Megacraspedus dolosellus ( Zeller, 1839 )

Šumpich, Jan, 2022, Megacraspedus (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) of the Altai Mountains with description of a new species belonging to the M. majorella group, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 62 (2), pp. 401-409 : 404-406

Megacraspedus dolosellus ( Zeller, 1839)

( Figs 8–9 )

Ypsolophus dolosellus Zeller, 1839 . Type locality: Austria.

= Ypsolophus separatellus Fischer von Röslerstamm, 1843 . Type locality: Austria.

= Megacraspedus incertellus Rebel, 1930 . Type locality: Bulgaria.

Records. HUEMER & KARSHOLT (2018): Katun valley near Katanda village, environs of Aktash village, Kuraisky khrebet; PONOMARENKO (2019) (checklist).

Material examined. RUSSIA: ALTAI REPUBLIC: Aktash vill., 50°19′12″N, 87°36′00″E, grassy steppe, rocks, 1400 m, 11.vii.2014, 1 ♂ (Barcode NMPC-LEP-0383 ), J. Šumpich leg. ( NMPC); the same locality but 21.vi.2015, 1 ♂, J. Šumpich leg. ( NMPC); the same locality but 24.vi.2019, 8 ♂♂, J. Šumpich leg. ( NMPC); Kosh-Agach Distr., Kurai env. (15 km SW), Dzhangyskol lake, 50°10′49″N; 87°44′19″E, coniferous forest/steppe, 1830 m, 24.–25.vi.2015, 1♂ (Barcode NMPC-LEP-0384 ), J. Šumpich leg. ( NMPC); the same locality but 29.–30. vi.2019, 6 ♂♂, J. Šumpich leg. ( NMPC); Shebalino Distr., Cherga vill. (8 km W), 51°34′04″N; 85°28′33″E, rocky slopes, steppe, 580 m, 4 ♂♂ (Barcode NMPC-LEP-0615 ), J. Šumpich leg. ( NMPC).

Molecular data. A genetically extremely variable species resulted in 23 BINs ( HUEMER & KARSHOLT 2018), which is a unique phenomenon within the Gelechiidae ( HUEMER et al. 2020) . The mean intraspecific divergence of the barcode region is 7.5% and the maximum is 13.8% ( HUEMER & KARSHOLT 2018). Altaic specimens are clustered in two branches with different BINs: BOLD:ACB3319 (n = 2; 2 public, both from Altai) [as “ BIN dolo20” in HUEMER & KARSHOLT 2018], where the average intraspecific divergence of the barcode region is 0.96% (p-dist), and BOLD:ACZ3530 (n = 8, 8 public, all from Altai) [as “ BIN dolo21” in HUEMER & KARSHOLT 2018], where the average intraspecific divergence of the barcode region is 0.03% (pdist) (maximum distance 0.16% (p-dist)). Distance between these clusters is 1.38% (p-dist).

Distribution. From Europe (not recorded in northern parts of the continent) to Central Asia ( HUEMER & KARSHOLT 2018, GASTṒN & VIVES MORENO 2021). Based on the current knowledge, the Altai Mountains seem to be the easternmost area of its occurrence.

Figures

Figs 8–14. Adults of Megacraspedus taxa recorded in Altai Mts. (Russia). 8–9 – M. dolosellus (Zeller, 1839): 8 – Aktash (barcoded); 9 – surroundings of Dzhangyskol lake (barcoded). 10–12 – M. leuca (Filipjev, 1929): 10–11 – Karagem valley; 12 – Kurai. 13–14 – M. podolicus (Toll, 1942): 13 – Chulyshman valley; 14 – Aktash.