Kerzhnerocossus kamelini, Saldaitis & Yakovlev & Truuverk, 2017

Saldaitis, Aidas, Yakovlev, Roman V. & Truuverk, Andro, 2017, Review of the genus Kerzhnerocossus Yakovlev, 2011 (Lepidoptera: Cossidae) with descriptions of two new species from Russia and Mongolia, Zootaxa 4294 (3), pp. 389-394 : 393

Kerzhnerocossus kamelini sp. nov.

( Figs 3, 5 , 8 )

Type material. Holotype: male ( Fig. 3 ), Mongolia, Kobdosskiy aimak, 15 km SW Kobdo, 15 km WNW Dut, 8.vii.1980, Kerzhner [ Mongolia, Hovd aimak, 15 km SW Hovd, 15 km WNW Dut village [47°53’N / 91°22’E], 8.vii.1980, leg. I. Kerzhner]. Genitalia preparation is in micro tube beneath specimen.

Diagnosis. The new species has the following diagnostic characters: a reticulated forewing pattern ( K. tannuolus ( Figs 1, 2 ) has bands on the forewing), a large trapezoidal process on the costal edge of the valva (in K. sambainu ( Fig. 9 ) and K. tannuolus ( Figs 6, 7 ) the process on the costal edge of the valve is much smaller and semicircular), the transtilla process has a blunt, rounded apex (in K. sambainu and K. tannuolus the transtilla process is triangular and the apex is tapered), the phallus is curved at 0.3 from base (in K. tannuolus it is slightly curved from the base through the middle). In the external characters, the new species differs crearly from K. tannuolus . K. kamelini has a reticulated parttern of the wings, without expressed bands (in K. tannuolus , there are well expressed postdiscal and submarginal brown bands).

Description. Wingspan 24 mm, length of forewing 12 mm. Head very small, 0.2 times width of thorax; antenna bipectinate, length of processes exceed rod diameter by 1.5 times; body densely covered with pale grey scales; forewing cream, with thin reticulated pattern of brown undulated bands and series of transverse brown strokes on costal edge, apex rounded; fringe mottled, dark at veins, pale between veins; hindwing cream, with thin reticulated brown pattern.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 8 ). Uncus triangular, smoothly narrowing to blunt, semicircular apex; gnathos arms thin, long, fused to form small gnathos with fine spikes on surface; valve with large trapezoidal process on costal edge, distal third membranous, transtilla process trianglular, transtilla process angled at apex about 60°; juxta small, trapezoidal; saccus small, semicircular; phallus shorter than valve, spoon-like, strongly curved in middle third; vesica aperture in dorso-apical position half length of phallus; vesica without cornuti.

Female unknown.

Biology and distribution. Unknown.

Etymology. The species is named after the late prominent Russian botanist and expert in Central Asian biota, Professor Rudolf Kamelin (1938̄2016).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 5. Kerzhnerocossus spp. adults & distribution map. 1. K. tannuolus, male, holotype, [Russia], Tuva, OP 3497 m (ASV / WIGJ); 2. K. tannuolus, male, paratype, [Russia], Tuva, OP 3459 m (OP); 3. K. kamelini, male, holotype, Mongolia, Hovd aimak (ZISP); 4. K. sambainu, male, paratype, Mongolia, East aimak (ZISP); 5. Distribution map of the genus Kerzhnerocossus.

FIGURES 6 – 9. Kerzhnerocossus ssp. male genitalia. 6. K. tannuolus, male, holotype, OP 3497 m (ASV / WIGJ); 7. K. tannuolus, male, paratype, OP 3459 m (OP); 8. K. kamelini, male, holotype (ZISP); 9. K. sambainu, male, paratype (ZISP).