Xenotorodor stygioxanthus Sterling, Lees & Grundy, 2023

Sterling, Mark J., Lees, David C. & Grundy, Dave, 2023, Xenotorodor stygioxanthus gen. nov., sp. nov. (Lepidoptera, Lecithoceridae, Torodorinae), described from an established population in Spain with discussion of taxonomic placement, Nota Lepidopterologica 46, pp. 103-123 : 103

Xenotorodor stygioxanthus Sterling, Lees & Grundy sp. nov.

Type material.

Holotype ♂ Spain, Cádiz, Tarifa, CIMA, Site 1, MV light, 24.v.2022, 36.0167, -5.5864, 60 m, Leg. M. Sterling, D. Grundy, specimen no. NHMUK013698467, slide no. NHMUK014331156, wingspan 14 mm, fwl 6.25 mm. Paratypes (12♂, 3♀) 2♂, collection data as holotype, specimen number NHMUK013698468, specimen number NHMUK013698469; 1♀, 27.05.2022, otherwise same collection data for Site 1, specimen no. NHMUK013699868, slide no. NHMUK014331160. 3♂ Spain, Cádiz, Tarifa, CIMA, Site 2, MV light 25.v.2022, 36.0166, -5.5858, 75 m, specimen no. NHMUK013699866, slide no. NHMUK014331157, specimen no. NHMUK013699867, slide no. NHMUK014331158, specimen no. NHMUK013698979, slide no. NHMUK014331159; 1♀ 27.v.2022, otherwise same collection data for Site 2, specimen no. NHMUK013698523, slide no. NHMUK014331162. 3♂, Spain, Cádiz, Tarifa, CIMA, Site 3, MV light 27.05.2022 36.0148, -5.5871, 85 m, specimen no. NHMUK013699869, specimen no. NHMUK013699871, specimen no. NHMUK013698522; 1♀, same collection data as site 3, specimen no. NHMUK013699870. 3♂ Spain, Cádiz, Tarifa, CIMA, Site 4, MV light, 29.v.2022, specimen no. NHMUK013698524, specimen no. NHMUK013698525, specimen no. NHMUK013698526, 1♂ Site 4, 30.v.2022, specimen number NHMUK013699872. The holotype and 12 paratypes have been deposited at the NHMUK. In accordance with the terms of the collecting permit, the three last mentioned paratypes have been deposited with the Museo Nacional de Ciencas Naturales, Madrid.

Diagnosis.

Forewings black with a purplish sheen, a narrow yellow bar from costa to dorsum before ½ and a yellow costal spot at ¾ (Figs 2-4 ), antenna and labial palps yellow, antenna of male thickened with rings of large yellow scales projecting outwards from base of each flagellomere (Fig. 10 ). R3, R4 and R5 of forewing with a common stalk. M2 present in forewing but absent in hindwing. M3, CuA1 and CuA2 of forewing with a common stalk, CuA1 and CuA2 stalked in forewing (Fig. 9 ). Male genitalia with small membranous gnathos and very small sclerotised mesial process (Figs 5 , 8 ), vinculum semicircular, sclerotised and melanised (Fig. 5 ). Female genitalia with appendix bursae, corpus bursae small and rounded without signum (Fig. 11 ).

Description.

Male. Wingspan 13-15 mm. Head. Ocellus absent, frons dark grey, vertex dark grey with thick lateral tufts of dark grey and dark yellow scales, yellow scaling continuing above the eye; maxillary palps very small, grey, pilifers with thick brushes of short yellowish bristles. Labial palps long, thin, strongly recurved, approximately 3 × diameter of eye, dark yellow, basal segment paler than other segments, second and third segment same length. Antenna same length as forewing, yellow, long scape with appressed scales, rings of thick yellow scales pointing outwards from base of each flagellomere give antenna a thickened appearance (see Fig. 10 ). Haustellum with basal half scaled whitish. Thorax. Thorax and tegulae black. Foreleg dorsally dark grey, ventrally yellow, small tibial epiphysis, middle leg yellow with fine dark grey scales, tarsus of hind leg with fine dark grey scales, tibia and femur yellow with some darker scaling. Wings. Venation: Forewing with R3 stalked with stalk of R4 and R5, R4 and R5 stalked, M1 present, M2 and M3 almost parallel, M3 stalked with stalk of CuA1 and CuA2, CuA1 and CuA2 stalked. Hindwing with M2 absent (Fig. 9 ). Forewing costa slightly arched, apex rounded, termen angled inwards, tornus obtusely angled; ground colour black with a purplish sheen, thin yellow bar before ½ from costa to dorsum, yellow patch on costa at ¾, cilia long, black. Hindwing with apex slightly projecting, dark grey, unmarked, cilia long, concolorous.

Female. Similar (including labial palps). Rings of antennal scales shorter and colour of antenna paler than in male.

Male genitalia. Uncus directed caudally, narrow, elongate, slightly spatulate posteriorly, with narrow elongate lateral flanges. Gnathos fused to tegumen, small, box like, membranous, a very small sclerotised projection from tegumen medially. Tegumen broad anteriorly, tapering and indented posteriorly, weakly sclerotised, rough textured; pedunculi short, slightly curved. Vinculum semicircular, thin, strongly sclerotised, melanised. Saccus short and very broad. Juxta short and broad, almost square in shape, without caudal projections. Valva weakly sclerotised, costal margin bulging medially, sharply converging towards ventral margin postmedially, cucullus rectangular, small pointed projection at apex, cucullar region with dense broad setae, small digitate process near inner margin of setae. Aedeagus short, straight, weakly sclerotised, with a small rounded projection posteriorly, and a single broad arrow headed cornutus medially, strongly sclerotised posteriorly, hooked anteriorly.

Female genitalia. Papillae anales short and broad. Apophyses posteriores over 1.5 × length of apophyses anteriores. Eighth tergite rectangular. Eighth sternite indented posteriorly. Ostium circular. Antrum short, broad, membranous. Ductus bursae short, broad and membranous, appendix bursae present. Corpus bursae rounded, without signum.

Biology, behaviour and early stages.

Collection of samples of leaf litter for early stages in May 2022 proved unsuccessful and the early stages are unknown. Since its discovery in 2020, the adult has been recorded in May, June, August, September and November. The principal emergences are in late May/June and August with 20 records between 18 May and 21 June 2020, 48 records between 24 May and 11 June 2022 and 22 records between 17 and 22 August 2021. Recording in May/June 2021 was not possible due to COVID restrictions. Both sexes are attracted to mercury vapour light and have been found flying around MV lights in the two hours after darkness. When the adult is resting the antennae are projected upwards and sideways (see Fig. 4 ) in an alert posture and tucked under the costa of the forewing when fully resting. The wings are always posteriorly flat to the resting surface (Fig. 4 ).

Distribution.

The taxon is known principally from various localities in an area consisting of a patchwork of Mediterranean scrub, dry cattle grazed pasture, wild olive groves and some Eucalyptus sp. plantations, approximately 0.5 kilometres from the coast around the research centre at CIMA near the town of Tarifa in Southern Spain. Two specimens (not retained) were found in June 2022 at Huerta Grande, Pelayo (36.081, -5.503, 250 m) approximately 10 kilometres from CIMA and slightly further inland. Huerta Grande has been well recorded by DG in the flight period of this species for the last 10 years and the moth has never been recorded there before, so this is believed to be a new arrival. The climate in the presently known range is wet and warm in winter (temperatures not usually below freezing) and almost completely dry in summer.

Etymology.

Xenotorodor from xenos, gr., meaning, among other things, stranger or outsider. This is a reference to the unusual combination of morphological features for a species of Torodorinae in the new taxon, and the substantial geographical extension of the range of the subfamily. The gender of the genus name is male. The specific name Xenotorodor stygioxanthus is from stygios, gr., meaning among other things extremely dark; and xanthos, gr., meaning yellow, a reference to the blackish forewings marked with yellow.

Material examined.

Type material and six unset and unpinned specimens in tubes with the following data, which are excluded from the type material: 4♂ Spain, Cádiz, Tarifa, CIMA, MV light, 17-21.viii.2021, leg. D. Grundy ; 2♂ Spain, Cádiz, Tarifa, CIMA, MV light, 05-13.xi.2021, leg. D. Grundy. The remainder of the specimens recorded were not retained although photographs of 20 of these specimens, taken by DG, were examined.

Figures

Figures 2 - 11. Xenotorodor stygioxanthus gen. nov., sp. nov. 2. ♂ Holotype. 3. ♀ Paratype. 4. ♂ Habitus. 5. Male genitalia. 6. Aedeagus. 7. Pre-genital abdomen (5 - 7. ♂ holotype slide no. NHMUK 014331156). 8. ♂ Holotype lateral image prior to mounting, gnathos indicated. 9. Wing venation slide no. NHMUK 014331163. 10. ♂ Holotype, highly magnified section of antenna. 11. ♀ Paratype, female genitalia, slide no. NHMUK 014331160. Scale bars: 5 mm (black); 0.5 mm (green). Figs 4, 8 and 10 not to scale.