Scrobipalpa psammophila, Li, Houhun & Bidzilya, Oleksiy, 2019

Li, Houhun & Bidzilya, Oleksiy, 2019, New species and new records of the genus Scrobipalpa Janse (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae) from China, ZooKeys 840, pp. 101-131 : 101

Scrobipalpa psammophila sp. n. Figs 12, 22

Type material.

CHINA: Holotype ♂, Botanical Garden, Mt. Liupan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, 1900 m, 30.vi.2007 (gen. slide no. L07045) (NKU). Paratype: 1 ♂, same data as holotype (gen. slide no. 88/14, O Bidzilya).

Diagnosis.

The new species can hardly be recognized by external characters only. It is similar to S. concerna Povolný, 1969, S. frugifera Povolný, 1969, S. tenebrata Povolný, 2001 and other greyish brown species with black markings. The male genitalia are characterized by the deep and broad posteromedial emargination of the vinculum in combination with the strongly curved vincular process. Scrobipalpa kaszabi Povolný, 1969 is somewhat similar in this respect (see Povolný 2002, Pl. 69, fig. 683), but its vincular process is much broader.

Description.

Adult (Fig. 12). Wingspan 12.0-12.2 mm. Head greyish-brown, frons white, labial palpus grey mottled with brown, inner and upper surface of segment 2 white, underside with brush of modified scales, segment 3 slightly shorter and ca. 1/2 as broad as segment 2, pointed, with indistinct whitish ring in middle, apex with few white scales, scape brown mixed with grey, other antennal segments brown, ringed with white at base; forewing, thorax and tegulae covered with grey brown-tipped scales, a few black scales on base, black dot on 1/3 length of costa, diffuse black spots in mid width and on dorsum near base, three black spots in cell, subcostal vein and fold mottled with light brown scales, diffuse costal and tornal white spots at 3/4, subapical 1/5 and termen mixed with white scales, cilia grey black tipped, hindwing grey.

Male genitalia (Fig. 22). Uncus clearly separated from tegumen, prolonged, tapered apically, slightly constricted in middle, apex rounded; gnathos short, narrow, apex weakly curved, pointed; tegumen prolonged, anterior emargination deep, rounded; valva slender, base and apex weakly dilated, reaching the top of uncus; sacculus ca. 1/3 length of valva, nearly of even width, inner margin slightly concave before pointed and inwardly curved apex, gap to vincular process long and narrow; vincular process as long and distinctly broader than sacculus, inner margin strongly curved, apex rounded with pointed tip; posterior margin of vinculum with very deep and broad subovate medial emargination; saccus narrow, tapered towards rounded apex, extending far beyond apex of pedunculus; phallus straight, broad, apical arm sinuous, narrow, caecum strongly inflated, slightly shorter than 1/2 length of phallus.

Variation. The length of uncus and width of vincular process vary slightly.

Female. Unknown.

Distribution.

China (Ningxia).

Biology.

Host plant unknown. Adults were collected in late June at an altitude of 1900 m in arid and semi-arid desert environment.

Etymology.

The species name, an adjective is derived from the Greek psammos, meaning sand, and the Greek verb philein, to love, referring to the habitats of the species being restricted to desert sandy environment.