Aspilapteryx magna Triberti, 1985 – a new species of speckled moth (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) for European and Russian faunas from the North Caucasus

Abstract

The speckled moth Aspilapteryx magna Triberti, 1985 is found in Kabardino-Balkaria after the examination of the collection of Slovak entomologist Ľubomír Srnka. This species is recorded for Russia and Europe for the first time. Aspilapteryx magna was known only by the type series (3 males) from the Iran (Alborz Mountain). One specimen (also male) collected in the Caucasus was found in an automatic light trap. Both populations, Iranian and Caucasian, were found in the high mountain alpine zone, therefore we assume, that the species is a specialized inhabitant of these biotopes. As a result, the number of Europen species of Aspilapteryx Spuler, 1910 increased to six, and the number of representatives of the genus reached four species in the fauna of Russia

Keywords

• lepidoptera
• gracillariidae
• aspilapteryx magna
• europe
• russia
• kabardino-balkaria