Ephysteris (Microcraspedus) montana, Li, Houhun & Bidzilya, Oleksiy, 2008

Li, Houhun & Bidzilya, Oleksiy, 2008, A review of the genus Ephysteris Meyrick, 1908 from China, with descriptions of two new species (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), Zootaxa 1733, pp. 45-56 : 50-51

Ephysteris (Microcraspedus) montana sp. nov.

( Figs. 3 , 9 , 15 , 21 )

Type material: Holotype: ɗ, CHINA: Zhubalong, Batang, Sichuan Province, 2500 m, 11.vii.2001, Houhun Li & Xinpu Wang leg., genitalia slide no. L05196 . Paratypes: 14 ɗ, 6 Ψ with same labels as holotype, genitalia slide nos. L05197 (female), L06013 (male), SYW05017 (male), SYW05018 (female), SYW05007 (male); 1 ɗ (abdomen missing), Xiangcheng, Sichuan Province, 2800 m, 13.07.2001, Houhun Li & Xinpu Wang leg. (NKU).

Adult ( Fig. 3 ). Length of forewing 4.0–5.0 mm. Head white with some brown scales on upper part; thorax and tegula covered with pale-grey, brown-tipped scales. Second segment of labial palpus greyish-brown, inner surface pale, off-white, with dark subapical belt; third segment pale-grey, with broad brown basal and apical rings, narrow, pointed, some shorter than second segment. Antenna with scape dark-brown, other antennal articles dark-grey with white basal rings. Forewing covered with grey, brown-tipped scales, mottled by ochreous along veins mainly; small dark spots about one-third length near costal margin, distinct black spot surrounded by ochreous scales in cell, two black spots at one-third and two-thirds length near posterior margin; cilia pale-grey, brown-tipped. Hindwing pale-grey.

Male genitalia ( Figs. 9 , 15 ). Posterior margin of sternite VIII with triangular incision. Uncus subtriangular, apex rounded. Gnathos evenly curved, sickle-shaped, dilated apically. Tegumen moderately broad. Valva at most level with base of gnathos, evenly curved inwards, apex rounded or triangular, weakly pointed; sacculus weakly curved, slender, about three-quarters length of valva; paired process on posterior margin of vinculum short and broad, apex with outwardly curved tip, haired, medial incision deep, broad, rounded anteriorly. Saccus moderately broad, straight, apex rounded. Phallus broad, about as long as tegumen and uncus, basal quarter slightly inflated, suboval, distal portion straight, subapical cornutus triangular.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 21 ). Apophyses anteriores straight, slightly shorter than segment VIII. Segment VIII subrectangular, somewhat broader than longer, weakly sclerotized, subgenital plates separated by broad membranous zone, anterior margin with narrow, band-shaped sclerite around ostium bursae. Ductus bursae moderately broad and short; antrum short, about as long as apophyses anteriores, with two broad, sparsely minute spinning strongly sclerotized lateral patches connected at base and bifurcated distally. Corpus bursae oval, about as long as ductus bursae; signum a long subtriangular plate, about two times longer than broad, with narrow and pointed basal corners, distal part slightly broadened in middle, proximal part of medial process slightly exceeding the length of basal corners of signum.

Variation. The forewing is sometimes uniformly pale-grey, and the black spots are often completely or partially reduced. Examined specimens display slight variation in the shape of the signum and in the length of the medial and basal processes in the female genitalia.

Remarks. Ephysteris (Microcraspedus) montana sp. nov. resembles externally E. (M). inustella Zeller, E. (M.) hispanica Povolný, E. (M). subovata Povolný, E. (M). diminutella Zeller and some other species by having a greyish forewing mottled by ochreous. It differs from E. (M.) subovata in normally smaller size and darker forewing. The male genitalia of E. (M.) montana sp. nov. are similar to those of E. (M). confusa Povolný, E. (M). insulella Heinemann and E. (M). deserticolella Staudinger. The female genitalia are best recognizable by short and broad, bifurcated and minute spinning antrum in combination with short apophyses anteriores, remotely resembling these characters of E. (M). atalopis Meyrick from Nepal.

Biology. Host plant unknown. In China adults were collected in the middle of July at 2500–2800 m.

Distribution: China (Sichuan).

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Latin montanus, meaning mountainous, and refers to the species distribution in high mountains.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 6. Adults of Ephysteris spp. 1, E. promptella (Staudinger); 2, E. subovata (Povolný); 3, E. montana sp. nov. (paratype, male); 4, E. flavida Povolný; 5, E. wenquana sp. nov. (holotype, male); 6, E. insulella (Heinemann)

FIGURES 7 – 12. Male genitalia of Ephysteris spp. 7, E. promptella (Staudinger) (slide no. L 05198); 8, E. subovata (Povolný) (slide no. L 06032); 9, E. montana sp. nov. (holotype, slide no. L 05196); 10, E. flavida Povolný (slide no. L 05190); 11, E. wenquana sp. nov. (Paratype, slide no. L 06064); 12, E. insulella (Heinemann) (slide no. L 06128).

FIGURES 13 – 18. Male segment VIII of Ephysteris spp. 13, E. promptella (Staudinger); 14, E. subovata (Povolný); 15, E. montana sp. n.; 16, E. flavida Povolný; 17, E. wenquana sp. n.; 18, E. insulella (Heinemann).

FIGURES 19 – 24. Female genitalia of Ephysteris spp. 19, E. promptella (Staudinger) (slide no. L 06106); 20, E. subovata (Povolný) (slide no. L 06033); 21, E. montana sp. nov. (holotype, slide no. L 05197); 22, E. flavida Povolný (slide no. L 05184); 23, E. wenquana sp. nov. (paratype, slide no. L 06086); 24, E. insulella (Heinemann) (slide no. L 05194)