Scrobipalpa ochroxantha, Bidzilya, 2021

Bidzilya, Oleksiy V., 2021, A review of the genus Scrobipalpa Janse, 1951 (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae) in the Afrotropical region, Zootaxa 5070 (1), pp. 1-83 : 13-14

Scrobipalpa ochroxantha sp. nov.

Figs 8–10 , 95 , 158

Type material. Holotype ♂, S. Africa, nr. Grahamstown, Burnt Kraal, 3317S, 2629E, reared ex. Solanum coccineum, Stem Galls, PEH 44, 29/5/85, coll. PEHulley / AcRH 480 (gen. slide 278/12, O. Bidzilya) ( TMSA) . Paratype: 1 ♀, same data as holotype, but PEH 41, 8.v.85 (gen. slide 261/12, O. Bidzilya) ( TMSA) ; 1 ♀, S. Africa, nr. Grahamstown, Oatlands North , reared ex. Solanum rigescens , stem galls, 20.viii.1987 (Olckers) | AcRH 481(gen. slide 122/17, O. Bidzilya) ( TMSA) ; 1 ♀, RSA, East Cape, Asante-Sana , 28.ii-5.iii.2014 (Mey) (gen. slide 147/17, O. Bidzilya) ; 1 ♀, South Africa, E. Cape, Graaff-Reinet District, Sneeuberg, Petersburg , 6–14.xi.2012 (Krüger) (gen. slide 108/17, O. Bidzilya) ( TMSA) .

Diagnosis. Scrobipalpa ochroxantha sp. nov. can be recognized by its large size (17.8–20.0 mm) and nearly unicolorous light ochreous-brown forewing and brown hindwing with contrasting light yellowish-grey cilia. The broad, apically rounded vincular process of the male genitalia are very similar to those of S. incola , but differ in having a narrower saccus and longer caecum. The female genitalia are distinguished by a broadly foam-sculptured area along the inner margin of the subgenital plates, long apophyses anteriores and a signum with a small basal plate lacking a broadened basally distal hook. Scrobipalpa wieseri sp. nov. differs in its shorter, stronger curved and basally broader hook of the signum.

Description. Adult ( Figs 8–10 ). Wingspan 17.8–20.0 mm. Head yellowish brown to light brown; labial palpus strongly upcurved, light brown, outer surface dark brown at base, palpomere 2 twice length and twice width of palpomere 3, with moderate groove on underside; scape brown, antennal segments lights brown with whitish rings; thorax, tegulae, cilia and forewing uniformly ochreous; hindwing dark brown, cilia light yellowish grey.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 95 ). Uncus elongate, about 1/2 length of tegumen, weakly narrowed apically, slightly longer than broad at base, gnathos stout, distal sclerite broad, subtriangular with pointed tip; tegumen twice as long as wide, with indistinct transition to uncus, subrectangular, anteromedial emargination broad, triangular, extending to 1/3 length of tegument; valva weakly curved, slightly narrowed in middle, apex weakly inflated, reaching top of uncus; sacculus about 1/3 length of valva, triangular, tapered towards pointed tip, separated from valva by deep, broad gap; vincular processes digitate, as long as sacculus but broader, apex rounded, separated from sacculus by deep, narrow gap; vinculum broad, posterior margin with deep, narrow, V-shaped medial incision; saccus broad at base, tapered towards broadened apex, projecting far beyond apex of pedunculus; phallus slightly longer than tegumen, caecum moderately inflated, less than 1/3–1/2 length and 1/2 width of phallus, apex pointed with downwards curved hook.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 158 ). Papillae anales elongate, ovate; apophyses posteriores exceeding length from bottom of corpus bursae to posterior edge of segment VIII; segment VIII slightly longer than wide, subgenital plates 1/3 width of segment VIII, with digitate foam-sculptured patches along inner margin, both inner and outer margins straight, outer edge with gradual transition to apophyses anteriores, anteromedial incision slender, subtriangular; apophyses anteriores twice as long as segment VIII, broad at base; ductus bursae long, gradually broadened towards comparatively small, egg-shaped corpus bursae, antrum short, rounded, distinctly inflated, colliculum comparatively long; signum of even width in basal part, curved at an obtuse angle after 1/2 length, basal plate small, situated on right side near middle of corpus bursae.

Biology. The larvae produce stem galls on Solanum coccineum Jacq. and S. rigescens Jacq. (Solanaceae) . Adults were recorded in late February-early March, May, August and November.

Distribution. South Africa.

Etymology. The species name is derived from the Greek “ ochre ”—ocher, and “ xanthos ”—yellow, and refers to the yellowish-brown forewings.

Figures

FIGURES 1–10. Scrobipalpa spp., adults. 1–7. Scrobipalpa incola. 1. South Africa, Roodeplaat, male. 2. South Africa, Gullinan, male (gen. slide 121/17, OB). 3. South Africa, HT of S. bletrias, female. 4. South Africa, Rietvleidam, male (gen. slide 273/12, OB). 5. South Africa, Rietvleidam, female (gen. slide 119/17, OB). 6. Tanzania, Usa River, male (gen. slide 288/17, OB). 7. Tanzania, Usa River, female (gen. slide 2340, OB). 8–10. S. ochroxantha sp. nov., South Africa. 8. Grahamstown, HT, male (gen. slide 278/12, OB). 9. Petersburg, PT, female (gen. slide 108/17, OB). 10. Grahamstown, PT, female (gen. slide 261/12, OB). Scale bar = wingspan.

FIGURES 91–95. Scrobipalpa spp., male genitalia. 91–94. S. incola, South Africa. 91. Nylsvlei, Naboomspruit (gen. slide 112/17, OB). 92. Roodeplaat (gen. slide 138/12, OB). 93. Rietvleidam (gen. slide 273/12, OB). 94. Gullinan (gen. slide 121/17, OB). 95. S. ochroxantha sp. nov., South Africa, Grahamstown, HT (gen. slide 278/12, OB).

FIGURES 157–159. Scrobipalpa spp., female genitalia. 157. S. incola, South Africa, Rietvleidam (gen. slide 109/17, OB). 158. S. ochroxantha sp. nov., South Africa, Asante-Sana, PT (gen. slide 147/17, OB). 159. S. wieseri sp. nov., Namibia, Windhoek, PT (gen. slide 114/12, OB).