Scrobipalpa typica, 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 : 24-25

Scrobipalpa typica sp. nov.

Figs 47–50 , 118–120 , 175–177

Scrobipalpa sp. 1 — Bidzilya 2007: 101, figs 39, 41, Pl. 7, fig. 5.

Type material. Holotype ♂, Namibia, 21.iii.2001, Brandberg, 2400 m, Am Königstein, W. Mey (MFN-00101) ( MfN) . Paratypes: Namibia: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, same data as holotype (gen. prep. 99/05 ♂; 90/05 ♀, O. Bidzilya) ; 1 ♂, same data as holotype, but 20.iii.2001 (gen. slide 48/06, O. Bidzilya) ; 1 ♀, 22.iii.2001, Brandberg, 1940 m, Wasserfallfläche, LF (Mey) (gen. prep. in glycerol); 1 ♂, Brandberg , 8.iii. 2002, 1740 m, Mason Shelter (Mey) ; 2 ♂, Erichsfeld., 21 35 S, 16 56 E, 19-21.iii.2003 (Mey) (gen. slide 488/07, O. Bidzilya) (MFN-00100); 2 ♂, 2 ♀, Karasberge, Goibib Mtn Lodge , 30.i.2012, LF (Mey) (gen. slide 491/14, O. Bidzilya) ; 1 ♂, Khomas E Windhoek Airport, Gastefarm, 1600 m, 20.xii.2009, 22 26 33,7 S; 017 29 34,8 E (Wieser), Kärtner Landesmusem (gen. prep. in glycerol) ( LMK) ; 1 ♂, Omatako Ranch , 80 km N Okahandja, LF. 6.iii.2003 (Vohland) (gen. slide 141/17, O. Bidzilya) (all MfN) . South Africa: 1 ♂, P.K. le Roux Dam, Van der Kloof , C.P., 8–12.iv.1970 (Vari & Snyman) (gen. slide 96/17, O. Bidzilya) ; 1 ♀, Colesberg , ii.1947 (Omer-Cooper) (gen. slide 95/17, O. Bidzilya) ; 1 ♀, Pretoria , 8.x.1909 (Janse) (gen. slide 97/17, O. Bidzilya) ; 1 ♂, Louis Trichardt, 12 m South , 13–17.iii.1954 (Janse) (gen. slide 133/17, O. Bidzilya) (all TMSA) ; 1 ♂, East. Cape, Asante-Sana , 28.ii–5.iii.2014 (Mey) ( MfN) .

Material not included into type series. Kenya: 1 ♀, Rift Valley , Lake Bogoria, 0˚20’N 36˚51E, 1000 m, 10.xi.2004 (Agassiz) (gen. slide 140/17, O. Bidzilya) ( DA) .

Diagnosis. The new species is characterized externally by a light-brown to ochreous forewing with black markings, remotely resembling S. obsoletella , though the latter is paler, without ochreous-brown scales and without a whitish subapical fascia at 3/4, which is usually expressed in S. typica sp. nov. The male genitalia of S. typica sp. nov. can be recognized by the nearly parallel-sided saccus in combination with a posteriorly narrow vincular process, a broad triangular posteromedial emargination of the vinculum, and strongly inflated caecum. Among South African members of the genus Scrobipalpa , the male genitalia of new species are most similar to those of S. obsoletella , but differ in the shorter and broader vincular process and triangular rather than deep, broadly rounded medial emargination of the posterior margin of the vinculum. For differences from S. nigristriana sp. nov. and S. natalensis sp. nov., see the diagnoses of those species. The deeply separated, edged and folded lobes of the ventromedial depression in combination with the posteriorly weakly concave anterior margin of segment VIII are characteristic for the female genitalia.

Description. Adult ( Figs 47–50 ). Wingspan 10.0–12.0 mm. Head variable from light grey, nearly white, to brown or ochreous brown; thorax and tegulae ochreous brown, densely mixed with grey-tipped scales; labial palpus upcurved, light grey to light brown, with distinct dark brown basal and medial rings, inner and upper surface of palpomere 2 greyish brown, lower surface with distinct brush of scales, palpomere 3 about 1/2 length and width of palpomere 2, acute; scape brown, mixed with white at apex, flagellum light brown with broad grey rings; forewing light brown, randomly mixed with ochreous, one or two black dots at base, paired black points in middle and in corner of cell, costal margin and apex mottled with black-tipped scales, white subapical fascia at 3/4, cilia grey, brown-tipped. Hindwing light grey.

Variation. The number and size of black markings varies. Additional black spots on costal margin or in fold are expressed in some specimens. Subapical fascia often reduced to diffuse costal and tornal spots.

Male genitalia ( Figs 118–120 ). Uncus approximately twice as long as wide, gradually narrowed to rounded apex in distal 1/2; gnathos with hook short, slender, weakly curved; tegumen moderately broad, anterior margin with deep, broadly rounded emargination to 1/3; valva extending to top of uncus, slenderest in middle, with distinctly inflated and rounded apex; sacculus about as broad as valva at base and 1/3 of its length, nearly parallel-sided, with distinct pointed, inward-directed tip, separated from valva by deep, narrow, triangular gap; posterior margin of vinculum with broad triangular medial emargination, vincular process shorter than sacculus, wide at base, with outwardly curved pointed tips; saccus wide at base, then narrowed to rounded or weakly inflated apex; phallus almost as long as valva, caecum about 1/2 length of phallus, strongly inflated, distal half straight, comparatively wide, with distinct apical hook.

Female genitalia ( Figs 175–177 ). Papillae anales ovate, densely covered with short setae; apophyses posteriores 4 times as long as segment VIII; segment VIII about as long as broad, posterior margin of sternum VIII with broad medial triangular emargination to 1/5 length, anterior margin slightly concave posteriorly; postvaginal plates narrow, evenly sclerotized, except for distinct patch of foam-sculpturing extending posteriorly from base of apophyses anteriores to about 1/2 length of sternum VIII, anteromedial depression about 1/3 width of sternum VIII, densely covered with fine microtrichia, deeply divided by anterior emargination into digitate, edged and laterally folded lobes not reaching anterior margin of sternum VIII; apophyses anteriores straight, 1.5 times as long as segment VIII; ductus bursae gradually broadened anteriorly, with distinct junction with large, rounded corpus bursae; signum basal plate short, distal hook stout, weakly curved.

Biology. Host plant unknown. Adults were collected in October and from December to March, up to 2400 m in the mountains (Brandberg Massif in Namibia).

Distribution. Namibia, South Africa.

Etymology. The species name is from the Latin “ typica ”—typical, and refers to the fact that this species matches precisely the diagnosis of the genus Scrobipalpa .

Remarks. An externally similar female from Kenya is not included in type series due to some differences in the genitalia, such as weakly separated lobes of the ventromedial depression, a longer and slenderer signum, and a larger corpus bursae.

Figures

FIGURES 41–50. Scrobipalpa spp., adults. 41–43. S. wolframi sp. nov. 41. Namibia, Nababiep, HT, male (gen. slide 129/21, OB). 42. Namibia, Brandberg, PT, female (gen. slide 128/21, OB). 43. South Africa, P.K. le Roux Dam, PT, female (gen. slide 126/21, OB). 44. S. natalensis sp. nov., South Africa, Karkloof, HT, male (gen. slide 182/17, OB). 45. S. varivansoni sp. nov., Namibia, Nababieb, HT, male (gen. slide 173/17, OB). 46. S. phelotris, South Africa, Kimberly, HT, male (after Janse 1960). 47–50. S. typica sp. nov. 47. Namibia, Brandberg, male (genitalia in glycerol vial). 48. South Africa, P.K. le Roux Dam (gen. slide 96/17, OB). 49. South Africa, Pretoria, PT, female (gen. slide 97/17, OB). 50. Kenya, Lake Bogoria, female (gen. slide 140/17, OB). Scale bar = wingspan.

FIGURES 118–122. Scrobipalpa spp., male genitalia.118–120. S. typica sp. nov., PT. 118. South Africa, P.K. le Roux Dam (gen. slide 96/17, OB). 119. Namibia, Karasberge (gen. slide 491/14, OB). 120. South Africa, Louis Trichardt (gen. slide 133/17, OB). 121, 122. S. staudei sp. nov., South Africa, Magaliesburg. 121. PT (gen. slide 184/20, OB). 122. HT (gen. slide 3/19, OB).

FIGURES 175–178. Scrobipalpa spp., female genitalia. 175–177. S. typica sp. nov. 175. Namibia, Brandberg (gen. slide 90/05, OB). 176. South Africa, Pretoria (gen. slide 97/17, OB). 177. Kenya, Bogoria Lake (gen. slide 140/17, OB). 178. S. obsoletella, South Africa (gen. slide 37/13, OB).