Ancylosis sareptalla ( Herrich-Schäffer, 1861 )

Bidzilya, Oleksiy, Budashkin, Yuriy & Yepishin, Viktor, 2019, A review of the genus Ancylosis Zeller, 1839 (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae: Phycitinae) from Ukraine, Zootaxa 4657 (3), pp. 437-473 : 444-446

Ancylosis sareptalla ( Herrich-Schäffer, 1861)

( Figs 6–11 , 39–43, 64–66)

Epischnia sareptalla Herrich-Schäffer, 1861 —Neue Shmett. Eurp. 1860: 28, fig. 145. TL: Volgograd [Sarepta], Russia.

Ancylosis barbella Lederer, 1863 —Wien. Ent. Mschr. 7: 43, pl. 1, fig. 9. TL: Varna, Bulgaria.

Ancylosis sareptalla gulbaharensis Roesler, 1973 —Microlepidoptera Palaearctica: 325–326, pl. 15, fig. 127a. TL: Gulbahar, Afghanistan, syn. nov.

Ancylosis sareptella auct. (lapsus calami).

Material examined. Ukraine: 1♀, Luhansk reg., Stanytsia Luhanska, 14.v.2000 (O. Bidzilya). Genitalia slide: V. Yepishin prep. no. 075.18 ( ZMKU) . 1♂, Kherson reg., Tsurupinsk distr., vic. Proletarka , at light, 27–28.iv.2010 (Yu. Gerjak & S. Tsikal) ( KSS) . 3♂, 1♀, Kherson reg., 10 km NE Radensk, Oleshki Sands , at light, 6.vi.2015 (O. Bidzilya). Genitalia slide: O. Bidzilya prep. no. 273 / 18♂. V. Yepishin prep. no. 071.18 ♂. 1♂, Kherson reg., Hola Prystan distr., Burkuty , 30.iv-1.v.1917 (V. Mushinskiy & A. Zhakov) ( VM) . 5♀, Kherson reg., Hola Prystan distr., vic. Burkuty , at light, 21 and 22.vi.2017 (O. Bidzilya). Genitalia slide: O. Bidzilya prep. no. 268/18, 61/19 . 2♂, Donetsk reg., Sviatogirsk , 13.viii.1987 (I. Kostjuk) (all ZMKU) . 1♀, Mikolaiv reg., Kinburz’ka kosa, Pokrovka vill. env., 7–10.viii.2001 (V. Gorobchishin) ( ZMKU) . 1♂, 7 ex., Zaporizhzhia reg., Melitopol distr., Mirnoe , 6.viii.2015 (V. Mushinskiy) Genitalia slide: O. Bidzilya prep. no. 135/18 ( VM) . 3 ex, same data but 16.viii.2017 ; 1♀, same data but 5.ix.2015 (all VM) . 1♂, Crimea, Yevpatoria, st. Pribrezhnaya , 21.v.2007 (D. Puzanov) ( KSS) . Russia: Holotypus of sareptalla : ♀, “ Sarepta, Cr. 62., Typ. Expl., H. Sch. f. 145.” | “Origin.” | “ Coll. Möschl. ” | “U. Roesler, ♀, GU: 4838” . 2♂, 1♀, Sarepta. Genitalia slide: O. Bidzilya prep. no. 42 / 19♂, 60/ 19♂, 262/ 17♀ (all MfN) . Spain: 1♀, Andalusien, Sanlucar , 17.iv.1964 (P. Muller) ( SMNK) . Bulgaria: Lectotypus of barbella : ♂, “ Varna ” | “ Coll. Led. ” | “Origin.” | “ U. Roesler, ♂, GU: 4844” | ex coll. Staudinger 2/3” ; 1♀, “ Lecto-Allotypus | “ Varna ” | “Origin.” | “ barbella, Led ” | “ U. Roesler, ♀, GU: 4843” | ex coll. Staudinger 3/3” . 1♀, “ Varna ” | “Origin.” | ex coll. Staudinger 1/3” ; 1♂, Varna. Genitalia slide: O. Bidzilya prep. no. 49/19 . ♀, Nesseber. Genitalia slide: O. Bidzilya prep. no. 53/19 (all MfN) . Turkey: 1♂, Erdschias, Asia min. ( Penther ). Genitalia slide: O. Bidzilya prep. no. 117/19 ( SMNK) . Afghanistan: paratypes of A. s. gulbaharensis : 2♂, 2♀, “O.- Afghanistan, Gulbahar , 1700 m, 25.vi.1956, H. G. Amsel leg”, | “ Ancylosis sareptella HS. ssp. gulbaharensis Rsl., U. Roesler / Paratypus ”, Genitalia slide: O. Bidzilya prep. no. 91 / 19♂, 116/ 19♀, 134/ 19♂ ( SMNK) .

Comparative material studied. Ancylosis albidella : Uzbekistan: Holotypus of albidella : ♂, “ Ancylosis albidella Rag. , Type orig. pl., XXXI fig. 6.” | “111.” | “[???]” | “Marghilan” | “ U. Roesler, ♂, GU: 5088” ( MfN). 1♀, Margelan. Genitalia slide: O. Bidzilya prep. no. 48/19 ( MfN) .

Diagnosis. Ancylosis sareptalla is a large (wingspan 18–27 mm) species with long (3–4 times as long as an eye diameter) porrect weakly up-turned labial palpus, grey forewing with dirty-white costal margin, indistinct black stigmata and pale transverse lines ( Figs 6–11 ). Ancylosis imitella Hampson, 1901 is usually smaller, the labial palpus are narrower, costal margin is never mixed with white and the forewing are more contrasting with more distinct light brown pattern. The male genitalia of A. sareptalla are characterized by comparatively broad valva with broad distinct sacculus and the short tooth-shaped process in the distal part of the ventral margin ( Figs 39–43 ). The latter is unique for Ancylosis with the exception of A. albidella (see for the differences below). The female genitalia of A. sareptalla are well recognized by elongated segment VIII (twice as long as broad), a very long ductus bursae with several signa in its proximal portion and comparatively small, rounded corpus bursae with numerous signa in its distal portion ( Figs 64–66 ). The differences from A. albidella are discussed below.

Biology. The life style of larvae was studied in the southern part of the Arabatskaya strelka, Crimea. The mature larvae were observed under the single large plants of Suaeda confusa Iljin on the sand shore in June. The larvae feed from a tube which proximal end fixed to lower leaves of host plant. Pupation takes place in a separate tube close to the sand surface. In Ukraine adults have been registered from the end of April to the end of June and then from August to early September. The species seems to prefer sandy soil. The documented habitats in Ukraine are sand shores along the Azov and Sivash see coast, sand dunes in Lower Dnipro valley, sands in Zaporizhzhia region as well as sandy terraces of Siverskiy Donets river and Yevpatoria sand shore ( Fig. 77 ). The imago are attracted to light and can be observed flying during the day time.

Distribution. Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Macedonia, Greece, Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Russia (Rostov region, East Caucasus, Volga region, Southern Ural), West Kazakhstan, Turkey, Middle East, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Mongolia ( Roesler 1973; Speidel 1996; Sinev 2008; Slamka 2010; Poltavsky & Artokhin 2018). In Ukraine known from Crimea ( Budashkin et al. 2009), Kherson ( Bidzilya et al. 2011), Mykolaiv ( Govorun 2008: 52, as albidella ), Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk and Donetsk regions.

Remarks. Epischnia sareptalla was described based on the female from Sarepta ( Fig. 8 ). The genitalia preparation of the holotype is in rather poor condition. However, its reconstructed drawing in Roesler (1973: pl. 122, fig. 127) is quite informative and matches other slides of the females genitalia of A. sareptalla from the type locality ( Figs 39, 40 ). Ancylosis sareptalla is a rather variable species ( Figs 6–11 ). The specimens examined from type locality, Ukraine and Hungary are rather uniformly grey, with indistinct pale transverse lines ( Fig. 6 ). The specimens from Bulgaria including type specimens of A. barbella Lederer, 1863 are more contrast, densely mixed with light brown, with distinct stigmata and light brown subapical area separated by white distinctly black edged ante-medial line ( Fig. 11 ). Subspecies A. s. gulbaharensis Roesler, 1973 from Afghanistan ( Fig. 10 ) resembles specimens from Bulgaria but it is paler with less distinct light brown pattern and white sparsely covered with brown (contrary to grey densely covered with black) labial palpus. We examined the same specimens from Uzbekistan and Turkey. These specimens and other externally variable specimens studied us show no considerably variation in the genitalia of both sexes, except for ones from Bulgaria that differ in the culcita with indistinct anteromedial corners ( Fig. 42 ). Hence, we consider A. s. gulbaharensis Roesler, 1973 syn. nov. of A. sareptalla ( Herrich-Schäffer, 1861) .

Ancylosis sareptalla is very similar to A. albidella , which status is rather disputable. Leraut (2014) synonymized A. albidella with A. sareptalla argued that Roesler (1973) was incorrect showing the absence of ventral thorn on valva in A. sareptalla and considered it as a character for the separating both species ( Roesler 1973: 325, 331). Plant (2016) wrote that ventral process on the valva is rather variable in size and may be completely reduced in some specimens of A. sareptalla and therefore, its absence in figure by Roesler (1973) is correct. He re-called A. albidella from the synonymy to A. sareptalla and generally followed Roesler’s opinion considering ventral projecting on the valva as a one of the diagnostic character of A. albidella . However, Plant separated both species based on length of ventral process (not on absent/present of ventral proces as it was proposed by Roesler): the long one is characterized for A. albidella and a short one (or reduced) for A. sareptalla . Plant also mentioned additional differences between albidella and sareptalla in the shape of transtilla, vinculum and culcita (“central tooth in sareptalla but absent in albidella ”).

Ancylosis albidella is known from the holotype collected in Margilan [ Uzbekistan]. It is a rather worn pale specimen with an uncertain pattern that nevertheless remains this of A. sareptalla from Afghanistan but it is more pale ( Fig. 12 ). The specimen from Kuldja figured by Roesler (1973: pl. 15, fig. 131) is not conspecific with the type specimen of A. albidella and may belong to A. maculifera Staudinger, 1870 . The white mixed with light brown labial palpus, white head in combination with long process on the ventral margin of the valva, broad cucullus and well developed serrated subcostal fold ( Fig. 44 ) are the characters for separating the holotype of A. albidella from A. sareptalla . We were not able to recognize the shape of culcita on the slide of the male genitalia of the holotype ( Fig. 44 ), so that it is unclear if it differs from the culcita of A. sareptalla , as it was shown by Roesler (1973) and Plant (2016: fig. 14a). However, the shape of culcita is rather variable in A. sareptalla , and can hardly be used for separating it from A. albidella . We studied a suspected female of A. albidella from Margilan. This specimen matches externally to the holotype of A. albidella having light labial palpus and head. The wing pattern of this specimen resembles light specimens of A. sareptalla from Bulgaria and the genitalia are generally similar to those of A. sareptalla too ( Fig. 63 ). The little differences were observed in the length of segment VIII and in the larger number of signa in proximal part of the ductus bursae. However, these differences fall in the range of the variation of A. sareptalla .

Slamka (1997: 10) reported A. albidella from Europe for the first time based on material from Hungary and single male from southern Slovakia. The genitalia of these specimens were not illustrated. However, the specimen from Slovakia ( Slamka 1997: pl. IV, fig. 107) matches externally to A. sareptalla . The first well documented record of A. albidella from Europe ( Asselbergs 1999: 126, fig. 8) should be referred to A. sareptalla rather than A. albidella: The ventral process on the valva is short, the subcostal fold is indistinct. Plant (2016: 68, fig. 14a) reported A. albidella from Bulgaria based on single male with a long ventral process similar to this of A. albidella . This specimen has rather broad cucullus and short triangular lobes of transtilla that are characteristic to A. albidella . There is no distinct subcostal fold on the Plant’s drawing and it is unclear if it is really absent or just was not drawn. The additional differences in shape of vinculum, transtila and culcita noticed by Plant, are rather variable in A. sareptalla and seem us of low diagnostic value. For example, all specimens of A. sareptalla studied by us have broadly rounded anterior margin of culcita without medial tooth ( Figs 39–43 ); transtilla in specimens from Ukraine ( Fig. 41 ) is very similar to this of the holotype of A. albidella . The conspecificity of the specimen from Bulgaria mentioned by Plant with A. albidella remains rather questionable. We suggest that A. albidella is most likely a synonym of A. sareptalla . However, we hesitate to support this synonymy initially proposed by Leraut (2014) until additional material from the type locality of A. albidella become available.

Figures

FIGURES 1–12. Adults of Ancylosis spp. 1–2. A. albicosta. 3–4. A. substratellum. 5. A. cinnamomella. 6–11. A. sareptalla. 12. A. albidella. 1. ♂, Kherson reg. 2. ♂, Syntype. Sarepta. Prep. no. 4226 U. Roesler. 3. ♂, Crimea. Prep. no. 35/19. 4. ♂, Crimea. 5. ♂, Crimea. Prep. no. 068.18. 6. ♂, Kherson reg. 7. ♀, Andalusien. 8. ♀, Holotype. Sarepta. Prep. no. 4838 U. Roesler. 9. ♂, Erdschias. 10. ♀, Paratype of gulbaharensis, Gulbahar. 11. ♀, Syntype of barbella. Varna. Prep. no. 4843 U. Roesler. 12. ♂, Holotype. Margilan. Prep. no. 5088 U. Roesler. Scale bar: 1 cm.

FIGURES 39–44. Male genitalia of Ancylosis spp. 39–43. A. sareptalla. 44. A.albidella. 39. Sarepta. Prep. no. 60/19. 40. Sarepta. Prep. no. 42/19. 41. Kherson reg. Prep. no. 273/18. 42. Varna. Prep. no. 49/19. 43. Gulbahar. Prep. no. 91/19. 44. Holotype. Margilan. Prep. no. 5088 U. Roesler. Scale bar: 1 mm.

FIGURES 63–65. Female genitalia of Ancylosis spp. 63. A. albidella. 64–65. A. sareptalla. 1. Margilan. Prep. no. 48/19. 2. Kherson reg. Prep. no. 61/19. 3. Sarepta. Prep. no. 262/17. Scale bar: 1 mm.

FIGURES 66–68. Female genitalia of Ancylosis spp. 66. A. sareptalla. 67. A. substratellum. 68. A. roscidella. 66. Nesseber. Prep. no. 53/19. 67. Crimea. Prep. no. 28/19. 68. Zaporizhzhia reg. Prep. no. 278/18. Scale bar: 1 mm.

FIGURES 76–79. Habitats of Ancylosis spp. 76. A. albicosta. Oleshki Sand, vic. of Burkuty vil., Kherson region. 77. A. deserticola and A. sareptalla. Oleshki Sand, vic. of Chelburda (Proletarka) vil., Kherson region. 78. A. larissae sp. nov. Uzun-Syrt, Crimea (photo V. Savchuk). 79. A. substratellum. Barakol Lake, Crimea.