Asclerobia alexandrae Yepishin 2021, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Yepishin, Viktor
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2021
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Pyralidae
Asclerobia
Asclerobia alexandrae

description: Asclerobiaalexandrae sp. nov.
(Figs 1–2, 7–19, 21–23, 27–29)
Type material (stored in the NMNH): [Russia], Holotype: ♀, “ Тува, ХР.[ебет] Цаган-Шибэту, МугуР-Аксы, 17.VI.1968, Ю. Костюк” (handwritten) [Tyva Republic, Tsagan-Shibetu mountain range, Mugur-Aksy, 17.VI.1968, Yu. Kostjukleg.]; genitalia slide: V. Yepishin prep. no. 390.20 ♀.
Paratypes: 1♂, same data as for holotype; genitalia slide: V. Yepishin prep. no. 391.20 ♂; antenna slide: V. Yepishin prep. no. 391.20a 20♂.
1♀, same data as for holotype but printed; antenna slide: V. Yepishin prep. no. 006a 21♀.
2♂, 27♀, “ Тува, Вост.[очный] Танну-Ола, уР.[очиЩе] Ак-ЧиРа, 12.VI.1968, Ю. Костюк” [Tyva Republic, E Tannu-Ola mountain range, Ak-Chira tract, 12.VI.1968, Yu. Kostjuk leg.]; genitalia slide: V. Yepishin prep. no. 479.20 ♀, 480.20 ♂; wings slide: V. Yepishin prep. no. 004w 20♀.
1♀, “ Тува, Вост.[очный] Танну-Ола, уР.[очиЩе] Ак-ЧиРа, 12.VI.1968, Ю. Костюк”; another label: “повсеместно бабочки стРЯХивались с кустов Caragana bungei ” [everywhere the moths were shaken off the bushes of Caragana bungei Ledeb.].
1♂, 1♀, “ Тува, ЭРЗинский Р-н, пески Алтан-Элс, 6.VI.1968, Костюк” [Tyva Republic, Erzin District, Altan- Els sands, 6.VI.1968, Yu. Kostjukleg.]; genitalia slide: V. Yepishin prep. no. 477.20 ♂, 478.20 ♀.
3♂, 5♀, “ Тува, пойма Р. Тес-Хем, у ЭРЗина, 5.VI.1968, Костюк” [Tyva Republic, floodplain of Tes River, vicinity of Erzin, 5.VI.1968, Yu. Kostjuk leg.]; genitalia in glycerol vial, V. Yepishin prep. no. 481.20 ♂, 482.20 ♀, 543.21 ♂.
1♀, “ Тува, пойма Р. Тес-Хем, у ЭРЗина, 23.VI.1969, Ю. Костюк” [Tyva Republic, floodplain of Tes River, vicinity of Erzin, 23.VI.1968, Yu. Kostjuk leg.]; antenna slide: V. Yepishin prep. no. 005a 21♀.
2♂, “ Тува, Каа-Хем, 27.V.1968, Ю. Костюк” [Tyva Republic, Kaa-Khem, 27.V.1968, Yu. Kostjukleg.].
9♂, “ Тува, Каа-Хем, 29.V.1968, Ю. Костюк”[Tyva Republic, Kaa-Khem, 29.V.1968, Yu. Kostjukleg.]; antenna and wings slide: V. Yepishin prep. no. 003aw 20♂; genitalia in glycerol vial, V. Yepishin prep. no. 547.21 ♂.
Diagnosis. Asclerobia alexandrae sp. nov. is characterized by the yellowish-grey forewing with a bright yellow ante-medial line edged with grey-brown raised scales proximally. The ante-medial line in A. sinensis is edged inwardly with yellowish-red raised scales, and with bright brown raised scales in A. tchahabarella. Middle segments of male antenna are almost square, 1.3× as wide as long in the new species (Fig. 19), but 2× as wide as long in A. sinensis (Fig. 20c). In male genitalia of a new species the apex of the saccus is almost truncate (angulate on sides). In related species (A. sinensis and A. tchahabarella) the saccus is rounded apically. The female genitalia of the new species are recognizable by a long segment VIII, which length is 2.2× its width, and long, straight papillae anales. In A. sinensis the length of segment VIII is 1.5× its width, papillae anales laterally have recess, shorter. Furthermore, the total length of the female genitalia (when fully extended posterior apophyses) is 7 mm in A. alexandrae sp. nov. in contrast to 5 mm in A. sinensis, of equally sized specimens (in this example 20 mm of wingspan).
Description. Adult (Figs 1, 2, 7–19): wingspan 15.5–19.5 mm (♂♂), 14.5–23.5 mm (♀♀). Head, tegulae, patagium, thorax, labial palpus and antennae from light yellow to light or dark grey, thorax often darker. Labial palpus straight, approximately 2.5× as long as the diameter of the eye. Antennae in males filiform, flattened, covered with very short sparse hairs that are distinguishable only at high magnification (over 30×), with an unstable quantity, more often 4–6 barbs on 3–5 segments (Fig. 19); the barbs are formed by special strong scales, which can come off; sinuses are absent. The antennae of females less flattened, segments are almost square. Ground colour of the forewing from light yellow to dark grey. Ante-medial line bright yellow with grey-brown raised scales proximally. A black discal spot (or double discal spot) at 2/3 length on forewing. Hindwing grey, marginal line dark grey. Fringes of both fore- and hindwings grey. Abdomen grey-yellow. Legs light grey.
Variation. In yellow specimens the basal area of forewings, apex and sometimes costa are grey.
Male genitalia (Figs 27–29): uncus nearly as long as broad at base, gradually narrowed towards sharped apex, having the shape of an almost isosceles triangle. Gnathos 2× shorter than uncus, tapers towards a pointed and curved apex. Tegumen subrectangular, tapering in the distal half, with distinct transition to uncus, up to half the length has lobes on the sides. Valva parallel-sided at base, the remaining 2/3 narrowed. Cucullus pointed, weakly sclerotized, coveredwith shortdense setae. Costaseverely sclerotized, tapersevenly towards apex, with a characteristicelongated editum on 1/3 its length, the base of which is 2× the length. Sacculus strongly sclerotized, tapers evenly towards the apex, on average 1.6× less than the length of the costa. Juxta V- or U-shaped, proximally rounded, tips rounded and covered with long setae. Vinculum elongated, 1.4× longer than width at base, narrowing sharply to 2/3, where it has the narrowest point, then expands slightly again, the apex of the saccus almost truncate. Aedeagus wide, extends to the middle of tegumen, with a wide D-shaped false cornutus, which almost 2.5× shorter than the aedeagus. Culcita 1.3× as long as wide, with X-shaped sclerotization and with scale tufts, 1.5× longer than the length of culcita.
Variation. The shape of the editum varies considerably (Figs 27a, 28a, 29a).
Female genitalia (Figs 21–23): papillae anales subtriangular, sparsely covered with long hairs. Posterior apophyses straight, very long, on average 7× as long as the papillae anales. Anterior apophyses 1.7× shorter than the posterior apophyses and 4× as long as the papillae anales. Segment VIII on average 2.2× as long as wide, posterior margin straight; tergum VIII with a longitudinal, not sclerotized medial zone in the anterior half of the segment, anterior margin rounded; sternum VIII with broad anteromedial emargination. Ductus bursae as long as the apophyses anteriores, broad. Antrum of the same width as the segment VIII, short, ventrally sclerotized. Bursa copulatrix egg-shaped with distinct transition to ductus bursae, ductus seminalis and ductus bursae depart from the same side. The base of the ductus seminalis wide, evenlytapering distally, with a funnel-shaped sclerotization, which with an oblong process at the base. Bursa copulatrix with a semicircular cord consisting of spike-like signae.
Variation. Anterior margin of tergum VIII varies from rounded to oviform, sometimes the edge is not evenly convex (Figs 21–23).
Biology. According to label data, the specimens of the new species were collected on mountain steppes and sands by shaken off the bushes of Caragana bungei Ledeb., which is possible the host-plant of the larvae. The specimens from the type series were observed in late May and mid-June at an altitude of 1000–1100 m (vic. of Erzin and Altan-Els sands) and 1800–2100 m (vic. of Mugur-Aksy, Eastern Tannu-Ola mountain range).
Remarks.All 37 dry female specimensof the newspecies have the terminal partof the female genitalia (segment VIII and ovipositor) more or less distinctly protruded from the end of abdomen. It is unclear, if it is the natural state for this species or just a result of applying of the killing agent.
Distribution. Russia: Tyva Republic.
Etymology. The new species is named in honour of Alexandra Kiryazieva, an amazing and wonderful woman, good friend, classmate and the author`s first love.
Note. Type locality of the new species is the vicinity of Mugur-Aksy village (Mongun-Tayginsky district of Tyva Republic, 50°22’51”N, 90°25’59”E). However, the name “Mugur-Aksy” belongs not only to the village, but also to several tracts located in its vicinity at a distance of 3–17 km and an altitude of 1800–2000 m at the foot of the southern slope of the Tsagan-Shibetu mountain range. It is not clear from the labels where exactly the specimens from the type series (including the holotype) have been collected.
description: Published as part of Yepishin, Viktor, 2021, Notes on the taxonomy of Palaearctic Asclerobia Roesler, 1969 (Lepidoptera Pyralidae: Phycitinae) with description of a new species, pp. 149-162 in Zootaxa 4963 (1) on pages 151-152, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4963.1.7, http://zenodo.org/record/4719987