Elachista curonensis Traugott-Olsen, 1990

Kaila, Lauri, Baran, Tomasz & Mutanen, Marko, 2015, A revision of the Elachista dispilella complex (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Elachistidae), Zootaxa 3963 (4), pp. 517-560 : 528-530

Elachista curonensis Traugott-Olsen, 1990

Figs. 7 , 50

Elachista curonensis Traugott-Olsen, 1990: 63

Material studied. Type material. Holotype ♂: Holo-type [rounded with red margin], Italia Piemonte V. Curone/ Poggia di Casane (AL) 6.VI.1987 leg. Baldizzone; Elachista curonensis det. Traugott-Olsen, B.M. Genitalia Slide No.26342 ( BMNH).

Diagnosis. Elachista curonensis is a relatively small species with a unicolorous creamy white forewing and grey hindwing. It most resembles E. nitidulella from which it is distinguished by the shape of the uncus lobe shape which is narrow and pointed in E. nitidulella , broad and distally nearly rounded in E. curonensis . The male genitalia of E. curonensis differ from those of E. dispilella by the large and somewhat ovoid gnathos and the shorter phallus of E. curonensis as compared to E. dispilella . The cornutus group is also shorter in E. curonensis than in E. dispilella . The female genitalia of E. curonensis , not studied here, are similar to those of E. distigmatella , E. bruuni , E. festucicolella , and E. bigorrensis on the basis of its characterization by Traugott-Olsen (1990). In the original description the position of ductus seminalis is not mentioned, so this character cannot be evaluated in the present context. Therefore this species is not included in the key. On the basis of the unicolorous forewing, it most resembles E. festucicolella and E. bigorrensis , but the small size of E. curonensis may distinguish it from these species.

Molecular characterization. No material was available for genetic study.

Redescription of male genitalia. Uncus lobes twice as long as wide, distally tapered towards nearly rounded and outward bent apex, mesial margin convex, lateral margin straight. Spinose knob of gnathos large, somewhat longer than its width. Valva 1.3 times as long as tegumen + uncus, narrow, 5.5 times as long as its width, nearly parallel-sided; cucullus elongate. Digitate process tongue-shaped with rounded apex, 0.25 times as long as valva, medially and distally with stout setae. Juxta lobes devoid of setae, mesial margin slightly convex, joining weakly concave distal margin without an angle. Phallus as long as valva, bent, broadest basally; cornutus cluster combshaped, comprised of a few basally joined long, bent spines, apical one longest, 1.5 times as long as diameter of phallus.

Female. Not studied (characterized by Traugott-Olsen 1990, see the note after the key to females, and the diagnosis above).

Biology. Unknown.

Distribution. Italy.

Figures

FIGURES 2 – 13. Adults of Elachista spp. Scale 2 mm. 2. E. dispilella Zeller, ♂ lectotype (image in greyscale). 3. E. dispilella Zeller ♂ (Poland, Torún). 4. E. dispilella Zeller (holotype ♂ of E. steueri Traugott-Olsen). 5. E. dispilella Zeller (holotype ♂ of E. jaeckhi Traugott-Olsen). 6. E. dispilella Zeller (holotype ♂ of E. gebzeensis Traugott-Olsen). 7. E. curonensis Traugott- Olsen, ♂, holotype. 8. E. festucicolella Zeller, ♂ lectotype. 9. E. festucicolella Zeller, ♂ (Poland). 10. E. festucicolella Zeller, ♀ (Poland). 11. E. bigorrensis Traugott-Olsen, ♀, holotype. 12. E. distigmatella Zeller, ♂ lectotype. 13. E. distigmatella Zeller, ♂ (Italy).

FIGURES 50 – 51. Male genitalia of Elachista spp. 50. E. curonensis Traugott-Olsen, holotype, B. M. 26342. Left: general image of genitalia. Right: cornutus group, juxta, and digitate process. 51. E. festucicolella Zeller, lectotype, B. M. 19363. Left: general image of genitalia, phallus in same scale. Right top: juxta and digitate process. Right bottom: cornutus as enlarged.