Sophronia pseudosagittans, Bidzilya & Karsholt & Šumpich, 2025
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.6 |
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publication LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4F734B44-3274-4671-87B8-0453A3950CD6 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/5B597901-FFC7-FFD3-FF6C-FBBFFDEA3B3A |
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treatment provided by |
Plazi |
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scientific name |
Sophronia pseudosagittans |
| status |
sp. nov. |
Sophronia pseudosagittans sp. nov.
Figs 1D–I View FIGURE 1 , 2F, I View FIGURE 2 , 3D–F View FIGURE 3 , 4D–J View FIGURE 4 , 6B, C View FIGURE 6
Material examined. Holotype ♂,” Tunisia, 40 km W Jendouba, 17.v.1988,[leg. O. Karsholt], Zool.Mus.Copenhagen Exp. │ Photo / Gen.prep. J. Šumpich 23/481 │ DNA NGS Barcode NMPC-Lep-1792 [658(0n)]” ( ZMUC).
Paratypes. Portugal. Algarve, Salir, Lagoa da Nave , 1♂, 1♀ , 6.v.1995, leg. M. Corley (Corley gen. slides 1291, 1289) (coll. Corley); Algarve, Boliqueime, 1♂, 13.v.2009, leg. M. J. Dale (gen. slide MD03483); 1♀, same data but 26.iv.2011 (gen. slide MD03486) (all MJD) ; Bragança region, Margem direita do Rio Angueira , SE of Castelo de Algoso, 1 specimen , 16.vi.2015, leg. M. Corley, R. Andrade & J. M. Grosso-Silva, DNA Barcode INV00856 ( CIBIO) . Spain. Andalusia, Marbella , El Mirador, 100 m, 1♀ , 17.v.1969, 1♀, 30.iv.1970, 1♀, 2.v.1970 (DNA NGS Barcode NMPC-Lep-1791 [145(2n)]), 1♀, 3.v.1970, 1♂, 24.iv.1977, 2♂, 2.v.1977 (gen. slide 654/23, O. Bidzilya, 5353 O. Karsholt), leg. E. Traugott-Olsen (all ZMUC); 1♂ , Andalusia, Sierra-Nevada, Cam. D. Valeta , 1250 m, 22.v.1987, leg. E. Traugott-Olsen (gen. slide 175/25, O. Bidzilya) ( ZMKU); 1♂ , Prov. Granada, Orgiva, Las Alpujarras , 20.vi.1971, leg. W. Glaser; 2♂, 1♀ , Prov. Granada, Pto. da la Mora , 1300 m, 6.vi.1974, leg. W. Glaser (gen. slide 268/ 25♂, O. Bidzilya); 3♂, 1♀ , Prov. Granada, Sierra Nevada , 8.vi.1975, leg. M. u. W. Glaser (gen. slide 263/ 25♂, 264/ 25♀, O. Bidzilya); 1♂ , Prov. Sevilla, Mazagon , 2.vi.1976, leg. M. u. W. Glaser; 1 ♂ , Prov . Murcia, Alhama de Murcia, 6–9.vi.1974, leg. W. Glaser (gen. slide 265/25, O. Bidzilya); 1♀ , Prov. Sevilla, Guadalquivir, Trebujena , 15.v.1977, leg. M. u. W. Glaser (all SMNK); 1♀ , Andalusia, Sierra Morena, Cala-Minas de Cala , 550 m, 25.v.1999 (DNA NGS Barcode NMPC-Lep-1794 [658(89n)]), leg. M. Dvořák; 1♀ , Estramadura, Zorita , 25 km SE of Trujilo, 27.v.1999 (gen. prep. JŠ19426, DNA Barcode NMPC-Lep-1039 [291(0n)]), leg. M. Dvořák (all NMPC); 1♂ , Andalusia, Malaga Province, Antequera, El Torcal , 946 m, 36.962078, 4.515156, 9.vi.2022 (DNA Barcode TLMF Lep 38409), leg. F. Graf ( GRAF). 1♂ , Tunisia. El Kef area, 14.v.1988, Zool. Mus. Copenhagen Exp., leg. O. Karsholt; 4♂ , same data but 40 km W Jendouba , 17.v.1988 (DNA NGS Barcode NMPC-Lep-1792 [658(0n)]) (all ZMUC) .
Material not included in the type series. One barcoded specimen in alcohol from Portugal, Bragança, Alfandega da Fe Quinta do Zacarias , leg. S. Ferreira, M. Corley & R. Andrade, DNA Barcode INV03124 ( CIBIO) .
Diagnosis. Sophronia pseudosagittans sp. nov. is characterized by the brown forewings with a white streak along the costa. It is most similar to, and hardly separable externally from S. sagittans Meyrick, 1923 from Israel. It is also similar to S. humerella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775), which is more short-winged, has the brown forewings mixed with light grey and black scales, the white costal streak being more slender, the thin black streak before apex is shorter (does not extend to the end of white costal streak) ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 ), and segment 2 of the labial palps lighter, whitish brown. In the male genitalia the new species differs from S. sagittans in the thicker and shorter distal part of gnathos, shallower anteromedial emargination of tegumen, subtriangular rather than parallel-sided saccus, and male abdominal sternum VIII about as long as broad (distinctly longer than broad in S. sagittans ). Sophronia humerella differs both from S. sagittans and S. pseudosagittans sp. nov. in the valva almost straight and weakly narrowed at base (weakly sigmoid and distinctly narrowed at base in related species) ( Figs 3D–F View FIGURE 3 ). In the female genitalia S. pseudosagittans sp. nov. differs from S. sagittans in the weakly tapered, rather than parallel-sided, antrum, and signum with larger basal plate and short distal sclerite ( Fig. 4 View FIGURE 4 ). The whole female genitalia of S. pseudosagittans are longer than that of S. humerella ; the anterior apophyses are straight at the end in S. pseudosagittans , but in S. humerella they bend clearly outwards; the signum in S. pseudosagittans is thin, straight and longer than in S. humerella and the antrum of S. pseudosagittans is narrower and longer than that of S. humerella ; the anterior apophyses of S. pseudosagittans are slightly longer and the ratio of length between anterior and posterior apophysis is clearly smaller ( Figs 4D–F View FIGURE 4 ).
Description. External appearance ( Figs 1D–I View FIGURE 1 , 6B, C View FIGURE 6 ). Wingspan 11–13 mm. Labial palpus slender, upturned; segment 2 ventrally with long, light grey-brown projecting tufts, inner and upper surface white, outer surface light, grey-brown; segment 3 long and thin, blackish brown mixed with some white. Antenna black. Head with creamwhite frons and light grey neck, thorax and tegulae grey. Forewing with slightly falcate termen, brown; a broad white streak along costa, turning slightly inward from middle of costa reaching ¾ towards apex; a thin, angulated white, outwardly blackish-edged subcostal fascia separated by a thin black streak; costal part of apical area brown, outwardly edged black and with two small white costal streaks; dorsal part whitish grey; 2–3 greyish and blackish fringe lines. Hindwing dark grey, with dark grey fringe.
Male genitalia ( Figs 3D–F View FIGURE 3 ). Uncus subrectangular, slightly longer than wide at base, weakly narrowing posteriorly. Gnathos thick, strongly curved at base, then straight, relatively uniform in width, apex pointed and upcurved. Tegumen almost parallel-sided, about two times longer than wide, anteromedial emargination broadly triangular to rounded, extending to 1/5–1/4 length of tegumen. Valva narrow, weakly sigmoid, slightly dilated apically, apex rounded, extending nearly to posterior margin of uncus, with short triangular thorn at base. Vinculum narrow, band-shaped. Juxta forming a setaceous tube with deeply emarginated ventral wall surrounding phallus, extends to 2/3–3/4 length of valva. Saccus subtriangular, weakly narrowing apically, slightly extending beyond top of pedunculus. Phallus slightly longer than tegumen and uncus, straight, basal half (caecum) half as long as phallus, weakly inflated, distal half with narrow sclerotized filament ending with beak-shaped apical sclerite, apex gently inflated, rounded; ductus ejaculatorius about 1/2 length of phallus, with band-shaped inner sclerite.
Female genitalia ( Figs 4D–J View FIGURE 4 ). Papillae anales subovate. Posterior apophyses long, thin. Segment VIII weakly sclerotized, unmodified.Anterior apophyses thicker and about 1/3 length of apophyses posteriores, extending to 1/2 length of ductus bursae, extreme apex weakly turned outwards.Antrum elongate, slightly narrowing anteriorly, about 1/3 length of ductus bursae. Ductus bursae membranous, gradually widened anteriorly. Corpus bursae ovate, slightly longer than wide in middle, with gradual transition to ductus bursae. Basal plate of signum weakly sclerotized, rounded to weakly elongate, distal sclerite narrow, thorn-shaped, straight, pointed.
Variation: The examined specimens show only minor variation. Some specimens have the brown colour in the outer third of the forewing mottled with some light grey scales. The shape of the gnathos and length of the distal sclerite of the signum in the female genitalia are somewhat variable both in P. pseudosagittans sp. nov. and in the two closely related species.
Molecular data. BIN: BOLD:ADS5734. The intraspecific average distance of the barcode region is 1.12% (n = 5). The minimum distance to the nearest neighbour, Sophronia humerella (BIN: BOLD:AAF4746), is 3.56% (pdist.) ( Fig. 5 View FIGURE 5 ).
Distribution. Only known from southern Spain, Portugal and Tunisia.
Biology. Early stages unknown. The specimens from Tunisia were collected in mid-May during day in dry meadows at altitudes between 200 and 800 m a.s.l. The specimens from Spain were collected in rocky steppe at light from late April to early June ( Fig. 6A View FIGURE 6 ).
Etymology. The specific name refers to the similarity of the new species with S. sagittans .
Remarks. S. pseudosagittans sp. nov. forms, together with S. sagittans and S. humerella , a complex of closely related species. S. humerella is distributed locally over most of Europe to the Ural Mountains, it is moderately variable in size, colour and wing markings, and its larva is oligophagous, feeding on several unrelated lower plants. From our present knowledge it is sympatric with S. pseudosagittans sp. nov. only in northern Portugal, and the actual distribution limits of these two species in the Iberian Peninsula need further investigation.
Discussion. The Gelechiidae are among the most diverse lepidopteran families in Europe. In a recent checklist Huemer & Karsholt (2020) listed 865 species in 109 genera, and since then more than 50 species have been added to the European gelechiid fauna. Its species were long considered among the most difficult Lepidoptera to identify, especially in southern Europe, but this has improved during the last few decades. Careful comparison of specimens from different countries, including studies of their genitalia and DNA barcodes has helped to separate closely related species and revealed additional, often undescribed species.
We became aware of the new species described here when dealing with the Gelechiidae fauna of Israel ( Bidzilya et al. 2019). We noticed that specimens similar to Sophronia sagittans Meyrick, 1923 , a species know only from Israel, were placed in collections among material of S. humerella . The latter is widely distributed in Europe, but the specimens looking similar to S. sagittans were from a restricted area in South Spain and North-West Tunisia. A careful comparison showed that these specimens differ from both S. humerella and S. sagittans , and because they are most similar to the latter they are described here as S. pseudosagittans sp. nov.
Whereas S. humerella is locally common through a larger part of Europe, both S. sagittans and S. pseudosagittans sp. nov. have a restricted distribution area and are known from fewer specimens. For S. sagittans it may well reflect the politically unstable situation in Israel and surrounding countries. S. pseudosagittans sp. nov. is, besides Tunisia, distributed in the southernmost part of the Iberian Peninsula, replacing S. humerella there. It is moreover found in North-East Portugal, where S. humerella also occurs. Further research may show if there are overlooked populations of S. pseudosagittans sp. nov. in the central parts of Spain and Portugal, or if the occurrence in north-eastern Portugal represents a relict population.
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