Elachista grotenfelti Kaila, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Kaila, Lauri
name: Mutanen, Marko
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2012
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Elachistidae
Elachista
Elachista grotenfelti

description: Elachista grotenfelti Kaila, sp. nov.
Figs. 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 14, 15
Type material. Holotype ɗ: Greece: Lesvos, nr. Vadoussa, 39°15`55``N 26°04`57``E, 10.V.2006, exp. MZH, L. Kaila & J. Kullberg leg., L. Kaila prep. 5308, DNA sample 15433 Lepid. Phyl. (Coll. MZH). Paratypes (57 ɗ 19 Ψ): 1 Ψ with the same collecting data as in the holotype (Coll. MZH); Lesvos, Skala Kallonis, Malemi Hotel, 39°12`3``N 26°12`13``E, 5.–9. V.2007 2 ɗ 6 Ψ, L. Kaila prep. 5310, 5321, 5322, 5327, 5328, 5415, 5416, DNA samples 15429, 15430, 15432 Lepid. Phyl. (Coll. MZH); Lesvos, nr. Dafia, 39°14`37``N 26°11`11``E, 8. V.2007 1 ɗ exp. MZH, L. Kaila & J. Kullberg leg. L. Kaila prep. 5309 (Coll. MZH); Ipiros, Konitsa area below Tymphi 600–1000 m, 23. V.1994 2 ɗ 1 Ψ O. Karsholt leg. (ZMUC, 1 ɗ in MZH); Ipiros, Peristrei Mts. S. Metsovo 27.–28. V.1994 2 ɗ O. Karsholt leg. (ZMUC); Nafactus 5. VI.2010 6 ɗ J. Junnilainen leg. & Coll.; Kerkyra, Tabloni 18. V.1980 9 ɗ 1 Ψ P. Grotenfelt leg. (Coll. MZH); Kerkyra, Giannades 22. V.1980 5 ɗ P. Grotenfelt leg. (Coll. MZH); Kerkyra, Benitse 20. V.1980 1 ɗ P. Grotenfelt leg. (Coll. MZH); Kerkyra, Kinopiastes 23. V.1980 1 ɗ P. Grotenfelt leg. (Coll. MZH); Arkadia Vitina 24. VI.1981 2 ɗ P. Grotenfelt leg., L. Kaila prep. 4039, 5032, 5037 (Coll. MZH); Lakonia, Taygetos Mts. 1. VI.1994 1 ɗ 2 Ψ O. Karsholt leg., L. Kaila prep. 3592 (Coll. MZH, ZMUC); Lakonia, 5 km S. Monemvasia 16.–18. IV.1981 2 ɗ 2 Ψ B. Skule leg. (ZMUC); Prov. Makedonia, Kozani, nr. Xirolimni 3. VI.2005 1 ɗ 1 Ψ T. Nupponen leg. (Coll. Nupponen); Nr. Kozani 23.–24. V.2003 1 Ψ J. Junnilainen leg. DNA sample 16957 Lepid. Phyl. (Coll. Junnilainen); Makedonia, Mt. Olympos, 750 m, 15 km W Leptokaria 18.–21. V.2003 1 ɗ 1 Ψ J. Junnilainen leg., DNA sample 16958, 16959 Lepid. Phyl. (Coll. Junnilainen); Makedonia, Promahonas, 41 km NW Serres, 25.–26. V.2001 1 ɗ J. Junnilainen leg., L. Kaila prep. 4135, DNA sample 16973 Lepid. Phyl. (Coll. MZH); Makedonia, Xerolimni 11. VI.2010 1 $ J. Junnilainen leg. & Coll.; Peloponnisos, 13 km SE of Dhimitsana, 1200 m, 16. IV.1991 1 ɗ R. T. A. Schouten leg., DNA sample 16974 Lepid. Phyl. (MZH); Peloponnisos, Kalavrita 7. VI.2010 1 ɗ J. Junnilainen leg.; Corfu, Ahravi 1994 2 ɗ G. Söderman leg. DNA sample 16977 Lepid. Phyl. (MZH). Bulgaria: SW Bulgaria, Pirin, Sandanski, Ploski, 200–250 m, 17.–31. V.2010 2 ɗ N. Savenkov leg. (Coll. H. Roweck); Pirin, 1500 m, 29. V.2006 1 ɗ 2 Ψ J. Junnilainen leg., L. Kaila prep. 5087, 5088, DNA samples 16960-2 Lepid. Phyl. (Coll. Junnilainen). Turkey: Sultan Daglari, 30 km SW Aksehir, 1200 m, 8. VI.2002 12 ɗ T. Nupponen leg., L. Kaila prep. 4036, DNA sample 16974 Lepid. Phyl. 16976 (Coll. Nupponen, 1 ɗ in MZH).
Diagnosis. Elachista grotenfelti sp. n. is a close relative of E. nuraghella. For separation of these two species from other Elachista, see the diagnosis of E. nuraghella above. E. grotenfelti is externally similar to E. nuraghella, but it tends to be larger and usually yellowish and with paler hindwings than E. nuraghella Figs 2–5). However, these characteristics vary a lot with occasional overlap between the species and therefore are not safe for species identification. These species differ in both male and female genitalia. In the male genitalia the size of the cornutus is diagnostic, being about ¼ of the length of the phallus in E. nuraghella, 1/3 of the length of the phallus in E. grotenfelti (Figs 10, 11). In all dissections examined the distal horn of the cornutus is ventrally directed in E. nuraghella, more or less dorsally directed in E. grotenfelti. This trait is likely to be subject to artificial distortion and is to be used in caution. The juxta lobes are medially a little produced in E. nuraghella, not so in E. grotenfelti. While the ratio of the length of uncus and valva appears equal in these species, both these structures are somewhat more elongate in E. nuraghella than in E. grotenfelti. The female ductus bursae is thick and posteriorly dilated in E. grotenfelti, narrower and tubular in E. nuraghella. The shape of the corpus bursae also differs, being oval and its orientation transverse regarding the abdomen; the corpus bursae of E. nuraghella is rounded (note however, possible distortion due to preparation technique). The signum is in anterior half of the corpus bursae in E. grotenfelti, in posterior half in E. nuraghella.
Description. Wingspan 13–18.5 mm. Length of labial palpus 1.2 times diameter of head, creamy white. Head, neck tuft, scape and pedicel of antenna and thorax creamy white. Flagellum of antenna pale grey. Fore femur grey, legs otherwise pale ochreous. Forewing ground colour varying from snow white to yellowish white with concolorous fringe scales. Underside of forewing varying from yellowish white to grey, fringe white or yellowish white. Hindwing varying from yellowish white to grey both above and below, fringe scales white or yellowish white on both sides.
Male genitalia. Uncus lobes large, fused to form distally tapered and medially membranous single lobe that is densely setose laterobasally. Spinose knob of gnathos small and oval, attached to the mesially fused basal arms by narrow connection. Valva gradually broadened towards apex, three times as long as wide at its widest point near apex; costa straight, distally evenly bent and fused to termen without border; sacculus basally slightly bulbous, somewhat concave in basal third, otherwise straight, distally bent and joins cucullus without border; distal margin of cucullus evenly rounded. Digitate process small, parallel-sided or distally slightly dilated, distally blunt and setose, extended to 1/9 length of valva. Mesial margin of juxta lobe straight, joining the medially concave distal margin in indistinct right angle, with a few setae, lateral margin concave; laterally joined to valval process. Median plate of juxta simple, concave, oval. Vinculum stout, broad and U-shaped. Phallus about 0.5 times as long as valva, straight, nearly parallel-sided; coecum elongate; distal opening extended to distal 2/5 of phallus; cornutus broad and elongate, dentate plate with a dorsally projected somewhat larger distal horn; length of cornutus 1/3 of the length of phallus.
Female genitalia. Papillae anales strongly sclerotized and covered by small but stout spines, 1.5 times as long as wide in lateral aspect, tapered into pointed apex. Apophyses posteriores very stout, distally widened, straight, as long as the length of sternum 8. Apophyses anteriores otherwise as apophyses posteriores, but not distally widened. Ostium bursae near anterior margin of tergum 8, small, rounded; no antrum present; colliculum sclerotized, short; ductus seminalis inserted near ostium bursae. Ductus bursae membranous, granulose, two to three times as long as apophyses, widened in caudal half; incepted in corpus bursae so that the oval-shaped corpus bursae appears in transverse position compared to the abdomen. Corpus bursae with minute internal granules, signum irregularshaped, laterally dentate plate.
Biology. Immature stages are unknown. Adults have been collected by sweeping vegetation during night at sea level in Greece, Lesvos, and are attracted to artificial light during night. The species can be found in a variety of habitats, from sea level to the altitude of 1200 m.
Distribution. Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey.
description: Published as part of Kaila, Lauri & Mutanen, Marko, 2012, DNA barcoding and morphology support the division of Elachista nuraghella sensu auctorum (Lepidoptera: Elachistidae: Elachistinae) into two vicariant species, pp. 57-68 in Zootaxa 3343 on pages 62-67, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.281428