Gymnancyla (Gymnancyla) iranella Alipanah & Asselbergs

Alipanah, Helen, Asselbergs, Jan & Shams-Zadeh, Mehdi, 2014, Gymnancyla (Gymnancyla) iranella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae, Phycitinae), a new species from Iran, Zootaxa 3794 (2), pp. 279-288 : 280-287

Gymnancyla (Gymnancyla) iranella Alipanah & Asselbergs sp. n.

Holotype: male, Iran: Yazd Province, Abarkuh (previously known as Abarghou), 31˚ 8΄ N, 53˚ 17΄ E, 1500 m, 25.vi.2010, leg. Shams-Zadeh (GS: HA–1492). Deposited in Hayk Mirzayans Insect Museum ( HMIM) of the Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection ( IRIPP), Tehran. Paratypes: 8 males, 9 females, Iran: Yazd Province, Abarkuh, same coordinates as holotype, 1500 m, 25.vi.2010, leg. Shams-Zadeh; 6 males, 3 females, Arbakuh, 1500 m, same coordinates as holotype, 1.viii.2010, leg. Shams-Zadeh. Deposited in HMIM.

Description. Male ( Fig. 1 A): wingspan 16.5–19.5 mm (n= 9). Length of forewing (fringe included) 7.5–8.5 mm (n= 9). Head ( Figs 1 C–F): frons forming a truncated dome, covered with smooth and brilliant cream-coloured scales tinged with light brown scales adjacent to eye, and when scales removed, with a distinct broad incomplete circular ridge medially ( Fig. 1 E); vertex with appressed yellowish cream scales, and erect and vertically positioned ones beyond vertex. Ocelli and chaetosemata present; patagia and tegulae cream-coloured, slightly tinged with light ochreous scales, mostly towards vertex. Labial palpi ( Fig. 1 G) short, 1.8–2× diameter of eye, slightly upcurved; first segment bean-shaped, slightly longer and almost twice as broad as third segment; second segment slightly more than 2× as long as the first segment, somewhat depressed and sometimes inclined ventrally, with relatively long smooth scales dorsally and ventrally; third segment short (1⁄5–1⁄3 length of second segment), straight and covered with short cream-coloured scales. Maxillary palpi ( Fig. 1 H) long, first segment elongate and slender, second and third segments short, relatively broad and almost equal in size, each with a bundle of elongated scales distally. Proboscis normally developed and scaled basally.

Antennae covered dorsally with randomly arranged cream-coloured scales, scape long (almost 4× as long as the flagellomeres), first flagellomere quadrangular, the rest rectangular and narrower; flagellomeres with short, dense cilia and without sinus between segments 2–8. Abdomen yellowish-cream. Wings ( Fig. 1 A): forewing elongate-subtriangular; costa straight until 5⁄6 length of wing, then convex towards apex; termen oblique and slightly convex, ground colour cream to dirty cream; antemedian line brownish, narrow, wavy and mostly less obvious, extending from 1⁄3 of costa to slightly more than 1⁄3 of dorsum; postmedian line cream-coloured, broad, distinctly wavy, parallel with termen, edged with brownish scales along both inside and outside, but the border more visible towards costa, originating on costa at 5⁄6 and extending to 4⁄5 on dorsum; terminal line mostly indistinguishable but sometimes indicated as small brownish spots; fringe cream-coloured. Hindwing and fringe cream-coloured.

Wing venation: forewing with M2 and M3 lacking a short common stalk and separated at base; hindwing characteristically of trifid type.

Male genitalia ( Figs 2 A, B): uncus egg-shaped to oval; gnathos tongue-shaped, lateral branches each with a weakly sclerotized plate; tegumen very slender medially and slightly enlarged laterally; transtilla small and scerotized; anellus V-shaped with an inverse sclerotized plate proximally and lateral branches inclined outwardly, terminating into a swollen knob and covered with minute setae. Valvae elongate, slender, slightly broader distally, its greatest breadth 0.13× its length. Valva with a short rod-shaped process at 1⁄3 which is 0.1× as long as the valva, covered with minute setae and extending beyond costa. Below the costa lies a strongly sclerotized, elongate dagger-shaped structure with a tiny convexity at the ventral side close to the tip; sacculus narrow and slightly broadened basally; vinculum elongate, equally as long as broad, flatly rounded proximally. Eighth abdominal sternite ( Fig. 2 C) a nearly oval plate, sclerotized at posterior half and anteriorly with a pair of sclerotized slender processes; culcita ( Fig. 2 D) almost as long as valva, pitcher-shaped with a rounded top and four pairs of scale brushes. Phallus stout, slightly longer than valva; vesica with stripe-like structures and sclerotized dentate plates. Two cornuti proximally of which the larger is almost 1.3× as long as the smaller one ( Fig. 2 B).

Female ( Fig. 1 B): wingspan 14.5–20.0 mm (n= 10). Forewing length 6.5–9.0 mm (n= 10). Head and thorax basically as in male, except antennae with very short and sparse ventral cilia. Female genitalia ( Fig. 3 E): papillae anales slender, compressed posteriorly and provided with short bristle-like setae; apophyses posteriores long, strong, rod-shaped, without thickened endings and slightly longer than apophyses posteriores; apophyses posteriores with slightly thickened endings; ostium broad, antrum as a sclerotized plate with a shallow medial depression posteriorly ( Figs 3 A, B), its breadth considerably more than breadth of the ductus bursae; ductus bursae almost as long as corpus bursae, with a rough-walled sclerotized structure at the transition of ductus bursae and corpus bursae ( Fig. 3 C); corpus bursae slightly elongate and densely granulate, with a lateral convexity near the junction of corpus bursae and ductus bursae at the base of the ductus seminalis; signa positioned medially, represented by two unequal, relatively large plates, each with considerably large thorns on the surface ( Fig. 3 D).

Remarks. So far, only one species of Gymnancyla , viz. Gymnancyla (Dentinodia) craticulella Ragonot 1887 , is reported from Iran, which was collected in the Elburz Mountains, and in Baluchestan and Khorasan-e Razavi (Mashhad) Provinces ( Roesler 1973). During the study of this pyralid species collected in Yazd Province (Abarkuh region) in 2010, signs of damage caused by a pyralid larva were detected on a Salsola sp. (a known host-plant of Gymnancyla spp.). After examining the adult specimens a new species of Gymnancyla (Gymnancyla) (s.str.) was identified.

Diagnosis. Gymnancyla spp. mostly cannot be distinguished by the wing pattern which can be very uniform and similar between the different species. Gymnancyla iranella sp. n. belongs to the subgenus Gymnancyla (s.str.) which is characterized by long pencil-shaped maxillary palpi in the male. The female genitalia of Gymnancyla (Gymnancyla) iranella sp. n. can be distinguished from the similar Gymnancyla (Gymnancyla) termacerba Liu by the more unequal signa in the corpus bursae in the former, and from Gymnancyla (Gymnancyla) termifurcata Liu by the lacking of sclerotization at the transition of the corpus bursae and the ductus bursae, and the more strongly sclerotized lateral convexion of the distal part of the bursa in the latter. Gymnancyla (Gymnancyla) iranella sp. n. is different from both species mentioned above by the presence of a sclerotized, heart-shaped antrum. The slender distally upturned valva with dagger-shaped tapering structure below costa in the male genitalia of the new species is reminiscent of that in Gymnancyla (Gymnancyla) termifurcata Liu and Gymnancyla (Gymnancyla) termacerba Liu , but differs from these two species by the distal part of this sclerotized structure which is extended beyond the cucullus.

Life history. Larvae of Gymnancyla (Gymnancyla) iranella sp. n. were found on Salsola sp. ( Chenopodiaceae ). Moreover, known biology of the other Gymnancyla spp. are as follows: in Gymnancyla (Gymnancyla) sfakesella Chrétien, 1911 , larvae were found on Atriplex halimus L. ( Chenopodiaceae ); larvae of Gymnancyla (Gymnancyla) canella (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) , were found on Salsola kali L. and on div. Atriplex spp. ( Chenopodiaceae ) ( Lhomme 1935; Hannemann 1964; Beirne 1952; Schütze 1931) as well as on Salicornia sp. ( Chenopodiaceae ) ( Schütze 1931); in Gymnancyla (Spermatophora) hornigii (Lederer, 1852) , larvae were found on Atriplex nitens Schkuhr (Chenopodiaceae) ( Schütze 1931; Hasenfuss 1960; Stange 1916; Hannemann 1964)

Distribution. So far known only from Iran: Yazd Province, Abarkuh region.

Etymology. Named after the country where the new species was found.

Discussion. Larvae of Gymnancyla spp. feed on halophile plants; known host-plants are Salsola kali L. and Atriplex spp. and Salicornia spp. which grow on coastal salt marshes or on arid, salty soils inland. The genus Gymnancyla Zeller, 1848 , is divided into three subgenera, viz. Gymnancyla Zeller, 1848 , (s.str.), Spermatophthora Lederer, 1852, and Dentinodia Ragonot, 1887. For diagnostic characters see Introduction. Identification of the different species can be difficult because of the great similarities in wing pattern. Furthermore the male and female genitalia of several species can be very similar. Important characters are the sclerotized structures at or below the costa of the valvae in the male, the male labial palpi and the characters of the female genitalia.

Description of larva ( Figs 4–6 ). Length 17.0– 18.5 mm; breadth of head capsule 1.1–1.2 mm (n= 3).

Colour. Head light brownish, with dark brown patches in epicranial region and an ellipse of six ocelli. Ocellar area with an elongated, dark lateral patch encompassing ocelli 2 to 5; lower part of gena, just beneath seta A1 and close to antennal region, with a dark brown to black patch; anteclypeal region, frontal and adfrontal sclerites light brown; labrum brown, edged with dark brown distally, with a deep medial notch; mandible light brown, edged with dark brown distally; spinneret, labial palpi and antennal segments yellowish; body cream colour and integument granulose under low magnification ( Fig. 6 A). Prothoracic plate same as ground colour, with a shallow posteromedian notch and a pattern of dark markings. Thoracic legs yellowish cream with brownish claw. Anal plate yellowish cream. Crochets brown. Peritremes of spiracles almost the same in colour as body.

Chaetotaxy. Head ( Figs 4 A, B): coronal suture 1⁄3 length of frontal sclerite; frontal sclerite extended to almost 1⁄2 of head length, and nearly as broad at base as long; adfrontals tapered anteriorly. Distance between ocelli 2 and 3 slightly less than distance between ocelli 1 and 2, and distance between ocelli 5 and 6 nearly 1.5× of distance between ocelli 1 and 2; ocelli 3 and 4 contiguous, and ocelli 4 and 5 close to each other. Length of seta P1 almost 3.5× of length of seta P2 or slightly less; distance between P1 and P2 nearly equal to distance between MD1 and MD2; AF1 and AF2 nearly equal in length; distance between setae AF1 and AF2 slightly less than distance between setae P1 and P2; length of F1 slightly more than twice length of AF1 and AF2; distance between setae F1 and AF1 nearly equal to distance between setae AF1 and AF2; setae C1 and C2 of nearly equal length; distance between setae C1 and C2 less than distance between setae F1 and C1; setae A2 closer to A1 than to A3; length of seta A1 nearly 2⁄3 length of seta A3; length of seta A2 almost 1⁄4 length of seta A3 or slightly longer; distance between A3 to L1 slightly less than distance between A1 and A2; seta S1 posterior to ocellus 3, very close to it and within ocellar blotch; seta S2 postero-ventral to ocellus 1 and outside ocellar semicircle; seta SS2 outside ocellar semicircle in an area close to ocelli 5 and 6, postero-dorsal to SS1 and antero-dorsal to SS3; SS1, SS2 and M(G2) nearly equal in length and half length of SS3; length of seta S2 nearly 4× length of S1.

Labrum ( Fig. 4 C) deeply notched medially; M2 and L1 latero-dorsal to M1 and L2 respectively; distance between setae M1 and M2 distinctly more than distance between setae L2 to L1, and nearly slightly less than distance between M2 to L2; length of M2 nearly equal to length of L2; length of M2 1.5× length of M1; length of L2 almost 2× length of L1; M3 and L3 almost equal in length. Mandible ( Fig. 4 E) with three distinct pointed teeth along cutting margin (second and third one equal in size, the first tooth smaller) and two blunt teeth at base; length of seta M2 2⁄3 that of M1. Spinneret ( Fig. 4 F) pointed anteriorly, 1.5× as long as breadth at base, 2× length of first segment of labial palpus; labial palpi ( Fig. 4 F) pronounced, membranous, positioned postero-dorsal to spinneret; stipular setae nearly equal in length to seta of first segment of labial palpus.

Prothorax ( Figs 5 A, B): prothoracic plate and pre-spiracular plate separate; prothoracic plate with mottled pattern; distance between seta SD1 and SD2 equal to distance between XD1 and XD2; distance between setae XD1 and XD2 1.5× of distance between setae XD2 and SD1; setae XD1, XD2 and SD2 nearly equal in length; distance between D1 to D2 almost 1.5× of distance between D1 and XD1; length of seta SD1 slightly more than 2× length of seta SD2; distance between left and right XD1 more than distance between left and right D1 and less than distance between left and right D2; length of seta D2 3.5× or slightly more than 3.5× of length of seta D1; setae MXD1 very small. L group bisetose; seta L1 nearly 3× length of seta L2 or slightly less; SV1 and SV2 present above leg, and on a common pinaculum; seta SV1 almost 3× as long as seta SV2. Spiracle circular, its diameter more than 1.3× diameter of A1 spiracle.

Mesothorax and Metathorax ( Fig. 5 A): seta D1 postero-dorsal to seta D2 and both from a common pinaculum; length of seta D2 nearly 5× length of seta D1; seta SD2 antero-dorsal to seta SD1 and both from a common pinaculum; length of seta SD 1 in mesothorax 6.5–8.0× length of seta SD2, while that of metathorax 3–3.5× length of seta SD2 or slightly more; setae L1, L2 and L3 present and each from a separate pinaculum; setae L1 closer to L2 than L3; seta L1 nearly 1.5× length of seta L2 and slightly more than 2× length of seta L3; SV group missing; seta V1 present.

Abdomen ( Figs 5 A–E): anal plate ( Fig. 5 C) oval and very slightly notched antero-medially; setae SD1 and D2 very long; seta SD1 slightly longer than seta D2; seta D1 half length of seta D2; length of seta D2 slightly more than 3× length of seta D3; seta D2, D1 and SD1 nearly equidistant; distance between seta D3 and SD1 less than that between SD1 and D1. Ventral prolegs on A3 to A6 and A10, crochets uniserial, biordinal, arranged in complete circle ( Fig. 5 E). In segments A1 to A8: D1 anterior to D2 and compared with it rather dorsal; length of seta D2 almost 1.5× length of seta D1; seta SD2 very short; L group in segments A1 to A8 trisetose (L1 and L 2 in a unique pinaculum and L3 postero-ventral and well apart from them); length of seta L1 nearly equal to L3 and almost 3.5× length of seta L2; setae SV in segments A1 to A4 trisetose, in segments A1 and A2 setae SV1 and SV3 from a common pinaculum, antero-dorsal to SV2 which originates from a pinaculum apart from them, while in segments A3 to A6 all originate from a common pinaculum; setae SV in segments A7 and A8 bisetose and setae SV2 missing; setae SV 1 in segments A1 to A6 longer than both SV2 and SV3, and in segments A7 and A8 longer than SV3; setae V 1 in segments A3–A6 missing. Segment A9: seta D1 dorsad to seta D2; distance between setae D1 and D2 more than distance between setae D1 to SD1; L group with three setae L1, L2 and L3 that together form a straight line; seta L3 slightly longer than seta L1; length of seta L2 slightly more than 5× length of seta L3 and slightly more than 6× length of seta L1; SV group bisetose, length of seta SV1 nearly 3× length of seta SV3. Segment A10 ( Fig. 5 D): AL1 and AL2 equal in length and slightly more than 2× length of seta AL3.

Pupa (female) ( Figs 6 B, C): maximum length 8.0 mm (n= 1); breadth of head 2.0 mm; integument not clearly punctuate; light brown, slightly darker in ventral surface of thorax, especially in wing sheath and antennal area, except maxillary palpi, labrum and frons which are paler; caudal abdominal segments orangish; all spiracles of nearly the same size and ochreous red; labial palpi present; thoracic spiracles not visible; prothoracic legs extended to slightly beyond half length of maxilla; mesothoracic legs extended to 3⁄4 length of maxilla; metathoracic legs extended nearly to end of maxilla; spiracle on A1 not clearly visible, and those of A2 to A8 distinct; cremaster indistinguishable; genital openings as vertical slits and present on segments A8 and A9 (g1 and g2 respectively); g1 slightly shorter than g2.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Gymnancyla iranella, adults, head and palpi. A) adult male (Holotype, Iran, Yazd Prov., Abarkuh). B) adult female (paratype). C, E) male head, frontal view. D, F) male head, lateral view. G) labial palp. H) maxillary palp. Arrow indicates the frontal ridge.

FIGURE 2. Gymnancyla iranella, male genitalia. A) male genitalia, main armature. B) phallus. C) eighth abdominal sternite. D) culcita.

FIGURE 3. Gymnancyla iranella, female genitalia. A) whole female genitalia. B) antrum. C) sclerotizations at the transition of corpus bursae and ductus bursae. D) signa.

FIGURE 4. Gymnancyla iranella, head structure of the fifth instar larva. A) head, frontal view. B) head, lateral view. C) labrum. D) epipharynx. E) left mandible. F) maxillo-labium. Sensillum designations: A, anterior; AF, adfrontal; C, clypeal; F, frontal; L, lateral; M (in C and E designation for labral and mandibular setae); MD, microdorsal; MG, microgenal; P, parietal; S, stemmatal (= ocular, O); SS, substemmatal (= subocular, SO); ST, stipular (in maxillo-labium).

FIGURE 5. Gymnancyla iranella, diagrammatic segmental maps of the setae, sclerotizations and crochet in fifth instar larva. A) thoracic (1 – 3) and abdominal segments (I – IX). B) prothoracic plate. C) anal plate. D) last (X) abdominal segment. E) crochet. Sensillum designations: A, prefix for some anal segments; dorsal, D; lateral, L; supernummary microdorsal, MXD; subdorsal, SD; subventral, SV; ventral, V; supernummary dorsal, XD.

FIGURE 6. Gymnancyla iranella, fifth instar larva and pupa. A) fifth instar larva, lateral view. B) female pupa, lateral view. C) drawings of female pupa in ventral and lateral views. I – X, abdominal segments.