Pleurota staintoniella Baker 1888

Pleurota staintoniella Baker, 1888

Barcode Index Number: BOLD:ADI3642

Table 1, Figs. 20–21, 30–31, 42, 47, 48

Material studied. 12 ♂ (GP 5700 J. Tabell, DNA sample 25570 Lepid Phyl; GP 5730 J. Tabell; DNA sample 25571 Lepid Phyl), 4 ♀ (GP 5710 J. Tabell, DNA sample 25569 Lepid Phyl; GP 5899 J. Tabell, DNA sample 25572 Lepid Phyl): Morocco, Taourirt Prov., 3 km NNE Debdou, 880 m, N34.00987 W3.02433, 11.V.2016, J. Tabell leg. (coll. TAB). The male lectotype (Algeria, Sebdou) is deposited in NHMUK.

Diagnosis. Characterized by a unicolorous brown or yellowish brown forewing with white costal and median lines. In the male genitalia, a narrow and long phallus, and a long, well-sclerotized valval lobe of the juxta are the distinguishing features. In the female genitalia, extremely long apophyses and broad projections of the posterior signum are characteristic.

Molecular diagnosis. Four specimens of P. staintoniella were sequenced, all of which yielded 658 bp DNA barcode fragments. The nearest neighbour to P. staintoniella is an undetermined Moroccan species (females only available) with a 5.09% divergence. The barcodes of P. staintoniella exhibit 0.46 maximum intraspecific variation (Table 1).

Description. Adult. Wingspan 19–25 mm. Labial palpus off-white, mixed brown, long, about 6.7 x as long as diameter of eye (1 st and 2 nd segments), 3 rd segment long, 0.38 x length of 1 st and 2 nd segments. Antenna brown. Head whitish tinged pale brown, tegula and thorax concolorous with forewing. Forewing pale yellowish brown; costal line white, narrow, from near apex to 0.8; median line white, extending from base to apex, slightly expanded medially, dorso- medially with two shallow notches, apical 0.4 narrow. Fringe brown mixed white. Hindwing brownish grey, margin brown, fringe brown, apically paler. Abdomen slightly lustrous, greyish brown, each segment with transverse row of ochre scales.

Male genitalia. Uncus thimble-shaped dorsoventrally, lined with several long bristles, apical 0.5 more strongly sclerotized. Gnathos long, almost 2 x as long as uncus, funnel-shaped dorsoventrally, beak-shaped in lateral aspect, medially covered with small spines. Valva upwards oblique, ventral margin slightly convex, costa straight; sacculus narrow and long. Anterior extension of juxta straight; median part chaliced; posterior lobe very long, exceeding apex of uncus; valval lobe long, club-shaped, smooth, distally covered with several small nodules and short bristles. Vinculum U-shaped. Phallus curved, parallel-sided, apex blunt, with one plate-shaped cornutus, apical 0.14 dorsally covered with small nodules.

Female genitalia. Papillae anales ovoid, covered with bristles. Apophyses very long; posterior apophysis 5.5 x as long as papilla analis and 1.7 x as long as anterior apophysis. Segment 8 elongated longitudinally, rectangular, membranous, dorsolaterally reinforced by sclerotized band, ventrally sparsely covered with bristles, ventral longitudinal sclerotization narrow, slightly shorter than segment 8, branch of apophysis anterioris narrow and short. Antrum tubular, parallel-sided, shorter than segment 8, posteriorly membranous, anterior 0.33 tapered and sclerotized. Ductus bursae membranous, as long as antrum, slightly expanded towards corpus bursae. Corpus bursae ovoid with one robust arched signum with two long, narrow, sclerotized thorn-like protuberances, and two elongate leaf-shaped signa.

Biology. Unknown. In Morocco, the specimens were collected on a calcareous hill in May, together with P. ochreopalpella.

Distribution. Previously only known from Algeria. The distance between the Algerian type locality and Moroccan site is less than 200 km.