Ptycerata gypsella ( Constant, 1893 ) Bidzilya & Karsholt, 2021

Bidzilya, Oleksiy & Karsholt, Ole, 2021, A review of the Palearctic Ptycerata Ely, 1910 (= Caulastrocecis Chrétien, 1931 syn. nov.) based on morphology (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae), Zootaxa 5026 (2), pp. 151-181 : 159-160

Ptycerata gypsella ( Constant, 1893) comb. nov.

Figs 5 , 43–45 , 66 , 87

Doryphora ? gypsella Constant, 1893: 396 , pl. 11, fig. 6.

Caulastrocecis gypsella ( Constant, 1893) — Chrétien 1931: 295.

Type material examined. Lectotype ♂, “[France, Var], collines de l’Estérel” ( MNHN). Material examined. France: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, T.97, gypsella, Alpes maritimes, Crt., 60421, ex. Coll. Hinneberg

(gen. prep. 44/ 10♂; 56/ 10♀, O. Bidzilya) ( MfN); 1 ♀, 15 exx., coll. Amsel ( SMNK) ; 5 ♂, 1 ♀, Alpes-Maritimes, Cannes ( ZMUC) ; 26 ♂, 3 ♀, Alpes-Maritimes , Domaine de Maure Vieille, 27.v.2000 – 16.v.2007 (Hendriksen) ( ZMKU, ZMUC) . Italy: 1 ♂, Emilia , Maranello (Mo), Strada Torre Maina - Puianello, 200 m, 18.vii.1986 (Parenti) ( ZMUC) .

Diagnosis. A comparatively large species with forewing covered evenly with white brown-tipped scales with three light brown elongated spots. The species can be confused in forewing pattern with P. cryptoxena , P. furfurella and P. sumpichi sp. nov. However, P. gypsella is larger (wingspan 16–20 mm compared with 10–17 mm in other species) and has a conical frontal process. The latter is triangular in P. cryptoxena , distinctly flattened and carinate laterally in P. furfurella . The male genitalia are similar to those P. cryptoxena , but the valva is distinctly broader (slightly broader than uncus) and its dorsal margin has a short widening. Additionally, caecum is twice as broad as distal part of phallus (1.5 times as broad as caecum in P. cryptoxena ). The female genitalia are recognised by the large elongated signum with alternate long and short thorn-shaped processes. The female genitalia of P. cryptoxena are rather similar, but the apophysis anterioris is shorter than the length of segment VIII (as long as the length of segment VIII in P. gypsella ) and signum is longer and armed mainly with long thorn-shaped processes.

Adult ( Fig. 5 ). Wingspan 16–20 mm. Head, thorax and tegulae white, mixed with scattered brown-tipped scales; labial palpus weakly upcurved, white, palpomere 2 partially or completely brown on outer surface, palpomere 3 acute, about 1/2 width and 3/4 length of palpomere 2; both sexes with short conical weakly flattened dorso-ventrally frontal process hidden by scales ( Figs 43–45 ); scape white, moderately broadening, flagellomeres white and brownringed, covered with short cilia in female and slightly longer cilia in male. Forewing white densely mixed with light brown, especially in apex and tornus, weakly elongated brown spots in middle and in the corner of cell and in fold, fringe white and brown-tipped. Hindwing white, margins weakly darkened with light brown, fringe slightly darker than hindwing, dark yellow to light brown.

Variation. Brown markings partially or completely reduced in some specimens.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 66 ). Uncus parallel-sided to 2/3 length, then narrowing, posterior margin rounded. Gnathos stout, hook-shaped, strongly widening ventrally and curved before middle, distal part slender with upcurved pointed tip. Tegumen trapezoidal, gradually narrowing posteriorly, lateral flaps curved inwards and almost joining in middle, anteromedial emargination shallow, not more than 1/3 length of tegumen. Valva slightly broader than uncus, extending far beyond its apex, straight, ventral margin straight, dorsal margin with short widening, apex weakly narrowing with distinct pointed medial tip, ventrocaudal angle weakly developed, dorsocaudal angle absent. Vincular lobes extending to 1/2 length of valva, apex rounded, covered with short hairs, separated by deep triangular incision. Vinculum slender, band-shaped. Saccus slender, slightly extending beyond the top of pedunculus. Distal part of phallus straight, slightly shorter and about 1/2 width of distinctly inflated caecum, lamina ducti ejaculatorii slightly longer than phallus.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 87 ). Papilla analis subovate, covered with short hair-like setae; apophysis posterioris straight or weakly curved, 2 times as long as apophysis anterioris; segment VIII evenly sclerotised, unmodified, sub-trapezoidal, about as long as broad, weakly narrowing posteriorly, posterior margin straight with reverse heartshaped medial incision, anterior margin gradually invaginated posteriorly; antrum slender, cylindrical, weakly sclerotised; ostium V-shaped with subtriangular lateral lobes; apophysis anterioris straight, thin, about as long as segment VIII; ductus bursae weakly broadening anteriorly; corpus bursae egg-shaped; signum plate elongated with thorns of different shape and length on lateral margins.

Variation. The two examined females show variation in the shape of apophysis anterioris (straight or irregularly curved) and length of thorns of signum.

Biology. The larvae, described by Constant, live within galls at the stem base of Galatella sedifolia (L.) Greuter ( Asteraceae ) during winter ( Constant 1893: 397, as Aster acris (L.)). It is described by Constant (op. cit.). Adults were observed sitting on the stems of low plants and on stones and flying for short distances in the early morning sunshine (Constant op. cit.).

Molecular data. BIN BOLD:ADG7214 (n=2 from France).

Distribution. Spain ( Requena 2009: 10), South France, Italy. The identity of a specimen from Italy, Bologna ( Lepiforum 2020) is doubtful due to its small size.

Remarks. Doryphora ? gypsella was described from an unstated number of specimens from Collines de l’Estérel (South-East France). A lectotype was designated by Viette (1951: 340).

Figures

FIGURES 1–21. Ptycerata spp.Adults. 1–4. P. furfurella. 1. Russia, Sarepta, LT (gen. slide 647, D. Povolný). 2. Russia, Sarepta (gen. slide 97/11, O. Bidzilya). 3. Kazakhstan. 4. W Kazakhstan, Uralsk, HT of salinatrix (gen. slide 9059). 5. P. gypsella, France. 6–9. P. cryptoxena. 6. Austria. 7. Slovakia. 8. Ukraine, Crimea. 9. Ukraine, Crimea. 10–12. P. sumpichi sp. nov., Italy 10. HT (gen. slide 176/20, O. Bidzilya). 11. PT (gen. slide 324/19, O. Bidzilya). 12. PT. 13. P. nupponeni sp. nov., Russia, Altai, HT. 14–21. P. transbaikalica sp. nov. 14. Russia, Agutsakan, HT. 15. Russia, Kyra, PT, male. 16. Russia, Kyra, PT, female. 17. Russia, Kyra, PT, male (gen. slide 100/07, O. Bidzilya). 18. Russia, Kyra, PT, male (gen. slide 72/10, O. Bidzilya). 19. Russia, Kyra, PT male (gen. slide 180/20, O. Bidzilya). 20. Russia, Altai, female. 21. Russia, Altai, female.

FIGURES 40–57. Ptycerata spp. Heads. 40–42. P. furfurella, male, Russia (Sarepta). 43–45. P. gypsella, female, France. 46–48. P. cryptoxena, male, Crimea. 49–51. P. sumpichi sp. nov., male, Italy. 52–57. P. transbaikalica sp. nov., female, Russia (Kyra).

FIGURES 64–69. Ptycerata spp. Male genitalia. 64, 65. P. furfurella. 64. Russia, Orenburg region (gen. slide 282/17, O. Bidzilya). 65. W Kazakhstan, Kokshetau (gen. slide 112/13, O. Bidzilya). 66. P. gypsella, France (gen. slide 44/10, O. Bidzilya). 67–69. P. cryptoxena. 67.Austria (gen. slide 173/20, O. Bidzilya). 68. Crimea (gen. slide 101/11, O. Bidzilya). 69. Crimea (gen. slide 117/13, O. Bidzilya).

FIGURES 86–88. Ptycerata spp. Female genitalia. 86. P. furfurella, Russia, Sarepta, PLT (gen. slide 651, D. Povolný). 87. P. gypsella, France (gen. slide 433/14, O. Bidzilya). 88. P. cryptoxena, Austria (gen. slide 185/15, O. Bidzilya).