Elachista dispilella Zeller, 1839

Kaila, Lauri, Baran, Tomasz & Mutanen, Marko, 2015, A revision of the Elachista dispilella complex (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Elachistidae), Zootaxa 3963 (4), pp. 517-560 : 523-527

Elachista dispilella Zeller, 1839

Figs. 2–6 , 35–49 , 87–88

Elachista dispilella Zeller, 1839: 213 Elachista festucicolella auct ., nec Zeller, 1853. Elachista manni Traugott-Olsen, 1990: 51 . Syn. nov.

Elachista steueri Traugott-Olsen, 1990: 54 . Syn. nov.

Elachista jaeckhi Traugott-Olsen, 1990: 58 . Syn. nov.

Elachista gebzeensis Traugott-Olsen, 1990: 62 . Syn. nov.

Material studied. Type material: lectotype ♂ of E. dispilella : LECTO-TYPE [rounded with blue margin]; Z.; Dispilella ; Dispilella Z Stt. N.H3,8; Zeller Coll. Walsingham Collection 1910–427; B.M Genitalia slide No. 19363 [correct slide number 19364]; LectoTYPUS Elachista dispilella Z; TESTE U. PARENTI 1973. Paralectotypes of E. dispilella: Glogau, Zeller , [also with an illegible word]; 20; dispilella Z., Coll. Tengstr., ♂ L. Kaila prep. 4146 ( MZH); Glogau, Coll. Tengstr., 2 ♂ L. Kaila prep. 4147, 4122 ( MZH). Holotype ♂ of E. jaeckhi : Holo-type [rounded with red margin]; Kroatien YU Misucaynica, Krk 4.VIII. [19]76 E. Jäckh; Elachista jäckhi [sic] sp. n. det. E. Traugott-Olsen; Genital praeparat nr. A. 25.10.87 E. Traugott-Olsen; B.M. Genitalia slide 26344 ( BMNH). Holotype ♂ of Elachista gebzeensis : Holotype [rounded with red margin]; Asia min. Turcia, Gebze (Izmil), 17.5.1969 leg. M. u. W. Glaser; genital praeparat nr. G. 20.8.87 sex: ♂ E. Traugott-Olsen; Elachista gebzensis [sic] sp. n. det. E. Traugott-Olsen ( SMNK). Slide: Elachista gebzensis [sic] sp. n. Asia min., Turcia. G. 20.8.87 ♂ E. Traugott-Olsen, Holotype, Coll. Glaser, LNK [ SMNK]. Paratype slide: Elachista gebzensis [sic] sp. n. H. 20.8.87 ♂ E. Traugott-Olsen, Paratype, Coll. Glaser, LNK [ SMNK]. Paratypes of E. gebzeensis : Turkey: Asia min., Gebze (Izmit) 17.–18.V.1969 2 ♂ M. u. W. Glaser leg. ( SMNK). Holotype ♂ of Elachista steueri : Holo-type [rounded with red margin]; 20.V.1980 [ Czech Republic, Bohemia:] Radobil, 400 m, 20.V.1980 Dr. Steuer.; Brit. Mus. 1980 174. Elachista steueri sp. n. det. E. Traugott-Olsen; E. Traugott-Olsen genital praeparat nro 5956 ♂ E. Traugott- Olsen; B.M. Genitalia slide ♂ No. 26346 ( BMNH). Other material: Bulgaria: 4127’954’’N, 2315’769’’E, Malak, Ozhuh Mt., 115 m, 6. V.2011, 1 ♂, Z. Tokár leg., DNA sample 22196 Lepid. Phyl. (Coll. Tokár); 4324’182’’N, 2813’769’’E, Tuzlata env., 50–100 m, 29. IX.2011, 1 ♂, Z. Tokár leg., DNA sample 22162 Lepid. Phyl. (Coll. Tokár); 40 km NE Varna, Tuzlata, 27.–28. VI.2001, 1 ♂, J. Junnilainen leg., L. Kaila prep. 3989 (Coll. Junnilainen); Germany: Oldenburg, Dötlingen, Helmshh., F., Festuca ovina , 29. V.1956, 1 ♂, E. Jäckh leg., Genital praeparat nr 6048 ♂, E. Traugott-Olsen, Coll. Traugott-Olsen ( ZMUC). Hungary: Matra Sárhegy, Szent Anna t, 22. IV.2002, 1 ♂, Cs. Szabóky leg., L. Kaila prep. 4377, DNA sample 21383 Lepid. Pphyl. (Coll. Tokár). Poland: Szczecin- Dąbie, 4. VI.1893, 1 ♂, E. Hering leg., ( MIZW); Poznań-Główieniec, 26. V.1954, 3 ♂, 1 ♀, M. R. Lewandowski leg. ( ISEZ); Poznań-Osiedle Warszawskie, 24. V.1958, 3 ♂,, 1 ♀, A. Szmyt leg. ( ISEZ); Rzepin, 13. V.1959, 1 ♂, A. Szmyt leg. ( ISEZ); Toruń, 26. V.1987, 1 ♂, J. Buszko leg. (Coll. Buszko); Toruń, 9. V.2000, 7 ♂, 7♀; 1 ♂ ex larva ( Festuca psammophila ), 9.V.2001, T. Baran leg., L. Kaila prep. 4119, DNA samples 16803, 16804 Lepid. Phyl.(Coll. Baran, MZH); CD 38 Torún, 9. V.2000, 1 ♂, 1 ♀, T. Baran leg. (Coll. Baran); Wrocław ( Frey 1859, Wocke 1874), Bydgoszcz ( Toll 1937). Russia: S. Ural, Kizilskoye, 27. V.1998, 4 ♂, J. Junnilainen leg., 11 ♂, T. & K. Nupponen leg., L. Kaila prep. 3361, 3391 (Coll. Nupponen, MZH); Moskovo, 26. V.1998, 3 ♂, J. Junnilainen leg., L. Kaila prep. 3409 (Coll. Junnilainen, MZH), 4 ♂ T. & K. Nupponen leg.; Kidriasovo, 28.–29. V.1998, 2 ♂, 1 ♀, J. Junnilainen leg. (Coll. Junnilainen), 1 ♂, 1 ♀, T. & K. Nupponen leg. (Coll. Nupponen) (reported as E. manni by Kaila et al. 2003); S. Ural, Orenburg district, 40 km WSW Orsk, spring nr. Guberlja river, 8. IX.2009, 2 ♂, K.

Nupponen leg., DNA samples 15333, 15337 Lepid. Phyl. (Coll. Nupponen); S. Ural, Orenburg district, 40 km W Orsk, nr. Guberlja village, 9. IX.2009, 3 ♂, K. Nupponen leg., DNA samples 15332, 15334, 15338 Lepid. Phyl. (Coll. Nupponen); Cheliabinsk district, 5224’N, 5904’E, 270 m, Ural river bank at Bogdanovskoye village, 21. V.2010, 5 ♂, K. Nupponen leg., DNA samples 15346, 15347 Lepid. Phyl. (Coll. Nupponen); Ul’yanovsk obl., Vjazovka, Radishchevo distr., 160 km S Ul’yanovsk, 5253’N, 4826’E, 24. V.1994, 1 ♂, V. Isajeva leg., 3.– 6. V.1998, 1 ♂, V. V. Zolotuhin leg. L. Kaila prep. 3960 ( MZH), 9. V.2000, 24 exx., 29. V.2000, 8 exx., L. Kaila prep. 4123–4130, V. V. Zolotuhin leg. (Coll. Zolotuhin); Vjazovka, 6 km S, Radishchevo distr., 166 km S Ul’yanovsk, 5251’N, 4821’E, 7. V.2000, 1 ♂, 29.V.–3. VI.2000, 3 ♂, V. V. Zolotuhin leg. (Coll. Zolotuhin); Akulovka, Nikolaevka distr., 150 km SWS Ul’yanovsk, limestone steppe, 5306’N, 4729’E, 14. V.1996, 1 ♂, 24. V.1996, 1 ♂, V. V. Zolotuhin leg, L. Kaila prep. 3961 (Coll. Zolotuhin, MZH), 6.V.1998 1 ♂ [no collector], 25. VI.1998, 1 ♂, A. & V. B. Isajev leg. (Coll. Zolotuhin); S. Buryatia, 5058–59’N, 10638–40’E, 550–600 m, 10 km S. Chikov valley, Novoselengnisk vill., sand dunes/sand steppe, 25. VI.2002, 1 ♂, K. Nupponen leg., L. Kaila prep. 4439 (Coll. Nupponen); 2.–3. VI.2006, 6 ♂, K. Nupponen leg., L. Kaila prep. 4820, 4821, 5534, 5539, 5540, DNA samples 21478–21490, 22236 Lepid. Phyl. (Coll. Nupponen, MZH); Altai Mts., 5014–16’N, 8750–55’E, Kuraiskaja step, 1500–1700 m, 25. VI.2000, 1 ♂, T. & K. Nupponen leg. (Coll. Nupponen). Slovakia: Vel’k vrch, 3. VII.2000, 1 ♂, I. Richter leg., Z. Tokár prep. 8486, E. manni det. Tokár, L. Kaila prep. 5449, DNA sample 21398 Lepid. Phyl. (Coll. Tokár); Viniansky hrad, vrch, 22. V.1991, 1 ♂, Z. Tokár leg., L. Kaila prep. 5445, Elachista manni Tokár det., DNA sample 21355 Lepid. Phyl. (Coll. Tokár); Vinianska stráň, 13. V.1993, 2 ♂, 6. V.2000, 1 ♂, Z. Tokár leg., det. as E. manni, L. Kaila prep. 3069, DNA sample 21407 Lepid. Phyl. (Coll. Tokár). Sweden: Öland, Gårdby, 21. VI.1998, 2 ♂, DNA sample 22103 Lepid. Phyl., 8.VII.1999 1 ♀, DNA sample 22104 Lepid. Phyl., L. Kaila prep. 5799, Gårdby, Skarpa Alby, 29. V.1981, 1 ♂, all H. Hendriksen leg. ( ZMUC); Öland, Högsrum, 24. VI.1973, 2 ♂, I. Svensson leg., L. Kaila prep. 3419 ( MZH); Öland, Karums alvar, 23. VI.1959, 2 ♂, I. Svensson leg., L. Kaila prep. 3624 ( MZH); Öland, Möckelmossen, 30. V.1981, 1 ♂, K. Schnack leg. ( ZMUC); Öland, St. Alvar, Tornrör, 10. VI.1996, 1 ♂, H. Hendriksen leg. ( ZMUC) [specimens from Öland identified as E. festucicolella ]. Turkey: Anatolia, Kizilcahamam, 925 m, 17. VI.1968, 1 ♂, M. u. V. Glaser leg. ( SMNK); 5 km NE Aksaray, 16. V.2005, 11 ♂, J. Junnilainen leg., DNA samples 11391–11396, 11400, 11401 Lepid. Phyl. (Coll. Junnilainen, MZH); 25 km SW Aksehir, Sultan Daglari, 1500 m, 27. VII.1997, 1 ♂, T. Nupponen leg., J. Tabell prep. 4585, DNA sample 21413 Lepid. Phyl. (Coll. Nupponen); 30 km SW Aksehir, Sultan Daglari, 1500 m, 29. V.1997, 1 ♂, K. Nupponen & J. Junnilainen leg., DNA sample 22274 Lepid. Phyl. (Coll. Junnilainen), 30. VIII.1997, 1 ♂, K. Nupponen & J. Junnilainen leg., DNA sample 22268 ( MZH); 20. V.2005, 1 ♂, J. Junnilainen leg., L. Kaila prep. 5061 ( MZH); Ankara Baraje, 900 m, 28.VI.1968, M. u. V. Glaser leg. ( SMNK); 30 km W Konya, 21. V.1997, 1 ♂, K. Nupponen & J. Junnilainen leg., DNA sample 22269 Lepid. Phyl. (Coll. Junnilainen); Ürgüp, 30. VI.1998, 2 ♂, T. Nupponen leg., L. Kaila prep. 4732, DNA sample 22280 Lepid. Phyl. (Coll. Nupponen); 18. V.2005, 2 ♂, J. Junnilainen leg., DNA samples 11389, 11390 Lepid. Phyl. (Coll. Junnilainen); 50 km SE Seydisehir, 13. VI.2000, 3 ♂, T. Nupponen leg., L. Kaila prep. 4317, 4321, 4320 (Coll. Nupponen); prov. Ankara, Çamlidere, 1300 m, 31. VII.1996, 1 ♂ K. E. Stovgaard ( ZMUC).

Diagnosis. Elachista dispilella is a small species with a white or somewhat creamy forewing ground colour. It usually has both plical and discal spots, their colour varying from grey to nearly brown. Sometimes the spots are weak and in some populations nearly or entirely absent. The labial palpi are short and porrect, their length less than the diameter of the head, as in E. curonensis . The male genitalia are characterized by the short, broad valva, the broad uncus lobes, and the very large phallus, which is longer than the valva. The cornuti are on average larger than in any other member of this species complex, except for E. flavescens , which is easily differentiated from E. dispilella by its serrate antennae and narrower valvae. The cornutus cluster of E. dispilella is formed from basally joined, long spines; their number is around 10 with some variation, and their length gradually increases towards the apex; however, even the most basal ones are long as compared to other species. The distal ones are about 1.5 times as long as the diameter of the phallus at its apical part. The spinose knob of the gnathos is rounded or slightly ovoid. The female genitalia differ from other species by the longer ductus bursae.

Molecular characterization. Thirty-four specimens of E. dispilella showed a maximum variability of 1.71 %. Average distance between the specimens was 0.37 %. The genetically closest species was E. festucicolella with 3.69 % minimum distance to E. dispilella .

Redescription. Wingspan 7–8 mm. Labial palpus 0.8 times as long as diameter of head, porrect, creamy white above, fuscous below. Head, neck tuft, thorax, scape and pedicel creamy white, sometimes pale fuscous, flagellum grey. Foreleg inwardly dark leaden grey, fore- and midleg otherwise grey, hindleg ochreous with grey spurs and tarsal articles. Forewing white or creamy white with concolorous fringe, costa basally narrowly black. Plical and discal spots variably present, brownish grey, sometimes one or both of them absent. Hindwing white or pale grey, translucent, with concolorous fringe except along anterior margin grey. Underside of wings varying from pale to dark grey, fringe white.

Male genitalia. Uncus lobes broad, width of their length, tapered towards pointed and outward bent apex, sickle-shaped; mesial margin convex, lateral margin concave, rounded. Spinose knob of gnathos rounded or slightly oval-shaped. Valva 1.5 times as long as tegumen + uncus, four times as long as broad at its broadest part at distal 3/4 length, nearly parallel-sided; base of sacculus somewhat dilated, valva slightly narrowed in the middle of its length; cucullus broad and elongate. Digitate process tongue-shaped, 0.2 times as long as valva, medially and distally with stout setae. Juxta lobes devoid of setae, distinctly laterally produced, mesial margin slightly convex, joins the straight distal margin in an obtuse angle. Phallus longer than valva, bent, broadest basally; cornutus cluster comb-shaped, formed from basally joined long and stout spines, their number around 10 with some variation, length gradually increasing towards apex; length of most basal ones about half the diameter of phallus, most distal ones about 1.5 times as long as the diameter of phallus.

Female genitalia. Apophyses posteriores slender, straight, a little longer than papillae anales. Apophyses anteriores about 1/3 as long as apophyses posteriores. Posterior margin of sternum 7 forming indistinct, shallow, bowl-shaped formation almost as wide as distance between apophyses anteriores. Ostium bursae invaginated in sternum 8, very narrow; colliculum posteriorly narrow, abruptly widening with short sclerotized band; ductus seminalis granulose, distance between its inception and ostium bursae about as long as apophyses posteriores; ductus bursae 6–7 times as long as apophyses posteriores, tubular, membranous, granulose, pronouncedly so in both posterior and anterior third, incepted in corpus bursae with distinct border; corpus bursae relatively small, pyriform, with small internal granules in median zone; signum large, dentate, boomerang-shaped.

Biology. In Sweden E. dispilella occurs in xerothermic limestone sites. In Poland it occurs locally in sandy, xerothermic places with psammophilous vegetation, e.g., in inland dunes. Larvae are leaf miners on Festuca psammophila , and mature larvae are found mainly in April (T. Baran, personal observation). Traugott-Olsen (1990) and Baran (2005) give Corynephorus canescens as the host plant of the species. The moths are often found sitting on the host plant during sunny days. Elachista dispilella is univoltine in the northern part of its range, flying from the beginning of May to about the first week of July; it is most common in mid-May. It is the earliest appearing member of the E. dispilella complex in Poland. Hering (1891) considered E. dispilella bivoltine, likely because he thought E. dispilella and E. distigmatella were conspecific. Nevertheless, at least in Bulgaria, E. dispilella has been recorded in May–June and in September, indicating that in southern Europe E. dispilella indeed has two generations.

Distribution. Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czcech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Russia to Buryatia in the east, Slovakia, Sweden, Turkey. Other records need verification.

Remarks. The taxonomic confusion between E. dispilella , E. festucicolella , and E. distigmatella is detailed above. Elachista manni Traugott-Olsen was described to denote the taxon with male genitalia matching Zeller’s dispilella , one of its paratypes explicitly mentioned to have been taken from Zeller’s original series of E. dispilella . The holotype of E manni was not available for the present study. The illustration and description of the holotype by Traugott-Olsen (1990) with no indication of differences to E. dispilella sensu Zeller , combined with the present knowledge of the wide distribution range of E. dispilella supports this synonymy.

In his original description of E. dispilella, Zeller mentions Aira [now Corynephorus ] canescens as the host plant of E. dispilella ; however, all subsequent authors report Festuca ovina and other Festuca species as the food plant; however, due to the taxonomic confusion in the E. dispilella complex, the host plant records should be verified.

Extensive samples of Elachista dispilella and other nominal taxa from the areas of their type localities have been examined by their morphology and DNA barcodes. With nearly no variation in DNA barcodes or in facies or genital morphology, we consider the following nominal species synonyms of Elachista dispilella : E. manni Traugott-Olsen , syn. nov., E. steueri Traugott-Olsen , syn. nov., E. jaeckhi Traugott-Olsen , syn. nov., and E. gebzeensis Traugott-Olsen , syn. nov. There are slight differences in DNA barcodes and external appearance of Buryatian specimens as compared to other samples of E. dispilella . As these differences are minor, and there seem to be no differences in genitalia between them, we here deem the Buryatian population conspecific with E. dispilella .

The illustration of E. jaeckhi by Traugott-Olsen (1990) is not drawn from the holotype.

Figures

FIGURES 2 – 13. Adults of Elachista spp. Scale 2 mm. 2. E. dispilella Zeller, ♂ lectotype (image in greyscale). 3. E. dispilella Zeller ♂ (Poland, Torún). 4. E. dispilella Zeller (holotype ♂ of E. steueri Traugott-Olsen). 5. E. dispilella Zeller (holotype ♂ of E. jaeckhi Traugott-Olsen). 6. E. dispilella Zeller (holotype ♂ of E. gebzeensis Traugott-Olsen). 7. E. curonensis Traugott- Olsen, ♂, holotype. 8. E. festucicolella Zeller, ♂ lectotype. 9. E. festucicolella Zeller, ♂ (Poland). 10. E. festucicolella Zeller, ♀ (Poland). 11. E. bigorrensis Traugott-Olsen, ♀, holotype. 12. E. distigmatella Zeller, ♂ lectotype. 13. E. distigmatella Zeller, ♂ (Italy).

FIGURES 35 – 36. Male genitalia of E. dispilella Zeller. Left: general image of genitalia, phallus in same scale. Right top: juxta and digitate process. Right bottom: cornutus as enlarged. 35. Lectotype, B. M. 19364. 36. Paralectotype, L. Kaila prep. 4146.

FIGURES 37 – 38. Male genitalia of E. dispilella Zeller. 37. Holotype of E. steueri Traugott-Olsen (B. M. 26346). Left: general image of genitalia. Right: cornutus group, juxta and digitate process. 38. Holotype of E. jaeckhi Traugott-Olsen, B. M. 26344. Left: general image of genitalia. Right: cornutus group, juxta, and digitate process.

FIGURE 39. Male genitalia of E. dispilella Zeller. Holotype of E. gebzeensis Traugott-Olsen, ETO G. 20.8. 87. Left: general image of genitalia. Right: cornutus group, juxta, and digitate process.

FIGURES 40 – 49. Male genitalia of E. dispilella Zeller. Variation of cornuti. 40. Lectotype Poland Głogów [Germany, Glogau] (B. M. 19364. number as corrected to original). 41. paralectotype Poland Głogów [Germany, Glogau], L. Kaila prep. 4146. 42. Sweden, Öland, L. Kaila prep. 3624. 43. Russia, Ulyanovsk, L. Kaila prep. 4127. 44. Russia, Ulyanovsk, L. Kaila prep. 4128. 45. Russia, Cheliabinsk, L. Kaila prep. 3361. 46. Turkey, Ürgüp, L. Kaila prep. 4732. 47. Turkey, Seydesihir, L. Kaila prep. 4320. 48. Turkey, Seydesihir, L. Kaila prep. 4319. 49. Russia, Altai Mts. Kuray, L. Kaila prep. 3957.

FIGURES 87 – 88. Female genitalia of E. dispilella Zeller. 86. Poland, L. Kaila prep. 5438. 87. Ostium bursae, Poland, L. Kaila prep. 5438.