Caryocolum schleichi (Christoph, 1872)

Huemer, Peter, 2020, Integrative revision of the Caryocolum schleichi species group - a striking example of a temporally changing species concept (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae), Alpine Entomology 4, pp. 39-63 : 39

Caryocolum schleichi (Christoph, 1872)

Lita schleichi Christoph 1872: 22, pl. 1, fig. 19. Lectotype ♂, Russia (NHM) [examined]. Designated by Huemer (1988).

Caryocolum syriacum Povolný 1977: 171, figs 1, 2, 6. Holotype ♂, Syria (MMB) [examined]. Synonymized by Huemer (1988).

Material examined.

Lectotype ♂ ( schleichi ), Russia: Krasnoarmeysk, [40 km S. of Volgograd] ('S-Russia, Sarepta’), 22 Jul.1868 (Christoph) (NHM).

Holotype ♂ ( syriacum ), Syria: Damascus, airport area , 28 May 1965, leg. Povolný ( MMB).

Georgia: 1 ♂, Tbilisi, slopes S of, 600 m, 26 Aug. 1989, leg. Karisch, DNA Barcode TLMF Lep 22505 (TLMF). Iran: 1 ♂, 28 km N Sanandaj, 1600 m, 15 Jun. 1975 leg. Amsel (TLMF). Jordan: 1 ♀, Amman, 890 m, 17 May 1958, leg. Klapperich (TLMF). Russia: 3 ♂♂ ( schleichi paralectotypes), Krasnoarmeysk [40 km S. of Volgograd], 24 Jul. 1859, 31 Jul 1864, 1865, leg. Christoph; 4 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, same locality, 16 Jun. 1873, 5 Sep. l874, leg. Christoph (NHM). Syria: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 25 km W. of Damaskus, 2-3 Jun. 1961, 8 Jun. 1961, leg. Kasy & Vartian (TLMF). Turkey: 1 ♂, Prov. Sivas, Gürün, 28 Jun. 1976, leg. Pinker (ZSM); 1 ♂, Prov. Sivas, 10 km W Gürün, 1650 m, 27 Jul. 1989, leg. Fibiger & Esser; 1 ♂, Prov. Sivas, Darende, Günüinar, 900 m, 18 Oct. 1986, leg. Moberg & Hillmann; 1 ♀, Prov.Konya, 20 km SE Hadim, 1800 m, 14 Jul. 1986, leg. Fibiger (all ZMUC).

Diagnosis.

C. schleichi can be easily separated from other species of the group by the white head, thorax and tegulae (but see below for material from Turkey). The male genitalia are particularly characterized by the massive valva, with a short and broadly pointed dorso-apical process. In this character the species is most similar to C. habeleri with a more slender, spine-like dorso-apical process of the valva and to C. dianthella with a smaller and dorsally concave valva with shorter and more slender dorso-apical and ventro-apical processes. Further, the sacculus of C. schleichi is shorter and stouter than in C. dianthella and C. habeleri . In all other species of the C. schleichi species group, the valva is more slender with a much longer dorso-apical process and a more slender dorso-ventral process. The female genitalia are almost indistinguishable from other species of the C. schleichi species group, except for the apophysis anterior which distinctly exceeds the length of segment VIII by about one-quarter, whereas it is of about the same length in all other species except for C. dianthella from which it differs by the narrower signum-hook.

Description.

Adult (Fig. 3 ). Forewing length ♂ 4.5-6.5 mm, ♀ 4.5-5.0 mm. Head cream-white; labial palpus predominantly cream-white, dark brown mottling on outer surface of segment one, light brown mottling on outer surface of segment two and dark brown mixed with cream on segment three; antenna black, weakly ringed paler. Thorax and tegula white, occasionally mottled with light brown, few dark brown scales anteriorly. Abdomen cream-white on ventral surface. Forewing dark brown, mottled with greyish white on dorsal margin; cream-white transverse fascia from fold to costa at one-fifth; cream-white medial area frequently extended towards costa and dorsal margin; cream-white costal and tornal spots usually separate; fringes basally dark brown, distal part lighter. Hindwing light grey.

Variation.

Specimens from Turkey frequently exhibit a darker head and thorax ( Huemer and Karsholt 2010) and the taxonomic status of such specimens should be re-evaluated in future from more extensive material and molecular data.

Male genitalia

(Figs 13 , 21 ). Uncus broadly sub-quadrangular, posterior corners rounded; lateral sclerites of gnathos distinct, medial part with large minutely spined culcitula; tegumen weakly widened anteriorly, with concavely emarginated anterior margin; transtilla sclerotized, longitudinally folded; pedunculus large, ear-shaped, with sclerotized inner edge; valva nearly straight, moderately long, massive, distal part broadly shovel-shaped, apex with two processes, short and broadly pointed dorsal and broadly digitate ventral process, medially separated by concave excavation; sacculus short, knife-shaped; posterior margin of vinculum deeply incised medially, with pair of long digitate processes, pair of latero-medial processes broadly projected; saccus slightly longer than valva, slender, gradually tapered to apex; phallus long, slender, nearly straight, apically with area of small cornuti.

Female genitalia

(Figs 29 , 36 , 43 ). Apophysis posterior about three times length of apophysis anterior; segment VIII without processes, smooth; ostium bursae with short lateral folds; apophysis anterior 1.2 times length of segment VIII; antrum short, about one-fifth length of apophysis anterior, funnel-shaped; posterior part of ductus bursae with pair of long lateral sclerites extending to about apex of apophysis anterior, membranous part of ductus bursae about length of segment VIII including apophysis anterior; signum on right side of entrance to sub-oval corpus bursae, with broad base and moderately short, strongly bent hook.

Molecular data.

BIN: BOLD:ADH6455. The intraspecific average distance of the barcode region is 0.8%, the maximum distance 0.8% (p-dist) (n = 2). The minimum distance to the nearest neighbor, C. arenariella , is 3.37%.

Distribution

(Fig. 1 ). Confirmed records are known from south-western Russia to Turkey and parts of Syria. A record from Macedonia ( Klimesch 1968) probably refers to C. arenariella . The taxonomy of some populations from the Near and Middle East requires further revisionary work. Huemer (1988) had already suspected an additional subspecies from northern Syria and Afghanistan but due to the lack of material and in absence of molecular data this problem has to be re-assessed in the future.

Bionomics.

Host-plant and early stages are unknown, but it is suspected that the larva feeds on Dianthus similar to other species of the C. schleichi species group. C. schleichi is most probably restricted to warm and sunny habitats at low elevations to about 1800 m, but precisely documented observations to the habitat are missing. Moths have been collected from late May to October.

Remarks.

Lita schleichi was described from an unspecified number of specimens from south-western Russia ( Christoph 1872) with the lectotype selected by Huemer (1988). Caryocolum syriacum was described from Syria and the holotype fixed in the original description ( Povolný 1977).

Figures

Figure 1. Distribution map of successfully sequenced material of the C. schleichi species group. Map created with SimpleMappr (http: // www. simplemappr. net).

Figures 3 - 8. Adults. 3 Caryocolum schleichi, male, Syria; 4 C. dianthella, male, Spain; 5 C. improvisella, male, Austria; 6 C. improvisella, female, Austria; 7 C. arenariella, male, Sweden; 8 C. arenariella, female, Sweden.

Figures 13 - 16. Male genitalia. 13 Caryocolum schleichi, Syria, slide GU 86 / 273 P. Huemer; 14 C. dianthella, Spain, slide GEL 1284 P. Huemer; 15 C. improvisella, Austria, slide GEL 1256 P. Huemer; 16 C. improvisella, Italy, slide GEL 1290 P. Huemer.

Figures 21 - 24. Male genitalia (details vinculum-valva-complex). 21 Caryocolum schleichi, Syria, slide GU 86 / 273 P. Huemer; 22 C. dianthella, Spain, slide GEL 1284 P. Huemer; 23 C. improvisella, Austria, slide GEL 1256 P. Huemer; 24 C. improvisella, Italy, slide GEL 120 P. Huemer.

Figures 29, 30. Female genitalia. 29 Caryocolum schleichi, Syria, slide GU 86 / 277 P. Huemer; 30 C. dianthella, Spain, slide GEL 1285 P. Huemer.

Figures 36 - 39. Female genitalia (segment VIII). 36 Caryocolum schleichi, Syria, slide GU 86 / 277 P. Huemer; 37 C. dianthella, Spain, slide GEL 1285 P. Huemer; 38 C. improvisella, Italy, slide GEL 1291 P. Huemer; 39 C. arenariella, Sweden, slide GEL 1292 P. Huemer.

Figures 43 - 46. Female genitalia (signum). 43 Caryocolum schleichi, Syria, slide GU 86 / 277 P. Huemer; 44 C. dianthella, Spain, slide GEL 1285 P. Huemer; 45 C. improvisella, Italy, slide GEL 1291 P. Huemer; 46 C. arenariella, Sweden, slide GEL 1292 P. Huemer.