Taleporia henderickxi Arnscheid

Arnscheid, Wilfried R., 2016, Taleporiahenderickxi sp. n., a new psychid species of the subfamily Taleporiinae from Crete (Lepidoptera, Psychidae), Nota Lepidopterologica 39 (2), pp. 93-100 : 94-98

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Psychidae

Taleporia henderickxi Arnscheid sp. n.

Material.

Holotype ♂: Kreta (GR), Preveli, near Preveli beach 0 m, case 10.x.2000, male exit on 13.xii.2000, leg. Henderickx, accessory label "TALPRE ♂3" (Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Karlsruhe (SMNK), Germany).

Paratypes: 1 ♂ Zuid-West Kreta, larva 28.iv.2000 (Estuary Preveli tussen schors Eucalyptus), imago 28.ix.2000, accessory label "TALPRE ♂1"; 1 ♂ Kreta, Limni Preveli, ex l. 24.x.2002, leg. Hans Henderickx, cult. Hättenschwiler, accessory label "TALPRE ♂2"; 1 ♀ Kreta (zuid), Preveli (estuary), N35°09.295, E24°28.430, case 28.iv.2000, imago 18.xi.2000, leg. Henderickx (all in the private collection of the author).

Etymology.

It gives me great honour to dedicate this beautiful new species to Hans Henderickx. He discovered the new species and we are grateful for his contributions to the knowledge of the invertebrate fauna of Crete.

Diagnosis.

Taleporia henderickxi is among the smallest Taleporia species (wingspan 9 and 10 mm). Looking closely at the genus the new species resembles Taleporia defoliella from southern France but it differs by a couple of morphological features. The forewings of Taleporia henderickxi are broader and less elongated. Forewing index (forewing length / forewing width, after Sobczyk 2002) 2.45 and 2.63, average 2.54 ( Taleporia defoliella 2.69-2.72, average 2.71). The brownish spot at the inner margin is more prominent. The scales (of the distal third) of the forewings of the new species are mostly short and uniformly serrated distally with three equal dentations. The scales of Taleporia defoliella are more or less triangular with mostly three hardly visible dentations with one longer dentation medially. The fringe scales are distinctly different. The fringe scales of the new species are long stalked, narrow, distally with 4-6 dentations. The fringe scales of Taleporia defoliella are narrower and show mostly only 1-3 dentations.

Taleporia henderickxi differs also in the male genitalia. The setae of the distal part of the valva are more dense and slightly longer than in Taleporia defoliella . The genital index (phallus length / valva length, after Sauter 1956) is distinctly higher (1.55 and 1.57, average 1.56, n=2) than in Taleporia defoliella (1.17-1.20, average 1.18, n=3).

The new species differs from all other Taleporia species due to its small size and the extremely late period of flight. It is also characterized by its remote geographical location. No other Taleporia species occur on Crete and it is extremely unlikely that it is conspecific with any of the mentioned taxa. In an earlier phase of the study Peter Hättenschwiler, Uster (Switzerland) also concluded that this taxon is a separate species (P. Hättenschwiler, in litt.).

Description.

Male (Fig. 1). Wingspan 9 and 10 mm, forewing length 5.0 and 4.9 mm (average 4.95), dark brownish with distinct golden shine. Forewings covered with scattered small dark brown spots. A larger brown spot at the distal end of the discal cell, another one at middle of inner margin. Scales broad, with 3-4 dentations (class 6 after Sauter 1956). Fringe scales long (Fig. 2), become distinctly longer towards inner margin; long stalked, narrow, with 4-6 dentations. Hindwings uniform dark greyish with a tinge of golden gloss, scales moderately broad (class 3-4 after Sauter 1956). Venation hardly visible under magnification, with 10 veins from discal cell, accessory cell present. Head appearing hairy, with rough yellowish brown scales of variable lengths; external ocelli present. Antenna thread-like with 26-28 segments; scaled dorsally, each segment with two brush-shaped groups of setae. Forelegs with tibial epiphysis, midlegs with one pair of apical tibial spurs and hindlegs with medial and apical tibial spurs.

Genitalia typical for Taleporia (Fig. 1c) with tegumen indented distally, slightly vaulted, distinctly narrower distally in lateral view, with two lobe-shaped extensions. Clasper of sacculus distinctly sclerotized, upwardly curved, thorn-shaped. Valva broad, densely covered with short setae on the second half towards distal end. Vinculum short, triangular, saccus very short, broad. Phallus nearly as long as valva, thin, slightly curved in the last third caudally, vesica without cornuti. Genital index (phallus length / valva length) 1.56 (average, n=2).

Female (Figs 3, 4). Wingless. Length 3.5 mm (excluding ovipositor), yellowish white, dorsally head, thorax and each abdominal segment distinctly brownish, moderately sclerotized; ventrally less sclerotized with mostly divided brownish narrow plates. Eyes black, very small; antenna very short, segmented. Labial palpus reduced. Legs with five tarsal segments. Anal hair-tuft darkish brown; ovipositor long, extensible.

Case.

Similar in both sexes. Length 7 mm, width 1 mm, slightly triangular in cross section. Light greyish brown, sparsely covered with plant debris and sand (Figs 1d, 4).

The habitat of Taleporia henderickxi is in the estuary of the River Megalopotamos in South Crete. Along this estuary there is a major cluster of the endemic palm tree Phoenix theophrasti ( Arecaceae ) (Fig. 5).