Pleurota karsholti Tabell, 2021

Tabell, Jukka, Wikström, Bo, Mutanen, Marko, Bruckner, Harald & Sihvonen, Pasi, 2021, Subspecies of Pleurota bicostella (Clerck, 1759) revisited and descriptions of nine new species in the P. bicostella species group (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea Oecophoridae: Pleurotinae), Zootaxa 4941 (4), pp. 451-486 : 470-471

Pleurota karsholti Tabell , sp. nov.

Barcode Index Number: BOLD:ADA1412

Table 1, Figs. 23–24 , 43 , 60 , 65 , 66

Type material. Holotype ♀ (GP 5511 J. Tabell, DNA sample 24608 Lepid Phyl ): Morocco, High Atlas, 9 km NW Ouirgane, N31°12´24’’ W8°4’33’’, 30.V–3.VI. 2015, 970 m, C. Hviid, O. Karsholt & K. Larsen (coll. ZMUC), BOLD sample ID: MM24608 . Paratypes: 4 ♂ (GP 5510 J. Tabell, DNA sample 24606 Lepid Phyl; DNA sample 24607 Lepid Phyl), 2 ♀ (DNA sample 24925 Lepid Phyl), same collecting data as holotype (colls. ZMUC and TAB) .

Other material. 9 ♂ (GP 5696 J. Tabell; DNA sample 25605 Lepid Phyl ; DNA sample 25606 Lepid Phyl), Morocco, Settat Prov., 2.5 km E Sidi Said Maachou, 100 m, N33.14137 W8.09181, 18.V.2016, J. Tabell leg. (coll. TAB) .

Diagnosis. The moderately narrow, fusiform forewing with short costal line and white ground colour with irroration of brown scales characterize karsholti . In the genitalia, it resembles P. monochroma . In the male genitalia the shape of uncus (more triangular in monochroma ) and gnathos (broader in monochroma ) and slightly longer posterior lobe of juxta are distinguishing characters. The female genitalia of karsholti are similar to those of P. dalilae , but the proximal margin of segment 8 is markedly narrower. The female of monochroma is unknown.

Molecular data. Six specimens of karsholti were sequenced, resulting in a 658 bp, full-length barcode sequence for all specimens. The nearest neighbour to karsholti is monochroma , with a 5.93 % divergence ( Table 1). There exists a 0.93 % barcode gap between the two known populations from Ouirgane and Sidi Said Maachou (see Note), but no intraspecific variation within these clusters (n=4 and n=2, respectively).

Description. Adult. Wingspan 16.8–18.7 mm. Labial palpus long, 8.4 x diameter of eye (1 st and 2 nd palpomeres), 3 rd palpomere 0.33 x length of 1 st and 2 nd palpomeres, white, below mixed with brown scales. Antenna pale grey, basally off-white. Head, thorax and tegula white. Forewing fusiform, white, scattered with fuscous and brown scales, in distal half forming weak stripes, blackish brown discal and plical spots distinct, discocellular spot small, outer margin with several dark flecks; costal line white, from base to 0.66, widest at middle; subcostal line brown, gradually widened from base to near apex, upper edge at proximal half lined with dark brown scales, distal half mixed with white and dark brown scales; dorsal fringe white, basally brown. Hindwing pale grey, fringe pale yellowish brown, apically white.

Male genitalia. Uncus bell-shaped from ventral view, slightly shorter than gnathos, covered with several bristles, apex with long, narrow and blunt protuberance. Gnathos funnel-shaped from ventral view, broad, distal half surfaced with scobination, apex stout. Valva conical, costa slightly concave. Sacculus moderately broad, surfaced with long bristles. Anterior extension of juxta slightly swollen, median plate swollen; posterior lobe exceeding the base of uncus, apex with a shallow triangular tooth; valval lobe small, covered with a few short bristles, outer margin undulated. Phallus slightly arched, with one plate-shaped cornutus.

Female genitalia. Papilla analis narrow, elongate, covered with long bristles. Apophysis posterioris 2.8 x as long as papilla analis and 1.5 x as long as apophysis anterioris, which is 1.5 x as long as segment 8. Segment 8 quadrate, dorsolaterally reinforced by sclerotized band, distal half covered with short bristles; proximal margin strongly sclerotized, evenly convex, caudal margin concave, lined with short bristles; ventral longitudinal sclerotization broad. Antrum slightly longer than segment 8, parallel-sided, anteriorly slightly sclerotized with two crescentshaped sclerotized patches. Ductus bursae membranous, short. Corpus bursae ovoid, with one large arched, medially slightly constricted signum bearing two long protuberances, and two leaf-shaped posterior signa.

Biology. The biology is unknown. The specimens were collected at light.

Etymology. The species is named in honour of Danish entomologist Ole Karsholt, one of the collectors of the type series.

Distribution. Known from two localities in the High Atlas Mountains in Morocco, at an altitude of 100 m and 970 m.

Note. A portion of the examined material (specimens from Sidi Said Maachou) is not included in the type series, due to a 0.93 % genetic divergence (see Molecular data), and small differences in genitalia. More material from different localities is needed to determine if this possibly represents cryptic diversity. The description and estimates of genetic divergence are based solely on type material.

Figures

FIGURE 65. Neighbor-joining tree based on the barcoding fragment of the COI gene (p-distance model) of all available species of the Pleurota bicostella species group. “MM26262” etc. are BOLD sample IDs.

FIGURE 66. Distribution map of P. illucidella Chrétien, P. lepigrei Lucas and nine new species of the P. bicostella species group. Map based on Google Maps © 2021.

FIGURES 17–24. Adults and labels of Pleurota spp. 17–18. P. agadirensis sp. nov. 17. ♂ holotype. 18. ♀ paratype. 19–20. P. aprilella sp. nov. 19. ♂ paratype. 20. ♀ holotype. 21–22. P. dalilae sp. nov. 21. ♂ paratype. 22. ♀ holotype. 23–24. P. karsholti sp. nov. 23. ♂ paratype. 24. ♀ holotype.

FIGURES 43–44. Male genitalia of Pleurota spp. 43. P. karsholti sp. nov., paratype, GP 5510 J. Tabell. 44. P. kullbergi sp. nov., holotype, GP 5705 J. Tabell.

FIGURES 60–62. Female genitalia of Pleurota spp. 60. P. karsholti sp. nov., holotype, GP 5511 J. Tabell. 61. P. kullbergi sp. nov., paratype, GP 5706 J. Tabell. 62. P. phaeolepida sp. nov., paratype, GP 5876 J. Tabell.