Scrobipalpa nigristriana, Bidzilya, 2021

Bidzilya, Oleksiy V., 2021, A review of the genus Scrobipalpa Janse, 1951 (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae) in the Afrotropical region, Zootaxa 5070 (1), pp. 1-83 : 30

Scrobipalpa nigristriana sp. nov.

Figs 61 , 131

Type material. Holotype ♂, Kenya, Rift Valley Province : Gilgil, 37MBV 0668 4636, 22–24.xi.2008, L. Aarvik, D. Agassiz, A. Kingston (Afr Gel 116) (gen. slide NMHO 2322) ( NMHO).

Diagnosis. This new species is easily recognizable externally by the forewing densely suffused with black along veins in the costal half, along the medial longitudinal axis and to 1/2 the length in fold. For the differences from S. munita sp. nov., see the diagnosis of that species. The male genitalia are distinguished by the medially constricted uncus in combination with a short vincular process, a basally broad saccus, and the characteristic shape of the posteromedial emargination of the vinculum: narrow at base and broad posteriorly. For the differences from S. nomias , see the diagnosis of that species.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 61 ). Wingspan 15 mm. Head, thorax and tegulae covered with brown, grey-tipped scales, frons light grey; labial palpus grey mixed with brown, palpomere 2 with brush of scales at lower surface, inner and upper surface dirty white, palpomere 3 with diffuse grey medial and apical rings, acute; scape black, flagellum black, grey-ringed; forewing grey, mixed with black on costal margin, under costa along veins, in basal half of fold, and along medial longitudinal axis, light brown suffusion along subcostal vein to 1/2 length and in fold, cilia grey; hindwing and cilia grey.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 131 ). Uncus twice as long as broad at base, constricted in middle, distal half triangular, apex rounded; gnathos long, weakly curved in middle, distal half weakly broadened; tegumen about as long as broad at base, anterior margin with broadly rounded emargination extending to about 1/3 length of tegumen; valva evenly curved, of uniform width, extending to top of uncus, apex rounded, inner margin covered with hairs; width of sacculus about 1/5 length of valva, inner margin straight, outer margin rounded distally, with short inward-curved tip; vinculum broader than long, posteromedial emargination narrow at base, strongly broadened in posterior 1/2, vincular process shorter than sacculus, broad, subtriangular, with short, outwardly curved tip, gap to sacculus moderately small; saccus very broad at base, then strongly narrowed towards rounded apex; phallus straight, with distinct apical hook, caecum slightly inflated, about 1/2 length of phallus.

Female genitalia. Unknown.

Biology. Host plant unknown. The type locality is a high-altitude grassland with mixed scrubs, predominantly Tarconanthus camphoratus L. ( Asteraceae ) and some Acacia gerrardii Benth. (Fabaceae) ( Aarvik 2010: 98).

Distribution. Kenya.

Etymology. The specific name is from the Latin “ nigrum ”—black, and “ stria ”—stripe, and refers to the black longitudinal striae characteristic of the species.

Figures

FIGURES 61–70. Scrobipalpa spp., adults. 61. S. nigrisriana sp. nov., Kenya, Gilgil, HT, male (gen. slide 2322, OB). 62, 63. S. nomias, South Africa, Eshowe. 62. HT, female (gen. slide g. 5485). 63. Male (gen. slide 262/12, OB). 64. S. munita sp. nov., Kenya, Gilgil, HT, male (gen. slide DJLA 1475). 65, 66. S. ochracea sp. nov., South Africa. 65. Petersburg, HT, male (gen. slide 25/13, OB). 66. Knysna, PT, male (gen. slide 111/17, OB). 67, 68. S. asantesana sp. nov., South Africa. 67. Petersburg, PT, male (gen. slide in glycerol vial). 68. Asante-Sana, PT, male. 69, 70. S. brandbergensis, Namibia, Vogelfederberg. 69. HT, male (gen. slide 12/10, OB). 70. PT, female (gen. slide 17/06, OB). Scale bar = wingspan.

FIGURES 129–134. Scrobipalpa spp., male genitalia. 129, 130. S. griseata sp. nov., South Africa, Petersburg. 129. HT (gen. slide 15/13, OB). 130. PT (gen. slide 123/17, OB). 131. S. nigristriana sp. nov., Kenya, Gilgil, HT (gen. slide 2322, OB). 132. S. nomias, South Africa, Eshowe (gen. slide 262/12, OB). 133, 134. S. munita sp. nov. 133. Kenya, Gilgil, HT (gen. slide DJLA No. 1475). 134. Malawi, Sambara River (gen. slide 46/08, OB).