Ypsolopha uniformis (Filipiev, 1929)

Baraniak, Edward, 2025, Redescription of Ypsolopha uniformis (Filipjev, 1929), an enigmatic species of Ypsolophinae (Lepidoptera), Zootaxa 5661 (1), pp. 117-124 : 117-123

Ypsolopha uniformis (Filipiev, 1929)

Cerostoma uniformis Filipiev, 1929: 7 .

Ypsolopha uniformis (Filipiev, 1929) ; Sohn, 2023: 204.

Redescription ( Fig. 1A–C ).

Head scales are white with an admixture of yellow-gray and black scales, erect scales; only in frons white appressed scales; ocellus present, chaetosoma absent, antenna slightly over 1/2 of length of forewing; sensory setae of antenna absent, scape and pedicel white, flagellomeres white, with tiny black bands, terminal segments distinctly tapering, the last segment pointed, white. Labial palp ( Fig. 1C ) 3-segmented; outer surface of first segment white, short, second segment longer scales adjacent to this segment are pure white, short, tuft on second segment 4 times longer than the segment, white-gray scales with a small admixture of light and dark brown scales; last segment, short, curved with a pointed tip, covered with adherent white-brown scales. Maxillary palp small, at the base of the scales pure white, later with distinct wide brown bands, the last segment acuminate, white.

Forewing span 26 mm ( Fig. 1A ) Forewing, long, lanceolate, tip gently rounded. The wing background is grey with an admixture of white, yellowish and black scales. The costal margin is slightly bent at mid-length. At the costal margin, a short distance from the basal area, there is a clearly visible, triangular, dark spot. Just before of the apex of the wing, on the costal margin, a triangular small black spot is clearly visible, and just behind it are two small, irregular clusters of black scales. From the base of the wing, just below the costal margin, there runs a clearly visible, short, thin strip of yellowish-brown scales, reaching the costal margin a short distance behind the triangular black spot. This strip is brightened in its final course by an admixture of white scales. Just below the strip, halfway along its length, there is an irregular white spot.

On the 1/3 length towards the apex there are 6 thin white lines, coinciding with the course of the radial and medial veins. The course of these lines is discontinuous, as they are interrupted by brownish-black scales that appear irregularly. At the dorsal margin a narrow white line runs from the wing base to the tornal margin, its course is also interrupted by black dots. From the base of the wing, in 2/3 of its width, at the dorsal margin there is a visible blackbrown stripe stretching along half the length of the wing. This strip is interrupted at 1/3 of its length by an irregular grouping of white-grey-yellow scales. The dorsal margin just at the base is brightened by an irregular grouping of grey-white scales. The tornal margin is distinctly darker than the wing background. Long, white-yellowish cilia with irregular groups of black scales. The hind wing is light grey at the base, distinctly darker from the middle to the tip. The long cilia are the same color as the wing, only at the costal edge near the wing tip with a distinct admixture of dark brown scales.

Thorax: wing-colored adherent, scales. Abdomen covered with white-yellow adherent scales.

Male genitalia (prep. gen. no. YPO 26/2016) ( Figs 2–4 ): anal cone membranous, narrow, short; socii short, thin, membranous; uncus rounded, small, membranous; dorsal lobe of tegumen broad, membranous; vinculum narrow, long; saccus, short, thin; valva oviform, widest at mid-length ( Fig. 2A ), completely covered with small spines. Posterior margin of valva gently rounded; costal margin reinforced to half the valve length, ventral margin reinforced to 1/3 of the length ( Fig. 3A ). Very long setae arranged in several rows along the basal margin and costal margin, their length exceeding that of the valva ( Fig. 3B ); these long setae are very delicately attached to their sockets and usually fall off during preparation; still-attached long setae distributed in the middle part of the valva ( Fig. 3A ). Gnathos long, forming a spoon like shape, half of its length covered with tiny spines ( Fig. 4C ). Anellus cylindrical, very long, closely adhering to the aedeagus in 2/3 of its length. Up to half of its length densely, covered, with small spines ( Fig. 4A ). Aedeagus as long as valva, straight, of equal thickness except near coecum where it is clearly narrower. Anterior end of coecum rounded. Two thin, pointed and intertwined cornuti with a complicated course, reaching 1/3 of its length ( Fig. 4B ). Ductus ejaculatorius large, wide, membranous ( Fig. 4A ), ductus seminalis thin, reinforced with very small spines.

Female genitalia—unknown.

Material examined: Holotype — male, 1926 without data, Munku-Sardyk , East Sajan Mts., Filipiev N., det., ZIRAS ( Fig. 1B ).

Type locality: The Sayan (Sajan auct.) Mountains are a mountain range in southern Siberia ( Russia) and northern Mongolia. In the past, it served as the border between Mongolia and Russia. The Eastern Sayan is a mountain range with a height of 2000–2700 m above sea level and a length of about 1000 km stretching from the northwest to the southeast. The highest peak Munku–Sardyk, 3491m a.s.l.. It is a protected and isolated area, inaccessible since 1944.

Distribution. The species is known only from the type locality. However, the source work ( Filipjev 1929) does not provide details on the exact location where the specimen was found.

Figures

FIGURE 1. A. Ypsolopha uniformis: adult male, holotype, in ZIRAS; B, holotype labels; C, labial palp.

FIGURE 2. Y. uniformis male genitalia, gen. slide: YPO 26/2016:A, general view, lateral aspect, left valva separated (aedeagus and anellus removed).

FIGURE 3. Y. uniformis male genitalia, gen. slide: YPO 26/2016: A, separated valva, B, long saetae with valva.

FIGURE 4. Y. uniformis male genitalia, gen. slide: YPO 26/2016: A, aedeagus with anellus, B, part of aedeagus with cornuti (anellus removed), C, part of gnathos.