Pleurota subnobilella Tabell, 2025

Tabell, Jukka, Honey, Martin, Leger, Théo, Mutanen, Marko, Nupponen, Timo & Sihvonen, Pasi, 2025, New and poorly known Pleurota Hübner, [1825] species from peninsular Spain, the Balearic Islands, and the Canary Islands (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae, Pleurotinae), SHILAP Revista de lepidopterología 53 (209), pp. 43-74 : 56-57

Pleurota subnobilella Tabell , sp. nov. ( Figures 24-26 , 40-41, 50-51) Barcode Index Number: BOLD:ACW1897

Type material. Holotype ♂ (GP 5900 J. Tabell, DNA sample 26130 Lepid Phyl): SPAIN, Alicante, Albatera 9 km NNW, 460 m, N38.25317 W0.91450, 21-V-2016, J. Tabell leg. (coll. MZH), http://id.luomus.fi/GBT.27, BOLD sample ID:MM26130. Paratypes: 1 ♀ (GP 6348 J. Tabell, DNA sample 26199 Lepid Phyl), same collecting data as holotype ; 2 ♂ ♀ (GP 5303 J. Tabell, DNA sample 23663 Lepid Phyl; GP 5399 J. Tabell, DNA sample 23658 Lepid Phyl), Spain, Alicante, San Miguel de Salinas 6 km NW, 22-IV-2009, J. Tabell leg. (coll. TAB, 1 ex. coll MNCN) .

Diagnosis: Externally P. subnobilella resembles P. nobilella and P. honorella . P. subnobilella can be distinguished from these species by the narrower median line, which may be interrupted at the junction of longitudinal median dent, and by white fringe line. P. subnobilella can be distinguished from P. nobilella also by a lighter subcostal line. The male genitalia are similar to those of P. nobilella , but the basal half of gnathos is broader, the valval lobe longer and the posterior lobe of juxta more robust. The female genitalia are characterized by long apophyses, short antrum and broad ductus bursae.

Molecular diagnosis: All four type specimens were sequenced successfully, resulting in 658 (n=3) and 653 bp DNA barcodes. The nearest named neighbour to P. subnobilella is P. sobriella , with a 1.66 % divergence. The barcodes of P. subnobilella exhibit no intraspecific variation. See also Remarks for P. nobilella .

Description: Adult. Wingspan 21.5-22 mm. Labial palpus brownish white, ventrally mixed brown and white, inner side dark brown, dorsolaterally with a dark brown apical spot, about 6.6x as long as diameter of the eye (1 st and 2 nd segments), 3 rd segment 0.25x length of 1 st and 2 nd segments. Antenna brown. Frontal tuft and neck brownish white, tegula ochre, thorax laterally white, medially mixed ochre and pale grey. Costal line white, from near base to apex, basally broader; subcostal line ochre, evenly expanded towards apex; median line from base to near apex, white, at junction of dent of median line interrupted, then slightly expanded, apical 1 / 5 tapered, dent long, narrow, not reaching termen; fringe line off- white; dorsal line parallel-sided, white, from base to 1 / 4; median area yellowish ochre. Fringe pale brown, apically off-white. Hindwing grey, fringe concolorous, apically white to off-white.

Male genitalia: Uncus thimble-shaped from ventral view, lined with several bristles of different length, apex blunt. Gnathos 1.6x as long as uncus, from ventral view elongate, funnel-shaped, medially bulged and covered with small nodules, gradually tapered towards apex, apex beak-shaped. Valva elongate, upwards oblique, ventral margin slightly curved. Anterior extension of juxta straight, median part rounded, posterior lobe broad, not extended to uncus, apex armed with a small tooth. Valval lobe fusiform, covered with several short bristles apically, membranous basally. Phallus curved, slightly tapered towards apex, with one robust plate-shaped cornutus surrounded by numerous tiny spines, apical 1 / 4 dorsally covered with small spines.

Female genitalia: Papilla analis oval, covered with bristles of different length. Apophyses long; posterior apophysis 7.25x as long as papilla analis and 1.6x as long as anterior apophysis, which is 1.6x as long as segment 8. Segment 8 longitudinally elongated, rectangular, membranous, dorsolaterally reinforced by sclerotized band, distal margin ventrally sparsely covered with bristles, ventral longitudinal sclerotization narrow, shorter than segment 8, branch of anterior apophysis long, not fused medially. Antrum tubular, short, membranous, colliculum sclerotized. Ductus bursae membranous, parallel-sided, broad, posterior 1 / 5 narrow. Corpus bursae roundish, with an arched broad anterior signum with two narrow and long sclerotized thorn-like protuberances, and two small leaf-shaped posterior signa.

Biology: Unknown. Most specimens were collected together with a series of P. nobilella under a wire line at an elevation of 460 m.

Distribution: Known only from two type localities in the province of Alicante in south-eastern Spain.

Derivation of name: The specific epithet refers to close affinity with P. nobilella .

Figures

Figures 22-26. Adults of Pleurota spp. 22. P. malagaensis sp. nov., 1 holotype. 23. P. grancanariella sp. nov., 1 holotype. 24-26. P. subnobilella sp. nov. 24. 1 holotype. 25. 1 paratype. 26. 0 paratype.