Sabaha M. Omelko et N. Omelko, 2019

Ponomarenko, M. G., Omelko, M. M. & Omelko, N. V., 2023, New species of gelechiid moths of the genus Sabaha M. Omelko et N. Omelko, 2019 (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) from Borneo Island, Far Eastern Entomologist 486, pp. 6-24 : 7-9

Genus Sabaha M. Omelko et N. Omelko, 2019

Type species: Sabaha spathulata M. Omelko et N. Omelko, 2019 .

DIAGNOSIS. Adult ( Figs 1, 2 , 11–23 ). Wing length 5.0–8.2 mm. Scapus with prominent elongated scales along anterior or posterior margin, or along both edges; pedicellus and basal flagellomeres widened, if strongly widened, this part looks like an oblong or rounded lobe with elongated scales along the edges; flagellum of male with short or long cilia below, sometimes appears serrate due to tufts of raised scales ( Fig. 8 ). Forewings with tufts of raised scales or covered with hair-like raised scales, giving them a velvety appearance. Hindwings with semi-transparent area between radial and cubital veins, covered with short hair-like scales ( Fig. 4 ), the colour of this area changes to greenish, blue, purple, reddish or golden due to the refraction of light. Forewing with Sc to costa at about middle of wing length; R 1 – R 5 to costa, R 1 and R 2 separate at the base, R 3 and R 4+5 connate basally, R 4+5 stalked, diverging before middle; M 1 and M 2 separate basally, to termen, M 3 and CuA 1 shortly stalked basally, CuA 2 separate basally, to termen; CuP present at basal part only, 1A and 2A merged distally. Hindwing with Sc + R 1 to costa beyond 2/3 of wing length, Rs to costa before apex, Rs and M 1 stalked, M 2 separate, to termen, M 3 and CuA 1 stalked, CuA 2 separate, to dorsal margin ( Fig. 10 ).

The moths of both sexes possess the bundles of long hair-like scales with a common cupshaped or convex base, each is located on the lateral part of the metascutum posterad the hindwing ( Figs 5–7, 9 ). Abdominal 2nd sternite with arched venulae and slightly curved medially apodemes ( Fig. 43 ).

Male genitalia ( Figs 24, 25 , 27–42 ). Uncus relatively small, hood-shaped. Gnathos with well-developed culcitula divided by a longitudinal median constriction into two portions, and with small and flat median sclerite of different shape; besides two long flat sclerites curved medially articulated to lateral arms anterad gnathos. These sclerites of unknown homology called “fultura superior” in species from the genus Gelechia Hbn. Valva completely divided into cucullus and sacculus. Cucullus with more or less long neck, its distal setaceous part moderately dilated. Sacculus lamellar, oblong, with a claw-like apex curved ventrally, integrated with vinculum and juxta. Aedeagus tubular, arcuately curved, rarely almost straight, distally lobate, with apex of various shape, basally with apodemes and without caecum; fixed in the proximal part by a semi-sclerotized anellus. Vinculum with wide lateral parts and ventral excision, saccus wide, triangular or trapezoid.

Female genitalia ( Figs 26 , 44–48, 50–59 ). Papillae anales oblong and relatively small. Ovipositor very long, apophyses posteriores 7–12 times as longer as apophyses anteriores. 8th segment of abdomen strongly elongated, with narrow membranous gap ventrally, often sclerotized and bearing setae on posterior edge laterally. Ostium and anterior part of 8th sternite, covered by more or less semi-sclerotized two-layer fold fused with base of apophyses anteriores anteriorly. This fold forms vaginal sinus and with honeycomb-like sculpture on inner surface, more often as two elongated area ( Figs 26 , 45, 50 , 53, 56, 58 ). Vaginal part of ductus bursae widened, membranous or slightly sclerotized; ductus bursae membranous, smoothly delated towards corpus bursae; the latter relatively small, membranous; signum more or less rhomboid plate with transverse gutter. Ductus seminalis arises beyond vaginal part of ductus bursae and forms saccular bulla often with small spines on inner side.

COMPOSITION. The genus currently includes 8 species: Sabaha spathulata M. Omelko et N. Omelko, 2019 (type species), S. cheemai sp. n., S. gemella sp. n., S. insolita sp. n., S. maculosa sp. n., S. parda sp. n., S. pilosa sp. n., and S. semiatrata sp. n.

DISTRIBUTION. East Malaysia (Sabah).

Figures

Figs 1–10. Sabaha spp., adults, morphostructures. 1–8 – S. spathulata, male, holotype: 1 – adult, view from above; 2 – ditto, bottom view; 3 – semi-transparent area on forewing; 4 – hair-like scales on hindwing; 5 – metathorax with bundles of long hair-like scales; 6 – bundle of hair-like scales, shown by arrow; 7 – position of bundle of hair-like scales relative to hindwing; 8 – head. 9, 10 – S. gemella sp. n.: 9 – metascutum with thecae of hair-like scales, shown by arrow; 10 – venation. Abbreviations: fr – frenulum, h-l.sc – hair-like scales on hindwing, msct – metascutum; pdc – pedicellus; s-tr.a – semi-transparent area; scp – scapus. Scale bar on holotype photos 1 mm. 8

Figs 11–19. Sabaha spp., adults. 11, 12 – S. parda sp. n.: 11 – male, holotype; 12 – female, paratype. 13 – S. insolita sp. n., female, holotype. 14–16 – S. cheemai sp. n.: 14 – male, holotype; 15 – female, paratype; 16 – male, paratype. 17, 18 – S. gemella sp. n.: 17 – male, holotype; 18 – male, paratype. 19 – S. semiatrata sp. n., male, holotype. Scale bar on holotype photos 1 mm.

Figs 20–23. Sabaha spp., adults. 20, 21 – S. pilosa sp. n.: 20 – male, holotype; 21 – fragment of forewing. 22, 23 – S. maculosa sp. n.: 22 – male, holotype; 23 – female, paratype. Scale bar on holotype photos 1 mm.

Figs 36–43. Sabaha spp., male genitalia, basal abdominal segments. 36–39 – S. semiatrata sp. n., holotype: 36 – ventral view; 37 – aedeagus, lateral view; 38 – sacculi, lateral view; 39 – uncus, gnathos and culcitula, lateral view. 40–43 – S. maculosa sp. n., holotype: 40 – ventral view; 41 – aedeagus, lateral view; 42 – uncus, gnathos and culcitula, lateral view; 43 – 1st and 2nd tergites and 2nd sternite. Scale bar 0.5 mm.

Figs 24–26. Sabaha spp., genitalia. 24, 25 – S. spathulata, holotype: 24 – male genitalia without aedeagus, tergal part in lateral view, sternal part in ventral view; 25 – aedeagus, lateral view. 26 – S. insolita sp. n., female, holotype, 8th sternite with peeled back fold, antrum and proximal part of ductus bursae. Abbreviations: ant – antrum, cl – cucullus, cul – culcitula, d.sem – ductus seminalis, duct – ductus bursae, f.s – fultura superior, hc.sc – honeycomb-like sculpture, l.jux – lobes of juxta, m.gn – median sclerite of gnathos, sacc – saccus, s-scl.f – semi-sclerotized fold, scl – sacculus, teg – tegumen, tr.a – area with trichae, unc – uncus, v.sin – vaginal sinus, vnc – vinculum, 8-st – 8th sternite. Scale bar 0.5 mm.

Figs 27–31. Sabaha spp., male genitalia. 27–29 – S. parda sp. n: 27 – ventral view, paratype; 28 – aedeagus, lateral view, holotype; 29 – uncus, gnathos and culcitula, lateral view, holotype. 30, 31 – S. cheemai sp. n., holotype: 30 – ventral view; 31 – aedeagus, lateral view. Scale bar 0.5 mm. 13

Figs 32–35. Sabaha spp., male genitalia. 32, 33 – S. gemella sp. n., holotype: 32 – ventral view; 33 – aedeagus, lateral view. 34, 35 – S. pilosa sp. n., holotype: 34 – ventral view; 35 – aedeagus, lateral view. Scale bar 0.5 mm.

Figs 44–52. Sabaha spp., female genitalia, 7th abdominal segment. 44–46 – S. parda sp. n., paratype: 44 – ventral view; 45 – 8th sternite; 46 – signum. 47–49 – S. insolita sp. n., holotype: 47 – ventral view; 48 – fragment of inner side of bulla seminalis with small spines; 49 – 7th sternite. 50–52 – S. maculosa sp. n., paratype: 50 – anterior part of 8th sternite, antrum and proximal part of ductus bursae; 51 – corpus bursae; 52 – signum. Scale bar 0.5 mm. 19

Figs 53–59. Sabaha spp., female genitalia. 53–56 – S. cheemai sp. n., paratype: 53 – 8th sternite, antrum and proximal part of ductus bursae; 54 – ductus and corpus bursae; 55 – signum; 56 – peeled back fold of 8th sternite. 57–59 – S. gemella sp. n., paratype: 57 – ventral view; 58 – anterior part of 8th sternite and antrum; 59 – signum. Scale bar 0.5 mm.