Scythris saldaitisi Nupponen, sp. nov., genus combination, 2022

Nupponen 1, Kari & Sihvonen, Pasi, 2022, Revision of Neotropical Scythrididae moths and descriptions of 22 new species from Argentina, Chile, and Peru (Lepidoptera, Gelechioidea), ZooKeys 1087, pp. 19-104 : 19

Scythris saldaitisi Nupponen, sp. nov., genus combination incertae sedis

Figs 28 , 57

Type material.

Holotype. Argentina • ♂; prov. Catamarca, Sierra de Manchao; 28°47.9'S, 66°23.2'W; 970 m a.s.l.; 21 Sep. 2017; K. Nupponen & R. Haverinen leg.; [BOLD sample ID] KN01049; [genitalia slide] K. Nupponen prep. no. 4/11 Dec. 2019; coll. NUPP (MZH).

Diagnosis.

Identification requires examination of the genitalia. In the male genitalia of S. saldaitisi , shape of asymmetrical valvae (left one very short) and anterior margin of sternum VIII straight are distinctive (valvae ca. equal length with incurved apexes and anterior margin of sternum VIII concave in S. wikstromi , valvae ca. equal length, right valva setose and anterior margin of sternum VIII concave in S. bicoloristrigella ).

Description.

Wingspan 13 mm. Head, collar, neck tuft, haustellum, tegula and thorax dark brown. Few dirty white scales exist around eye and laterally at thorax. Scape dorsally dark brown, ventrally pale beige, pecten longer than diameter of scape. Flagellum dark brown, 0.7 × length of forewing, ciliate, sensillae ~ 1/2 as long as diameter of flagellum. Labial palp: palpomere I dirty white, palpomeres II and III dark brown mixed with a few dirty white scales. Legs: lower surfaces dirty white, otherwise foreleg and midleg dark brown and hindleg fuscous. Abdomen dorsally fuscous, ventrally dirty white. Forewing with costal and apical areas dark brown, dorsal area at basal 1/2 slightly paler; black blotches in fold at 0.2, 0.35, 0.55, and at cell end, between two basal ones pale beige dash; scattered with white scales, more pronounced at apical area. Hindwing fuscous, slightly paler than forewing.

Male genitalia. Uncus elongated hood, posterior 1/2 heavily sclerotised. Gnathos base broad; distal arm upcurved, robust, heavily sclerotised and of constant width, tip blunt. Tegumen oval hood, dorsally widely open. Phallus 1/2 as long as left valva, rather slim, slightly bent. Valvae asymmetrical; left valva short, almost straight; right valva twice longer and wider, basal 0.7 straight, apical quarter somewhat twisted and curved ventrad, tip heavily sclerotised with hook-shaped process. Saccus labiate, ~ 1/2 length of left valva. Juxta narrow, 1.4 × length of phallus. Sternum VIII rectangular, elongated, 3.5 × longer than wide; posteromedially with two pronged projections with pointed tips; laterobasally with a pair of tapered extensions, directed obliquely anteriorly. Tergum VIII trapezoid, anterior margin concave and sclerotised.

Etymology.

Noun in the genitive case. The species is dedicated to Aidas Saldaitis, a Lithuanian lepidopterist, to acknowledge his contributions to Scythrididae systematics.

Distribution.

NW Argentina.

Habitat.

Habitat is a dry and xerothermic rocky slope with low vegetation and rather densely occuring bushes.

Genetic data.

BIN: BOLD:ADZ5132 (n = 1 from Argentina). Nearest neighbour: S. bicoloristrigella (BIN: BOLD:ADY8267, 5.3%).

Remarks.

Female unknown. Based on COI maximum likelihood phylogeny and morphology, South American taxa Scythris bicoloristrigella , Scythris saldaitisi , and Scythris wikstromi group together, associating next to the North American taxa classified in Scythris , Rhamphura , or Neoscythris on BOLD (Suppl. material 2). We are unable to classify these with certainty to any Scythrididae genus as diagnosed and illustrated in Landry (1991) and Bengtsson (2014). We therefore took a conservative view and classified these taxa in Scythris (incertae sedis), highlighting the need for fur-ther research.

Figures

Figures 24 B- 29. Scythrididae adults, genus Scythris 24 B S. tibicina Meyrick, 1916, male 25 A S. sanfranciscoensis Nupponen sp. nov., male, holotype 25 B S. sanfriscoensis Nupponen sp. nov., male, paratype 26 S. tigrensis Nupponen, sp. nov., male, holotype 27 A S. bicoloristrigella Nupponen sp. nov., genus combination incertae sedis, male, holotype 27 B S. bicoloristrigella Nupponen sp. nov., genus combination incertae sedis, male, paratype 28 S. saldaitisi Nupponen sp. nov., genus combination incertae sedis, male, holotype 29 S. wikstromi Nupponen, sp. nov., genus combination incertae sedis, male, holotype.

Figures 57 - 58. Male genitalia of Scythris 57 S. saldaitisi Nupponen sp. nov., genus combination incertae sedis, holotype, slide 4 / 11 Dec. 2019 KN 58 S. wikstromi Nupponen, sp. nov., genus combination incertae sedis, holotype, slide 2 / 12 Dec. 2019 KN.