Scrobipalpa afromontana, 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 : 27

Scrobipalpa afromontana sp. nov.

Figs 55 , 126

Type material. Holotype ♂, KENYA: Rutundu Track , 3040 m, 0°1’9”N 37°25’13”E, 1.xi.2013 Agassiz & Larsen (gen. slide DJLA 1419) ( DA).

Diagnosis. Scrobipalpa afromontana sp. nov. can easily be distinguished externally by its light brown forewing with two oblique black stripes. The male genitalia resemble those of S. obsoletella but differ in the narrower posteromedial emargination of the vinculum, the broader and shorter sacculus and vincular process, and the shorter saccus that extends slightly beyond the top of pedunculus (extending well beyond in S. obsoletella ). Scrobipalpa erexita sp. nov. has somewhat similar male genitalia, but is well differentiated externally.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 55 ). Wingspan 12.5 mm. Head, thorax and tegulae covered with brown grey-tipped scales; palpomere 2 of labial palpus light grey to off-white on inner surface; scape brown, flagellum brown, narrowly grey-ringed, finely pubescent; forewing light brown mixed with grey, costal margin distinctly mottled with black, black streack in fold from 1/8 to 1/3 length, diffuse black spot at base of costal margin, first black oblique stripe from 1/3 of costa to about 1/2 length and 2/3 width, second stripe from 2/3 of costa to 3/4 of dorsum, diffuse black apical streak from about 1/7–1/8 length to wing apex, subcostal 1/3, fold in its distal half and dorsal margin weakly mottled with greyish white, cilia grey, brown-tipped; hindwing light brown.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 126 ). Uncus longer than broad, evenly narrowed apically, dorsolateral corners gradually rounded, hook of gnathos short, slender, weakly curved; tegument about as long as wide at base, anterior margin with broadly rounded emargination extending to 1/3 length; valva not exceeding top of uncus, slender, with slightly inflated apex; sacculus 1/4 length of and slightly broader than valva, inner margin straight, outer margin rounded in distal 1/3, with very short, outwardly curved tip; posterior margin of vinculum with deep V-shaped emargination, vincular process shorter than sacculus, wide at base, with outwardly curved pointed tips; saccus broad at base, gradually narrowed towards rounded apex, extending slightly beyond top of pedunculus; phallus rather stout, caecum about 2/3 length of phallus, weakly inflated, distal 1/2 straight, comparatively wide, with distinct narrow apical hook and pointed apex.

Female genitalia. Unknown.

Biology. Host plant unknown. The holotype was collected in November at an altitude of 3040 m on the northern side of Mt. Kenya. The area is dominated by Erica arborea L. ( Ericaceae ), giant Lobelia (Campanulaceae) , and other high-altitude plant specialists (Davis Agassiz, pers. comm.).

Distribution. Kenya: Northern slope of Mt. Kenya.

Etymology. The specific name refers to the distribution of new species in the mountainous areas of Africa.

Figures

FIGURES 51–60. Scrobipalpa spp., adults. 51. S. staudei sp. nov., South Africa, Magaliesburg, HT, male (gen. slide 3/19, OB). 52–54. S. obsoletella, South Africa. 52. Vredental, female (gen. slide 37/13, OB). 53. Vredental, male, HT of hospes (gen. slide K. Sattler 287a). 54. South Africa, Port Elizabeth, male, HT of xylochroa. 55. S. afromontana sp. nov., Kenya, Rutundu Track, HT, male (gen. slide DJLA 1419). 56. S. erexita sp. nov., South Africa, 50 km NE Bitterfontein, HT, female (gen. slide 154/17, OB). 57, 58. S. admirabilis sp. nov., Namibia, Fischriver, Gondwana Canyon Lodge. 57. HT, male (gen. slide 317/20, OB). 58. PT, male (gen. slide 164/12, OB). 59, 60. S. griseata sp. nov., South Africa, Petersburg. 59. HT, male (gen. slide 15/13, OB). 60. PT, male. Scale bar = wingspan.

FIGURES 123–128. Scrobipalpa spp., male genitalia. 123–125. S. obsoletella, South Africa. 123. Rocherpan N.R (gen. slide 137/12, OB). 124. Vredendal (gen. slide 39/13, OB). 125. Port Elizabeth, PT of xylochroa (gen. slide 247/12, OB). 126. S. afromontana sp. nov., Kenya, Rutundu Track, HT (gen. slide DJLA No. 1419). 127. S. erexita sp. nov., South Africa, Soebatsfontein, PT (gen. slide g. 5146). 128. S. admirabilis sp. nov., Namibia, Fischriver, Gondwana Canyon Lodge, HT (gen. slide 317/20, OB).