Elachista helia, Kaila & Sruoga, 2014

Kaila, Lauri & Sruoga, Virginijus, 2014, Definition of the Elachista puplesisi Sruoga complex (Lepidoptera, Gelechioidea, Elachistidae), with description of a new species, Zootaxa 3821 (5), pp. 583-589 : 587-589

Elachista helia sp. nov.

Figs 2, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12

Type material. Holotype ♂: Greece, Rhodos , Koskinou 16.IV.1986 J. Klimesch leg., L. Kaila prep. 5754 ( ZSM) . Paratypes: (5 ♂) Greece, Rhodos , Faliraki, 15.IV.1985 1 ♂, 16.IV.1985 1 ♂, L. Kaila prep. 5825, 18.IV.1985 1♂, E. Traugott-Olsen prep. 6596, 23.-26.IV.1987 3 ♂, all. J. Klimesch leg. ( ZSM, 1 ♂ in MZH, 1 ♂ in Coll. Traugott- Olsen, now in ZMUC) .

Diagnosis. Elachista helia is a fairly small and broad-winged species of Elachista (Fig. 2). The broad wings, stout body shape, and relatively short and porrect labial palpi give it an appearance reminiscent more of Perittia than Elachista , perhaps most similar to P. ravida Kaila, 2009 and P. minitaurella Kaila, 2009 . However, the male genitalia readily place the species into the genus Elachista (see above). Within Elachista this species cannot be mixed with any other known species.The forewing is mottled grey with a faint, pale line along fold. The short and broad valva, combined with pointed, triangular uncus lobes and the lack of the digitate process will confirm its identity (Figs 10, 12). The only similar species, E. puplesisi Sruoga , is white with a faint yellowish hue. Their genitalia differ by the broader and shorter valva and the larger uncus of E. puplesisi as compared to that of E. helia (cf. Figs 11, 12). E. helia has no caecum in the phallus, so the basal opening is posteriorly directed; the phallus of E. puplesisi has a caecum, and the basal opening is dorsolaterally oriented. It should be noted that the shape of the uncus lobes will look different in different genital slides depending on the amount of pressure applied during the spreading process of slide preparation. In the dissection of the holotype only a slight pressure was applied. If the genitalia are squeezed more strongly, the shape of the uncus appears similar to that of E. puplesisi (cf. Fig. 10), yet it is smaller.

Description. Forewing length 3–3.5 mm. Labial palpus porrect, length half the diameter of head; second and third segment of equal length; second segment leaden grey above, palpi otherwise fuscous brownish grey. Head smooth-scaled, scales long and narrow, shiny brown, with single pale grey scales. Neck tuft leaden grey. Antenna thick, dark grey, flagellum with faint paler annulation in basal third. Legs leaden grey. Forewing shape broad, lanceolate; ground colour consisting of basally pale and distally grey scales forming a mottled appearance; along fold pale grey, indistinctly delineated longitudinal streak that extends to 2/3 wing length; fringe grey. Underside grey, fringe basally narrowly creamy white, distally grey. Both upper and underside of hindwing grey with concolorous fringe.

Male genitalia. Uncus lobes small, rounded, distolaterally with row or undifferentiated area of setae arising from flat pinacula. Basal arms of gnathos erect, separate from each other; spinose knob of gnathos rounded. Transtilla formed of medially projected hook-like appendages of valval costa. Valva 1.5 times as long as tegumen + uncus, 3.5 times as broad as wide, parallel-sided; valval process weakly developed; basal fold of costa vestigial, distal fold long, distally fading; narrow, longitudinal membranous window without dorsal sclerotisation along costa; costa with row of minute spines along 1/3 length of costa; cucullus rounded, indistinctly delimited. Digitate process absent. Median plate of juxta rounded, without lateral or posterior extensions, medially somewhat convex to ventral direction. Juxta lobes laterally produced, near distal margin row of stout setae arising from erect pinacula. Phallus 0.8 times as long as valva, parallel-sided at basal half; distal opening extended to half the length of phallus; apex pointed; without cornuti; caecum absent.

Female genitalia. Unknown.

Life history. Unknown.

Distribution. Greece, Rhodos.