Hedma karsholti Nupponen

Junnilainen, Jari & Nupponen, Kari, 2010, The gelechiid fauna of the southern Ural Mountains, part I: descriptions of seventeen new species (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), Zootaxa 2366, pp. 1-34 : 26-28

Hedma karsholti Nupponen sp. n.

Figs. 55–59

Type material. Holotype: 3 (Fig. 55): Russia, S Ural, 50°40–45’N 54°26–28’E, 220 m, Orenburg district, Pokrovka village 20 km S, Schibendy valley, chalk steppe, 26.V.2004, K. Nupponen leg. ( TKN, to be deposited in ZMH). Paratypes (11 3, 1 Ƥ): Same locality as holotype: 29.VI.2003 (1 3, 1 Ƥ), 01.VII.2003 (3 3), 28.V.2004 (5 3), K. Nupponen leg. ( TKN); 03–07.VI.1998 (2 3), J. Junnilainen leg. ( JJ). Genitalia slides: K. Nupponen prep. no. 1/ 16.XI.2008 (3), 1/ 10.I.2009 (Ƥ); J. Junnilainen prep. no 0 4030201.

PLATE 11. Figures 55–59. Hedma karsholti Nupponen sp. n. 55. Imago (male, holotype); 56. Male genitalia (paratype; slide KN 1/ 08.XII.2008); 57. Female genitalia (paratype; slide KN 1/ 10.I.2009); 58. Ostium (paratype; slide KN 1/ 10.I.2009); 59. Signum (paratype; slide KN 1/ 10.I.2009).

Diagnosis. H. karsholti sp. n. is a typical representative of Hedma . Externally the new species may be separated from other known species of the genus by paler ground colour of the forewings (see also Remarks). The male genitalia of H. karsholti differ from those of its closest relatives by robust and rather long vinculum processes with a large and roundish, marginally sclerotized median excavation of vinculum, and the aedeagus having several minute spines at posterior half of corpus. The female genitalia of H. karsholti are characteristic by very long posterior apophyses, a subrectangular sclerotized antrum and a long and rather thin signum. According to the genitalia, H. lycia Li, 2001 , H. lyciella Falkovitsh & Bidzilya, 2003 , H. microcasis (Meyrick, 1929) and H. vicarians Povolný, 1996 are closest relatives of H. karsholti .

Description. Wingspan 8–9.5 mm. Head, collar, neck tuft, haustellum, labial palp, thorax and legs pale creamish white, except distal half of segment II of labial palp with a few pale brown scales. Abdomen pale fuscous. Antenna pale brown with numerous distinct dark brown rings from base to apex. Ground colour of forewing pure creamish white with following blackish brown pattern: distinct spots at o. 3 in fold, at 0.4 above fold and two partly fused spots at 0.6 at middle of wing; dark suffusion in costa at base and at 0.5; apical 0.2 densely with dark-tipped scales; a few sparsely scattered dark-tipped scales exist over the wing. Hindwing whitish fuscous.

Male genitalia (Fig. 56). Uncus large, broad and slightly elongated, 1.3x as long as wide. Gnathos hook slightly longer than uncus, moderately narrow; of equal width except base slightly broader; basal 0.4 gradually curved, distal 0.6 almost straight, apically tapered and somewhat hooked, tip pointed. Tegumen rather deeply emarginated anteriorly, pedunculus rounded. Valva moderately long, extending to middle of uncus, rather thin, bent along distance, apical 0.2 slightly broadened, tip rounded. Sacculus extending to 0.9 of valva, 0.7x as wide as valva, bent, at 0.75 curved inwards, apex more or less pointed. Medial processes of vinculum robust and rather long, inner margin convex at distal half, apex bent and pointed; median excavation of vinculum large and roundish with sclerotized margins. Saccus moderately stout, exceeding half length of valva; basal 0.5 tapered, apex pointed. Aedeagus as long as valva, straight; caecum subspherical, almost 2x wider than corpus; posterior 0.5 of corpus with about 15 minute spines; subterminal claw weakly sclerotized, straight with pointed apex; cornuti absent. Tergum VIII subtriangular, posterior margin widely rounded, anterior margin medially concave. Sternum VIII subrectangular, anterior corners broadly elongated.

Female genitalia (Figs. 57–59). Antrum subrectangular, 1.2x as long as wide, anterior margin slightly and posterior margin deeply concave. Ductus bursae subbasally wrinkled, proximal part more thick than distal portion. Signum long, slender and curved, attenuate distally; basal plate small with two stout and bent processes. Corpus bursae sub-oval, about 2.3x as long as signum. Apophyses posteriores very long and slender. Apophyses anteriores 0.3x length of apophyses posteriores.

Bionomy. The type series was collected in June from a chalk steppe. The specimens were collected by sweeping on low vegetation just before dusk and by artificial light at night. The host plant remains unknown.

Distribution. Russia (S Ural). Only known from the type locality.

Etymology. The species is dedicated to Ole Karsholt, who kindly supported us to solve many difficult taxonomical problems concerning this study.

Remarks. The pale colour of the new species may reflect the pure creamish white ground colour of the biotope. If H. karsholti is found in other localities, it is possible that the moths will be darker than the type specimens. See also Remarks of Ephysteris tenuisaccus above.