Scrobipalpa wieseri, 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 : 14-15

Scrobipalpa wieseri sp. nov.

Figs 11–14 , 96, 97 , 159

Type material. Holotype ♂, [ South Africa] 2610, Bakgalta , Sebele, 28.viii.1969, MV Trap (gen. slide 131/21, O. Bidzilya) ( NHMUK) . Paratypes: 1 ♂, same data as holotype, but 1.viii.1969, BL Trap (B.M. gen. slide No. 34184 ♂) ( NHMUK) . Namibia: 1 ♂, 2 ♀, Windhoek , Okambara Lodge, 1600 m, GEO-WG 84, 17.viii.2007, 18°11’2226”E/ -22°34’875”S, leg. Dr. C. Wieser, Kärtner Landesmusem (gen. slide 115/12, O. Bidzilya) (MFN-00087) ( LMK) ; 1 ♂, 4 ♀, same data, but 13.viii.2007 (gen. slide 114/ 12♀, O. Bidzilya) (MFN-00086) ; 1 ♂, 2 ♀, same data, but 16.viii.2007 (all LMK) .

Diagnosis. Scrobipalpa wieseri sp. nov. is a large species (wingspan 23–25 mm) with a uniformly coloured greyish-brown forewing with indistinct black markings, and a light brown head. The species resembles S. ochroxantha sp. nov., but the latter is smaller (18–20 mm) and has brighter, light brown rather than greyish-brown forewings and dark yellowish-grey cilia of the hindwings. The male genitalia of new species are defined by a valva that is broadened in the basal 2/ 3 in combination with a narrow, tapered sacculus that extends slightly beyond the top of the pedunculus. They can be distinguished from those of S. incola and S. ochroxantha sp. nov. by the stouter and broader valva and narrower sacculus. The female genitalia are very similar to those of S. ochroxantha sp. nov., but the signum is short and broadened towards the base in S. wieseri sp. nov., whereas it is long and not broadened at base in S. ochroxantha sp. nov. Additionally, the corpus bursae is larger and more elongate in S. wieseri sp. nov.

Description. Adult ( Figs 11–14 ). Wingspan 23.0–24.9 mm. Head light brown to pale, rarely mottled with brown-tipped scales; labial palpus upcurved, grey with a few dark scales at base and in middle, palpomere 2 uniformly grey on upper and inner surface, palpomere 3 about 2/3 length and 1/3 width of palpomere 2, acute; scape brown, flagellomeres light brown with dark basal rings; thorax, tegulae and forewing darker than head, with scattered grey brown-tipped scales, paired black dot at base and black dot in corner of cell in some specimens, fold with indistinct brown dash, edged with ochreous, cilia grey, brown-tipped; hindwing dark greyish brown with contrasting dark brown veins and margins, cilia grey.

Variation. The ground colour of the forewing varies from grey to light brown, with markings poorly expressed in latter.

Male genitalia ( Figs 96, 97 ). Uncus large, comparatively wide, trapezoidal, weakly narrowed posteriorly, weakly rounded apically; gnathos with a short, very broad, axe-shaped distal sclerite with distinct tapered tip; tegumen about 2.5 times longer than wide, anterior margin with deep rounded emargination extending to about 1/3 length of tegumen; valva very wide from base to 2/3, distal 1/2 slightly narrowed, apex rounded, reaching top of uncus; sacculus 1/3 length and 1/3 width of valva, situated close to vincular process, tapered to outwards curved tip; vincular process wide, slightly longer than sacculus, separated by narrow incision; vinculum wide; saccus short, broad at base, narrow in distal portion, pointed to apex, slightly exceeding top of pedunculus; phallus long, slender, caecum weakly inflated, about 1/3 length of phallus, distal portion straight, apical hook curved.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 159 ). Papillae anales ovate, sparsely covered with setae; segment VIII subrectangular, longer than wide; apophyses posteriores long and narrow; sternum VIII evenly sclerotized, posterior margin with deep, narrow, medial emargination, subgenital plates 1/3 width of segment VIII, with digitate foam-sculptured patches along inner margin, both inner and outer margins straight, outer edge with gradual transition to apophyses anteriores, anterior margin of segment VIII emarginated posteriorly, ventromedial depression large, ovate, covered with foam-sculpture, not extending beyond anterior margin of sternum VIII; apophyses anteriores longer than segment VIII, broad at base; ductus bursae membranous, widened before entrance of corpus bursae, colliculum moderately long, antrum short, rounded, inflated; corpus bursae large, ovate, with well-defined junction with ductus bursae; hook of signum long, curved in middle, pointed, situated at 1/4 on right side of corpus bursae.

Biology. Host plant unknown. Adults fly in August.

Distribution. Namibia, South Africa.

Etymology. The new species is dedicated to Christian Wieser (LMK), the collector of part of the type series of the new species.

Figures

FIGURES 11–20. Scrobipalpa spp., adults. 11–14. S. wieseri sp. nov. 11. South Africa, Bakgalta, HT, male (gen. slide 131/21, OB). 12. South Africa, PT, Bakgalta, male (gen. slide B.M. No. 34184). 13. Namibia, Windhoek, PT, female. 14. Namibia, Windhoek, PT, male. 15, 16. S. turiensis sp. nov., Kenya, Turi. 15. HT, male (DJLA slide No. 1519 = gen. slide 281/14, OB). 16. PT, female (gen. slide 117/17, OB). 17–20. S. concreta, South Africa 17. HT, female (gen. slide 11018). 18. W Cape, Gourikwa, male. 19. Grahamstown, male. 20. Louis Trichardt, male (gen. slide 87/17, OB). Sale bar = wingspan.

FIGURES 96–101. Scrobipalpa spp., male genitalia. 96, 97. S. wieseri sp. nov. 96. South Africa, Bakgalta, HT (gen. slide 131/21, OB). 97. Windhoek, PT (gen. slide 115/12, OB). 98. S. turiensis sp. nov., Kenya, Turi, HT (gen. slide 281/14, OB). 99–101. S. concreta. 99. South Africa, Grahamstown (gen. slide 255/12, OB). 100. South Africa, Louis Trichardt (gen. slide 87/17, OB). 101. Saudi Arabia, Asirgebirge, PT of asiri (gen. slide Am. 5777).

FIGURES 157–159. Scrobipalpa spp., female genitalia. 157. S. incola, South Africa, Rietvleidam (gen. slide 109/17, OB). 158. S. ochroxantha sp. nov., South Africa, Asante-Sana, PT (gen. slide 147/17, OB). 159. S. wieseri sp. nov., Namibia, Windhoek, PT (gen. slide 114/12, OB).