Scrobipalpa portosanctana ( Stainton, 1859 )

Bidzilya, Oleksiy V., 2021, A review of the genus Scrobipalpa Janse, 1951 (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae) in the Afrotropical region, Zootaxa 5070 (1), pp. 1-83 : 39

Scrobipalpa portosanctana ( Stainton, 1859)

Figs 82–84 , 146 , 191

Gelechia portosanctana Stainton, 1859: 212 .

Gelechia eremaula Meyrick, 1891: 57 . Synonymized by Huemer & Karsholt 2010: 159.

Gelechia lyciella Walsingham, 1900: 217 . Synonymized by Huemer & Karsholt 2010: 159.

Lita desertella Rebel, 1901: 165 . Synonymized by Huemer & Karsholt 2010: 159.

Gelechia chersophila Meyrick, 1909: 351 . Syn. nov.

Scrobipalpa chersophila ( Meyrick, 1909) — Janse 1960: 236. Pl. 28g, Pl. 42c.

Phthorimaea bertramella Lucas, 1940: 228 . Synonymized by Huemer & Karsholt 2010: 159.

Teleia letroyella Lucas, 1950: 143 . Synonymized by Huemer & Karsholt 2010: 159.

Gnorimoschema reisseri Povolný & Gregor, 1955: 85 , fig. 4. Synonymized by Huemer & Karsholt 2010: 160.

Gnorimoschema philolycii Hering, 1957 : (1): 644 (key), (3): 26-27, 138, pl. 45, figs. 388, 220, pl. 86, figs. 724, 725. Synonymized by Huemer & Karsholt 2010: 160.

Gelechia gallincolella auct. (nec Mann, 1872); misidentification.

Type material examined. Paralectotype of chersophila ♂, [ South Africa] “ Kalk Bay , Cape Colony, L. 1.v.“ | “ Phthorimaea chersophila Myr. , ½, E. Meyrick det., E. Meyrick Coll. ” | “ Meyrick coll. B.N. 1938.-290” (gen. slide 409/14, O. Bidzilya); 1 ex., same data, abdomen missing (all NHMUK) .

Material examined. South Africa: 2 ♂, 1 ♀, Port Elizabeth, 20.ix.1961, ex larva Lycium campanulatum (Taylor) (gen. slide 132/ 17♀, O. Bidzilya ) ( TMSA) ; 1 ♂, Eastern Cape, Uitenhage , LF, 15.xi.2013 (Mey) (gen. slide 367/14, O. Bidzilya) ; 2 ♂, North Cape, Fraserburg, Three-Kloof , 5.iii.2014 (Mey) ; 1 ♂, West Cape, Villiersdorp, Wolfkloof , 400 m, 20.xi.2013 (Mey) (all MfN) ; 1 ♂, East. Cape, Asante-Sana, Zuurkloof , 26.i.2012, LF (Mey) (gen. slide 155/17, O. Bidzilya) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Eastern Cape, Graaff Reinet distr., Petersburg, Sourkloof , 11.xi. 2012, 1196 m, light (Bidzilya) (gen. slide 52/ 13 ♂, 54/ 13♀, O. Bidzilya) ; 1 ♀, same data, but Waterkloof , 10.xi.2012 (Bidzilya) ; 3 ♂, same data, but Farm Cottage , 13, 14.xi.2012 (Bidzilya) (all ZMKU) .

Diagnosis. Scrobipalpa portosanctana is characterized by a dark brown forewing with an oblique black patch at 1/3 and other distinct black markings in the cell and apical area. Its forewing pattern is very similar to that of S. geomicta , but the latter is on average smaller. The male genitalia of S. portosanctana are characterized by the following combination of features: narrow, elongated tegumen and uncus; weakly sigmoid valva; long sacculus; and apically broad, obtuse saccus. Scrobipalpa geomicta differs in its straight valva, distally narrower sacculus and narrower vincular process. The female genitalia of S. portosanctana are distinguished by broad subgenital plates that are nearly connected medially, and well-developed anteromedial sclerites. Scrobipalpa geomicta differs in having a teardrop-shaped rather than subtriangular anteromedial depression, indistinct anteromedial corners of the subgenital plates, and a slenderer signum.

Biology. Larvae feed on Lycium europaeum L. and L. barbatum L. ( Solanaceae ) in the Palaearctic Region ( Huemer & Karsholt 2010: 161). In South Africa larvae were recorded on Lycium ferocissimum Miers (= campanulatum E. Meyer ex C.H. Wright ). Adults fly in September, November, March and May.

Distribution: Southern Europe, NW Africa, Near East ( Huemer & Karsholt 2010: 160; Bidzilya et al. 2019: 48), South Africa.

Remarks. Gelechia chersophila was described from four specimens collected in Kalk Bay, South Africa. I was not able to get in contact with curator of Lepidoptera in SAM to study the male holotype of the species. However, the redescription of the species in Janse (1960: 236) and the figure of the male genitalia of the holotype ( Janse 1960, pl. 42b) as well as the male genitalia of one of paralectotypes examined by me, leave no doubt to its conspecificity with S. portosanctana . The female genitalia of specimens from South Africa differ slightly from those figured by Huemer & Karsholt (2010: 494, fig. 95) in that segment VIII is longer and lacks an excavated lateral margin.

Figures

FIGURES 81–90. Scrobipalpa spp., adults. 81. S. geomicta, Namibia, Auas Mts., male. 82–84. S. portosanctana, South Africa. 82. Port Elizabeth, male. 83. Petersburg, male. 84. Petersburg, male. 85. S. swakopi, Namibia, Swakopmund, HT, male (gen. slide 13/10, OB). 86. S. ethiopica, Ethiopia, Simien Mts, HT, female (gen. slide 444/07, OB). 87. S. aptatella, South Africa, Rustenburg, male (gen. slide 143/167, OB). 88. S. ergasima, Namibia, Otjikondo W Outjo, Holstein farm, male. 89, 90. S. agassizi sp. nov., Kenya, Turi. 89. HT, female. 90. PT, male. Scale bar = wingspan.

FIGURES 143–148. Scrobipalpa spp., male genitalia. 143, 144. S. meridioafricana, Namibia. 143. Orange River, PT (gen. slide 345/07, OB). 144. Nababiep (gen. slide 130/17, OB). 145. S. geomicta, Namibia, Brandberg (gen. slide 63/13, OB). 146. S. portosanctana, South Africa, Asante-Sana (gen. slide 155/17, OB). 147, 148. S. swakopi, Namibia. 147. Swakopmund, PT (gen. slide 441/07, OB). 148. Brandberg, HT (gen. slide 12/10, OB).

FIGURES 191–193. Scrobipalpa spp., female genitalia. 191. S. portosanctana, South Africa, Port Elizabeth (gen. slide 132/17, OB). 192. S. swakopi, Namibia, Swakopmund, PT (gen. slide 14/10, OB). 193. S. ethiopica sp. nov., Ethiopia, Simien Mts, HT (gen. slide 44/07, OB).