Scrobipalpa aravensis, Bidzilya & Karsholt & Kravchenko & Šumpich, 2019

Bidzilya, Oleksiy, Karsholt, Ole, Kravchenko, Vasiliy & Šumpich, Jan, 2019, An annotated checklist of Gelechiidae (Lepidoptera) of Israel with description of two new species, Zootaxa 4677 (1), pp. 1-68 : 52-53

Scrobipalpa aravensis sp. nov.

Material. Holotype ♀, ISRAEL, Shezaf N.R., Nahal Shahaq , 25.iii.1999, Malaise Trap (Yarom) (gen. slide 136/18, O. Bidzilya) ( TAU) . Paratype: 1 ♂, same data as for holotype (gen. slide 127/15, O. Bidzilya) ( TAU) .

Diagnosis. The small species is defined externally by the white forewing with three dark brown fasciae and black spot in middle and in the corner of cell. S. brandti Povolný, 1972 and S. sinevi Piskunov, 1900 are lighter, without black markings, the fasciae are light brown rather than dark brown. The transverse posterior margin of vinculum in combination with sub-triangular sacculus and narrow saccus are characteristic for the male genitalia. S. acuminatella (Sircom, 1850) is similar in having the transverse posterior margin of vinculum but differs in subrectangular rather than sub-triangular sacculus, the broader saccus and tapered rather than sub-rectangular vincular process (see for comparison Huemer & Karsholt 2010: 375, fig. 17). S. heratella Povolný, 1967 has somewhat similar posterior margin of vinculum and vincular process but differs in the longer uncus, larger sacculus and weakly inflated caecum of the phallus ( Povolný 2002: Pl. 8, fig. 73). The female genitalia can be recognized by the strongly edged anteromedial emargination of sternum VIII and narrow medially curved signum. Some other species of Scrobipalpa (e.g. S. albofusca Povolný, 1971 , S. sindibad Povolný, 1981 and S. superstes Povolný, 1977 ) have somewhat similar female genitalia but differ in the above mentioned and some other characters.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 36 ). Wingspan. 7.0 mm (♀)—7.7 (♂) mm. Head, thorax and tegulae white with single yellow or light brown-tipped scales. Labial palpus white with light brown basal and apical rings, inner surface of segment 2 entirely white, scape brown, antennal segment brown and white ringed; forewing white, dorsal margin weakly mottled with light brown, three transverse dark brown fasciae at base, before middle and at 2/3 length, diffuse black spot with few ochreous scales in mid-width within the second fascia, several black scales in the corner of cell, apex mixed with brown, cilia white, brown-tipped. Hindwing light grey.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 37 ). Uncus longer than broad, weakly narrowed, posterior margin weakly rounded; gnathos short; tegumen sub-triangular, anteromedial emargination deep, broadly rounded; valva gradually curved, apex weakly broadened, extending to the top of uncus; sacculus about 1/3 length of valva, broad at base, gradually curved inwards, distal portion narrowly tapered towards pointed tip, gap to valva big; posterior margin of vinculum transverse laterally, with deep and broad v-shaped medial emargination, vincular process short, sub-rectangular, extending below tip of sacculus; saccus slender, extending far beyond apex of pedunculus; phallus short, straight, caecum strongly inflated, rounded, half length of phallus.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 38 ). Papillae anales sub-ovate, covered with short setae; apophyses posteriores 3.5 times as long as apophyses anteriores; segment VIII as broad as long, subgenital plates broadly separated, covered with microtrichia, with honey-comb sclerotized patches extending posteriorly from the base of apophyses anteriores to 2/3 length of medial margin, ventromedial depression weakly sclerotized, not extending beyond the anterior margin of sternum VIII, anteromedial emargination of segment VIII deep, triangular, strongly edged; apophyses anteriores as long as segment VIII; colliculum narrow, ductus bursae gradually broadened towards elongated corpus bursae; signum narrow, strongly curved in middle.

Biology. Host plant unknown. Adults have been collected in late March. Both of the localities are situated in the Arava Valley which is harsh desert in the southern part of Israel characterized by riverbed vegetation only. The annual precipitation is low, with number of rain days per year ranging from 0 to 10 ( Jaffe 1988).

Distribution. Israel: Shezaf Nature reserve.

Etymology. The species is named after its type locality—Arava desert in southern Israel.

Figures

FIGS 36–38. Scrobipalpa aravensis sp. n. 36. Adult, Holotype, ♀ (gen. slide 136/18, O. Bidzilya). 37. Male genitalia, paratype (gen. slide 127/18, O. Bidzilya). 37a. Posterior margin of vinculum and sacculi (enlarged). 38. Female genitalia, holotype (gen. slide 136/18, O. Bidzilya).