Notes on Interesting Scythridids in the Zoological Museum, Helsinki, Finland (Lepidoptera, Scythrididae)
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© Entomologica Fennica. 8 July 1997 Notes on interesting scythridids in the Zoological Museum, Helsinki, Finland (Lepidoptera, Scythrididae) BengtA.Bengtsson Bengtsson, B. A. 1997: Notes on interesting scythridids in the Zoological Museum, Helsinki, Finland (Lepidoptera, Scythrididae ). - Entomol. Fennica 8: 89-102. In this paper 28 species of the family Scythrididae from Asia and Africa are treated, six of which are described as new species, viz. Scythris felesella sp. n., S. kailai sp. n., S. kullbergi sp. n., S. kyzylensis sp. n., S. subcassiterella sp. n. and S. terekholensis sp. n. Most of the specimens were collected during expeditions made by members of the staff of the Zoological Museum in Helsinki. Genitalia not illustrated before are described, the distribution range of each species treated is given and some other experiences are presented. Bengt A. Bengtsson, Box 71, S-380 74 Lottorp, Sweden Received 15 March 1996, accepted 15 Apri/1996 1. Introduction within the family Scythrididae is still poorly un derstood. At the Societas Europaea Lepidopterologica Meet ing in Helsinki in Aprill992 I was kindly invited by Jukka Jalava at the Zoological Museum to ex 2. Examined specimens amine the scythridids kept in the museum collec tions. As scythridids most often are very difficult Catascythris kebirella Amsel, 1935 to determine only by superficial observation I was permitted to have the most interesting species, 3 d'd': U.A.E. (United Arab Emirates), Ras a! Khaimah, mainly from Asia and Africa, as a loan. Later on shore dunes, light trap, 6.IV.1990, K. Mikkola leg. some other scythridids were sent to me for deter Distribution: Israel, India, Iran, N Africa, mination and in November 1995 I received 90 Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates. specimens collected in the Tuva Republic close Biology: Unknown. to the Mongolian border. Remark: Not recorded from United Arab Emir Upon examination, including dissection of the ates before. Genitalia are illustrated by Bengtsson genitalia, several very interesting discoveries were (1997b). made, among them six undescribed species. The known distribution range was extended for many species. All these experiences are described here. Erigethes strobilacei W alsingham, 1907 Information on the distribution area is based main ly on unpublished studies made by the author, 1 d': TUNISIA, Sahara semidesert, 5 km N Douz ad. luc., except for a few species known from Europe (see 17-18.IV.1984, K. Mikkola leg. Bengtsson 1997b). The species are presented in Distribution: Algeria, Tunisia. alphabetic order as the infrageneric relationship Biology: Unknown. 90 Bengtsson: Scythridids in Zoological Museum, Helsinki • ENTOMOL. FENNICA Vol. 8 Remark: The adult moth and the genitalia are Scythris baikalensis Bengtsson & Liska, 1996 illustrated by Bengtsson (1997b). 11 cJcJ and 1 Q: RUSSIA Tuva rep., soo 16'N 94°54'E, 1 250m, ca. 25 km W Erzin, steppe/stony slopes 7- Scythris ammobia Falkovitch, 1972 1l.VI.l995, Jalava & Kullberg leg. 8 cJcJ and 4 QQ: RUSSIA Tuva rep., 50°45'N 94°29'E, 1 250m, E. Tannu-Ola mts., 5 km ENE Khol-Oozha, steppe J Q: Jakutsk; B. Poppius; 1364. slopes 16-J9.VI.l995, Jalava & Kullberg leg. External appearance (Fig. 1): Forewing fus 6 cJcJ and 5 QQ: RUSSIA Tuva rep., 52°04'N 94°22'E, 670 rn, Ust-Ujuk, steppe hills 3-5.VI.1995, Jalava & Kull cous in different shades, markings diffuse, most berg leg. prominent are small whitish and dark fuscous 3 cJcJ and 3 QQ: RUSSIA Tuva rep., 50°45-SO'N dashes in fold; at tip some pale scales. 92°29'-94°19 'E, I 250-2 000 m, E. Tannu-Oia mts., steppe/ Female genitalia (Fig. 2): The female genita meadow/forest 8.VI.l995, Jalava & Kullberg leg. lia illustrated by Falkovitch ( 1972) in his original 2 cJcJ and 2 QQ: RUSSIA Tuva rep., 50°01'N 93°01 'E, 1 ISO m, Lake Tere-Khol, sand dunes 9-12.VI.l995, Jalava description are very similar to those of the speci & Kullberg leg. men from Jakutsk (Yakutsk). With some doubt I I cJ: RUSSIA Krasnojarskij kr., 52°47'N 93°!8'E, thus regard the Poppius specimen as ammobia. I 230 rn, W-Sajan rnts., subalpine meadow/taiga, 20- Distribution: Uzbekistan, Russia (E Siberia). 22.VI.l995, Jalava & Kullberg leg. Biology: Unknown. Female genitalia (Fig. 5): Sterigma a weak Remark: This specimen was collected in the memhrane, posteriorly bristled. Ostium area 19th century and represents the first known find minutely spined posteriorly. Antrum funnelled, from Russia. distinct. Biology: Unknown. Remarks: S. baikalensis was recently described Scythris sp. (pr. amphonycella (Geyer, (1836))) (Bengtsson & Liska 1996) and the male genitalia were then illustrated. The species is so far only J cJ and 1 Q: USSR 43°N 43°E, C. Caucasus, Kabardino found in the Baikal area west of the Y enisei River. Balkarskij zap. 35 km SE mt. E1brus, alpine meadow 2 600 m, 12.VII.l990, J. Jalava leg. Male genitalia (Fig. 3a, b): Most significant Scythris biflssella (Hofmann, 1889) differences from amphonycella are: ( 1) the shape of uncus that is deeply cleft in amphonycella and I cr: RUSSIA Tuva rep., 50°44'N 93°08'N, I 000 m, E. with narrower uncus lobes, and (2) valvae are not Tannu-Oia rnts., Irbitei r., stony steppe slopes, 13- evenly tapered as in the Caucasian specimen but 16.VI.1995, Jalava & Kullberg leg. always widest at middle and rapidly tapered to a Male genitalia (Fig. 23a, b): Small differences point terminally (cf. Bengtsson 1997b). may be observed between European and Asian Female genitalia (Fig. 4): Very similar to those specimens, primarily in the shape of uncus and of cuspidella (Denis & Schiffermtiller, 1775),jla valva. Cf. Bengtsson (1984) and Bengtsson and vilaterella (Fuchs, 1886) and obscurella (Scopoli, Liska (1996). 1763) (cf. Bengtsson 1997b). Female genitalia: Illustrated by Bengtsson Biology: Unknown. (1984, 1997b). Remark: The male and female specimens from Distribution: C Europe and the Baikal area. Caucasus most likely do not belong to ampho Biology: Occurring in steppe habitat, mostly nycella or another described species of the criti in mountainous areas. Adults emerge in June. cal obscurella species group as the specimens are Reared from Silene otites (see Bengtsson 1997b). smaller, and forewing is slightly darker and has Remark: The specimen found in Tuva (Fig. different coloration from other species of the 22) has a larger wingspan ( 13 mm) compared with group. Yet I refrain from describing a new spe European specimens (maximum 11.5 mm) and the cies until more material is available for study. gloss on the forewing is stronger. Nevertheless I ENTOMOL. FENNICA Vol. 8 • Bengtsson: Scythridids in Zoological Museum, Helsinki 91 3b TB SB Figs. 1-3. - 1: Imago of Scythris ammobia Falk. - 2: Female genitalia of S. ammobia. - 3: Male genitalia of Scythris sp. (pr. amphonycel/a (Geyer)). a: Uncus/gnathos/tegumen/valva/aedeagus. b: Sternum 8 (left) and tergum 8 (right). consider it provisionally to belong to Scythris bifis S. paullella (Herrich-Schaffer, 1855), S. pudori sella which is a member of the pascuella species nella (Moschler, 1866) and at least a dozen more group composed by S. pascuella (Zeller, 1855), species (see Bengtsson 1997b). 92 Bengtsson: Scythridids in Zoological Museum, Helsinki • ENTOMOL. FENNICA Vol. 8 Scythris canescens (Staudinger, 1880) Remark: This record extends the known dis tribution area considerably to the northeast. Geni I d': TUNISIA, Douz Oasis, 16.IV.1984, K. Mikkola leg. talia are illustrated by Bengtsson (1984). 1 d': Maroc, Ait-Melloul pr Oued Sous, 13-15.II.l961, Meinander. Distribution: Afghanistan, Algeria, Libya, Scythris felesella Bengtsson sp. n. Morocco, Pakistan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey. Biology: Unknown. Holotype: I 9: USSR 43°24'N 75°2'E, Kazakhstan, Remark: Genitalia are illustrated by Bengtsson Dzhambulskaya obi., 70 km NNE Frunze; 950 m, rocky slope, 18.VII.l990 ad luc. L. Kaila leg. Genitalia on slide (1997b). L. Kaila prep. no. 531.-In Zoological Museum, Helsinki. Diagnosis: The moth resembles some small Scythris capita/is (Erschoff, 1874) and pale species from North Africa and South Asia but genitalia are different. I d' and 3 99: Kopet Dagh; Ahnger; 304, 305, 306 and 307 External appearance (Fig. 8): Wingspan 7 mrn. respectively. Head greyish beige. Antennae 0.6 of forewing length, pale brownish; scape with long bone-col Male genitalia: Described by Bengtsson and oured pecten. Labial palpi slender, slightly up Liska (1996). curved, second joint bone coloured, third joint pale Female genitalia (Fig. 6): Sterigma hood fuscous, both joints of equal length. Tegulae, tho shaped, posterior margin rounded and anterior one rax and forewings of same colour, pale greyish slightly concave, there attached to a membrane beige with faint reddish tinge, without gloss. Hind with longitudinal folds. (Unfortunately some ir wings slightly paler than forewing. Forewing and removable debris are included in Fig. 6.) hind wing cilia bone-coloured. Hindlegs pale beige Distribution: Found inC and SW Asia (Kir but anterior part of tarsi brownish. Coloration of ghistan, Russia, Tadzhik Republic, Turkey, Turk abdomen unknown. men Republic, Uzbekistan). Male genitalia: Unknown. Biology: Unknown. Female genitalia (Fig. 7): Sterigma a small, squared hood with delicate structures and with membraneous extension anteriorly. Ostium weak Scythris cassiterella (Snellen, 1884) ly marked, antrum visible, curved. Sternum 7 el liptical, anterior margin strongly reinforced by a I d': RUSSIA Tuva rep., 50°01 'N 95°03'E, I !50 m, Lake sclerotized band. Tere-Khol, sand dunes, 9- l2.Vl.1995, Jalava & Kullberg Distribution: Only known from the type lo leg. cality in Kazakhstan. I 9: Mont.Verhojansk; B. Poppius; 3479. Biology: Unknown. Distribution: Found in several places from Etymology: The species name is referring to Amur and Verkhoyansk in E Siberia to Baikal area the profile of segment 7 resembling a cat' s head inC Asia.