Scrobipalpa admirabilis, Bidzilya, 2021

Bidzilya, Oleksiy V., 2021, A review of the genus Scrobipalpa Janse, 1951 (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae) in the Afrotropical region, Zootaxa 5070 (1), pp. 1-83 : 28-29

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5070.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C503CE0D-7175-4D9C-8FF6-85A046A872B3
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5816034
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03D0116E-4627-9338-7C95-B124BA87FB4D
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Scrobipalpa admirabilis
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Scrobipalpa admirabilis View in CoL sp. nov.

Figs 57, 58 View FIGURES 51–60 , 128 View FIGURES 123–128

Type material. Holotype ♂, Namibia, Fishriver , Gondwana Canyon Lodge, 17.iv.2008, leg. W. Me, LF (gen. slide 317/20, O. Bidzilya) ( MfN). Paratype : Namibia: ♂, Fishriver, Gondwana Canyon Lodge, 13.x.2007 (Mey) | BIOTA observatory Karios 8 (gen. slide 164/12, O. Bidzilya) (MFN-00090) ( MfN) .

Diagnosis. The species is easily recognized superficially by its white forewing with black markings formed by raised scales. It resembles S. erexita sp. nov., but in S. admirabilis sp. nov. the ground colour of the forewing is white rather than light brown, and the black markings are more well defined. The male genitalia differ from those of S. erexita sp. nov. in having a longer sacculus and shorter vincular process (for additional details, see the diagnosis of S. erexita sp. nov.).

Description. Adult ( Figs 57, 58 View FIGURES 51–60 ). Wingspan 9.1–9.4 mm. Head and thorax white, tegulae white with browntipped scales at base; labial palpus white with brown basal and medial rings, inner surface white; scape brown, flagellum brown with broad white rings; forewing white, black spots at base and on 1/3 of costal margin, two small black spots with yellow scales between them at base of wing at mid-width, black diffuse spot formed by weakly raised scales from 1/3 to 1/2 length at mid-width, black dash on 2/3 of costal margin, black patch of irregular shape, suffused with light brown from 2/3 of dorsum to mid-width, subapical area distinctly mottled with black and light brown raised scales, apical black streak narrow, cilia with short and long, black-tipped, white scales; hind wing and cilia white.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 128 View FIGURES 123–128 ). Uncus elongate, weakly tapered in distal half; gnathos hook short, wide, weakly curved; tegumen moderately broad, anterior margin with rounded medial emargination extending to about 1/3 length of tegumen; valva slender, weakly widened apically, extending to apex of uncus; sacculus twice as broad as and about 1/2 length of valva, turned inwards, with pointed, inward-curved tip, separated from vincular process by broadly rounded gap; vinculum moderately broad, with deep triangular medial emargination; vincular process short, subtriangular, with outwardly turned pointed tip; saccus wide at base, abruptly narrowed after 1/3, apex pointed, extending beyond top of pedunculus; distal portion of phallus straight, apex slightly inflated, with distinct transversal apical hook, caecum strongly swollen, slightly shorter than distal portion of phallus.

Female genitalia. Unknown.

Biology. Host plant unknown. The adults were recorded in October and April in Dwarf Shrub Savanna ( Fig. 197 View FIGURES 197–202 ).

Distribution. Namibia.

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Latin “ admirabile ”—admirable, wonderful—and alludes to the conspicuous forewing pattern of the species, in comparison to most other species of Scrobipalpa .