Scrobipalpa acuminatella ( Sircom, 1850 )

Landry, Jean-François, Nazari, Vazrick, Dewaard, Jeremy R., Mutanen, Marko, Lopez-Vaamonde, Carlos, Huemer, Peter & Hebert, Paul D. N., 2013, Shared but overlooked: 30 species of Holarctic Microlepidoptera revealed by DNA barcodes and morphology, Zootaxa 3749 (1), pp. 1-93 : 40

27. Scrobipalpa acuminatella ( Sircom, 1850) ( Gelechiidae : Gelechiinae )

Gelechia acuminatella Sircom, 1850: 72 . Type locality: England.

BIN21644 (BOLD:AAC1644)

Palearctic distribution. Widespread in Europe, western and Central Asia, Siberia and Eastern China ( Huemer & Karsholt 2010).

New North American records. Canada: Ontario, Puslinch Township , 30 May 2002, 1 ex. ( BIOUG) ; Québec, Pontiac, Breckenridge 14 Jul 1999, 1 ♀ ( CNC); Pontiac, Eardley , 20 May 2005, 1 ♂ ( CNC); Gatineau , 5 May 1987, 1 ♂, 14 Jun 1988, 1 ♂, 21 May 1995, 1 ♂, 14 May 1998, 1 ♀, 13 Jul 1999, 1 ♀, 20 May 2011, 1 ♂ ( CNC); Sainte- Christine , 30 May 2008, 1 ♂ ( CNC); Manseau , 30 May 2005, 1 ♂ ( CNC) .

Diagnosis. A species with variable forewing colouration and pattern, diagnosable only through genitalia examination. The forewings vary from pale yellow-brown (as illustrated in Fig. 27) to blackish grey and may be variegated with small black dots or not. On the other hand, the genitalia in both sexes are distinct although showing overall similarity to some other Scrobipalpa . In male genitalia, the configuration of the posterior margin of the vinculum which is shallowly V-emarginate, the short vincular process subequal in length to the stubby sacculus, the thin and very slightly curved valva, conical apex of uncus, and terminal hook of the phallus together are distinctive. In female genitalia the medial depression of S8 just posterad of the ostium is covered with microtrichia and bordered with a pair of oblique lateral folds, the collicular sclerotized ring is short, the corpus bursae is elongateovoid, gradually tapered without constriction posterad of the signum, and the signum is situated on the right side of the middle of the bursa and has an angular bend; these features are collectively diagnostic although differences among species of Scrobipalpa tend to be slight.

Larval host. Several species of Asteraceae in Europe, including Cirsium spp. , Carduus spp. , Centaurea spp. ( Huemer & Karsholt 2010).

Note. Possibly introduced in North America.