Elachista elsaella Traugott-Olsen, 1988

Kaila, Lauri, 2015, The Elachista dispunctella (Duponchel) complex (Lepidoptera, Elachistidae) revisited, with exceptional level of synonymy, Zootaxa 3980 (3), pp. 301-358 : 342-346

Elachista elsaella Traugott-Olsen, 1988

Figs. 51–52 , 117–119 , 141–144

Elachista elsaella Traugott-Olsen, 1988: 302 .

Elachista svenssoni Traugott-Olsen, 1988: 300 . Syn. nov.

Material studied. Type material. Holotype ♂ of E. svenssoni labelled: Austr[ia] Mn [Mann]; Holotype [rounded with red margin]; Elachista svenssoni n. sp. det. E. Traugott-Olsen; Akvarel 28.11.86 E. Traugott-Olsen; Genital praeparat nr. K. 9.9.86 sex: ♂ E. Traugott-Olsen; DNA sample 16864 Lepid. Phyl. Coll. ( NHMW).

Paratype ♂ of E. svenssoni : Austria superior, Klaus, 6.V.1956 J. Klimesch leg. Paratype [rounded with red margin]; Genital praeparat nr. H. 4.8.86 sex: ♂ E. Traugott-Olsen Elachista svenssoni n. sp. det. E. Traugott-Olsen; DNA sample 16864 Lepid. Phyl. ( NHMW). Other material. Austria: Austria superior, Hinterstoder, 12. VI.1938, 1 ♂, J. Klimesch leg., L. Kaila prep. 5838 ( ZSM); Austria superior, Schön b. Klaus, 7. V.1950, 1 ♂, J. Klimesch leg., W. Hackman prep. 597 ( MZH); Klaus, 12. VI.1932, 1 ♂, L. Kaila prep. 3939 ( MZH); A/N Eichkogel S. Mödling, 48°03’N, 16°17’E, Tag, pannonische Halbtrockenrasen, Hecken, 320 m, 3. VII.2006, 1 ♂, P. Buchner leg., DNA sample 16993 Lepid. Phyl., 14. VII.2006, 2 ♂, P. Buchner leg., 2823 Pitten 386, L. Kaila prep. 5454, DNA sample 16096, 16998 Lepid. Phyl., 15. IX.2006, 1 ♂, P. Buchner leg., DNA sample 16994 Lepid. Phyl. (Coll. Buchner); A/N, 48°19’N, 16°643’E, Bisamberg, Licht, verbuschende Halbtrockenrasen, miscwald, 320 m, 24. VIII.2007, 1 ♂, P. Buchner leg., DNA sample 16997 Lepid. Phyl. (Coll. Buchner); A/N, 47°45’N, 16°15’E, 3 km SSW Katzelsdorf/L Auwald Halbtrockenrasen, Wiesenbrache, 290 m, 17. IV.2004, 2 ♂, P. Buchner leg., L. Kaila prep. 5453, DNA sample 16991, 16992 Lepid. Phyl. (Coll. Buchner). Greece: Florina Vatochorion , 17. V.1985, 2 ♂, P. Grotenfelt leg., L. Kaila prep. 4272, 5031 ( MZH); Peloponnesos, Arkadia Vitina, 24. VI.1981, 1 ♂, P. Grotenfelt leg., L. Kaila prep. 4719 ( MZH). Hungary: 47°80.534’N, 19°98.786’E, Gyöngyös, Sár-hegy, 350 m, 30. VIII.2011, 1 ♂, Z. Tokár leg., DNA sample 2140 Lepid. Phyl. (Coll. Tokár) ; 47°10’22’’N, 17°58’04’’E, Veszprem County, 10 km N Veszprem, 300 m, 29. VI.2002, 1 ♂, B. Skule & H. Hviid leg., L. Kaila prep. 4303 ( ZMUC). Italy: 44°17’N, 7°23’E, Prov. Cuneo, Valdieri N., RN Junip. phoe., 900–1000 m, 1. VIII.2010, 1 ♂, P. Huemer leg., DNA sample 20828 ( TLMF). Romania: 46°22’58’’N, 23°34’44’’E, Rimetea reg., 29–31. V.2009, 1 ♂, O. Karsholt leg., L. Kaila prep. 5931 (Coll. ZMUC); Slovakia: Bojnice, 14. V.1996, 1 ♂, I. Richter leg., L. Kaila prep. 5476, DNA sample 21403 Lepid. Phyl. (Coll. Tokár); Černochov, 2. V.2003, 1 ♂, I. Richter leg., I. Richter prep. 7353 (Coll. Tokár); Dlh Ves, 28. IV.2000, 1 ♀, I. Richter leg., L. Kaila prep. 5748 (Coll. Tokár); Dol. Vestenic, Šiare, 24. VIII.2007, 1 ♂, I. Richter leg., I. Richter prep. 12110 (Coll. Tokár); Kašvár, 24. VIII.2002, 1 ♂, Z. Tokár leg., L. Kaila prep. 5478, DNA sample 21405 (Coll. Tokár); Kozarovce, 29. VIII.2011, 1 ♂, F. Kosorin leg. (Coll. Tokár); Plešivec, 25. VII.2000, 1 ♂, I. Richter leg., L. Kaila prep. 5841 (Coll. Tokár); Plešivecka plan., 7. VIII.2001, 1 ♂, Z. Tokár leg., L. Kaila prep. 5484, DNA sample 21418 Lepid. Phyl. (Coll. Tokár); Rybnik, 24. VIII.2007, 1 ♂, Kosorin leg., 11. V.2008, 1 ♂, L. Kaila prep. 5740, 18. VII.2008, 1 ♂, all F. Kosorin leg. (Coll. Tokár); Rybnik- Cajkov, 24. IV.2010, 1 ♂, 18. VII.2010, 1 ♀, F. Kosorin leg, L. Kaila prep. 5749 (Coll. Tokár); Rybnik v lese, 26. VI.2010, 1 ♂, F. Kosorin leg. (Coll. Tokár); Slov. kras-Hrhov, 4. V.2002, 1 ♂, Z. Tokár leg., L. Kaila prep. 5485, DNA sample 21419 (Coll. Tokár); Slov. kras-Turňa, 7. VII.2001, 2 ♂, Z. Tokár leg., L. Kaila prep. 5479, Tokár prep. 8038, DNA sample 21406 Lepid. Phyl. (Coll. Tokár); NP. Slovenský kras, Hrdná stráň, 13. VII.2002, 1 ♂, 6. VIII.2011, 1 ♂, Z. Tokár leg. (Coll. Tokár); NP. Slovenský kras, Krkavčie skaly, 18. V.2002, 1 ♂, Z. Tokár leg., L. Kaila prep. 4378 (Coll. Tokár); Slovensk kras Plešivec, 12. V.2006, 1 ♀, Z. Tokár leg. (Coll. Tokár); Slov. kras- Vidov, 27. VI.2001, 1 ♂, Z. Tokár leg., L. Kaila prep. 5477, DNA sample 21401 Lepid. Phyl. (Coll. Tokár), 6. VIII.2001, 1 ♂, Z. Tokár leg., L. Kaila prep. 5483, DNA sample 21417 Lepid. Phyl. ( MZH); Vel’k vrch, 25. IV.1997, 1 ♂, I. Richter leg., L. Kaila prep. 5844 (Coll. Tokár); Vidov, 1. VIII.1999, 1 ♂ I. Richter leg., L. Kaila prep. 5745, 27. IV.2000, 1 ♀, I. Richter leg., L. Kaila prep. 5746 (Coll. Tokár); Vtáčnik Žarnov, 22. VII.2006, 1 ♂, I. Richter leg., L. Kaila prep. 5840 (Coll. Tokár). Sweden: Sm. Högsby, 21. VI.1975, 1 ♂, R. Johansson leg., L. Kaila prep. 3464 ( MZH); Ög: Tidersrum, Bön, 4. VI.1996, 1 ♂, I. Svensson. leg., L. Kaila prep. 3463 ( MZH); Ög: Kolmården, UTM 33V WF8203, 29. VIII.1993, 1 ♂, I. Svensson leg. (Coll. Kaitila).

Diagnosis. Elachista elsaella is a variable species, both regarding its size, the width of the valva and the length of the digitate process. The extent of variation of these male genitalia characters is shown in Figs. 117–119 . The variation is continuous and appears to be similar throughout the distribution range, thus not diagnostic between E. elsaella and E. svenssoni . The male genitalia are characterized by the broad and bent phallus that has a hookshaped apex. The phallus is similar also in E. galactitella , E. deresyensis and E. oukaimedenensis . The males of these species can be identified from each other as follows; E. galactitella has unicolorous forewings, whereas the forewings are speckled in E. deresyensis and E. oukaimedenensis . The juxta lobes are reduced in E. oukaimedenensis , whereas they are developed in E. galactitella and E. deresyensis . The uncus lobes are twice as long as broad in E. galactitella , whereas they are as long as broad in E. deresyensis . In the females of E. oukaimedenensis and E. triseriatella the areas laterad of the ostium bursae are sclerotized; the signum of E. triseriatella consists of two longitudinal, dentate rows, that of other species is a single dentate plate. Within the E. dispunctella complex, the female genitalia of E. elsaella most closely resemble those of E. deresyensis , both having the colliculum shaped as a short, sclerotized band. The ductus bursae of E. elsaella is membranous, that of E. deresyensis is anteriorly granulate with longitudinal ribs.

Biology. E. elsaella has a long flight period in Central Europe, probably partly depending on the exposition and elevation of collecting site. In Slovakia it is at least bivoltine, as specimens from the same localities have been captured in May and in August. Adults are active during the daytime and at dusk, and attracted to light at night.

Distribution. Austria, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden.

Remarks. E. elsaella is referred to as OTU 2 in Mutanen et al. (2015). The barcodes of Swedish (‘typical’ elsaella ) and Central European specimens (‘ svenssoni ’) are clustered together with the distance between these of only 0.6–0.7%. In the absence of any evidence to the contrary, these populations are considered conspecific, and E. svenssoni a synonym of E. elsaella .

In the data of Mutanen et al. (2015) there is a taxon (i.e., OTU 3) whose barcode differs distinctly (3.7%) from E. elsaella . It is known from Croatia (Tribunj, 27. VI.2003, 1 ♂, Z. Tokár leg. & Coll., L. Kaila prep. 5475, DNA sample 21402 Lepid. Phyl.) and northern Italy. It seems to differ also by morphology from E. elsaella , but the limits of variation as compared to other close species is not known. The material available does not allow drawing conclusions on its taxonomic status.

Figures

FIGURES 48 – 58. External appearance of Elachista spp. 48 – 50. E. triseriatella Stainton. 48. ♂ (Denmark). 49. ♂ (Spain). 50. E. gregori, holotype. 51 – 52. E. elsaella Traugott-Olsen. 51. ♂ (Sweden, Högsby, type locality of E. elsaella). 52. E. svenssoni Traugott-Olsen, holotype. 53. E. arenbergeri Traugott-Olsen, ♂ (Tunisia). 54 – 55. E. deresyensis Traugott-Olsen. 54. ♂ (Turkey). 55. ♀ (Turkey). 56. E. oukaimedenensis Traugott-Olsen, holotype. Figures 57 – 58. E. galactitella (Eversmann). 57. ♂ (Ural, near type locality). 58. E. madridensis Traugott-Olsen, holotype. Scale bar 2 mm.

FIGURES 116 – 117. Male genitalia of Elachista spp. 116. E. triseriatella Stainton, holotype of E. gregori Traugott-Olsen. 117. E. elsaella Traugott-Olsen, Sweden (L. Kaila prep. 3463).

FIGURES 118 – 119. Male genitalia of Elachista elsaella Traugott-Olsen .. 118. Austria (L. Kaila prep. 5453). 119. E. svenssoni Traugott-Olsen, holotype.

FIGURES 141 – 144. Female genitalia of Elachista elsaella, all from Slovakia. 141. L. Kaila prep. 5749. 142 – 144. Corpus bursae. 142. L. Kaila prep. 5746. 143. L. Kaila prep. 5748. 144. L. Kaila prep. 5749.