Carcina ingridmariae, Huemer, 2025

Huemer, Peter, 2025, The supposedly unmistakable mistaken: Carcina ingridmariae sp. nov., a surprising example of overlooked diversity from Europe and the Near East (Lepidoptera, Peleopodidae), Alpine Entomology 9, pp. 51-63 : 51-63

Carcina ingridmariae sp. nov.

Figs 2 , 4 , 6 , 8 , 10 , 12 , 14 , 16 , 18

Material examined.

Holotype. Greece • ♂; Crete, Lakki , 4.2 km SSW; 650 m; 35°22'00"N, 23°54'52"E; 21 September 2022; leg. Huemer; DNA Barcode TLMF_Lep_35319 ; TLMF.

Paratypes. Greece • 1 ♂; Crete, Rethymnon, Agios Vasilios ; 384 m; 35.234017°N, 24.414522°E; 13 September 2022; leg. K. Berggren ; 1 ♂; same data but 396 m, 35.234867°N, 24.414050°E; 7 September 2023, leg. K. Berggren ; 1 ♂; same data but 6, 7 May 2025; leg. K. Berggren, P. K. Slagsvoll, R. Voith; coll. Berggren • 1 ♂; Chania, Zounaki ; 35.481792°N, 23.828388°E; 30 May – 13 June 2023; leg. K. Berggren & R. Voith; coll. Berggren • 1 ♂; Crete, N Lassithi, Mesa Lasithi ; 850 m; 14 August 2006; leg. Ruckdeschel; DNA Barcode TLMF Lep 30434 ; TLMF • 3 ♂, 3 ♀; Peloponnese, Taygetos mts. E, Schlucht Stavros-Kalamata ; 780 m; 37°04'46"N, 22°18'30"E; 21 September 2020; leg. Huemer; DNA Barcodes TLMF Lep 29998 , TLMF_Lep_37307 ; gen. slide GEL 1378 ♀ P. Huemer; TLMF • 2 ♀; Peloponnese, above Pikoulionako / Mystras ; 890 m; 38°06'11"N, 22°09'16"E; 22 September 2020; leg. Huemer; TLMF • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Peloponnese, Chelmos mts., Zachlorou ; 845 m; 37°04'58"N, 22°20'31"E; 27 September 2020, leg. Huemer; TLMF • 1 ♂; Peloponnese, Mount Kyllini ; 1500 m; 37°56'51"N; 22°25'54"E; 2 June 2024; leg. P. Skou; ZMUC • 2 ♀; Chalkidiki, Olympias ; 10 m; end June 1976; leg. Zürnbauer; gen. slide in glycerin capsule; TLMF • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Kos, Asfedion ; 6–12 October 1988; leg. R. Johansson; ZMUC . Croatia • 1 ♀; Krk, Umg. Punat, Konobe ; 22 September 1993; leg. Habeler; gen. slide in glycerin capsule; TLMF ; • 1 ♀; Krk, Stara Baska ; 23 September 1989; leg. Habeler; TLMF . Cyprus • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; North Cyprus, Iskele, Kaplica, Kantara Castle ; 550 m; 35°24'12"N, 33°55'02"E; 5 June 2024; leg. Huemer; gen. slides GEL 1367 ♂ P. Huemer, GEL 1369 ♀ P. Huemer; TLMF • 4 ♂, 3 ♀; same data, but 6 June 2025; leg. Huemer; TLMF ; Cyprus Herbarium and Natural History Museum, Nicosia • 1 ♀; North Cyprus, Kyrenia, ca. 1 km E Ilgaz; 340 m; 35°19'16"N, 33°14'02"E; 2 June 2025; leg. Huemer; TLMF • 1 ♀; N Limassol, Moniatis ; 850 m; 23–29 June 1997; leg. D. Nilsson, A. Madsen, M. Fibiger, P. Svendsen; ZMUC . Türkiye • 1 ♀; Prov. Baliksehir, Gönen ; 15 m; 22 August 1978; leg. De Freina; ZMUC .

Diagnosis.

The new species cannot be distinguished phenotypically from C. quercana with certainty (Figs 2–7 ). However, there is a clear tendency towards a reduction of markings of the forewings, especially in the males, and the ground color of the forewings is often more pale orange-brown and not red- to pink-brown. Furthermore, the yellow costal blotch of the forewing is usually more slender and yellow markings in the basal half of the forewing as well as dark markings of the forewing are reduced.

In contrast, the genital structures of both species differ significantly. Carcina ingridmariae males have a slender gnathos only about half as wide compared to that of C. quercana . They further differ by a very broad and long detached cucullus, more slender juxta lobes and, judging from the few specimens available so far, the absence of cornuti (Figs 8 – 13 ). In the female sex, the new species differs from C. quercana above all by the conspicuous, broadly tubular antrum (Figs 14 – 19 ).

The other congeneric taxa cannot be confused externally. Furthermore, C. luridella , which is somewhat similar in the male genitalia, differs particularly by the much broader gnathos ( Ponomarenko and Chernikova 2018).

Description.

Adult (Figs 2 , 4 , 6 ). Head pale orange-brown with beige frons; labial palpus long, upcurved, yellowish, with some purple on segment 3; antenna mixed yellow and orange-brown, very long, extending to about apex of forewing, segments broader in male than in female. Thorax and tegula pale orange-brown; legs beige, forelegs mixed with yellow and purple. Forewing length ♂ 8.0– 9.3 mm, ♀ 7.6–10.5 mm; forewings broad with strongly convex costa; ground colour pale orange-brown to orange-pink; darker spots and small yellow spots in basal half sometimes present; costa with short yellow stripe at base and elongated blotch at about three-fifths, indistinct dark yellow and sometimes purple edge in-between; termen with purple edge and yellow fringes, interrupted by purple line at apex. Hindwings broad, with concave outer edge, distally slightly tapered, shorter than forewing, glossy beige, sometimes with purple apex, fringes yellow with or without purple tinge.

Variation. The ground color of the forewing and extension of yellow markings, darker spots and purple edging vary somewhat.

Male genitalia (Figs 8 , 10 , 12 ). Uncus basally broad, sub-triangular, short distal part abruptly tapered, rod-like; gnathos long, finger-shaped, about two-times length and width of distal part of uncus; valva basally broad, with distinctly separated cucullus and sacculus; long cucullus broadly thumb-shaped, basal two-fifths merged with valva, inner margin with suboval fold, remaining three-fifths separated, entire cucullus densely covered with microtrichia; sacculus well separated from valva by concave sclerotized edge, ventral margin convex, basal part covered with long setae, distal third finger-like, detached and about half as wide as cucullus, apex with brush of strong spines, nearly reaching apex of cucullus; juxta sub-oval with long and slender, evenly curved and apically pointed juxta lobe; saccus a weakly V-shaped sclerotized ridge; phallus stout, ventrally with plate-like sclerite, otherwise membranous, without cornuti.

Variation. The shape of the cucullus shows some variation, with a straight apical edge in two specimens from Crete. Similarly, the shape of the cucullus also varies considerably in C. quercana ( Lepidoptera Dissection Group UK 2025; Pathpiva 2025).

Female genitalia (Figs 14 , 16 , 18 ). Papillae anales elongated, suboval, covered with setae; posterior apophyses approximately twice as long as papillae anales and segment VIII; anterior apophyses 1.5 length of segment VIII; tergite VIII smoothly sclerotized, posterior edge with strong bristles; sternite VIII lateroventrally with large suboval sclerotized areas, densely covered with microtrichia and strong bristles, medially separated by small sclerotized plate covered with some microtrichia, anterior part of sternite VIII membranous; antrum strongly sclerotized, broadly tube-shaped, about as long as sclerotized part of segment VIII; ductus bursae short and broad, contorted; corpus bursae about as long as segment VIII and posterior apophyses, sack-like, with or without small dentate signum.

Variation. A small signum is present in females from Croatia and Greece (Chalkidiki and Peloponnese), but absent in a specimen from Cyprus.

Biology.

The biology has not been described, but extensive data on larval phenology and food plant spectrum of alleged C. quercana from Greece (Mt. Cholomontas, Chalkidiki) refer with high probability to the new species, as part of the type material was collected on Chalkidiki. Accordingly, C. ingridmariae would live on all oak species examined in the area, with evidence on Quercus trojana , Q. pedunculiflora , Q. macrolepis , Q. coccifera , Q. ilex , Q. pubescens , Q. dalechampii and Q. frainetto ( Kalapanida and Petrakis 2012) . However, like C. quercana , the species probably feeds on a wider range of woody plants, which is also indicated by the findings of C. ingridmariae in north Cyprus, where Quercus species are absent.

Although no information is known about the caterpillar’s habits, it can be assumed that, like C. quercana , they live in a flat, silvery white, protective silk web on the underside of the leaves of the host plant. In C. quercana , pupation takes place between two spun leaves ( Sterling and Parsons 2012; Schmid 2019).

The new species has been recorded in various wooded or shrub-rich habitats from lowland to mountain areas from the coastline to ca. 1500 m at artificial light, but details on ecology are lacking (Fig. 20 ). According to available data, the flight period extends from early May to the end of June and from mid-August to the first half of October, indicating possible bivoltinism.

Distribution.

Examined material: Greece (Chalkidiki, Peloponnese, Crete, Kos), Croatia, Cyprus, Türkiye. Following data in BOLD the species also occurs in Lebanon, indicating a wider distribution in the eastern Mediterranean. Reports of C. quercana from Israel likely also belong to the new species ( Lvovsky et al. 2016). The collecting locality of a barcoded specimen from Finland is uncertain (Mutanen in litt.) and from a biogeographical point of view an occurrence in Fennoscandia also seems highly unlikely.

In contrast, C. quercana is widespread in large parts of Europe and confirmed records examined in this study are also available for North Africa. The southeastern distribution limit of this species, however, is unclear. Verified records of C. quercana from northern Greece (Epirus) and Croatia prove the occurrence in the Balkan. Findings from Türkiye probably all refer to C. ingridmariae ( iNaturalist 2025). Similarly, records from Georgia and Azerbaijan may refer to the new species ( Lvovsky 2003). Records of C. quercana from North America are of recent origin and based on introduction.

Etymology.

The new is dedicated to my wife Ingrid Maria, who for so many years accompanied and supported me during field work and long hours of analysis in the laboratory.

Figures

Figure 20. Habitat of Carcina ingridmariae sp. nov. in north Cyprus (eastern part of Five Finger Mountains near Kantara).

Figures 2–7. Adults. 2. Carcina ingridmariae sp. nov., paratype, male, Greece; 3. C. quercana, male, Austria; 4. C. ingridmariae sp. nov., paratype, female, Greece; 5. C. quercana, female, Italy; 6. C. ingridmariae sp. nov., paratype, female, Croatia; 7. C. quercana, female, Greece. Scale bar: 10 mm.

Figures 8, 9. Male genitalia. 8. Carcina ingridmariae sp. nov., paratype, Cyprus, slide GEL 1367 P. Huemer; 9. C. quercana, Austria, GEL 1366 P. Huemer. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

Figures 10, 11. Male genitalia, details (gnathos, juxta lobes). 10. Carcina ingridmariae sp. nov., paratype, Cyprus, slide GEL 1367 P. Huemer; 11. C. quercana, Austria, GEL 1366 P. Huemer. Scale bar: 0.2 mm.

Figures 12, 13. Male genitalia, details (cucullus, sacculus). 12. Carcina ingridmariae sp. nov., paratype, Cyprus, slide GEL 1367 P. Huemer; 13. C. quercana, Austria, GEL 1366 P. Huemer. Scale bar: 0.2 mm.

Figures 14, 15. Female genitalia. 14. Carcina ingridmariae sp. nov., paratype, Cyprus, slide GEL 1369 P. Huemer; 15. C. quercana, Austria, GEL 1368 P. Huemer. Scale bar: 0.2 mm.

Figures 16, 17. Female genitalia, details (Segment VIII, antrum). 16. Carcina ingridmariae sp. nov., paratype, Cyprus, slide GEL 1369 P. Huemer; 17. C. quercana, Austria, GEL 1368 P. Huemer. Scale bar: 0.2 mm.

Figures 18, 19. Female genitalia, details (signum). 18. Carcina ingridmariae sp. nov., paratype, Greece, slide GEL 1378 P. Huemer; 19. C. quercana, Austria, GEL 1368 P. Huemer. Scale bar: 0.03 mm.