Ancylosis palianytsia, Yepishin, 2022

Yepishin, Viktor, 2022, An undescribed species among Roesler’s type specimens: Ancylosis palianytsia sp nov. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae: Phycitinae) described from Afghanistan, Zootaxa 5133 (2), pp. 293-300 : 294-299

Ancylosis palianytsia sp. nov.

( Figs 1–7, 9–10 , 11a–d, 12a–f, 13a–b , 14–15 )

Staudingeria monella sensu Roesler, 1973 : pl. 28: fig. 215-2

Type material ( stored in the SMNK). Holotype: 1♂ ( Figs 1 , 10 , 12a–f ), “[round label with yellow edge] Para- | type”, “O— Afghanistan | Sarobi , 1100 m | 13.8.1961 | G. Ebert leg.”, “[yellow label] Staudingeria | monella | U. Roesler / Paratypus ”; prep. no. ♂ 630.22s V. Yepishin.

Paratypes: 1♂ ( Figs 2 , 11a–d ), “[round label with yellow edge] Para- | type”, “O.— AFGHANISTAN | Gulbahar 1700 m | 15.8.1956 | H. G. Amsel leg.”, “[yellow label] Staudingeria | monella | U. Roesler / Paratypus ”, “[reddish label] Gemalt von | Dr. F. Gregor | für Micr. Pal.”; prep. no. ♂ 631.22s V. Yepishin ;

1♂ ( Figs 3 , 7 , 13a–b ), “[round label with yellow edge] Para- | type”, “O.— AFGHANISTAN | Gulbahar 1700 m | 15.8.1956 | H. G. Amsel leg.”, “[yellow label] Staudingeria | monella | U. Roesler / Paratypus ”; prep. no . ♂ 632.22g V. Yepishin ;

1♀ ( Figs 4 , 9 , 14 ), “[round label with yellow edge] Para- | type”, “O.— AFGHANISTAN | Gulbahar 1700 m | 15.8.1956 | H. G. Amsel leg.”, “[yellow label] Staudingeria | monella | U. Roesler / Paratypus ”; prep. no . ♀ 341.20s V. Yepishin ;

1♀ ( Figs 5–6 , 15 ), “[round label with yellow edge] Para- | type”, “O— Afghanistan | Sarobi , 1100 m | 13.8.1961 | G. Ebert leg.”, “[yellow label] Staudingeria | monella | U. Roesler / Paratypus ”; prep. no . ♀ 629.22s V. Yepishin .

Diagnosis. Adults of Ancylosis palianytsia sp. nov. are similar to A. monella , A. samaritanella ( Zeller, 1867) and some forms of very variable A. harmoniella ( Ragonot, 1887) and A. roscidella ( Eversmann, 1844) . An important distinguishing feature is the presence of two rows of teeth at the base of flagellum, which are outgrowths of antenna segments, on the antennae of males of the new species ( Fig. 7 ). Although A. roscidella also has teeth, that species has only a single row. In the male genitalia, the new species and A. roscidella have an elongated vinculum that differs sharply from related species. Ancylosis palianytsia sp. nov. differs from A. roscidella in the pointed apex of the uncus, which in A. roscidella is rounded and with the edges parallel ( Bidzilya et al. 2019; Lepiforum 2022). The new species also differs from related species by an elongated editum with a double tubercle, which located closer to the base of the valva ( Figs 12e–f, 13b , arrowed) and by the sclerotization of the culcita ( Figs 11c, 12c ). In the female genitalia, A. palianytsia sp. nov. is distinguished from A. monella , A. samaritanella and A. roscidella by the shape of the bursa copulatrix, constricted in the new species whereas tubular in the others ( Roesler 1973; Asselbergs 2009; Bidzilya et al. 2019). From A. harmoniella it is distinguished by the C-shaped bend of the ductus bursae and the presence of signa in it ( Figs 14–15 ).

It is of importance to mention that Roesler (1973: 493), in the description of Staudingeria monella , indicates the presence of sinuses in male antennae. However, the antennae of the male of A. monella are filiform without any characteristic structures at the base of flagellum ( Fig. 8a ); it is clear that there was confusion between specimens of monella and the new species. In any event, the “teeth” present on the basal area of the antenna of the new species cannot be called a real sinus; such a feature is only formed by the shape of the antennal segments and the specific shape of the scales, often elongated.

Description. Adult ( Figs 1–7, 9–10 ): wingspan 17.5–18.5 mm. Male: Frons white, back of head and labial palpus from white to beige, maxillary palpus beige, antennae from dark beige to brown, patagium, tegulae and thorax dark beige. Antennae filiform, flattened laterally, covered with short cilia, in length approximately 1/4 of thickness of antennal flagellum. Base of flagellum curved with an arc with two rows of teeth of basal 5–6 antenomeres. Sinus absent. Ground colour of forewings from yellow-brown to grey-brown. Costal streak white with sparsely scattered, grey-black scales. Basal area beige at base which then turns dark brown (in some specimens black). Antemedial line consists of wide yellow basal band and thin white distal band; some specimens have two black-brown dots on outer edge of ante-medial line. Median area from grey to brown, with yellow spot in centre. Postmedian line white. Marginal line brown, smoothly transitioning to yellow external area. Hindwings white-grey, almost transparent, with prominent brown veins, marginal line light brown. Fringes of both fore- and hindwings dark beige. Legs light grey. Female: similar except that antennal cilia are extremely shorter than in males, almost imperceptible.

Male genitalia ( Figs 11a–d, 12a–f, 13a–b ): uncus oblong triangular, more than twice as long as wide, at base with this, long lateral piliform setae. Gnathos twice shorter than uncus, narrow, parallel at base and tapering at apex (lateral view, see Fig. 13a ). Tegumen 1.7 times as long as wide slightly widened at base, at apex (at base of uncus) a paired lobe-like rounded outgrowths reinforced with a sclerotized transverse process. Transtilla triangular, equal length and width, wide at base. Valva long, parallel, twice longer than uncus. Sacculus and costa sclerotised, thin and even along entire length, cucullus rounded. At sacculus distally, valva has a slight extension. Along middle part of valva, with a slightly diagonally located base, an unsclerotised ridge—editum with a short outgrowth from side of base of valva (see arrow on Figs 12e–f, 13b ). Juxta U-shaped, tips rounded and covered with setae ( Figs 11d, 12d ). Vinculum elongated, parallel, same length as tegumen, with V-shaped non-sclerotised zone at base, saccus even. Aedeagus twice longer than vinculum, thin, slightly wider in first 1/3, cornuti absent. Culcita elongated, one and a half as long as wide, characteristic rhomboid sclerotization at base, on sides rounded sclerotised zones bearing long (same length as culcita) scale tufts, in middle part, a non-sclerotised zone of approximately X-shape.

Female genitalia ( Figs 14–15 ): papillae anales elongated subtriangular, covered with long piliform setae. Posterior and anterior apophyses straight, of equal length, on average twice as long as papillae anales. Segment VIII of equally width and length, one and a half shorter than length of apophyses. Anterior margin of tergum VIII rounded, posterior margin with wide V-shaped emargination. Antrum roundly funnel-shaped, transverse tubular bend at point of transition to ductus bursae. Ductus bursae three times longer than apophyses, narrowed posteriorly, then gradually expanding basally and with an abrupt, C-shaped bend at point of transition to bursa copulatrix. Ductus seminalis diverges from ductus bursae at a distance equal to length of antrum. Bursa copulatrix with a distinct constriction that divides it into two parts, elongated (three times longer than wide), tubular at base and rounded at apex. Signa in form of pointed teeth with widened round base in bursa copulatrix and in C-shaped bend of ductus bursae. In basal part of bursa, signa larger and in greater number.

Note. The C-shaped bend of ductus bursae in both specimens has a stable shape that does not change during preparation of abdomen and manufacture of permanent mount microscope slide.

Biology. Unknown.

Distribution. NE Afghanistan.

Etymology. Palianytsia (in Ukrainian: ПаЛЯНиЦЯ) is a type of Ukrainian bread. Pronunciation of the word “palianytsia” was used to test enemies who were unable to pronounce the given word correctly, during a full-scale invasion of Russian troops, in the Russo-Ukrainian War.

Figures

FIGURES 1–3. Males of Ancylosis palianytsia sp. nov. 1. Holotype, Sarobi, Prep. no. ♂630.22s. 2. Paratype, Gulbahar, Prep. no. ♂631.22s. 3. Paratype, Gulbahar, Prep. no. ♂632.22g. Scale bar: 10 mm.

FIGURES 4–5. Females of Ancylosis palianytsia sp. nov. 4. Paratype, Gulbahar, Prep. no. ♀341.20s. 5. Paratype, Sarobi, Prep. no. ♀629.22s. Scale bar: 10 mm.

FIGURES 6–10. Head structures of Ancylosis spp. Ancylosis palianytsia sp. nov.: 6–7. Antennae (6. Paratype, Sarobi, Prep. no. ♀629.22s; 7. Paratype, Gulbahar, Prep. no. ♂632.22g). 9–10. Labial palpi (9. Paratype, Gulbahar, Prep. no. ♀341.20s; 10. Holotype, Sarobi, Prep. no. ♂630.22s). Ancylosis monella: 8a. Antennae, 8b. Labial palpi (Paratype, Polihomri, Prep. no. ♂342.20s).

FIGURES 11–13. Male genitalia of Ancylosis palianytsia sp. nov. 11. Ventral view, aedeagus apart (a), aedeagus (b), culcita (c), juxta (d) (Paratype, Gulbahar, Prep. no. ♂631.22s.). 12. Ventral view, aedeagus apart (a), aedeagus (b), culcita (c), juxta (d), right valva (e), left valva (f) (Holotype, Sarobi, Prep. no. ♂630.22s.). 13. Gnathos, lateral view (a), right valva (b) (Paratype, Gulbahar, Prep. no. ♂632.22g.). Scale bar: 1 mm.

FIGURES 14–15. Female genitalia of Ancylosis palianytsia sp. nov. 14. Paratype, Gulbahar, Prep. no. ♀341.20s. 15. Paratype, Sarobi, Prep. no. ♀629.22s. Scale bar: 1 mm.