Eulamprotes baldizzonei Karsholt & Huemer

Huemer, Peter, Elsner, Gustav & Karsholt, Ole, 2013, Review of the Eulamprotes wilkella species-group based on morphology and DNA barcodes, with descriptions of new taxa (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae), Zootaxa 3746 (1), pp. 69-100 : 81-85

Eulamprotes baldizzonei Karsholt & Huemer sp. nov.

Examined material. Holotype. ♂. “ ITALIA sept., Südtirol Margreid, Fenner Schlucht 11°12´05´´E, 46°17´16´´N 460 m, 26.6.2013 leg. Huemer” “DNA barcode TLMF Lep 09986” (TLMF).

Paratypes. Italy: 3♂, Piemonte (CN), Parco Natur. Reg. Alpi Maritime, Entraque, Trinita, Vallone Grande, 1400 m, 15., 16. & 21.vii.1996, leg. Baldizzone (RCGB); 1♂, ibid but dintorni di Trinità, Entracque, 20.– 25.vii.1996 leg. Baldizzone (RCGB, ZMUC); 2♂, ditto but Valdieri, Riserva Nat. Spec. Juniperus phoenica, 900 m, 10. & 17.vii.1999, leg. Baldizzone (RCGB); 1♂, ditto but Palanfré, Lago d. Alberghi, 1600–1800 m, 16.vii.1999, leg. Baldizzone (RCGB); 1♂, Piemonte, Cardona, Basse Monferr, 23.v.1976, leg. Baldizzone; 1♂, same data but 5.vi.1979 (RCGB, ZMUC); 1♂, Piemonte, Palanfre, sent. Colle Garbella, 1550–1800 m, 2.vii.2000, leg. Baldizzone (barcode id TLMF Lep 05093) (ZMUC); 2♂, Prov. Südtirol, Auer, 15.– 18.5.1958, leg. Burmann (LNK, TLMF); 1♂, Prov. Trento, Nago, 7.9.1981, leg. Burmann (TLMF); 1♂, Verona, 11.v.1974, leg. Triberti, genitalia preperation 2888 Elsner (ZMUC); 1♂, Prov. Verona, M. Lessini, Fumane, 7.vi.1985, leg. Triberti (RCZT); 1 ♂, Prov. Verona, M. Lessini, Monte, 400 m, 22.vi.1985, leg. Triberti, genitalia preperation 1543 Elsner (RSGE); 1♂, Prov. Verona, M. Lessini, Monte, 600 m, 25.vi.1985, leg. Triberti (RCZT); 2♂, Prov. Verona, Monte Baldo, above Prada, 1200 m, 22.vii.1989, leg. Karsholt, genitalia slide 4696 Karsholt (ZMUC); 1♂, Abruzzo ( AO), str. Alfedena-Rifugio Campitelli, 1200 m, 16.vii.1990, leg. Baldizzone (RCGB); 1♂, Prov. Abruzzo, Castèl di Leri, 550 m, 9.–11.vi.2005, leg. Skou (ZMUC); 2♂, Prov. Chieti, PN della Majella, Taranta Peligna, Pian di Valle, 700 m, 20.vii.2011, leg. Huemer, genitalia slide GEL 1197 P. Huemer (barcode id TLMF Lep 0 5037, TLMF Lep 05038) (TLMF); 1♂, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, 8 km NW Vivaro, 250 m, 28.vi.2008, leg. Nilsson & Skou (ZMUC); 2♂, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Interneppo, 6.vi.1960 (NHMW); 1♂, same data, but leg. Burmann (LNK); 1♂, Veneto, Caorle, 1–4m, 7.vi.2012, leg. Mayr (TLMF). Slovenia: 1♂, Vipava (“Wippach”), 10.vi.1909, leg. Preissecker (NHMW); 1♂, Karst, Prešnica, 400 m, 2.vii.2002, leg. Deutsch (TLMF); 2♂, Karst, Sežana S, 360 m, 25.vi.2010, leg. Deutsch (barcode id TLMF Lep 0 8930, TLMF Lep 08931) (RCHD, TLMF); 3♂, Petrinski kras, Petrinja, 3.vi.2005, leg. Tokár (RCZT). Croatia: 2♂, Konjevrate, 6.vi.2005, leg. Tokár; 1♂, Pirovac-Ivinj, 5.vi.2005, leg. Tokár; 1♂, Biokovo Mts., Volšac, 1370 m, 27.vi.2006, leg. Tokár; 1♂, Malovan-Gračac, 10.vii.2004, leg. Tokár; 1♂, Gornje Bilišane, 11.vi.2005, leg. Tokár; 2♂, S Velebit Veliki Crnopac, 780 m, 22.vi.2006, leg. Tokár (barcode id TLMF Lep 0 8939, TLMF Lep 08940) (all RCZT).

DESCRIPTION.—Adult ( Figs 11–12 ). Male. Wingspan 9–11 mm. Segment 2 of labial palpus black with some cream-white on inner surface and distal end; segment 3 cream-white with black apical part. Basal third of antenna blackish; middle third distinctly lighter ringed; distal third greyish white, indistinctly darker ringed. Head white with darker frons and a black line around eye; thorax and tegula black. Forewing black with silvery markings: an oblique fascia from 1/6 at costa to 1/5 at fold; a spot at middle of costa and another spot below it in middle of the wing; pre-apically cream-white costal spot with silvery base not connected with tornal spot; termen with silvery scales around apex; cilia blackish, whitish grey at tip of apex. Hindwing about as broad as forewing, grey. Abdomen blackish with yellow-grey tip.

Female. Unknown.

Variation. The examined specimens show only minor variation.

Male genitalia ( Figs 30–31 ; 56).—Segment VIII with two pairs of coremata in intersegmental membrane, grouped into short tufts of moderately broad and rather lanceolate scales, respectively. Uncus a tiny process, apically with several long setae; tegumen short, sub-rectangular, a sclerotized belt (gnathos) connects the dorsolateral corners of the tegumen, from these corners two very long and rather stout setae are arising, anterior margin weakly cut-out, pedunculi small; valva long and moderately slender, weakly curved with convex dorsal (outer) and weakly concave ventral (inner) margin, distally tapered to pointed apex, valva in large part covered with setae; separate plate-like sclerite at base of valva, covered with few setae; sacculus a distinct, moderately small and setose lobe; saccus about as long as distance from anterior margin of vinculum to tip of valva, basally moderately broad, distally strongly tapered; phallus cone-shaped, comparatively broad and short, apical fifth abruptly tapered, about one-third width of its anterior part; vesica with a number of small grains.

Female genitalia.—Unknown.

DIAGNOSIS.— E. baldizzonei sp. nov. is characterized by the markings of the forewings being clear silvery (with a slight bluish shade), by having the central silvery fascia separated into two spots, by the black segment two of the labial palpi, and by having the distal third of the antennae greyish white with only indistinct darker rings. It is very similar to E. mirusella sp. nov. The male genitalia are practically indistinguishable from those of other species with a short uncus and slender valva, in particular E. occidentella and E. atrifrontella sp. nov. From the latter they may be separated by the slightly stouter and thicker shape of the phallus.

GENETIC DATA.— E. baldizzonei sp. nov. is genetically split into two major haplogroups. The intraspecific divergence of the barcode region of western populations ranges from 0%–1.22% (average distance 0.82%) (n=3) with a geographically related genetic distance between material from the Alps and the Apennines. The distance of these populations to the nearest named neighbour E. atrifrontella sp. nov. is 8.35%. However, the average distance to populations from Slovenia and Croatia is 5.3%, indicating possible cryptic diversity. Within this group a considerable geographically related divergence of maximum 1.7% can be observed.

DISTRIBUTION.—Only known from the lower parts of the south-western and southern Alps and from the Apennines ( Italy). Records from north-eastern Italy and from Slovenia and Croatia ( Fig. 12 ) are attributed to E. baldizzonei sp. nov. despite their distinct genetic divergence, but based on the identical morphology.

BIOLOGY.—Host-plant and early stages unknown. The adults have been collected at light from mid-June to early September indicating bivoltinism. Specimens have also been disturbed during the day with a bee-smoker. They occur at the foothills and lower parts of the Alps and Apennines up to altitudes of about 1600 m, alleged populations from the eastern part of the range also at the coast.

REMARKS.—The species status of E. baldizzonei sp. nov. is supported by phenotypical characters and the distinct DNA-Barcode. The conspecificity of specimens from the north-eastern part of Italy and from Slovenia to Croatia with western populations of E. baldizzonei sp. nov. is based on the congruent morphology of the adults. However, whereas external and genitalia morphology support the conspecificity, genetic distances rather contradict this hypothesis. No genetic data are available from southern alpine specimens. E. superbella as figured in Elsner et al. (1999) is a mixture of two species. The adult figure 77 depicts a male of E. baldizzonei sp. nov.

ETYMOLOGY.—The name (a noun in the genitive case) is dedicated to Giorgio Baldizzone (Asti, Italy) who collected important parts of the type-series.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 12. Adults of Eulamprotes spp. 1, E. wilkella (Zeller), ♂ (Italy); 2, ditto, ♂ (Great Britain, England); 3, ditto, ♀ (Italy); 4, E. ochricapilla (Rebel), ♂ (Italy); 5, ditto, ♀ (Austria); 6, E. superbella (Zeller), ♂ (Austria); 7, ditto, ♂ (Italy); 8, ditto, ♀ (Denmark); 9, E. mirusella sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (France); 10, ditto, paratype, ♀ (France); 11, E. baldizzonei sp. nov., paratype, ♂ (Italy); 12, ditto, paratype, ♂ (Italy). Scale bar = 2 mm.

FIGURES 28 – 33. Male genitalia of Eulamprotes spp. 28, E. mirusella sp. nov., holotype, (France) gen. slide GEL 1196 P. Huemer; 29, ditto, phallus; 30, E. baldizzonei sp. nov., paratype, (Italy) gen. slide GEL 1197 P. Huemer; 31, ditto, phallus; 32, E. occidentella Huemer & Karsholt, paratype, (Italy) gen. slide GEL 1143 P. Huemer; 33, ditto, phallus.