Nemophora gemmella ( Walsingham, 1880 ) Kozlov, 2023

Kozlov, Mikhail V., 2023, Fairy moths of the genus Nemophora Hoffmannsegg, 1798 (Lepidoptera: Adelidae) of India and Sri Lanka, Zootaxa 5300 (1), pp. 1-81 : 27-29

Nemophora gemmella ( Walsingham, 1880) , comb. nov.

( Figs. 33, 34 , 88 , 120 , 151 )

Adela gemmella: Walsingham 1880: 81 , pl. XI fig. 8.

Lectotype ♁ (here designated): India, Himachal Pradesh, Dharamshala (32 o 14' N, 76 o 24' E); labelled: 8 mm circle with red border, print ‘Type │ H. T.’; 8 × 14 mm, print ‘Dharmsala │ PUNJAB │ 1879 │ Hocking’; 8 × 10 mm, print ‘Walsingham │ Collection │ 1910–427’; 15 × 25 mm, wide black frame, black ink + print ‘ ADELA │ GEMMELLA. Wlsm. │ Pr. Z. S. Lond. 81. tf. 11.8. 1880 │ TYPE ♁ figd & descr.’; 8 × 20 mm, print ‘ LECTOTYPE ♁ │ Adela gemmella │ Walsingham, 1880 │ M. Kozlov design. 1999’ (NHM) [examined]. Paralectotypes. 1 ♀, labelled: 8 mm circle with blue border, print ‘Para-│lecto-│ type’; 8 mm circle with red border, print ‘Type │ H. T.’; 8 × 14 mm, print ‘Dharmsala │ PUNJAB │ 1879 │ Hocking’; 8 × 10 mm, print ‘Walsingham │ Collection │ 1910–427’; 15 × 25 mm, wide black frame, black ink + print ‘ ADELA │ GEMMELLA. Wlsm. │ Pr. Z. S. Lond. p 81. 1880 │ TYPE ♀ ’; 8 × 20 mm, print ‘ PARALECTOTYPE ♀ │ Adela gemmella │ Walsingham, 1880 │ M. Kozlov design. 1999’. 20 ♁, labelled: 8 mm circle with blue border, print ‘Para-│ lecto-│type’; 8 × 14 mm, print ‘Dharmsala │ PUNJAB │ 1879 │ Hocking’; 8 × 10 mm, print ‘Walsingham │ Collection │ 1910–427.’; 7 × 15 mm, black ink ‘ Adela │ gemmella │ ♁ Wlsm’; 8 × 20 mm, print ‘ Paralectotype ♁ │ Adela gemmella │ Walsingham, 1880 │ M. Kozlov design. 1999’. 1 ♁, labelled: 8 mm circle with blue border, print ‘Para-│lecto-│ type’; 8 × 14 mm, print ‘Dharmsala │ PUNJAB │ 1879 │ Hocking’; 10 × 11 mm, black frame, black ink ‘ India │ Lord Walsnigham │ 20.12.[18]79’; 8 × 11 mm, print + black ink ‘Stainton Coll. │ 1893– 134. │ 401413’; 8 × 20 mm, print ‘ Paralectotype ♁ │ Adela gemmella │ Walsingham, 1880 │ M. Kozlov design. 1999’ (all in NHM) [examined].

Adela gemmella: Cotes & Swinhoe 1889: 707 .

Nemotois gemmella: Meyrick 1912a: 7, 1912b: 8 .

Adela latifasciella: Warren 1888: 338 , syn. nov. Holotype ♁: Pakistan, Thandiani (approx. 34º 14' N, 73º 21' E); labeled: 8 mm circle with red border, print ‘Holo-│type’; 6 × 13 mm, black ink ‘ Punjab. │ 86. 128.’, 14 × 24 mm, wide black frame, black ink + print ‘ Adela │ latifasciella Warr. │ P. Z. S. Lond. P. 338. 1888 │ TYPE ♁ descr.’; 8 × 13 mm, print ‘B. M. │ Genitalia slide │ No. 30646’ (NHM) [examined].

Adela latifasciella: Cotes & Swinhoe 1889: 707 .

Nemotois latifasciella: Meyrick 1912a: 7, 1912b: 9 .

Nemophora latifasciella: Koçak & Kemal 2014: 26 .

Other material. India. Himachal Pradesh. 1 ♁, Shimla (Moore); 9 ♁ 2 ♀, ibid., viii.1898 ( CJN) ; 1 ♁, Dharamshala (Hocking); 2 ♁ 1 ♀, Dalhousie , 18‒20.viii.1906 (Barrow); 2 ♁, Kugti, 3900 m, 1892 (Leech) . Meghalaya. 4 ♁ 1 ♀, Khasi Hills, 1898‒1899 (Doherty) . Uttarakhand. 6 ♁, Nainital, 2200 m, 9‒27.viii.1934 (Graham); 2 ♁, Mukteshwar , 2500 m, ix.1923 (Fletcher) (all in NHM) ; 2 ♁, Mussoorie , 1500‒2200 m, 3.‒14.viii.1978 ( ZMUC) . Jammu and Kashmir. 5 ♁ 1 ♀, Killanmarg , 3500 m, 15‒29.vii.1931 (Fletcher); 7 ♁ 2 ♀, Gulmarg , 2900 m, vi‒vii.1931 (Fletcher); 8 ♁ 1 ♀, ibid., vii.1923 (Fletcher); 1 ♁, Gurez Valley , 2350 m, vi.1887 (Leech) (all in NHM) ; 1 ♁, Gulmarg, 18.vii.1931 (Fletcher); 1 ♁, Killanmarg , 18.vii.1931 (Fletcher) (both in MINGA) ; 4 ♁, Gulmarg, 2600 m, 18.vii.1923 (Fletcher); 3 ♁, Killanmarg , 3200 m, 18.vi, 18.vii & 27.vii.1931 (Fletcher) (all in USNM) . Pakistan, Punjab. 7 ♁, Rawalpindi, 1886 (NM); 1 ♁, Khyra Gully (Roberts) (all in NHM) .

Diagnosis. Nemophora gemmella externally resembles N. indica ( Fig. 39 ) and N. neurias ( Figs. 35, 36 ). From N. indica it differs by the glossy golden vertex and by the presence of carinae on phallus. From N. neurias it differs by the larger size, smaller interocular index, greater occipital distance, absence of yellow spot on the ventral side of scape and prominent hook-shaped lobe in the apical part of phallus.

Description. Male ( Fig. 33 ). FWL 5.9‒7.1 mm, WLR 0.34‒0.37. Vertex medially glossy golden, marginally with mixture of yellow and dark brown piliform scales. Frons glossy golden, with row of yellow and dark brown piliform scales below antennal sockets. PLB 0.55‒0.85 × vertical eye diameter (1.3‒1.5 × length of scape), pale yellow to light brown, ventrolaterally with sparse raised light brown piliform scales, dorsally densely covered with appressed bright yellow scales. Proboscis light brown, base frontally with coppery scales, laterally with yellow scales. Eyes slightly enlarged, not touching each other; interocular index 1.0‒1.2; occipital distance 0.4‒0.5.Antenna 3.1‒4.2 × FWL; pegs present. Scape and base of flagellum (up to 0.8 × FWL) dark coppery bronze, distal part of flagellum bronze to brown. Tegulae and thorax from dark brown with coppery tint to light glossy golden; dorsum in some specimens laterally with yellow stripes. Forewing background colour from monotonously dark brown to light bronze, in some specimens with coppery tint; forewing pattern ( Fig. 88 ) extremely variable. Internal margin of bright yellow band of forewing fascia at 0.47‒0.51 × FWL; this band in light specimens on both sides is bordered by brown to dark brown scales, whereas in dark specimens background forewing colour reaches yellow band. Fascia relatively wide, 0.08‒0.14 × FWL; in some specimens, width of fascia declines towards dorsum to 0.7 of its width at costa. Basal part of forewing suffused with bright yellow scales, which in darkest specimens form two narrow elongate spots along RS and CuA stems, while in lightest specimens these yellow scales almost completely cover basal third of forewing. In some specimens this yellow basal area is separated from fascia by glossy golden spot extending from dorsum to 0.6‒0.8 × forewing width. Apical part of forewing suffused with both dark brown and yellow scales, with only a few yellow scales in the darkest specimens to almost entirely yellow spot in the lightest specimens. Dark brown scales sometimes form large triangular spot in the apical part of forewing, which is linked with external border of fascia at costa. Fringe bronze to dark brown. Hindwing dark brown with bronze lustre; costal area light grey to grey; fringe bronze to grey. Legs glossy golden to coppery brown dorsally, pale yellow ventrally; in light specimens, apices of tibiae and all tarsomeres brown. Epiphysis at 0.4‒0.6, reaching (or almost reaching) apex of tibia. Abdomen dark coppery brown, except for bronze basal sternites; in some specimens pregenital sternites distally with rows of yellow scales.

Female ( Fig. 34 ). FWL 5.4‒6.0 mm, WLR 0.38‒0.41. Antenna 1.9‒2.4 × FWL. Otherwise similar to male.

Male genitalia ( Figs. 120 , 151 ). Tegumen dome-shaped, with small to prominent medial ridge. Socii oval, 1.6 × diameter of phallus. Vinculum 1.3‒1.7 × length of valva, with nearly straight margins. Tips of valvae slightly extend beyond tip of tegumen. Shape of valva variable; ventral margin of valva with large lobe reaching 0.55‒0.65 × length of valva; dorsal margin straight to shallowly S-shaped; tip of valva rounded. Valvae fused basally up to 0.2‒0.3 × total length; their internal margins distinct. Anellus very short, 0.1‒0.2 × length of valva. Transtilla with extremely long medial process. Juxta 0.6 × length of phallus; arrow head wide (WLR 0.70‒0.75), with pointed to widely rounded tip and long to short pointed lateral arms. Phallus 1.0‒1.2 × length of vinculum, shallowly S-shaped, with two short, weakly sclerotized carinae articulated at 0.60‒0.65 × length of phallus (counting from its base); base of phallus widely funnel-shaped, tip flattened laterally, hook-shaped.

Distribution. India (Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Sikkim), Pakistan. Records from Tamil Nadu and Sikkim are based on photographs (https://www.inaturalist.org/ observations/107023797 and https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/118322924, respectively).

Comments. The type locality of Adela latifasciella was reported as Thundiani by Warren (1888), who indicated that the specimen had been collected on 24 August 1886. The label of a holotype does not contain this information. The position of this locality (now named Thandiani) was recovered based on Butler (1886).

Based on external affinities of N. gemmella with several European fairy moth species, I tentatively attribute an old record of Adela croesella ( Scopoli, 1763) (reported as Adela sulzella ([Denis & Schifferm̧ller], 1775) by Moore 1879) in Gagangir, Kashmir to N. gemmella . Alternatively, this record may belong to N. neurias . Anyhow, contrary to Cotes & Swinhoe (1887), I believe that the record of A. croesella in India is based on misidentification.

Nemophora gemmella is likely one of the most common fairy moths in India, as evident from multiple photographs deposited at www.inaturalist.com. This species is extremely variable in both forewing pattern and the shape of valva in male genitalia. However, variation in external characters seems to be independent from variation in genital structures, and differently looking individuals have been found in the same locality. Nevertheless, investigation of additional materials may reveal the heterogeneity of N. gemmella .

Figures

FIGURES 33–40. Adults of Nemophora spp. 33, N. gemmella (Walsingham, 1880), male, lectotype, from Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, India; 34, ditto, female, from Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir, India; 35, N. neurias (Meyrick, 1922), male, from Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India; 36, ditto, female, from Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India; 37, N. chrysoprasias (Meyrick, 1907), male, lectotype, from Khasi Hills, Meghalaya, India; 38, ditto, female, from Khasi Hills, Meghalaya, India; 39, N. indica (Walker, 1863), male, lectotype of Nemotois chrysogona Meyrick, 1922, from Ooty, Tamil Nadu, India; 40, Nemophora ceylonella Kozlov, sp. nov., male, holotype, from Mahiyangana, Sri Lanka. Scale 2 mm.

FIGURES 69–92. Forewing pattern of Nemophora spp. 69, N. sporodesma (Meyrick, 1928); 70, N. phryganeella Kozlov, sp. nov.; 71, N. seraphias (Meyrick, 1907); 72, N. engraptes (Meyrick, 1907), typical form; 73, N. ornamentella Kozlov, sp. nov.; 74, N. fluorites (Meyrick, 1907); 75, N. manipurella Kozlov, sp. nov.; 76, N. mediseorsa Sun et Li, 2023; 77, N. tenuitella Kozlov, sp. nov.; 78, N. assamensis Kozlov, 1997; 79, N. augantha (Meyrick, 1907); 80, N. chionites (Meyrick, 1907); 81, N. cassiterites (Meyrick, 1907); 82, N. griseella (Walsingham, 1880); 83, N. ischnodesma (Meyrick, 1928); 84, N. asterodoxa (Meyrick, 1928); 85, N. chalcomis (Meyrick, 1907); 86, N. phoenicites (Meyrick, 1907); 87, N. atkinsonii (Moore, 1887); 88, N. gemmella (Walsingham, 1880); 89, N. neurias (Meyrick, 1922); 90, N. chrysoprasias (Meyrick, 1907); 91, N. indica (Walker, 1863); 92, N. ceylonella Kozlov, sp. nov. Scale 2 mm.

FIGURES 115–121. Male genitalia of Nemophora spp. 115, N. mediseorsa Sun et Li, 2023; 116, N. tenuitella Kozlov, sp. nov.; 117, N. augantha (Meyrick, 1907); 118, N. chalcomis (Meyrick, 1907); 119, N. phoenicites (Meyrick, 1907); 120, N. gemmella (Walsingham, 1880); 121, N. neurias (Meyrick, 1922); a: genital complex, ventral view (right valva not shown); b: genital complex, lateral view; c: juxta; d: phallus, ventral view; e: phallus, lateral view. Scale: 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 148–151. Male genitalia of Nemophora spp. 148, N. augantha (Meyrick, 1907), from Cherrapunji, Meghalaya, India, gen. prep. 31289 (NHM); 149, N. chalcomis (Meyrick, 1907), from Puttalam, Sri Lanka, gen. prep. 31285 (NHM); 150, N. phoenicites (Meyrick, 1907), from Pune, Maharashtra, India, gen. prep. 31294 (NHM); 151, N. gemmella (Walsingham, 1880), from Kugti, Himachal Pradesh, gen. prep. 31817 (NHM); a: genital complex, ventral view; b: phallus; c: apex of phallus. Scale: 0.2 mm (valid for a and b only).