Pleurota kullbergi Tabell, 2021

Tabell, Jukka, Wikström, Bo, Mutanen, Marko, Bruckner, Harald & Sihvonen, Pasi, 2021, Subspecies of Pleurota bicostella (Clerck, 1759) revisited and descriptions of nine new species in the P. bicostella species group (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea Oecophoridae: Pleurotinae), Zootaxa 4941 (4), pp. 451-486 : 472

Pleurota kullbergi Tabell , sp. nov.

Barcode Index Number: BOLD:ADI1724

Table 1, Figs. 25–26 , 44 , 61 , 65 , 66

Type material. Holotype ♂ (GP 5705 J. Tabell, DNA sample Lepid Phyl 25601): Morocco, Al Haouz , Oukaimeden, 2580 m, 31°12’: -7°50’, 14.V.2011, Jaakko & Anssi Kullberg leg. (coll. MZH), BOLD sample ID: MM25601, http:// id.luomus.fi/GBT. 5 Paratypes: 5 ♂, 1 ♀ (GP 5706 J. Tabell, DNA sample Lepid Phyl 25603), same collecting data as holotype; 5 ♂, same collecting data as holotype, but 15.V.2011; 1 ♀, Morocco, Oukaimeden, 2680 m, 31.20116°: -7.87019°, 9–12.V.2015, Jaakko Kullberg leg. (colls. MZH and TAB).

Diagnosis. Externally P. kullbergi is similar to P. phaeolepida , but the labial palp is shorter, the antenna is unicolorous (annulated with white and black in phaeolepida ), and the costal line of forewing is longer. A broader uncus, longer gnathos, broader and shorter posterior lobe of juxta, and broader cucullus distinguish kullbergi from phaeolepida . In general, the male genitalia of kullbergi are strongly sclerotized. In the female genitalia, long clubshaped ventral sclerotization of segment 8 and moderately small corpus bursae are distinctive.

Molecular data. Two specimens of kullbergi were sequenced, resulting in a 658 bp, full-length DNA barcode sequence for both specimens. The nearest neighbour to kullbergi is P. dalilae , with a 5.2 % divergence ( Table 1). The barcodes of kullbergi exhibit 0.31 % intraspecific variation.

Description. Adult. Wingspan male 14.0–17.0 mm, female 13.0– 13.9 mm. Labial palp pale grey, mixed with brown scales, ventrally dark brown, 4.8 x longer than diameter of eye (1 st and 2 nd palpomeres), 3 rd palpomere 0.27 x length of 1 st and 2 nd palpomeres. Antenna and scape greyish brown. Head pale grey mixed brown, thorax brown, tegula pale fuscous. Forewing greyish brown, dispersed with white scales, especially at apical half; costal line white, narrow, from near base to 0.8; subcostal line brown, parallel-sided; discal and discocellular spots small, brown, at fold a narrow brown stripe from base to plical spot. Fringe concolorous with the forewing. Hindwing grey, fringe pale brownish grey, apically paler. In female fore- and hindwings are narrower. Abdomen dark brownish grey, slightly lustrous, each segment with a transverse row of orange scales.

Male genitalia. Uncus bell-shaped from ventral view, almost as long as gnathos, lined with several long and short bristles, apex with long, narrow and stout protuberance. Gnathos funnel-shaped from ventral view, apex rounded, distal third surfaced with scobination. Anterior margins of tegumen arched. Valva evenly sclerotized, distal half moderately broad, costa upwardly oblique, slightly concave; sacculus covered with a few long bristles; valval lobe small, outer margin sinuous, lined with a few short bristles. Anterior extension of juxta long, median plate angular; posterior lobe narrow, not reaching uncus. Phallus slightly arched, with one plate-shaped cornutus and a strip of small spines.

Female genitalia. Papilla analis narrow, elongate, covered with long bristles. Anterior apophysis 2 x longer than segment 8, posterior apophysis 1.5 x longer than anterior one. Segment 8 quadrate, sclerotized only in two clubshaped narrow lateral patches, distally covered with few short bristles; proximal margin strongly sclerotized, evenly deeply convex, medially slightly broader, caudal margin slightly concave, ventral longitudinal sclerotization clubshaped. Antrum as long as segment 8, tubular, sclerotized, with two crescent-shaped opposite patches of different size. Ductus bursae moderately broad, membranous. Corpus bursae ovoid, with one broad sickle-shaped signum bearing two narrow protuberances, and two thin, leaflike posterior signa of equal size.

Biology. The biology is unknown. The specimens were collected by sweeping low vegetation in daytime.

Etymology. The species is named in honour of Finnish entomologist Jaakko Kullberg, who collected the type series.

Distribution. Known from a single locality, Oukaimeden, in the High Atlas Mountains in Morocco, at an altitude of 2580–2680 m.

Figures

FIGURE 65. Neighbor-joining tree based on the barcoding fragment of the COI gene (p-distance model) of all available species of the Pleurota bicostella species group. “MM26262” etc. are BOLD sample IDs.

FIGURE 66. Distribution map of P. illucidella Chrétien, P. lepigrei Lucas and nine new species of the P. bicostella species group. Map based on Google Maps © 2021.

FIGURES 25–32. Adults and labels of Pleurota spp. 25–26. P. kullbergi sp. nov. 25. ♂ paratype. 26. ♀ paratype. 27. P. monochroma sp. nov., ♂ holotype. 28. P. murina sp. nov., ♂ holotype. 29. P. paragallicella sp. nov., ♂ holotype. 30. P. gallicella Huemer & Luquet, ♂. 31–32. P. hastiformis Walsingham. 31. ♂. 32. ♀.

FIGURES 43–44. Male genitalia of Pleurota spp. 43. P. karsholti sp. nov., paratype, GP 5510 J. Tabell. 44. P. kullbergi sp. nov., holotype, GP 5705 J. Tabell.

FIGURES 60–62. Female genitalia of Pleurota spp. 60. P. karsholti sp. nov., holotype, GP 5511 J. Tabell. 61. P. kullbergi sp. nov., paratype, GP 5706 J. Tabell. 62. P. phaeolepida sp. nov., paratype, GP 5876 J. Tabell.