Megacraspedus fuscus, Huemer, Peter & Karsholt, Ole, 2018

Huemer, Peter & Karsholt, Ole, 2018, Revision of the genus Megacraspedus Zeller, 1839, a challenging taxonomic tightrope of species delimitation (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae), ZooKeys 800, pp. 1-278 : 60-61

Megacraspedus fuscus sp. n.

Examined material.

Holotype ♂, "Spain, Extremadura [prov. Cáceres] 39°34'11"N, 06°06'34"W 11 km SE Monroy 4. iv. 2009, 375 m leg. B. Skule" "DNA Barcode TLMF Lep 21299" "GU 17/1478 ♂ P. Huemer" (ZMUC). Paratype. Spain. 1 ♂, same data as holotype (ZMUC); 1 ♂, prov. Salamanca, Belena, 8.v.1979, leg. C. Gielis, genitalia slide 5344 Karsholt (RMNH).

Description.

Adult. Male (Figure 45). Wingspan 13 mm. Segment 2 of labial palpus with scale brush shorter than segment 3, blackish brown, mottled with white on inner surface; segment 3 longer than segment 2, black mottled with white on inner surface. Antennal scape without pecten; flagellum black. Head, thorax and tegula blackish grey. Forewing blackish grey; fold slightly lighter; an indistinct black dot in fold and at end of cell; fringes dark grey. Hindwing dark grey with grey fringes. Abdomen black.

Female. Unknown.

Variation. Unknown.

Male genitalia (Figure 179). Uncus moderately small, approximately 1.5 times longer than maximum basal width, sub-rectangular, apical edge weakly rounded; gnathos hook strong, about one-third longer than uncus, distally weakly curved with pointed apex; anterior margin of tegumen with broad and deep U-shaped emargination, pedunculi distinct, suboval; valva nearly straight, stout, extending almost to apex of uncus, basal part distinctly wider than distal part, distal part weakly curved dorsad, apically rounded, sub-basal edge with long and sword-shaped sclerite, pointed disto-posteriad; saccular area covered with setae, without separated sacculus; posterior margin of vinculum with shallow medial emargination, weakly rounded lateral humps, broadly suboval vinucular sclerites extending from sclerotised posterior edge of saccus to sub-basal part of valva; saccus nearly V-shaped, with rounded apex, ratio maximum width to length approximately 0.6, posteriolateral margin medially projected, without incision, medial part with broad and strongly sclerotised longitudinal ridge extending almost to apex of saccus, lateral sclerites slightly longer than maximum width of saccus; phallus moderately slender, nearly straight, orbicular coecum, distal two-thirds slender, sclerotised medial ridge with medial and ventral tooth, ductus ejucalatorius with contorted linear interior sclerotisation.

Female genitalia. Unknown.

Diagnosis.

Megacraspedus fuscus sp. n. is characterised by its almost plain blackish grey forewings and dark hindwings. Externally it mostly resembles M. grisea from Asia, but that species has ringed antennae and some lighter scales along the termen. It is also similar to, but darker than, M. cuencellus (Figure 43), M. pusillus (Figure 51) and M. skoui sp. n. (Figure 52). The male genitalia are unmistakable, due to unique structures, such as the sword-shaped sclerites of the valva, the peculiar saccus with a broad longitudinal ridge, and the dentation of the phallus situated mediad compared to M. bidentatus (Figure 178).

Molecular data.

Not available, barcoding failed.

Distribution.

Western Spain (prov. Cáceres, Salamanca).

Biology.

Host plant and early stages are unknown. The type specimens were collected in early April and early May at altitudes from 375 m to ca. 900 m.

Etymology.

The name of this species is derived from the Latin word fuscus (meaning dark) after the colour of the forewings. The name is a masculine adjective.

Remarks.

Megacraspedus fuscus sp. n. is tentatively attributed to the M. cuencellus species group due to the overall similarity in the male genitalia. Molecular data will be necessary to confirm this classification.