Denisia cryptica, Huemer, 2024

Huemer, Peter, 2024, DNA barcoding reveals a new cryptic species of Denisia Hübner, 1825 (Lepidoptera, Oecophoridae) from the south-western Alps, Alpine Entomology 8, pp. 121-130 : 121-130

Denisia cryptica sp. nov.

Figs 2 , 3 , 8 , 9 , 14 , 16 , 18

Material examined.

Holotype. Italy • ♂; Prov. Torino, Fenestrelle, Umg. Pracatinat, Forte delle Valli [type locality part of Orsiera-Rocciavrè Nature Park]; 1700–1720 m; 45 ° 2 ' 17 " N, 7 ° 4 ' 14 " E; 2 June 2022; leg. P. Huemer; DNA Barcode ID TLMF Lep 32850; TLMF.

Paratypes. Italy • 1 ♂; same collection data as holotype ; • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Prov. Torino, PN Orsiera - Rocciavré, Villaretto, Gran Faetto, Colletto ; 1445 m; 45 ° 00 ' 28 " N, 07 ° 08 ' 28 " E; 19 June 2020; leg. P. Huemer; gen. slides GEL 1305 ♂, 1306 ♀ P. Huemer; DNA Barcode IDs TLMF Lep 29494, TLMF Lep 30299; TLMF . France • 1 ♂, Hautes-Alpes , Brunissard, Arvieux; 1900 m; 5 July 1995; leg. J. Nel; gen. slide 3197 ♂ J. Nel; TLMF • 1 ♂, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, La Fayée de Lure ; 1550 m; 4 July 1998; leg. J. Nel; gen. slide 7225 ♂ J. Nel; TLMF .

Diagnosis.

Denisia cryptica sp. nov. differs from species with similar forewing patterns and coloration by the yellow-scaled head and the second segment of the labial palpus, which is at least partially yellow on the inner side. The overall similar species D. nubilosella (Figs 4 , 5 ) and D. haydenella have a dark brownish-grey coloration of the head, which is sometimes mottled cream-white, particularly in females. However, the labial palps are grey-brown on the inner side with only few whitish scales on the second segment, lacking the extended yellow of the new species. Furthermore, the scapus is predominantly grey-brown and not cream-yellow in both relatives (Figs 10 , 11 ). Additionally, the intense yellow speckling on the upper surface of the forewings of D. cryptica sp. nov. is absent in the mentioned species which at most exhibit some cream mottling, particularly in females. A dark head and labial palps are also typical for D. fuscicapitella , D. obscurella and D. caucasiella which in addition differ by pattern of the forewing upperside. Denisia stipella and D. similella (Figs 12 , 13 ) also have a yellow head and extensive yellow coloration of the second segment of the labial palpus but both species differ immediately from D. cryptica sp. nov. by the striking yellow pattern of the upper surface of the forewings (Figs 6 , 7 ). Significant differences in forewing patterns also apply to all other species of the genus. The male genitalia of D. cryptica sp. nov. are extremely like several species of Denisia , with at most subtle differences in the length and shape of the uncus and the valva (Figs 14 , 15 ). Female genitalia are also very similar to other species, with potentially diagnostic features such as the shape of the signum (based on a single specimen) (Figs 16–19 ). However, except for one pair of species, all sequenced species (19 out of 24) exhibit significant divergences in DNA barcodes (Fig. 1 ).

Description.

Adult (Figs 2 , 3 , 8 , 9 ). Head brush cream-yellow, particularly scales above compound eye, medially and on frons brownish-yellow; scapus cream-yellow, with pecten, flagellum grey-brown with few whitish scales, pectinate in male, filiform in female; labial palpus recurved, second segment cream-yellow on inner side, outer surface and third segment grey-brown mottled with some cream-yellow. Thorax and tegulae grey-brown, mottled with cream-yellow, particularly in posterior part. Forewing length 7.4–7.6 mm (male), 6.8 mm (female); forewing ground color grey-brown with extended cream-yellow mottling (cream-withe in the only available female) except for costal base, medial dot-like area and apex; fringes dark grey-brown, lighter in tornal area with small cream-yellow spot at tornus; hindwing light grey-brown with concolorous fringes; underside of wings unicolorous grey-brown. Legs grey-brown, mixed with cream at lower surface. Abdomen grey-brown.

Male genitalia (Fig. 14 ). Uncus broad and short, sub-triangular, apically pointed; gnathos massive, subtriangular, distinctly longer than uncus, ventral part with pointed apex, dorsal part with dentate cushion like structure; valva broadly sub-oval, distal part rounded, sacculus broad but weakly demarcated, inner side largely covered with long setae; saccus broadly rounded; juxta lobe long and basally broad with recurved digitate distal part and upwards curved pointed apex, phallus short and slender, basally slightly inflated, without cornuti.

Female genitalia (Figs 16 , 18 ). Posterior apophyses approximately two times length of segment VIII; anterior apophyses approximately reaching the length of segment VIII. Segment VIII without special processes or indentations; lateroventral area conspicuously sclerotized with some strong setae in posterior part, posterior edge rounded, anterior edge with advanced acute sclerotization that border the indistinctly separated membranous antrum laterally; ventromedial area continuously covered with numerous tiny microtrichia. Signum very small, irregularly bounded plate with several thorns on outer edge.

Biology.

Adults have been collected in June at light (Fig. 20 ). Host-plant and early stages are unknown. However, like related species it possibly feeds under the bark of decaying or dead trees. From the habitat, Pinus sylvestris is the most likely candidate as host plant. Contrariwise, D. nubilosella seems to be restricted to Picea abies .

Distribution.

Currently only known from two localities in the Cottian Alps (northern part) ( Italy) and furthermore from two isolated spots in the French Alps but likely more widely distributed.

Etymology.

The species name refers to the cryptic appearance of the new species and is derived from the latin adjective crypticus.

Remarks.

Examined specimens from France were misidentified as D. nubilosella and the occurrence of that species in the south-western Alps requires confirmation.

Figures

Figure 1. Neighbor-Joining tree of Denisia spp. (Kimura 2 - parameter, built with MEGA 7 (Kumar et al. 2016); Note: the scale bar only applies to internal branches between species. Width of triangles represent sample size, depth the genetic variation within the cluster. Source: DNA Barcode data from BOLD, DS-DENISIA 1 (Barcode of Life Database; Ratnasingham 2018).

Figure 20. Type-locality of Denisia cryptica sp. nov. with light equipment used for collecting.

Figures 2–7. Adults; 2. Denisia cryptica sp. nov., holotype, male, Italy; 3. D. cryptica sp. nov. paratype, female, Italy; 4. D. nubilosella, male, Austria; 5. D. nubilosella, female, Austria; 6. D. stipella, male, Germany; 7. D. stipella, female, Germany.

Figures 8–13. Adults, head (dorsal and dorsolateral view); 8. Denisia cryptica sp. nov., holotype, male, Italy; 9. D. cryptica sp. nov. paratype, female, Italy; 10. D. nubilosella, male, Austria; 11. D. nubilosella, female, Austria; 12. D. stipella, male, Germany; 13. D. stipella, female, Germany.

Figures 14, 15. Male genitalia; 14. D. cryptica sp. nov. paratype, Italy, slide GEL 1305 P. Huemer; 15. D. stipella, Italy, GEL 496 P. Huemer.

Figures 16–19. Female genitalia, 16–17. Details of segment VIII; 18–19. Signum enlarged 16, 18. D. cryptica sp. nov. paratype, Italy, slide GEL 1306 P. Huemer; 17, 19. D. stipella, Austria, GEL 932 P. Huemer.