Cossulus habibae Yakovlev, Pljustch, Skrylnik & Pak

Yakovlev, Roman V., Pljustch, Igor G., Skrylnik, Yuriy, Pak, Oleg & Witt, Thomas J., 2015, The Cossidae (Lepidoptera) of Afghanistan with description of three new species and special notes on the fauna of Bande-Amir National Park, Zootaxa 3990 (1), pp. 41-72 : 43

Cossulus habibae Yakovlev, Pljustch, Skrylnik & Pak , sp. nov.

( Figs 39−41, 79 , 89 , 110 )

Material. Holotype: male, Afghanistan, Bamian, Band-e-Amir, Sabzel vill., 2900 m, 19.0 7.2013, leg. I. Pljustch, Yu. Skrylnik & O. Pak ( ZISP); paratypes: 3 males, 1 female, same locality (RYB); 2 males, Afghanistan, Bandeamir, 2800 m, 9- 12.07.1985, leg. W. Thomas ( MWM).

Description. Forewing length 12–13 mm. Antenna bipectinate, with short pecten along antenna, processes 1,5 – 2 times longer than diameter of stem. Thorax and abdomen densely covered with pale-yellow hairs. Forewing yellow with poorly developed pattern consisted of pale brown dots in postdiscal area and along costa, and more bright than ground colour yellow spots in discal and basal areas. Fringe pale yellow between veins, brownish near veins. Hindwing patternless, pale grey, with monochrome pale yellow fringe.

Male genitalia. Uncus broad, with semicircular apex; tegumen medium-sized; branches of gnathos long, thin; gnathos medium-sized, poorly sclerotized, densely covered with small spines; valvae rather narrow, symmetrical, with lanceolate apex, distal third of valva membranous, costal edge with semicircular process with uneven edge and ridge on internal surface; processes of transtilla long with stout base, each process abruptly convergent in proximal third, slightly curved, with pointed tips; juxta small with long diverged lateral processes; saccus semicircular, medium-sized; aedeagus of medium thickness, slightly shorter than valva, slightly curved in medium third, gradually converges caudally, with askew pointed apex, pore of vesica in dorso-apical position, 1/3 aedeagus length; vesica without cornuti.

Female externally similar to male, with long ovipositor, somewhat smaller. Forewing length 11,5 mm.

Diagnosis. The new species differs from all other species of Cossulus by its small size and nearly reduced wing pattern. Externally it slightly resembles C. alatauicus Yakovlev, 2007 , which is endemic species of Transili Alatau Mts. (SE Kazakhstan). The latter species has developed brown pattern on the forewing, smooth process on the costal edge of valvae without ridge on the internal surface, and gradually convergent processes of the transtilla.

Etymology. The new species is named after Dr. Habiba Sarobi, governor of the Bamyan Prov. who kindly supported our plans on entomological investigations in the Band-e Amir National Park.

Figures

FIGURES 79 − 83. Male genitalia and antennae of Cossidae: 79. Genitalia of Cossulus habibae Yakovlev, Pljustch, Skrylnik & Pak, sp. nov. (paratype); 80. Genitalia of Semagystia agilis (Christoph, 1884), Bamian, Band-e-Amir; 81. Genitalia of Semagystia bamiani Yakovlev, Pljustch, Skrylnik & Pak, sp. nov. (holotype); 82. Antenna of Semagystia agilis (Christoph, 1884), Bamian, Band-e-Amir; 83. Antenna of Semagystia bamiani Yakovlev, Pljustch, Skrylnik & Pak, sp. nov. (holotype).

FIGURES 88 − 90. Collecting localities in Afghanistan (photo by Yu. Skrylnik): 88. C Afghanistan, prov. Kabul, Paghman distr., 5 km NW Paghman, Kokh-e-Paghman Mts., 2665 m, 34 ° 36 ' 49.94 " N 68 ° 54 ' 32.53 " E; 89. C Afghanistan, prov. Bamian, Yakawlang distr., Band-e Amir National Park, 3 km W Sabzel vill., 2910 m, 34 ° 47 ' 58.56 " N 67 ° 10 ' 58.82 " E; 90. C Afghanistan, prov. Bamian, Yakawlang distr., 5 km NE Jarukashan vill., Band-e-Amir res., 3140 m, 34 ° 51 ' 49.57 " N 67 ° 12 ' 31.05 " E.

FIGURES 107 − 114. Distribution maps of Cossidae of Afghanistan: 107. Cossulus putridus (Christoph, 1887); 108. Cossulus strioliger (Alpheraky, 1893); 109. Cossulus turcomanica (Christoph, 1893); 110. Cossulus habibae Yakovlev, Pljustch, Skrylnik & Pak, sp. nov., Semagystia bamiani Yakovlev, Pljustch, Skrylnik & Pak, sp. nov., Semagystia wernerithomasi Yakovlev, 2007, Dyspessa sp., Dieida persa Strand in Stichel, 1911, Dieida afghana Yakovlev & Pljustch, 2014, Phragmacossia bandeamiri Yakovlev, Pljustch, Skrylnik & Pak, sp. nov.; 111. Vartiania senganensis (Daniel, 1949); 112. Dervishiya cadambae (Moore, 1865); 113. Dervishiya vartianae Yakovlev, 2011; 114. Semagystia agilis (Christoph, 1884).