Alloclita canariensis Koster & Junnilainen, 2020

Koster, Sjaak (J. C.), Falck, Per, Junnilainen, Jari, Karsholt, Ole & van Nieukerken, Erik J., 2020, The francoeuriae species group in the genus Alloclita Staudinger, 1859 with description of A. canariensis Koster & Junnilainen, sp. nov. from the Canary Islands (Lepidoptera, Gelechioidea, Cosmopterigidae), Nota Lepidopterologica 43, pp. 95-116 : 95

Alloclita canariensis Koster & Junnilainen sp. nov.

[ Alloclita francoeuriae ; Vives Moreno and Gastón 2017: 320. Misidentification]

Material examined.

Holotype. Spain - Canary Islands • ♂; Tenerife, Tamaimo; 28.27°N, 16.82°W; 550 m; 8-22 Nov. 2016; Per Falck leg.; genitalia slide: JCK 8685; DNA barcode sample COSM066-18; ZMUC; RMNH.INS.15578.

Paratypes (16 ♂♂, 1 ♀). Spain - Canary Islands • 1 ♂; Fuerteventura, Corralejo; 28.73°N, 13.87°W; alt. 0-10 m; 27 Feb.-19.Mar. 2018; P. Falck leg.; CF • 1 ♂; Fuerteventura, Lajares; 28.68°N, 13.94°W; alt. 50-80 m; 1-27 Nov. 2017; P. Falck leg.; CF • 1 ♂; same locality as preceding; 27 Feb.-19 Mar. 2018; P. Falk leg.; CF • 1 ♂; same data as preceding; genitalia slide: JCK 8686; DNA barcode sample COSM067-18; RMNH; RMNH.INS.15579 • 1 ♂; Gran Canaria, Ayacata; 27.966°N, 15.606°W; alt. 1500 m; 17-30 Sep. 2018; P. Falck leg.; genitalia slide: JCK 8687, DNA barcode sample COSM065-18; CF; RMNH.INS.15577 • 1 ♂; Gran Canaria, El Doctoral; 27.833°N, 15.453°W; alt. 350 m; 9-12 May 2018; K. Larsen leg.; ZMUC • 1 ♂; Gran Canaria, Inagua; 27.937°N, 15.756°W; 8 Dec. 2014; J. Junnilainen leg.; CJ • 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀; same locality as preceding; 9 Dec. 2014; J. Junnilainen leg.; genitalia in vial, genitalia slide: JCK 8678; CJ • 3 ♂♂; same locality as preceding; 15 Jan. 2016; J. Junnilainen leg.; genitalia slide: JCK 8679; CJ • 1 ♂; same data as preceding; genitalia slide: JCK 8675, DNA barcode sample COSM064-18; RMNH; RMNH.INS.15554 • 1 ♂; Gran Canaria, 1.3 km N Mogan; 27.89583°N, 15.7225°W; alt. 430 m; 3-8 Nov. 2014; B. Skule leg; ZMUC • 1 ♂; Tenerife, Arona; 28.10°N, 16.68°W; alt. 500 m; 8-22 Nov. 2016; P. Falck leg.; wing slide: JCK 8690; CF.

Additional material

(97 ♂♂, 10 ♀♀). Spain - Canary Islands • 1 ♂; Fuerteventura, Betancuria; 28.425°N, 14.057°W; alt. 400 m; 7-27 Nov. 2017; P. Falck leg.; CF • 1 ♂; Fuerteventura, Corralejo; 28.73°N, 13.87°W; alt. 0-10 m; 27 Feb.-19 Mar. 2018; P. Falk leg.; CF • 9 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; Fuerteventura, Lajares; 28.68°N, 13.94°W; alt. 50-80 m; 1-27 Nov. 2017; P. Falck leg.; CF • 20 ♂♂, 1 ♀; same locality as preceding; 27 Feb.-19 Mar. 2018; P. Falk leg.; CF • 3 ♂♂; Gran Canaria, Inagua; 27.937°N, 15.756°W; 7 Dec. 2014; J. Junnilainen leg.; CJ • 3 ♂♂; same locality as preceding; 8 Dec. 2014; J. Junnilainen leg.; CJ • 10 ♂♂; same locality as preceding; 9 Dec. 2014; J. Junnilainen leg.; genitalia slide: GPJJ201515; CJ • 4 ♂♂; same locality as preceding; 15 Jan. 2016; J. Junnilainen leg.; CJ • 27 ♂♂; Gran Canaria, 1.3 km N Mogan; 27.89583°N, 15.7225°W; alt. 430 m; 3-8 Nov. 2014; B. Skule leg.; genitalia slide: Karsholt 5320♂; ZMUC • 2 ♂♂; same data as preceding; RMNH; RMNH.INS.15635, RMNH.INS.15636 • 1 ♂; Lanzarote, 0.8 km S Conil; 1,4 km N Tias; 28.96055°N, 13.66536°W; alt. 240 m; 2-8 Nov. 2018; B. Skule & C. Hviid leg.; ZMUC • 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; Lanzarote, El Bosquecillo; 29.12618°N, 13.52211°W; alt. 600 m; 6 Nov. 2018; B. Skule & C. Hviid leg.; ZMUC • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; same data as preceding; RMNH; RMNH.INS.15637 to RMNH.INS.15639 • 6 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; Lanzarote, Urb. Famara;; 29.09669°N, 13.55479°W; alt. 55 m; 2-8 Nov. 2018; B. Skule & C. Hviid leg.; ZMUC • 4 ♂♂; Lanzarote, 2 km SW Urb. Famara, Las Laderas; 29.09669°N, 13.55479°W; alt. 75 m; 2-8 Nov. 2018; B. Skule & C. Hviid leg.; ZMUC • 2 ♂♂, 1♀; Lanzarote, 3,5 km NE Teguise, Barranco de Manguia; 29.07089°N, 13.52647°W; alt. 275 m; 4 Nov. 2018; B. Skule & C. Hviid leg.; ZMUC • 2 ♂♂; Tenerife, Arona; 28.10°N, 16.68°W; alt. 500 m; 8-22 Nov. 2016; P. Falck leg.; CF.

Additional literature records

(2 ♂♂, Vives Moreno and Gastón 2017). Spain - Canary Islands • 1 ♂; Gran Canaria, Agaete; 28.1°N, 15.7°W; alt. 43 m; 23 Oct. 1930; A. Cabrera leg.; genitalia slide: 61293AV • 1 ♂; same locality data as preceding; 17 Oct. 1931.

Diagnosis.

Alloclita canariensis resembles A. francoeuriae and A. subitariella . It can be distinguished by the two blackish brown streaks on the forewing; the proximal streak bends upwards before it reaches the dorsum, the distal streak is broad and straight in the middle of the fold. In the male genitalia it differs from A. francoeuriae by the longer and more slender basal lobes of the valva and the longer and more slender cucullus. From A. subitariella it differs by the basally more slender brachia of the uncus and by the slender and apically rounded right basal lobe of the valva. In the female genitalia it differs from A. francoeuriae by the V-shaped anterior edge of segment VIII, by the more irregular shape of the sclerotized band of the ostium and by the narrower signa.

Description.

Male and female (Figs 1 - 3 ). Forewing length 6.2-8.1 mm. Head: frons, vertex, neck tufts shining creamy white, collar dorsally shining creamy white, laterally shining dark brown; labial palpus first segment short, dark brown, about one-third length of second, second segment about as long as third, white with dark brown spot at base on outside, third segment white mixed with dark greyish, more white dorsally in basal half; scape dark greyish brown with pecten with two to three piliform scales, antenna dorsally dark greyish brown, ventrally white or annulated brownish grey in basal half, apical half slightly serrate. Thorax shining creamy white, tegulae shining dark brown anteriorly, shining creamy white posteriorly. Legs: foreleg dark brownish grey with white apical rings on tibia and first tarsal segment, midleg as foreleg but with additional broad white central band on tibia, hindleg femur white mixed with brownish grey, tibia basal two-thirds white with dark brown streak in middle on outer side, apical one-third dark greyish brown with white apical ring, tarsal segments dark greyish brown, first segment with broad basal and apical white rings, segments two to five with white apical rings, spurs white, apically ochreous-white. Forewing creamy white, two blackish brown streaks, proximal streak broad, semi-circular bend from costa beyond base to one-sixth, not reaching dorsum, distal streak longitudinal triangular in middle of fold at one-third; four brownish grey spots, first, counting from wing base, and smallest spot on costa at one-thirds of wing, second and largest spot, more or less square, on costa at two-thirds, third spot somewhat triangular, on dorsum at two-thirds, costal edge dorsally with blackish brown scales, fourth spot somewhat triangular on costa near tip of wing; apex on dorsal side edged blackish brown; dorsally below blackish brown streaks, in middle and at tip of wing creamy white areas more or less suffused with pinkish to orange scales; fringe dark grey at costa, creamy white to dorsum, pure white at tip of wing, broad dark grey fringe line in middle of fringe. Hindwing shining grey with greenish and reddish reflection, fringe grey with reddish gloss. Underside: forewing shining brownish grey with narrow whitish streaks on costa at one-half, three-quarters and at tip of wing; hindwing shining grey. Abdomen dorsally and ventrally creamy white; anal tuft creamy white.

Variation.

The creamy white ground colour of the forewing is often darkened to a greater or lesser extent.

Male genitalia

(Fig. 6 ). Brachia of uncus long and slightly bent ventrally, right brachium a little shorter and wider beyond one-half, both brachia with small apical hook; tegumen short and broad, slightly tapering distally, half-length of brachia of uncus; valvae short with very wide base, tapering to short and rounded cucullus with long setae, right cucullus slightly narrower than left one; basal lobes of valvae of similar length, right basal lobe rounded apically, left basal lobe with apical hook; anellar tube very broad at base, with triangular protrusions arising halfway along both sides, right protrusion twice as large as left one, distal half of anellar tube strongly tapering and with very short setae; manica slightly tapering distally, basal half strongly bent ventrally; phallus long and twisted; vinculum large, tapering distally and rounded.

Female genitalia

(Fig. 11 ). Apophyses posteriores one-third longer than apophyses anteriores; segment VIII dorsally with two V-shaped anterior lobes; ostium with irregular sclerotized ventral band, right side twice as wide as left side; ductus bursae narrow in posterior third, anterior two-thirds strongly widening towards corpus bursae and helical; corpus bursae oval, signa as two narrow rims with spicules.

Distribution

(Figs 17 , 18 ). Canary Islands: Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Tenerife. Most likely an endemic species.

Biology.

The specimens from Inagua on Gran Canaria were collected at light by Jari Junnilainen on the road side of GC-200. The light source was positioned near a spot where Asteriscus graveolens subsp. stenophyllus (Link) Greuter ( Asteraceae ) (Figs 15 , 16 ) was dominant (previously known as Nauplius stenophyllus ). The genus Asteriscus has a number of species occurring on the Canary Islands, partly endemic, partly also occurring on the African mainland ( Goertzen et al. 2002). They occur on all islands where Alloclita canariensis was found ( Hohenester and Welß 1993; Bramwell and Bramwell 2001). The fact that Asteriscus is related to Pulicaria and the abundant occurrence on the Gran Canaria locality make Asteriscus a likely candidate hostplant.

Adults found from early November to March, in May and September; adults may fly year-round.

DNA barcodes

(Fig. 19 ). From four specimens from the islands Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria and Tenerife we obtained full-length DNA barcodes. All barcodes fall within Barcode Index Number (BIN) BOLD:ADR0826. The intraspecific distance is 0.31-1.86% (mean 1.18 ± 0.75, n = 6), the largest distance between specimens from Tenerife and both other islands, the distance between the Fuerteventura specimen and both Gran Canaria specimens is 0.46-0.77%, and between the Gran Canaria specimens 0.3%. The distance to nearest neighbour A. francoeuriae is 3.86% (mean 4.115 ± 0.44, n = 9).

Figures

Figure 6. Alloclita canariensis sp. nov., male genitalia, paratypes. 6 a ventral aspect, genitalia slide JCK 8675 6 b lateral aspect, genitalia slide JCK 8679. Scale bar: 0.1 mm.

Figure 15. Asteriscus graveolens subsp. stenophyllus at the collecting site Inagua on Gran Canaria, the possible hostplant of Alloclita canariensis sp. nov. Photo Jukka Tabell.

Figure 16. Collecting site of Alloclita canariensis sp. nov. at Inagua, Gran Canaria. Photo Jukka Tabell.

Figure 17. Map showing records of Alloclita canariensis sp. nov. and A. francoeuriae on the Canary Islands and nearby Morocco. Red circles: A. canariensis, green circles: A. francoeuriae.

Figure 18. Map showing records of the Alloclita francoeuriae group. Red circles: A. canariensis, green circles: A. francoeuriae, purple circle A. subitariella.

Figure 19. Neighbor Joining tree of DNA barcodes of seven species of Alloclita.

Figures 1, 2. Alloclita canariensis sp. nov., male habitus. 1 Paratype, Gran Canaria, Ayacata, RMNH. INS. 15577. 2 Holotype, Tenerife, Tamaimo, RMNH. INS 15578. Scale bars: 2 mm.

Figures 3, 4. Alloclita species, adult habitus. 3 A. canariensis sp. nov., female paratype, Fuerteventura, Lajares, RMNH. INS 15579. 4 A. francoeuriae, male, Fuerteventura, Calderata, RMNH. INS 15580. Scale bars: 2 mm.

Figures 11, 12. Alloclita species, female genitalia. 11 A. canariensis sp. nov., paratype, ventral aspect, genitalia slide JCK 8678 12 A. francoeuriae, syntype, ventral aspect, genitalia slide BM 29280. Scale bars: 1 mm.