Caryocolum herwigvanstaai, Huemer, 2022

Huemer, Peter, 2022, Underestimated cryptic diversity in the Caryocolum tricolorella species complex (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae), ZooKeys 1103, pp. 189-209 : 189

Caryocolum herwigvanstaai sp. nov.

Type material.

Holotype. [Italy] • ♂; L’Aquila, NP Gran Sasso, ex Miniera di Lignite; 1750 m; 14-15 Jul 2010; [genitalia slide number] GEL 1153♂, P. Huemer; P. Huemer leg; TLMF.

Paratypes. [Italy] • 5 ♂, 5 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; [genitalia slide number] GEL 1155♀, P. Huemer; [1 ♂, 1 ♀ genitalia in glycerin capsule]; [DNA barcode ids] BC TLMF Lep 01600; all TLMF; • 10 ♂, 3 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; 1750 m; 15 Jul 2010; T. Mayr leg.; RCTM; • 1 ♂; same collection data as for holotype; 1750 m; 14 Jul 2010; T. Mayr leg.; RCTM; • 1 ♀; Rieti, Monte Terminillo; 1730-1780 m; 11 Jul 2010; P. Huemer leg.; [DNA barcode ids] BC TLMF Lep 01601; • 6 ♂; Rieti, Monte Terminillo; 1700 m; 17 Jul 2011; T. Mayr leg.; RCTM; • 1 ♀; Chieti, PN della Majella, Taranta Peligna, Pian di Valle; 770 m; 20 Jul 2011; P. Huemer leg.; BC TLMF Lep 05038; all TLMF.

Diagnosis.

Caryocolum herwigvanstaai differs from C. tricolorella by its distinctly smaller size and the less extensive ochreous-orange markings, and from C. fibigerium by the extended white forewing markings which are, however, less pronounced at the inner margin compared to C. olekarsholti . The male genitalia differ from C. tricolorella by the shorter valva and sacculus and the additional, although moderately low, humps of the posterior margin of the vinculum. From C. fibigerium C. herwigvanstaai differs in particular by the more slender sacculus and the distinct lateral humps of the posterior margin of the vinculum, and from C. olekarsholti by the apically slightly dilated valva and the slender sacculus. The antrum of the female genitalia is much larger than in C. tricolorella but smaller than in C. fibigerium , not extending the length of apophysis anterior. The anterior margin of the antrum is concave in C. herwigvanstaai but convex in C. olekarsholti .

Description.

Adult (Fig. 4 ). Forewing length. ♂ 4.9-5.5 mm ( ø = 5.25 mm, n = 4), ♀ 5.1-5.7 mm ( ø = 5.40 mm, n = 4). Head with fuscous vertex, frons cream-white; second segment of labial palpus cream-white on inner and upper surface, predominantly grey-brown on outer surface, third segment dark brown with a few white scales particularly at apex; antenna black, weakly ringed whitish. Thorax and tegula dark brown with a few intermixed ochreous scales. Abdomen dorsally grey, ventrally whitish, pale grey at margins. Forewing predominantly fuscous in costal and terminal area, dorsum mixed ochreous-whitish with scattered fuscous scales, extensive white mottling from dorsum to costa at 1/5 and 1/2, large white costal and tornal spots nearly fused, separated by few fuscous scales, irregularly shaped black patch from fold to costa at about 1/3 interrupted by ochreous scales, black plical and discal spot; cilia light grey with fuscous ciliary line, buff-whitish beyond line. Hindwing light grey, cilia greyish buff.

Variation: the extent of ochreous scales, particularly along the dorsum, is slightly variable.

Male genitalia (Fig. 8 ). Uncus long, suboval, posterior edges rounded; gnathos with large mesial sclerite, culcitula small; posterior 1/3 of tegumen slender, anterior part strongly widened towards broadly rounded pedunculi of about twice size of uncus, anterior margin with deep concave emargination; transtilla membranous with few microtrichia; valva basally curved ventrad, moderately short, slender, apical part slightly dilated, obliquely pointed apex with group of stiff setae; sacculus moderately long, more slender and shorter than valva, apex rounded, with dorsally pointed projection; vinculum wide and short, posterior margin moderately sclerotized, with shallow medial incision and distinctly rounded lateromedial projections, lateral projections distinct, anterior margin with strongly sclerotized concave ridge; saccus slender, basally weakly widened, gradually narrowing towards pointed apex, slightly exceeding length of apex of valva to anterior margin of vinculum; anellus with pair of needle-shaped sclerites; phallus stout, distal part weakly curved and contorted, coecum weakly inflated, longitudinal ridge from about middle to apex, two small sclerotized hooklets at apex.

Female genitalia (Fig. 12 ). Apophysis posterior about 4.5 times length of apophysis anterior; segment VIII with suboval sclerotized dorsolateral zones, with small dorsolateral flaps, posterior and inner edge strongly sclerotized, membranous ventromedial part with numerous microtrichia; apophysis anterior about length of segment VIII; antrum moderately large, funnel-shaped, shorter than apophysis anterior and segment VIII, basally about 1/2 width of segment VIII between bases of apophyses anteriores, posterior edge weakly concave; ductus bursae about twice length of apophysis anterior; corpus bursae semi-oval, signum a crescent-shaped basal plate with moderately long and stout hook.

Molecular data.

BINs: BOLD:AAO2674, BOLD:ADK9243. A genetically variable species splitting into two BINs which, however, require re-evaluation from additional material. The distance between both BINs is 2.1% (n = 3). The minimum distance to the nearest neighbour, C. olekarsholti , is 4.12%.

Etymology.

The species is dedicated to DDr Herwig van Staa (Innsbruck, Austria), former governor of the province of Tyrol on his 80th birthday on the 10 June 2022, and in recognition of his tremendous support of the Tyrolean Federal State Museums and the Alpenzoo Innsbruck, resulting in a joint Natural History Museum.

Distribution.

The species is currently only known from Central Italy but may have a wider distribution on the Italian Peninsula. Mariani (1943) had published a record of C. tricolorella from Sicily, which possibly is C. herwigvanstaai .

Bionomics.

Host-plant and early stages are undescribed but it seems most likely that the species shows a similar behaviour as related taxa with the potential host-plant among Cerastium or related genera of Caryophyllaceae. The adults have been found in mid-July at artificial light sources near rock and scree on calcareous soil at altitudes of about 1700-1800 m.

Figures

Figures 2 - 5. Adults 2 Caryocolum tricolorella, male, Germany 3 C. fibigerium, male, paratype, Spain 4 C. herwigvanstaai sp. nov., male, holotype, Italy 5 C. olekarsholti, male, holotype, Greece.

Figures 8, 9. Male genitalia 8 C. herwigvanstaai sp. nov., holotype, Italy, slide GEL 1153 P. Huemer 9 C. olekarsholti, paratype, Greece, slide GEL 1213 P. Huemer;

Figures 12, 13. Female genitalia 12 C. herwigvanstaai sp. nov., paratype, Italy, slide GEL 1155 P. Huemer 13 C. olekarsholti, paratype, Greece, slide GEL 1231 P. Huemer.