Micropterix jabalmoussae Zeller, Kullberg & Kurz

Zeller, Hans Christof, Kullberg, Jaakko & Kurz, Michael Alexander, 2016, A new species of Micropterix Huebner, 1825 from Lebanon (Lepidoptera: Micropterigidae), Nota Lepidopterologica 39 (2), pp. 101-107 : 102-104

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Micropterigidae

Micropterix jabalmoussae Zeller, Kullberg & Kurz sp. n.

Material.

Holotype ♂: http://id.luomus.fi/GK.6673, Lebanon, Kesrouan 950 m, 34°03.96'N 35°45.07'E, Jebel Musa, Mar Geryes, 25.v.2012, J. Kullberg & T. Lievonen leg., label with identification numbers CZ-Z27207 and AP: MK- 1062 and red label "HOLOTYPE of Micropterix jabalmoussae Zeller, Kullberg & Kurz". - Paratype: 1 ♀, same data as holotype but http://id.luomus.fi/GK.6675, label with identification numbers CZ-Z27208 and red label "PARATYPE of Micropterix jabalmoussae Zeller, Kullberg & Kurz.

Description.

Adult (Fig. 1). Forewing length 3.5 mm (♂), 3.6 mm (♀). Head black-brown; vestiture of hair-like scales on head light yellow; antennae dark brown, 3/4 (♂), respectively, 1/2 (♀) forewing length; thorax and tegulae violet with golden gloss; forewings bronze golden, with purple tinge at apex, with silvery white markings: a narrow fascia across whole wing width at 1/4; a narrow, outwardly bent fascia across whole wing width at nearly 1/2, somewhat broadened at costa; at 3/4 an oval or rectangular spot reaching from costa to middle of the forewing; fringe bronzy golden; hindwings bronzy golden, apically tinged purplish; fringe bronzy golden; legs and abdomen brown, golden shining.

Male genitalia (Fig. 2). Uncus very short and stout, beneath uncus a sclerotized twin structure of curved and slender shape, bearing hair-like setae at tip; accessory claspers nearly square, distally with rounded margin, bearing three groups of setae: about ten long setae with hooked ends at distal margin, a group of about eight T-shaped setae on inner surface and more dorsally and two clearly separated setae also on inner surface but more ventrally (Fig. 3); valvae moderately long, base thickened, medially distinctly constricted, distal parts spoon-like; distal parts at inner surface with one to two rows of short, straight, stout and thickened setae at ventral margin; phallus typical for genus, without cornuti.

The twin structures overlying the ventral margin of the accessory claspers randomly are part of the phallus and do not belong to the accessory claspers.

Diagnosis.

Micropterix berytella and Micropterix elegans occur in the same region and show similar wing markings ( Zeller-Lukashort et al. 2009). The new species is externally somewhat similar to Micropterix cypriensis (Cyprus), Micropterix corcyrella Walsingham, 1919 (southern Balkans), Micropterix aruncella (Scopoli, 1763) (Europe), Micropterix erctella Walsingham, 1919 (Sicily), Micropterix uxoria Walsingham, 1919 (Sicily), Micropterix renatae Kurz et al., 1997 (Italy) and Micropterix italica Heath, 1981 (Italy). From all these species the new species is clearly separated by its male genitalia, e.g. by the distinct shape of uncus, accessory claspers and valvae ( Zeller-Lukashort et al. 2007, 2009; Kurz and Kurz 2016). In the male genitalia the new species somewhat resembles Micropterix wockei Staudinger, 1970 from Greece but can easily be distinguished by its different valvae and shorter uncus ( Kurz and Kurz 2016). Micropterix islamella was found together with the new species but can easily be distinguished by its different wing pattern ( Zeller-Lukashort et al. 2009).

Distribution.

The new species is so far known from the mountain Jebel Musa (Kesrouan, Lebanon) from an elevation of about 950 m.

Life history.

The early stages are unknown. The new species was found in a dry slope meadow within a semi-open forest with Malus sp., Crataegus sp., Rosa sp., Sorbus sp., Prunus sp. and Quercus sp. (Figs 4, 5). Micropterix islamella was also found at the same locality.

Etymology.

The name of the new species is derived from the mountain Jebel Musa, also transcribed as Jabal Moussa or Gebel Musa, which literally means "The Mountain of Moyses".

Remark.

Based on morphological characters the new species is considered to belong to a species-complex together with Micropterix aglaella (Duponchel, 1838), Micropterix wockei , Micropterix aureatella (Scopoli, 1763), Micropterix herminiella Corley, 2007 and Micropterix sikhotealinensis Ponomarenko & Beljaev, 2000 ( Kurz et al. 2016).

During the dissection of the male genitalia of the holotype, the whole body (abdomen, thorax, mesothorax, legs and wings) was unfortunately severed from the head. The broken part is stored in a micro vial attached on the pin. Figure 1 was taken before dissecting.