D48F73559A668B2.taxon	description	Description. Adult (Figs 2, 4, 6). Head pale orange-brown with beige frons; labial palpus long, upcurved, yellowish, with some purple on segment 3; antenna mixed yellow and orange-brown, very long, extending to about apex of forewing, segments broader in male than in female. Thorax and tegula pale orange-brown; legs beige, forelegs mixed with yellow and purple. Forewing length ♂ 8.0 – 9.3 mm, ♀ 7.6 – 10.5 mm; forewings broad with strongly convex costa; ground colour pale orange-brown to orange-pink; darker spots and small yellow spots in basal half sometimes present; costa with short yellow stripe at base and elongated blotch at about three-fifths, indistinct dark yellow and sometimes purple edge in-between; termen with purple edge and yellow fringes, interrupted by purple line at apex. Hindwings broad, with concave outer edge, distally slightly tapered, shorter than forewing, glossy beige, sometimes with purple apex, fringes yellow with or without purple tinge. Variation. The ground color of the forewing and extension of yellow markings, darker spots and purple edging vary somewhat. Male genitalia (Figs 8, 10, 12). Uncus basally broad, sub-triangular, short distal part abruptly tapered, rod-like; gnathos long, finger-shaped, about two-times length and width of distal part of uncus; valva basally broad, with distinctly separated cucullus and sacculus; long cucullus broadly thumb-shaped, basal two-fifths merged with valva, inner margin with suboval fold, remaining three-fifths separated, entire cucullus densely covered with microtrichia; sacculus well separated from valva by concave sclerotized edge, ventral margin convex, basal part covered with long setae, distal third finger-like, detached and about half as wide as cucullus, apex with brush of strong spines, nearly reaching apex of cucullus; juxta sub-oval with long and slender, evenly curved and apically pointed juxta lobe; saccus a weakly V-shaped sclerotized ridge; phallus stout, ventrally with plate-like sclerite, otherwise membranous, without cornuti. Variation. The shape of the cucullus shows some variation, with a straight apical edge in two specimens from Crete. Similarly, the shape of the cucullus also varies considerably in C. quercana (Lepidoptera Dissection Group UK 2025; Pathpiva 2025). Female genitalia (Figs 14, 16, 18). Papillae anales elongated, suboval, covered with setae; posterior apophyses approximately twice as long as papillae anales and segment VIII; anterior apophyses 1.5 length of segment VIII; tergite VIII smoothly sclerotized, posterior edge with strong bristles; sternite VIII lateroventrally with large suboval sclerotized areas, densely covered with microtrichia and strong bristles, medially separated by small sclerotized plate covered with some microtrichia, anterior part of sternite VIII membranous; antrum strongly sclerotized, broadly tube-shaped, about as long as sclerotized part of segment VIII; ductus bursae short and broad, contorted; corpus bursae about as long as segment VIII and posterior apophyses, sack-like, with or without small dentate signum. Variation. A small signum is present in females from Croatia and Greece (Chalkidiki and Peloponnese), but absent in a specimen from Cyprus.	en	Huemer, Peter (2025): The supposedly unmistakable mistaken: Carcina ingridmariae sp. nov., a surprising example of overlooked diversity from Europe and the Near East (Lepidoptera, Peleopodidae). Alpine Entomology 9: 51-63, DOI: 10.3897/alpento.9.158239
6769506EF09F54609D48F73559A668B2.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Examined material: Greece (Chalkidiki, Peloponnese, Crete, Kos), Croatia, Cyprus, Türkiye. Following data in BOLD the species also occurs in Lebanon, indicating a wider distribution in the eastern Mediterranean. Reports of C. quercana from Israel likely also belong to the new species (Lvovsky et al. 2016). The collecting locality of a barcoded specimen from Finland is uncertain (Mutanen in litt.) and from a biogeographical point of view an occurrence in Fennoscandia also seems highly unlikely. In contrast, C. quercana is widespread in large parts of Europe and confirmed records examined in this study are also available for North Africa. The southeastern distribution limit of this species, however, is unclear. Verified records of C. quercana from northern Greece (Epirus) and Croatia prove the occurrence in the Balkan. Findings from Türkiye probably all refer to C. ingridmariae (iNaturalist 2025). Similarly, records from Georgia and Azerbaijan may refer to the new species (Lvovsky 2003). Records of C. quercana from North America are of recent origin and based on introduction.	en	Huemer, Peter (2025): The supposedly unmistakable mistaken: Carcina ingridmariae sp. nov., a surprising example of overlooked diversity from Europe and the Near East (Lepidoptera, Peleopodidae). Alpine Entomology 9: 51-63, DOI: 10.3897/alpento.9.158239
6769506EF09F54609D48F73559A668B2.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The new is dedicated to my wife Ingrid Maria, who for so many years accompanied and supported me during field work and long hours of analysis in the laboratory.	en	Huemer, Peter (2025): The supposedly unmistakable mistaken: Carcina ingridmariae sp. nov., a surprising example of overlooked diversity from Europe and the Near East (Lepidoptera, Peleopodidae). Alpine Entomology 9: 51-63, DOI: 10.3897/alpento.9.158239
