Stigmella multispicata Rocienė & Stonis, 2014

Stonis, Jonas R. & Rocienė, Agnė, 2014, Additions to the Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera) of East Asia, with descriptions of three new species from Primorskiy Kray, Zootaxa 3846 (2), pp. 204-220 : 205

Stigmella multispicata Rocienė & Stonis , sp. nov.

( Figs 1–10 )

Type material. Holotype: ♂, Far East RUSSIA, Primorskiy Kray, 20 km E Ussuriysk, Gornotayezhnoe, Biological Station, 8.viii.2011, leg. A. Rocienė, genitalia slide no. AG427 ( ZIN).

Diagnosis. Mostly on the basis of the number and shape of the cornuti, apically pointed valva, bilobed uncus and long lateral lobes of vinculum, the new species is attributed to the Stigmella malella species group (sensu lato, including the former Neartic S. prunifoliella group). The male genitalia of S. multispicata sp. nov. resemble those of the Nearctic S. rhamnicola (Braun) and the predominantly East Mediterranean S. pyrellicola (Klimesch) . However, from all known Stigmella (including the species of the S. malella group), S. multispicata sp. nov. can be easily distinguished by the combination of very slender (process-like) lateral lobes of the vinculum, subquadrate transtilla without sublateral processes, numerous flat, basally broadened, apically pointed cornuti, the apically purplish forewing with a shiny postmedian fascia, and the black frontal tuft on the head.

Male ( Figs 6, 7 ). Forewing length about 2.1 mm; wingspan about 4.5 mm. Head: palpi cream; frontal tuft black; collar and scape cream with golden sheen; antenna with 19 segments, much shorter than half of forewing length; flagellum fuscous with bronzy sheen and greenish iridescence on upper side and underside. Thorax: dorsum and tegulae concolorous with base of forewing. Forewing narrow, area proximal to fascia shining coppery brown with slight purple tinge; fascia distinctly postmedian, shining silvery or brassy; distal to fascia violet to purplebrown; terminal cilia fuscous, shading into pale grey at tips; underside of forewing uniformly blackish brown. Hindwing unknown (lost in the holotype). Legs metallic grey, distally cream.

Male genitalia ( Figs 8–10 ). Capsule 280 mm long. Vinculum with two very slender pointed lateral lobes ( Fig. 8 ). Uncus almost trapezioid, lateral lobes weakly individualized, rounded ( Fig. 9 ). Gnathos with two slender caudal processes and short slender transverse bar ( Fig. 9 ). Valva ( Fig. 9 ) 190 mm long, gradually narrowed towards pointed apex; transtilla without sublateral processes ( Fig. 8 ). Juxta membranous but distictly chitinized at apical margin ( Fig. 9 ). Phallus ( Fig. 10 ) broad (140 mm wide, 950 mm long); vesica with numerous flat pointed, basally broadened cornuti of different sizes (predominantly small in basal third, large in remaining two thirds).

Female. Unknown.

Bionomics. Host-plant unknown. The only known specimen was collected in early August at light.

Distribution. The type locality is in dense, deciduous mostly broad-leaf forests of Primorskiy Kray ( Figs 1–5 ).

Etymology. The species name is derived from Latin multus/multi (numerous/numerously) and spicata (pointed/sharp), in reference to the numerous sharp cornuti and pointed sublateral lobes of the vinculum in the male genitalia.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 5. Collecting locality and habitats. 1, the Arboretum (“ Dendrarium ”) of Gornotayezhnoe Biological Station, a site of the light trap during the fieldwork of 2011; 2 – 4, a habitat—deciduous mostly braodleaf forest in Gornotayezhnoe; 5, map of the region (courtesy of T. Patterson, USA), showing the collecting locality in Gornotayezhnoe, 20 km E Ussuriysk (Primorskiy Kray, Far East Russia).

FIGURES 6 – 10. Stigmella multispicata Rocienė & Stonis, sp. nov., holotype, genitalia slide no. AG 427 (ZIN). 6, adult; 7, forewing. Scale bar 1 mm; 8, male genitalia, capsule; 9, same, uncus, gnathos, valva and juxta; 10, phallus. Scale bar 100 µm.