Elachista dispunctella ( Duponchel, 1843 )

Kaila, Lauri, 2015, The Elachista dispunctella (Duponchel) complex (Lepidoptera, Elachistidae) revisited, with exceptional level of synonymy, Zootaxa 3980 (3), pp. 301-358 : 308-314

Elachista dispunctella ( Duponchel, 1843)

Figs. 2–13 , 59–69 , 126

Oecophora dispunctella Duponchel, 1842 [1843]: 333. [East Austria].

Elachista cahorsensis Traugott-Olsen, 1992: 226 . Syn. nov.

Elachista imbi Traugott-Olsen, 1992: 227 . Syn. nov.

Elachista karsholti Traugott-Olsen, 1992: 234 . Syn. nov.

Elachista mannella Traugott-Olsen, 1992: 204 . Syn. nov.

Elachista multipunctella Traugott-Olsen, 1992: 205 . Syn. nov.

Elachista pocopunctella Traugott-Olsen, 1992: 242 . Syn. nov.

Elachista povolnyi Traugott-Olsen, 1992: 241 . Syn. nov.

Elachista punctella Traugott-Olsen, 1992: 209 . Syn. nov.

Elachista hallini Traugott-Olsen, 1992: 202 . Syn. nov.

Elachista intrigella Traugott-Olsen, 1992: 233 . Syn. nov.

Elachista skulei Traugott-Olsen, 1992: 206 . Syn. nov.

Elachista nielspederi Traugott-Olsen, 1992: 250 . Syn. nov.

Material studied. Type material. Holotype ♂ of E. cahorsensis , labelled: Type [rounded with red margin]; [ Germany] Kyffhäuser, Kattenberg , Lichtfang , 17.8.1936 E. Jäckh; Genital praeparat nr. 6033 sex: ♂ TYPE E. Traugott-Olsen; wing praeparat nr. 6034 sex: ♂ E. Traugott-Olsen; Elachista cahorsensis sp. n. det. E. Traugott- Olsen ( ZMUC). Holotype ♂ of E. imbi labelled: Type [rounded with red margin]; Genital praeparat nr. E. 20.2.90 sex: ♂ E. Traugott-Olsen; Wing praeparat nr. A. 1.7.91 sex: ♂ E. Traugott-Olsen; Austria inf. or. Hundsheimer Berg, Porta hungarica, 27.IV. 1973 Kasy leg.; Elachista imbi sp. n. det. Traugott-Olsen; DNA sample 16863 Lepid. Phyl. ( NHMW). Holotype ♂ of E. karsholti , labelled: Type [rounded with red margin]; Genital praeparat nr. D. 7.9.86 sex: ♂ E. Traugott-Olsen; Wing praeparat nr. C. 22.1.87 sex: ♂ E. Traugott-Olsen; Austria inf. Glaslauterriegel, Gumpoldskirchen, 22.V.1971 F. Kasy leg.; Elachista karsholti sp. n. det. Traugott-Olsen; DNA sample 16861 Lepid. Phyl. ( NHMW). Holotype ♂ of E. mannella labelled: Type [rounded with red margin]; Genital praeparat nr. B. 12.9.86 sex: ♂ E. Traugott-Olsen; Wing praeparat nr. A. 26.3.87; Austr[ia] Mn [ Mann]; Elachista mannella sex: ♂ E. Traugott-Olsen; sp. n. det. Traugott-Olsen ( NHMW). Holotype ♂ of E. multipunctella , labelled: Type [rounded with red margin]; Genital praeparat nr. 5209 sex: ♂ E. Traugott-Olsen; Wing praeparat nr. D. 28.1.87 sex: ♂; E. Traugott-Olsen; 31.IV.1975 Hundsheimer berg, Porta hungarica, Austria inf. or. Kasy; Elachista multipunctella sp. n. det. E. Traugott-Olsen DNA sample 16833 Lepid. Phyl. ( ZMUC). Holotype ♂ of E. pocopunctella , labelled: Type [rounded with red margin]; Genital praeparat nr. E. 9.9.86 sex: ♂ E. Traugott-Olsen; Wing praeparat nr. D. 26.1.87 sex: ♂ E. Traugott-Olsen; [ Austria]: Predota, Wien, Mödling leg.; Elachista pocopunctella sp. n. det. E. Traugott-Olsen ( NHMW). Holotype ♂ of E. povolnyi , labelled: Type [rounded with red margin]; Genital praeparat nr. A. 7.9.86 sex: ♂ E. Traugott-Olsen; Wing praeparat nr. D. 9.1.87 sex: ♂ E. Traugott-Olsen; Austria inf. Glaslauterriegel, südl. Gumpoldskirchen 1.V.1976 F. Kasy leg.; Elachista povolnyi sp. n. det. E. Traugott-Olsen; DNA sample 16857 Lepid. Phyl. ( NHMW). Holotype ♂ of E. punctella labelled: Type [rounded with red margin]; Genital praeparat nr. B. 20.2.80 sex: ♂ E. Traugott-Olsen; Wing praeparat nr. C. 4.3.87 sex: ♂ E. Traugott-Olsen; Austria inf., Hundsheimer Berg, Porta hungarica 23.7.1977 F. Kasy leg.; Elachista punctella sp. n. det. E. Traugott-Olsen ( NHMW). Holotype ♂ of E. hallini , labelled: Type [rounded with red margin]; Genital praeparat nr. D. 5.9.86 /ETO sex: ♂ E. Traugott-Olsen; Wing praeparat nr. E. 27.1.87 /ETO; Austria inf. NO v. Dürnstein, Wachau 21.V.1957 leg. F. Kasy; Elachista hallini sp. n. det. Traugott- Olsen ( NHMW) . Holotype ♂ of E. intrigella , labelled: Type [rounded with red margin]; Genital praeparat nr. K. 7.9.86 sex: ♂ E. Traugott-Olsen; Wing praeparat nr. A. 9.1.87 sex: ♂ E. Traugott-Olsen; Austria inf. or. Hundsheimer Berg, Porta hungarica, 27.VII. 1978 Kasy leg.; Elachista intrigella sp. n. det. Traugott-Olsen; DNA sample 16858 Lepid. Phyl. ( NHMW). Holotype ♂ of E. skulei , labelled: Type [rounded with red margin]; Genital praeparat nr. F 15.3.85 sex: ♂ E. Traugott-Olsen; Wing praeparat nr. A. 15.1.90 sex: ♂ E. Traugott-Olsen; Hellas, Lakonia, Mt. Taygetos, 1700 m, 28.–29.VI.1982 leg. B. Skule & S. Langemark; Elachista skulei sp. n. det. E. Traugott-Olsen; DNA sample 16834 Lepid. Phyl. ( ZMUC). Holotype ♂ of E. nielspederi , labelled: Type [rounded with red margin]; Genital praeparat nr. A. 5.9.86 sex: ♂ E. Traugott-Olsen; Wing praeparat nr. D. 26.1.87 sex: ♂ E. Traugott-Olsen; Austria inf., Hundsheimer Berg S., Porta hungarica 1.VIII.1970 F. Kasy leg. Elachista nielspederi sp. n. det. E. Traugott-Olsen; DNA sample 16860 Lepid. Phyl. ( NHMW). Other material. Austria: 4749’N 1612’E, Neustadt West, (Halb)-Trockenrasen z. T. verbuschend, 280 m, 19.V.2006 –8, 1 ♀, P. Buchner leg., 2823 Pitten 386, L. Kaila prep. 5724, DNA sample 16995 ( TLMF); Austria, inf. Dürnstein, 1. V.1937, 3 ♂, J. Klimesch leg., L. Kaila prep. 5837 ( ZSM); Teriolis mer. Naturns. p. meran, 20–30.VI.1935 J. Klimesch leg. ( ZSM). Croatia: South Velebit, 15. VIII.2003, 1 ♂, L. Šrnka leg., L. Kaila prep. 5446, DNA sample 21356 (Coll. Tokár). France: Alpes Maritimes, St. Barnab, Col de Veuce, 900 m, 2–7. VII.1962, 1 ♂, Arenberger leg., L. Kaila prep. 5735, Coll. Glaser ( SMNK); Var Garces, 5 km SE Le Lac, 21. IV.2003, 1 ♂, J. Junnilainen leg. (Coll. Junnilainen). Germany: Rheinland-Pfalz, Mittelrhein, Bornich, 16.V., 1 ♂, 1 ♀, W. Biesenbaum leg., Elachista grandella Tr. O. det E. Traugott-Olsen, DNA samples 22101, 22102 ( ZMUC). Great Britain: Cornwall, SW698475, Chapel Port, 15. VI.1984, 1 ♂, R. J. Heckford leg., L. Kaila prep. 3936, DNA sample 11352 Lepid. Phyl. ( MZH); Cornwall, Dovnas Valley, SW7638916833, VC1, Festuca rubra , coll. 19.VII.2008, em. 1. XI.2008, 1 ♂, R. J. Heckford leg., J. Tabell prep. 4698, DNA sample 20049 Lepid. Phyl. (Coll. Tabell). Greece: Lakonia, Paeopanagia, 12 km S. Sparti, 350 m, 23. VII.1998, 1 ♂, B. Skule & D. Nilsson leg., L. Kaila prep. 3048 ( ZMUC). Hungary: Cskberény, 26. V.2004, 2 ♂, Z. Tokr leg., L. Kaila prep. 4380, 5843 DNA sample 21379 (Coll. Tokár); Cskberény, Bucka-Hegy, 11. V.2007, 1 ♂, Z. Tokár leg., L. Kaila prep. 5833 (Coll. Tokár). Kazakhstan: 48°38’39’’N, 57°54’57’’E, Kumzhargan sands by Emba river, 200 m, 5. VI.2011, 1 ♂, K. Nupponen leg., DNA sample 22512 ( MZH); 25. IV.2012, 9 ♂, 1 ♀, K. Nupponen leg. (Coll. Nupponen); 48°33’N, 57°36’E, Kumzhargan sands by Emba river, nr. Zhagabulak vill., 17. V.2012, 4 ♂, 25. IV.2012, 1 ♂, L. Kaila prep. 5919 K. Nupponen leg. (Coll. Nupponen, MZH); 190 m, 110 km N Aralsk village, 47°43’N, 61°27’E, Terektikum sands, 100 m, 15.V.2012 1 ♂ K. Nupponen leg. (Coll. Nupponen); 47°26’N, 60°49’E Malye Barsuki Sands, 150 m, 5 km NW Karchokat village 14.V.2012 2 ♂ K. Nupponen leg. (Coll. Nupponen). Latvia: Carnikava 2.VI.2000 4 ♂ J. Junnilainen leg., L. Kaila prep. 3461, 3462, DNA samples 22172, 22185 (Coll. Junnilainen). Poland: CD 37 Glinki n Torún, 3. V.1998, 1 ♂, L. Kaila prep. 4239, DNA sample 11350 Lepid. phyl.; 14. V. 1999, 1 ♂, T. Baran leg., L. Kaila prep. 4330, DNA sample 11351 Lepid. Phyl. ( MZH). Russia: Volgograd obl., 80 km N Volgograd, nr. Ilovla village, 2. VI.2001, 5 ♂, 2 ♀, K. Nupponen leg., L. Kaila prep. 3439, 3440, 5735, 5726, DNA samples 11379, 11381 Lepid. Phyl. (Coll. Nupponen, MZH); Volgograd obl., 20 km SW Frolovo vill., 16. V.2005, 2 ♂, K. Nupponen leg., DNA sample 11380 Lepid. Phyl. (Coll. Nupponen); S. Ural, Orenburg district, nr. Burannoe village, 12. V.2005, 4 ♂, K. Nupponen leg., L. Kaila prep. 4839, 4840, DNA samples 11382, 11383 Lepid. Phyl. (Coll. Nupponen). Slovakia: D Vestenice Šiare, 29. V.1998, 1 ♂, I. Richter leg., L. Kaila prep. 4379, DNA sample 21378 Lepid. Phyl. (Coll. Tokár); Čenkovska step, 11. V.1991, 1 ♂, Z. Tokár leg. L. Kaila prep. 5482, DNA sample 21431 (Coll. Tokár); Streda n/Bodr., 28. V.1999, 1 ♂, Z. Tokár leg. (Coll. Tokár). Turkey: Ivriz/Eregli, 1200 m, Bolkar Daglari, 24. VI.1968, 1 ♂, M. V. Glaser leg. ( SMNK). Ukraine: Crimea, Karadagh, 21. IV.1990, 2 ♂, 28. VII.1990, 1 ♂, 4. VI.1991, 1 ♂, L. Kaila prep. 3421, DNA sample 11336 Lepid. phyl., 27. V.1993, 1 ♂, 12. VII.1993, 1 ♂, L. Kaila prep. 3423, DNA sample 11338 Lepid. Phyl., all Yu. Budashkin leg. ( MZH); Stanitshno-Luganskoe, 15. V.2000, 1 ♂, A. Bidzilya leg. ( ZMKU).

Diagnosis. Externally, E. dispunctella is similar to most other species in the E. dispunctella complex with unicolorous forewing fringe. Therefore examination of the genitalia is necessary for its identification. E. dispunctella belongs to those species that have a nearly straight and narrow, elongate phallus. The phallus length of E. dispunctella is about equal to that of valva, distinguishing it from the similar, possibly sympatric species: the phallus of E. dalmatiensis and E. grandella is shorter than the valva, that of E. hispanica is significantly longer than valva. The juxta lobes are devoid of setae. The female genitalia are characterized by the corpus bursae which has a conspicuous appendix bursae. Among the species with an appendix bursae, the shape and size of it is fairly equal to that of E. dispunctella only in E. maboulella . The corpus bursae of E. maboulella is, however, smaller than that of E. dispunctella .

Biology. According to Heckford (2010), E. dispunctella often inhabits serpentine and limestone sites where its hostplant Festuca rubra L. ( Poaceae ) grows in England.

Distribution. Austria, Croatia, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Turkey, and Ukraine.

Remarks. According to Stainton (1858), Vienna and Ratisbon (now Regensburg) are mentioned as the distribution of E. dispunctella ; the latter does not match Duponchel’s original account which implies eastern Austria to be the origin of the type series, so the original material likely originates from the Vienna region.

The lectotype of E. dispunctella , in Musée Nationale d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, is lacking the abdomen. Therefore its identification is not possible, in particular as several species of the E. dispunctella complex occur in the area of its collecting site (eastern Austria). Of these, E. grandella can be ruled out due to its larger size. The other known alternatives are the taxa listed here as synonyms of E. dispunctella , as well as E. dalmatiensis , whose male genitalia are depicted as representing E. dispunctella in Traugott-Olsen (1992). The collecting site of that specimen is not mentioned. Traugott-Olsen lists, besides Austrian localities, also Macedonia: Skopje in the E. dispunctella , material studied by him. This locality would be within the verified range of E. dalmatiensis of which no Austrian specimen was found in the present study. Until the genitalia slide from which the illustration was made has been examined, its origin remains unclear. It is probably impossible to establish with certainty what is the ‘real’ E. dispunctella , but the acquired knowledge and conformity of nomenclature in reviews and regional checklists predating, and to some extent also persisting after Traugott-Olsen (1992) are here used as guidelines in the decision of the identity of this name.

The barcode of the E. skulei holotype is slightly different from other specimens, including holotypes of several nominal species grouped with E. dispunctella (difference to closest E. dispunctella 1.9%). This difference is minor, possibly due to its somewhat distant collecting site from other samples of the widespread E. dispunctella . In the absence of any other differentiating characters between the E. dispunctella and E. skulei , they are considered conspecific.

E. dispunctella is referred to as OTU 8 in Mutanen et al. (2015). The record of E. grandella from Germany ( Biesenbaum 1995) is here interpreted to represent E. dispunctella , as the phallus/valva length ratio in the genital illustration of the German specimen matches E. dispunctella , not E. grandella .

Figures

FIGURES 2 – 13. External appearance of E. dispunctella (Duponchel), all males. 2. holotype of E. cahorsensis Traugott-Olsen. 3. holotype of E. imbi Traugott-Olsen. 4. holotype of E. karsholti Traugott-Olsen. 5. holotype of E. mannella Traugott-Olsen. 6. holotype of E. multipunctella Traugott-Olsen. 7. holotype of E. pocopunctella Traugott-Olsen. 8. holotype of E. povolnyi Traugott-Olsen. 9. holotype of E. punctella Traugott-Olsen. 10. holotype of E. intrigella Traugott-Olsen. 11. holotype of E. skulei Traugott-Olsen. 12. E. dispunctella (from type locality of E. skulei, Greece). 13. holotype of E. nielspederi Traugott- Olsenype. Scale bar 2 mm.

FIGURES 59 – 60. Male genitalia of Elachista dispunctella (Duponchel). 59. Poland. 60. Russia, Volgograd.

FIGURES 61 – 62. Male genitalia of Elachista dispunctella (Duponchel). 61. E. cahorsensis Traugott-Olsen, holotype. 62. E. imbi Traugott-Olsen, holotype [phallus broken].

FIGURES 63 – 64. Male genitalia of Elachista dispunctella (Duponchel). 63. E. karsholti Traugott-Olsen, holotype. 64. E. multipunctella Traugott-Olsen, holotype.

FIGURES 65 – 66. Male genitalia of Elachista dispunctella (Duponchel). 65. E. pocopunctella Traugott-Olsen, holotype. 66. E. povolnyi Traugott-Olsen, holotype.

FIGURES 67 – 68. Male genitalia of Elachista dispunctella (Duponchel). 67. E. intrigella Traugott-Olsen, holotype. 68. E. nielspederi Traugott-Olsen, holotype.

FIGURES 69 – 70. Male genitalia of Elachista spp. 69. E. dispunctella (Duponchel), E. skulei Traugott-Olsen, holotype. 70. E. dalmatiensis Traugott-Olsen, holotype.

FIGURES 126 – 127. Female genitalia of Elachista spp. 126. E. dispunctella (Austria. L. Kaila prep. 5724). 127. E. parvula (Greece, L. Kaila prep. 5804).