Coccothera spissana
Creators: name: Larsen, Knud
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2023
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Tortricidae
Coccothera
Coccothera spissana

description: Coccothera spissana (Zeller, 1852). Figs. 1–6.
Lepid. Micropt. Caffr. 82 (Grapholita)
Grapholita spissana Zeller 1852: 82; Diakonoff 1958: 74, Figs. 3–4, pl. 1, Fig. 4.
Eudemis spissana Walsingham 1891: 70, pl. III, Fig. 6.
Coccothera spissana Meyrick 1914: 189; Aarvik 2019: 327 Figs. 50–51, 85.
Coccothera ferrifracta Diakonoff 1968: 4–7, Figs. 5–7. syn. nov.
Grapholita pharaonana Kollar 1858: 154, pl. 5.
Grapholita sp. (pharaonana) Frauenfeld 1859: 41, pl. 7, Figs. 2a, b.
Pammene pharaonana Kennel 1921: 705, pls. 24, Fig. 106. Cirriphora pharaonana Obraztsov 1951: 99, Figs. 1–2; Obraztsov 1961: 59, Figs. 119–122; Danilevskij & Kuznetsov 1968: 605 Figs. 461–462; Diakonoff 1983: 259, pls. 1, Fig. 13, Figs. 22–24; Razowski 1989: 212, Figs. 297 & 567.
Laspeyresia victrix Meyrick 1918: 12.
Coccothera victrix Razowski & Krüger 2007: 130, Figs. 118 & 302; Razowski & Trematerra 2008: 40, Figs. I.14 & IV.8.
Material examined
Republic of South Africa:
Western Cape: 9 spec. Bontebok NP, Cape, Swellendam, 14–16.xi.1993 leg. Mey & Ebert, coll. MfN; 2 spec. Cape, Karoo NP, Beaufort West, 12–14.xi.1993 leg. Mey & Ebert, coll. MfN; 30 spec. Western Cape. Vermaaklikheid, Oshoek River Farm, 34˚19'50" S, 21˚01'19" E, 20– 22.i.2016, 8 m. K. Larsen, L. Aarvik, A. Kingston, coll. KL.; 1 spec. Western Cape: 2 km NNE Rheenendal, Gouldveld Forest, Forest Edge Lodge, 33˚55'47" S, 22˚56'18" E, 28.ii. 2020, 250 m, leg. H. Hacker & H-P. Schreier, coll. KL;
Eastern Cape: 28 spec. 3, 75 km SW Addo. River Front Estate, 33˚33'06" S, 25˚41'04" E, 26.ii.2020 34 m, leg. H. Hacker & H-P. Schreier, coll. KL; 4 spec. Eastern Cape: 30 km NE East London. Chintsa E., 32˚49'21" S, 28˚07'03" E, 24.ii.2020 45 m, leg. H. Hacker & H-P. Schreier, coll. KL; 3 spec. Mpumalanga: Hongonyi Lodge, S 24˚27.17' S, 31˚04.56' E, leg. Mey & Kühne, coll. MfN, gen. prep. ♀ 4386 KL; 1 spec. Mpumalanga: 9, 15 km NE Mbombela. Leopard Tree Retreat, 673 m 25˚26'24" S, 31˚03'04" E, 17.ii.2020, leg. H. Hacker & H-P. Schreier, coll. KL; Limpopo: 3 spec. Leopard Cove, 24˚50'36" S, 28˚07'09" E, 20 km WNW Bela-Bela, 15–17.xi.2022, 1265 m; 3 spec. Awelani Lodge, 8 km E Masisi, 22˚26'04" S, 30˚56'25" E, 23–25.xi. 2022, 406 m; 1spec. Madi A Thavha Lodge, 10 km WNW Louis Trichardt, 23˚01'02" S, 29˚49'40" E, 26– 27.xi.2022, 1008 m; 2 spec. Adansonia Eco Lodge, 16 km SSW, Musina, 22˚29'05" S, 29˚59'58" E, 28–30.xi. 2022, 590 m A. Kingston & K. Larsen leg., coll. KL;
Namibia: 3 spec. Gellap, 26˚24' S, 18˚00' E, 6.iii.2003. LF. leg. W. Mey; Rundu, Okavanga River, 27–28.iii.2003, leg. W. Mey; 3 spec. 10 km E Swakopmund, LF Swakop, 15.i.2007, leg. Mey & Ebert, coll. MfN, gen. prep. ♂ 3532 KL; 1 spec. Naukluft, Tsams-Ost, 3.xii.2008, leg. Ebert, Mey & Kühne; 4 spec. Auas Mts., Krumhuk, 1850 m, 24.i.2009, LF, leg. W. Mey, coll. MFN; 2 spec. E Caprivi: 15 km NW Ngoma, 930 m, 17˚53' S, 24˚34' E, 26.ii.2006 LF, leg. H. Hacker & H-P. Schreier, coll. KL; gen. prep. ♂ 4365 KL & ♂ 3531 KL;
Eswatini: 5 spec. Manzini P.: Dombeya Wildlife Es. 26˚21'29" S, 31˚32'58" E, 16–19.ii. 2020, 415 m, leg. K. Larsen & A. Kingston, coll. KL; gen. prep. ♂ 4364 KL & ♂ 4367 KL;
Zimbabwe: 2 spec. Manicaland: Honde Valley, Nyanga, Aberfoyle Lodge, 850 m, 18˚17'40" S, 32˚58'08" E, 12– 15.xi. 2017, leg. K. Larsen, A. Kingston & A. Cipolla, coll. KL; gen. prep. ♀ 3529 KL; 1 spec. Masvingo, Munze Forest Lodge, 20˚08'21" S, 31˚03'58" E, 21–25. xi. 2017, 1090 m, leg. K. Larsen, A. Kingston & A. Cipolla, coll. KL;
Tanzania: 1 spec. Morogoro dist. & town, 550-600 m, 2.xii.1992, leg. L. Aarvik, coll. NHMO; 1 spec. Iringa: Udzungwa, Mang’ula, 23.xi. 2004, 350 m, leg. K. Larsen & T. Zandersen, coll. KL; 1 spec. Iringa: 12 km E. Iringa, 1600 m, 24–25.xi.2004, leg. K. Larsen & T. Zandersen, coll. KL; gen. prep. ♂ 4370 KL; 1 spec. Iringa, Tungamalenga, 1000 m, 20 km. E Ruaha N.P. 6– 7.xii.2004, leg. K. Larsen & T. Zandersen, coll. KL; gen. prep. ♂ 4165 KL; Morogoro: Kiday, 580 m, 14 km E. Mbuyuni ”̏Baobab Valley”, 8–9.xii.2004, leg. K. Larsen & T. Zandersen, coll. KL; gen. prep. ♀ 3537 KL; 1 spec. Nadosoito, Sepeko Ward, 13.vii.2009 leg. J. Lossini & U. Dall’asta, coll. KL; gen. prep. ♀ 3530 KL;
Kenya: 1 spec. Rift Valley, I. Naivasha, 6000 ft, 12.vii.1999, leg. et coll. D. Agassiz; 1 spec. Kakamega Forest, 1590 m, 00˚21' N, 34˚51' E, 28.iii.2003, leg. J. & W. De Prins, coll. KL; Rift Valley: Laikipia, Mpala Research Station, 1710 m, 37NBA 6603 3216, 26– 28.xi.2008, leg. L. Aarvik, D. Agassiz & A. Kingston, coll. Agassiz; 1 spec. Rift Valley, Naivasha, 1915 m, 00˚46'56" S, 36˚25'23" E, 16.xi.2012, Agassiz, Beavan, Heckford & Ngugi, coll. Agassiz;
Ethiopia: 12 spec. Oromia, 04°57'50" N, 37°52'55" E, 1 km W vill. Aluweya, 10.xi.2010, 1300 m, Li, leg. J. De Freina, H. Hacker, H. Peks & H-P. Schreier, coll. KL; gen. prep. ♂ 3541 & 3542 KL; 2 spec. Afar: 08°50'52.3" N, 40°00'16.5" E, Awash, Awash NP, river/shrub savanna, 15.02. 2012, 952 m, Li / LiTr, leg. H. Hacker & HP. Schreier, coll. KL; 1 spec. Southern, 06°01'32.8" N, 37°34'03.8" E, Arba Minch, Nechisar NP headquarters, 26.ii.2012, 1196 m, Li / LiTr, leg. H. Hacker & H-P. Schreier, coll. KL; 2 spec. Addis Abeba, 5.iii.1981 & 20.i.1983, leg. Angenstein, coll. KL; gen. prep. ♂ 3533 & 3534 KL;
Cameroon: 21 spec. Garoua: Faro Nat. Park. 300 m. 08°23'36.4" N, 12°49'29.3" E, 28.iv–9.v.2005, leg. K. Larsen & T. Zandersen, coll. KL; gen. prep. ♂ 3519 KL; ♂ 3520 KL; ♂ 3521 KL; ♂ 3522 KL; ♂ 3523 KL; ♂ 3526 KL; ♂ 3527 KL; ♂ 3528 KL;
Ghana: 1 spec. Northern: Mole River, 20 km. E. of Gate, 180 m, 15.iii.2010, leg. K. Larsen & W. Kubasik, coll. KL; Yemen: 3 spec. Lbb: 5 km NNE Al Qa’idah, 1870 m., 13°47.84' N, 44°10.41' E, 28.iv.1998, leg. M. Fibiger, coll. KL; 1 spec. Al Hudaydah: Jebel Burra, 25 km SE Bajil, 14°53' N, 43°26' E, 550 m, 29.ii–1.iii.2000, leg. M. Fibiger, coll. KL; 1 spec. Ta’izz: Wadi Sabá sw Ta’zz, village Hedra 1200 m, 13°26' N, 43°53' E, 4.iii.2000, leg. M. Fibiger, coll. KL; 28 spec. Lbb: Mahal al Houmeira, 5 km NNE Al Qa’idah, 13°45' N, 44°10' E, 6.iii.2000, 1900 m leg. M. Fibiger, coll. KL; gen. prep. ♀ 3543 KL; 1 spec. Lbb: Upper Wadi Malhama, village Alwadha, 14°03' N, 44°12' E, 9.iii.2000, 1900m, leg. M. Fibiger, coll. KL; gen. prep. ♂ 3544 KL;
Spain: 1 spec. Fuerteventura: Jandia, Barranco de Esquinzo, 1.ii–14.iii.2010, leg. R. Pass, coll. W. Schmitz; gen. prep. ♂ 3524 KL.
Remarks
Distribution: Coccothera spissana (Zell.) is a very widely distributed species living in the dryer part of the African savannah zone. Outside Africa it is found in Yemen, Saudi Arabia (Diakonoff, 1983) and the Canary Islands: Fuerteventura. The species is relatively new to the Canary Islands (Moreno, 2014). Kennel (1921) mentions the species from Bithynien, now northern Turkey and Razowski (1989) mentions the species from Algeria and Turkey, which has not been confirmed. Koçak & Kemal (2017 & 2018) do not list the species from Turkey.
Biology: The species is bred from swollen thorns (domatia) on different acacia trees (Agassiz & Aarvik, 2014; Aarvik, 2019), rather big galls on Tamarix (Kollar, 1858 & Frauenfeld, 1859), galls induced by the host-specific rust fungus Ravenelia macowaniana Pazschke on Acacia karoo Hayne (McGeogh, 1993 & McGeogh & Krüger, 1994) and in shoots and leaves of groundnut plants (Diakonoff, 1968). It is also reported living on the scale-insect Ceroplasta (Meyrick, 1914). The species is bred from galls on different species of Tamarix in Egypt around Cairo and the Sinai Peninsula, described in detail by Kollar (1858) & Frauenfeld (1859). Frauenfeld (1859) has found the species in combination with other gall living insects and he suggested that C. spissana is living in the galls but does not cause the galls. The author has searched the larva intensively several times on Tamarix both in Morocco and the Canary Islands without any success.
Variation: The species varies considerably in size (wingspan 7–12 mm), extension and strengths of the metallic markings and in the extension of the black part of the median fascia. The ground colour varies from olive grey to black and the hindwings from nearly white to plain grey (Figs. 1, 2). The specimen from Fuerteventura (Fig. 2) is bigger and lighter with more whitish hindwings than other specimens from Africa, but it resembles the figured specimens at the website Lepiforum (accessed 15.iv.2023) bred from Tamarix from Egypt.
Extensive examination of the genitalia from the whole range showed a wide range of variation presented in Figs. 3–5, especially in the lengths and size of the valva also illustrated by Danilevskij & Kuznetsov (1968). The length of the hair tufts at the base of the valva are also subject to high variation, but in the female genitalia (Fig. 6) the variation is rather limited.
Results from a DNA analysis from Guelph, Canada (accessed 17.iv.2023) defined a maximum difference at 0.96% and average distance at 0.55%. A specimen from Spain, Fuerteventura (Fig. 2) has a distance to the nearest neighbouring species at 2.12%. The variation in the DNA is a normal variation at intraspecific level. The results are based upon 11 records. Distance model: kimura 2 parameter. Marker: COI- 5P. Pairwise distance.
When this work began it was expected that the taxon C. spissana (Zell.) could contain several cryptic species, but the results clearly demonstrate that it just is a variable species, maybe due to its wide distribution in Africa and adjacent areas.
Coccothera ferrifracta (Diakonoff, 1968) was described based on specimens hatched from shoots and leaves of groundnut found in Ghana at Kumasi. The figures of the male and female genitalia (Diakonoff, 1968) are exactly like the genitalia of C. spissana (Zell.). At the time of this description the male genitalia of C. spissana (Zell.) were not figured. Diakonoff (1968) redescribed the genus Coccothera on the basis of the specimens from Ghana and used the males from this sample to define the males in the genus, emphasizing that the hindwings have a cubital pecten. Aarvik (2019) describes this pecten as a pencil of grey sex scales. It is included in the original description of the genus Coccothera (Meyrick, 1914) and figured by Obraztsov (1961: 99 Fig. 1C). Of the present known species in Coccothera only C. spissana (Zell.) has a cubital pecten. Aarvik (2019) gave an overview of the synonymy of C. spissana (Zell.), noting that Razowski & Krüger (2007) omitted the sclerotized narrow folds along the lateral edges of tergum seven, which is also the case in Diakonoff’s description of the female genitalia of C. ferrifracta (Diakonoff, 1968). Consequently C. ferrifracta is regarded as a new synonym of C. spissana (Zell.).
description: Published as part of Larsen, Knud, 2023, Description of a new species from Africa in genus Coccothera Meyrick, 1914, with additional taxonomic and faunistic information on two other Coccothera species (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Grapholitini), pp. 50-58 in Metamorphosis 34 (1) on pages 51-53, DOI: 10.4314/met.v34i1.5, http://zenodo.org/record/14119348