Two new species of Spiniphallellus Bidzilya & Karsholt, 2008 (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae) from Afghanistan and Iran

Abstract

Spiniphallelus eberti sp. nov. (Iran) and Spiniphallellus naumanni sp. nov. (Afghanistan) are described. The position of the genus within the subfamily Anomologinae is briefly discussed, as is the degree of development of the gnathos in the male genitalia of two species within the same genus. A key to all Spiniphallellus species is given, and adults and male and female genitalia of the new species are illustrated. Introduction The genus Spiniphallellus was established for three species of Gelechiidae, respectively from the deserts of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan (S. desertus Bidzilya & Karsholt, 2008), mountains of Kazakhstan (S. stonisi Bidzilya & Karsholt, 2008) and mountains of Turkey (S. fuscescens Bidzilya & Karsholt, 2008). Recently an additional new species, S. chrysotosella Junnilainen, 2016, was described from Bulgaria, Turkey and Georgia. The first three species are externally very similar, but can easily be separated by their genitalia. S. chrysotosella looks externally quite distinct from the other species both by its wingspan and wing pattern, but its genitalia match well the configuration for the genus, being most similar to those of S. fuscescens. The host plant is known only for S. desertus, whose larva feeds on Rheum sp. (Polygonaceae) in Kazakhstan (Falkovitsh and Bidzilya 2009). The adults of S. chrysotosella were observed around Jasminum fruticans L. (Oleaceae) in all three localities where this species was recorded (Junnilainen 2016). As a result of studying collected material in the Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde in Karlsruhe, five plain coloured, rather narrow-winged greyish black specimens of Gelechiidae were discovered amongst material from Afghanistan and Iran. Their assignment to the genus Spiniphallellus was proved by the study of the genitalia. It turned out that they represent two different species, which do not match any known species in the genus. Their description is given below.

Keywords

• Anomologinae
• taxonomy