Coleophora embaensis Tabell, 2018

Tabell, Jukka, Mutanen, Marko & Sihvonen, Pasi, 2018, Descriptions of five morphologically and genetically confirmed new species of the Coleophora poecilella Walsingham, 1907 species group (Lepidoptera, Coleophoridae) from the Palearctic Region, Zootaxa 4429 (2), pp. 331-347 : 339-341

Coleophora embaensis Tabell , sp. nov.

Barcode Index Number: BOLD:ACT3652

Figs. 3,4 , 9 , 18–21 , Table 1

Type material. Holotype ♂ ( GP 4968 J. Tabell, DNA sample 23575 Lepid Phyl): Kazakhstan, 48°55´29´´N 58°18´49´´E, Emba vill. 17 km NE , 280 m, 24.IV.2012, K. Nupponen leg., coll. NUPP. Paratypes: 5 ♂, 2 ♀: 1 ♂ (DNA sample 23618 Lepid Phyl), 1 ♀ (GP 5361 J. Tabell) same collecting data as in holotype, colls. NUPP and TAB; 1 ♂ (GP 4915 J. Tabell, DNA sample 21786 Lepid Phyl) Kazakhstan, 47°12´02´´N 55°29´13´´E, Emba river, 45 m, Besbai village 2 km E, 11.V.2011, K. Nupponen leg., coll. NUPP; 2 ♂ same collecting data, but 19.IV.2013, coll. NUPP; 1 ♂ (GP 5161 J. Tabell, DNA sample 23570 Lepid Phyl) SW Kazakhstan, 44°01´04´´N 53°25´46´´E, 240 m, Sai-Utes vill. 40 km S, Syndy, 6.IV.2013, K. Nupponen leg., coll. TAB; 1 ♀ (DNA sample 21860 Lepid Phyl) Kazakhstan, 47°27´24´´N 55°06´45´´E, Aktolagai chalk hills, 95 m, Emba river 40 km NW, 15-V-2010, K. Nupponen leg, coll. NUPP.

Diagnosis. In genitalia C. embaensis sp. nov. is close to C. ochroflava Toll, 1961 . In the male genitalia of C. embaensis cornuti are absent, the valvula is rounded and the cucullus is conical, whereas in C. ochroflava the cornuti are grouped into robust bundle, the valvula is triangular and the cucullus is parallel-sided. In the female genitalia of C. embaensis the sclerotization of the sterigma in the proximal part is larger, the apophyses anteriores are thicker and the ductus bursae has two twists and several conical dark spines; in C. ochroflava the ductus bursae is straight without conical spines.

Molecular diagnosis. Five specimens of C. embaensis were sequenced, resulting in 658 bp (n=2), 636 bp (n=2) and 611 bp (n=1) DNA barcode fragments. The resultant sequences revealed 7.74-12.67 % divergences between C. embaensis and the other barcoded species (Table 1). The barcodes of C. embaensis displayed 0.16 % intraspecific variation.

Description. Wingspan 9–11 mm. Head pale fuscous. Antenna white, annulated with pale brown. Scape pale fuscous. Labial palpus pale fuscous mixed with white; tufted second segment 1.5 x longer than third segment. Thorax pale fuscous; tegula mixed with whitish grey scales. Forewing mottled, creamy white, densely covered with ochreous brown-tipped, pale fuscous scales, in female scales paler and more sparse, fringe whitish grey to pale brown. Hindwing pale grey, fringe whitish grey. Abdomen whitish grey, slightly lustrous.

Abdominal structures. Latero-posterior bar short, 2/5–2/7x length of latero-anterior one. Transverse bar straight, proximal edge thin, medially slightly convex, distal edge thick, medially strongly constricted. Tergal sclerite 2.5–3.5x longer than wide, covered with 40 conical spines (on T3).

Male genitalia. Gnathos knob transversely oval, broad. Tegumen conical, pedunculus short. Transtilla transversely straight, stubby. Cucullus conical. Costa basally slightly bulged. Valvula narrower than cucullus, outer margin distinctly delineated and evenly rounded, lined with several bristles. Sacculus simple; ventral margin slightly convex, terminating in acute angle, dorsal margin slightly concave, horizontal. Phallotheca narrow, well sclerotized, tubular, apical half conical. Vesica membranous, cornuti absent.

Female genitalia. Papillae anales conical, covered with long bristles. Anterior apophyses thick, half as long as sterigma, posterior apophyses twice as long as anterior ones. Sterigma quadrate, distal part covered with bristles; proximal margin concave; caudal margin rounded; medial excavation as long as sterigma, distally trough-shaped, proximally rounded. Ostium bursae and colliculum membranous. Ductus bursae transparent; posterior section twisted once, with a medial sclerotized strip about as long as anterior apophysis; section around ductus seminalis twisted, with about 40 small, conical spines; anterior section with one large coil and scattered minute spinules. Corpus bursae oval. Signum elongate, fluke-shaped, spine long with serrated ridge.

Biology. The immature stages and larval host plant are unknown.The species inhabits chalk steppes and cliffs in western Kazakhstan. The habitat of the holotype and seven paratypes is illustrated by Nupponen (2014: p. 250, Fig. 1 ). The flight period starts in early April and extends into mid-May. The moth is nocturnal and comes to light.

Distribution. So far the new taxon is known from few localities in western and south-western Kazakhstan.

Derivation of name. The specific name refers to the river Emba, which flows in the vicinity of the collecting localities.

Figures

FIGURE 9. Neighbor-joining tree of the barcoded taxa of the C. poecilella species group, based on sequences of COI gene.

FIGURES 1–8. Adults and larval cases of Coleophora spp. 1–6. Adults. 1. C. mirleftensis sp. nov., ♂ holotype. 2. C. nupponeni sp. nov., ♂ holotype. 3. C. embaensis sp. nov., ♂ paratype. 4. C. embaensis sp. nov., ♀ paratype. 5. C. charynensis sp. nov., ♂ holotype. 6. C. trichopterella Baldizzone, ♀. 7–8. Larval cases. 7. C. mirleftensis sp. nov. 8. C. trichopterella Baldizzone.

FIGURES 18–21. C. embaensis sp. nov. 18. ♂ genitalia, GP 4915 J. Tabell. 19. ♂ abdomen. 20. ♀ abdomen. 21. ♀ genitalia, GP 5361 J. Tabell.