Scrobipalpa nupponeni, Bidzilya, Huemer & Sumpich, 2022

BIDZILYA, OLEKSIY, HUEMER, PETER & ŠUMPICH, JAN, 2022, Taxonomy and faunistics of the genus Scrobipalpa Janse, 1951 (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae) in southern Siberia, Zootaxa 5218 (1), pp. 1-76 : 6-7

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5218.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:FABDED0F-E373-479B-BA18-0E3E9373E737
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7409858
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03808790-CE34-493B-A7E2-F905FB6AF807
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Scrobipalpa nupponeni
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Scrobipalpa nupponeni View in CoL sp. nov.

Figs 11–13 View Figures 11–20 , 71, 72

Type material. Holotype ♂, Russia, Altai Republic, 45 km N of Ulagan vill., Chulyshman valley , 51°01′56″N; 88°00′43″E, grassy steppe, rocks, 600 m, 4–5.vii.2019 (Šumpich) ( NMPC) GoogleMaps . Paratypes: 4 ♂, same data as for holotype (gen. slide 282/20, OB) (Barcode NMPC-LEP-0621) GoogleMaps ; 1 ♂, same locality but 27–28.vi.2015 (Šumpich) (gen. slide 258/20, OB) (Barcode NMPC-LEP-0605 [failed]) (all NMPC) GoogleMaps ; 1 ♂, Russia, S-Buryatia, 50°58-59’N, 106°38- 40’E, 550-600 m, Chikoy valley, Novoselenginsk vill. 10 km S, sand dunes/sandy steppe, 24.vi.2002 (Nupponen) (Barcode TLMF Lep 28344); 1 ♂, same data as for preceding (gen. slide 175/16, OB) (all NUPP).

Diagnosis. The new species is recognizable externally by its small size and the forewing rarely mixed with yellow to light brown. The similar species S. saxatilis ( Povolný, 1996) comb. nov. is larger (wingspan 13.0 mm), the light brown irroration is more distinct, the brown spot in the corner of the cell is absent. The broad sub-quadrate uncus, narrow sacculus and short vincular process are characteristic of the male genitalia. The close species S. voltinella (Chrétien, 1898) is somewhat similar in respect of the shape of uncus and tegumen, but other characters are quite different.

Description. Adult ( Figs 11–13 View Figures 11–20 ). Wingspan 8.0–9.0 mm. Head, thorax and tegula white with occasional yellow-tipped scales, frons white; labial palpus white with occasional brown-tipped scales on outer margin; scape of antenna white mixed with light brown, flagellomeres white ringed with brown. Forewing white mottled with light brown especially below costal margin and along termen; fold, termen and veins in distal half mixed with yellow; diffused yellow spot in middle of cell, light brown spot surrounded with yellow-tipped scales in cell corner; cilia grey, brown-tipped. Hindwing white, veins and margins light brown, cilia yellowish-brown.

Variation. Specimens from Altai are darker than those from Buryatia, with head, thorax and the ground colour of the forewing grey rather than white.

Male genitalia ( Figs 71, 72 View Figures 71–75 ). Uncus slightly longer than broad, weakly narrowed apically, posterior margin straight. Gnathos short, curved at about one-half; tegumen nearly as broad as long, with gradual transition to uncus, anteromedial emargination broadly rounded, extending to 1/3 length; cucullus gradually curved before middle, distinctly broadened at base and slightly broadened apically, extending to top of uncus; sacculus straight, 1.2 width of cucullus at base, about 1/5 length of cucullus, with short pointed tip; vinculum 2.5 times as broad as long, posteromedial emargination triangular at base and parallel-sided in distal portion, vincular process short, as broad as sacculus, apex rounded with pointed outwardly curved tips, with rather broad gap to sacculus; saccus parallel-sided to 3/4, then pointed, slightly extending beyond top of pedunculus; distal portion of phallus moderately broad, nearly parallel-sided, apex rounded, apical arm slender, at right angles to phallus; caecum rounded, moderately inflated, about 1/3 length of phallic tube.

Female. Unknown.

Biology. Adults were collected in late June—early July in various kinds of rocky steppes, sandy and dry mountain steppes at an elevation of 600 m.

Molecular data. BIN: BOLD: AEC7920. The intraspecific average distance of the barcode region is 2.05% (n=2). The minimum distance to the nearest neighbour, an unidentified species of Scrobipalpa from Canada (BIN: BOLD:AAG9134), is 8.1 % (p-dist) ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 ).

Distribution. Russia: Altai, Buryatia.

Etymology. The new species is named in honour of the late Kari Nupponen, collector of part of the type series, in recognition of his outstanding contribution in exploring the Gelechiidae of Altai and Buryatia.