Caryocolum lamai, Huemer, 2020

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 lamai sp. nov.

Material examined.

Holotype ♂, " ITALIA sept., prov. Torino / PN del Gran Bosco di / Salbertrand, 2 km SE Colle / dell'Assieta , 2240 m / 6°58'44"E, 45°3'38"N / 25.7.2019, leg. Huemer / TLMF 2019-026 " "DNA Barcode / TLMF Lep 27645" " P. Huemer / GEL 1283 ♂" ( TLMF).

Paratypes: Italy: 7 ♂♂, same data as holotype, but DNA Barcodes 27646, 27647 (TLMF); 21 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Cuneo province, Val Traversagn, Casteldelfino W, 2050, 44°34'00"N, 6°58'30"E, 21 Jul. 2001, leg. Huemer, gen. slides GEL 1258 ♂, GEL 1262 ♂, GEL 1286 ♀ (TLMF); 12 ♂♂, same data, but leg. Mayr (RCTM); 1 ♂, same data, but S. Anna, 21-22 Jul. 2001, leg. Huemer (TLMF); 9 ♂♂, Cuneo province, Demonte NW, Colle Fauniera env., 2480-2500 m, 44°23'08"N, 7°7'19"E, 3 Aug. 2008, leg. Huemer, DNA Barcodes TLMF Lep 00107, 00108, 03747, 03748, 03749, 2 gen. slides in glycerin (TLMF); 2 ♂, same data, but 19 Jul. 2016, leg. Schmid, DNA Barcodes TLMF Lep 22437, 22438 (RCJS); 5 ♂♂, Cuneo province, Gias Valcavera, 2050 m, 44°22,6'N, 07°06,2'E, 23 Jul. 2009, leg. Mayr; 32 ♂♂, same data, but 27 Jul. 2009; 1 ♂, same data, but 17 Aug. 2012; 3 ♂♂, same data, but 15 Aug. 2019 (all RCTM); 3 ♂♂, same data, but 23 Jul. 2009, leg. Huemer, DNA Barcode TLMF Lep 00533 (TLMF); 6 ♂♂, Cuneo province, Colle Valcavera, 2450 m, 44°22,9'N, 07°07,2'E, 28 Jul. 2015, leg. Mayr (RCTM); 1 ♂, same data, but 2400-2450 m, 5 Aug. 2008, leg. Huemer; 12 ♂♂, Colle Valcavera NE, 2450 m, 44°23'04"N, 07°06'23"E, 17 Aug. 2012, leg. Huemer (TLMF); 9 ♂♂, Cuneo prov., N Colle della Lombarda, 2370 m, 44°12.12'N, 7°08.64' E, 18-19 Aug. 2012, leg. Huemer, gen. slide in glycerin (TLMF); 9 ♂♂, Torino province, PN Orsiera - Rocciavrè, Usseaux, Colle delle Finestre N, 2180 m, 45°4'21"N, 7°3'11"E, 24 Jul. 2019, leg. Huemer (TLMF); 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Torino province, Via Colle delle Finestre, Pequerel NE, 1840 m, 45°3'7.65"N, 7°4'16.27"E, 26 Aug. 2019, leg. Wieser (LMK); 28 ♂♂, Torino province, Testa dell Assietta, 2530 m, 45°3'49.56"N, 6°57'2.79"E, 25 Aug. 2019, leg. Wieser (LMK); 1 ♂, Torino prov., Meana di Susa, Piano del Tiraculo, 2000 m, 25 Jul. 2007, leg. Baldizzone (TLMF). France: 22 ♂♂, Dep. Alpes-Maritimes, Col de la Lombarde, 2350 m, 44°12'8"N, 7°9'E, 18-19 Aug. 2012, leg. Huemer, gen. slide in glycerine; 2 ♂♂, Dep. Alpes-Maritimes, PN Mercantour, N Col de la Cayolle, Col de la Boucharde N, 1930-1950 m, 44°17'N, 6°44'36"E, 26 Jul. 2009, leg. Huemer; 1 ♂, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Col d´Allos, 2400 m, 21 Jul. 1999, leg. J. Nel, gen. slide 9458 ♂ J. Nel (all TLMF).

Diagnosis.

C. lamai is, together with C. arenariella , the smallest and darkest species of the C. schleichi species group with reduced white markings and brown scales. It differs from C. schleichi by the brown rather than white head, thorax and tegulae but cannot be reliably separated from the other species of the complex by external characters of the forewings. However, the male genitalia are characterized by the shape of the valva, particularly the long, sharply pointed dorsal process, only shared with C. improvisella , C. messneri and C. arenariella . This process is more slender and longer than in C. improvisella and C. messneri , whereas the male genitalia differ from C. arenariella in particular in the more slender sacculus and the broader and the digitate medial processes of the vinculum. The female genitalia are hardly discernible from other species of the C. schleichi species group, except for the signum with a slender and long crescent-shaped base, a character only shared with C. arenariella , from which it differs by the longer apophysis posterior. However, the individual variation of this character is insufficiently documented due to lack of material.

Description.

Adult (Figs 9 , 10 ). Forewing length ♂ 4.5-5.5 mm, ♀ 4.0 mm. Head dark grey-brown, mottled with light grey, frons greyish white; labial palpus dark brown, second segment cream-white on inner surface, third segment blackish, mottled with white; antenna black, weakly ringed paler. Thorax and tegula dark grey-brown, with few rusty brown scales. Abdomen dark grey on ventral surface. Forewing dark brown with some light mottling, particularly on dorsum; distinct white markings: narrow transverse fascia from fold to costa at one-fifth, irregular white medial spot, separate costal and tornal spots; fringes basally dark brown, distal part lighter. Hindwing light grey.

Variation.

The extension of light mottling of the forewing varies slightly.

Male genitalia

(Figs 19 , 27 ). Uncus broadly sub-quadrangular, posterior corners rounded; lateral sclerites of gnathos distinct, medial part with large minutely spined culcitula; tegumen weakly widened anteriorly, with slightly emarginated anterior margin; transtilla sclerotized, longitudinally folded; pedunculus large, sub-triangular, with sclerotized inner edge; valva nearly straight, long, distal part moderately slender, weakly dilated with straight dorsal and ventral edges, apex with two processes, particularly long and pointed dorsal process extended to posterior third of uncus, slender digitate ventral process at about right-angles to dorsal process; sacculus long, slender, with parallel margins, apically pointed; posterior margin of vinculum deeply incised medially, with pair of short 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 34 , 41 , 48 ). Apophysis posterior about four times length of apophysis anterior; segment VIII without processes, smooth; ostium bursae with short lateral folds; apophysis anterior about 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 long and slender crescent-shaped base and long slender hook.

Molecular data.

BIN: BOLD:AAE9478. The intraspecific average distance of the barcode region is 0.04%, the maximum distance 0.15% (p-dist) (n = 7). The minimum distance to the nearest neighbor, C. dianthella , is 3.05%.

Etymology.

The species is named in honour of David Lama (1990-2019), one of the most famous Austrian alpinists, who was tragically killed by an avalanche in Banff National Park (Canada) on the 1st of April 2019. David supported earlier work on landscape conservation in Tyrol with enthusiasm.

Distribution.

The species is currently only known from a restricted area in northern Italy (region of Piedmont) and France (Alpes-Maritimes, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence).

Bionomics.

Host plant and early stages are unknown but it seems most likely that the species shows a similar behaviour as related taxa with a hostplant restriction to Dianthus spp. The adults have been found from late July until late August near rock and scree at altitudes of about 1800 to 2600 m on calcareous soil (Fig. 50 ), where they were attracted to artificial light sources.

Figures

Figure 50. Habitat of Caryocolum lamai, Italy, Alpi Cozie, Colle Valcavera.

Figures 9 - 12. Adults. 9 Caryocolum lamai, paratype, male, Italy; 10 C. lamai, paratype, male, Italy; 11 C. messneri, paratype, male, Italy; 12 C. habeleri, paratype, male, France.

Figures 17 - 20. Male genitalia. 17 Caryocolum arenariella, Russia, slide GEL 1260 P. Huemer; 18 C. messneri, holotype, Italy, slide GEL 1255; 19 C. lamai, paratype, Italy, slide GEL 1258 P. Huemer; 21 C. habeleri, paratype, France, slide GEL 1289 P. Huemer.

Figures 25 - 28. Male genitalia (details vinculum-valva-complex). 25 Caryocolum arenariella, Russia, slide GEL 1260 P. Huemer; 26 C. messneri, holotype, Italy, slide GEL 1255; 27 C. lamai, paratype, Italy, slide GEL 1258 P. Huemer; 28 C. habeleri, paratype, France, slide GEL 1289 P. Huemer.

Figures 33 - 35. Female genitalia. 33 Caryocolum messneri, paratype, Italy, slide GEL 1295 P. Huemer; 34 C. lamai, paratype, Italy, slide GEL 1286 P. Huemer; 35 C. habeleri, paratype, Germany, slide M 1703.

Figures 40 - 42. Female genitalia (segment VIII). 40 Caryocolum messneri, paratype, Italy, slide GEL 1295 P. Huemer; 41 C. lamai, paratype, Italy, slide GEL 1286 P. Huemer; 42 C. habeleri, paratype, Germany, slide M 1703.

Figures 47 - 49. Female genitalia (signum). 47 Caryocolum messneri, paratype, Italy, slide GEL 1295 P. Huemer; 48 C. lamai, paratype, Italy, slide GEL 1286 P. Huemer; 49 C. habeleri, paratype, Germany, slide M 1703.