Revision of Neotropical Scythrididae moths and descriptions of 22 new species from Argentina, Chile, and Peru (Lepidoptera, Gelechioidea).

The taxonomy of South American Scythrididae (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea) is revised, based on external morphology, genitalia, male abdominal segment VIII, and DNA barcodes using genetic distances, BINs, and a tentative molecular phylogeny. Data include both historical and fresh specimens from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Peru. Thirty-four species are recognised as valid, and the fauna classified in three genera. Type specimens and morphology of all species are described and figured in detail. DNA barcode sequences of the COI gene were successful for 22 species, the average genetic divergence between species being 5.1%. A key to Neotropical Scythrididae species is provided, based on the male genitalia and abdominal segment VIII, which show most and easily accessible interspecific differences. Our study revealed that the Scythridae fauna of South America is more or less completely unknown. As a result, 22 new species are described, increasing the number of South American Scythrididae species from 13 to 34. All new species are authored by Kari Nupponen (incertae sedis means the genus combination is uncertain and needs further research, country of the type locality is given in parentheses): Rhamphurasubdimota sp. nov. (Argentina), R.pozohondaensis sp. nov. (Argentina), R.spiniuncus sp. nov. (Argentina), R.angulisociella sp. nov. incertae sedis (Argentina), R.curvisociella sp. nov. incertae sedis (Argentina), R.tetrafasciella sp. nov. incertae sedis (Argentina), Landryiaankylosauroides sp. nov. incertae sedis (Argentina), L.chilensis sp. nov. incertae sedis (Chile), Scythrisdirectiphallella sp. nov. (Argentina), S.furciphallella sp. nov. (Argentina), S.manchaoensis sp. nov. (Argentina), S.salinasgrandensis sp. nov. (Argentina), S.angustivalvella sp. nov. (Argentina), S.caimancitoensis sp. nov. (Argentina), S.lequetepequensis sp. nov. (Peru), S.sanfriscoensis sp. nov. (Argentina), S.tigrensis sp. nov. (Argentina), S.bicoloristrigella sp. nov. incertae sedis (Argentina), S.saldaitisi sp. nov. incertae sedis (Argentina), S.wikstromi sp. nov. incertae sedis (Argentina), S.andensis sp. nov. incertae sedis (Argentina), S.mendozaensis sp. nov. incertae sedis (Argentina). The following new combinations are proposed: Scythrisdepressa Meyrick, 1931 and Scythrisdimota Meyrick, 1931 are transferred from Scythris Hübner, 1825 to Rhamphura Landry, 1991 comb. nov. Three species classified in Scythris earlier are now classified as Scythris (incertae sedis): Scythrisdividua Meyrick, 1916, S.medullata Meyrick, 1916 and S.notorrhoa Meyrick, 1921. The taxon Syntetrernisneocompsa Meyrick, 1933, recently classified in Scythrididae: Scythris, is excluded from Scythrididae and it is now classified in Cosmopterigidae incertae sedis.

A nearly complete database on the records and ecology of the rarest boreal tiger moth from 1840s to 2020.

Global environmental changes may cause dramatic insect declines but over century-long time series of certain species' records are rarely available for scientific research. The Menetries' Tiger Moth (Arctia menetriesii) appears to be the most enigmatic example among boreal insects. Although it occurs throughout the entire Eurasian taiga biome, it is so rare that less than 100 specimens were recorded since its original description in 1846. Here, we present the database, which contains nearly all available information on the species' records collected from 1840s to 2020. The data on A. menetriesii records (N = 78) through geographic regions, environments, and different timeframes are compiled and unified. The database may serve as the basis for a wide array of future research such as the distribution modeling and predictions of range shifts under climate changes. It represents a unique example of a more than century-long dataset of distributional, ecological, and phenological data designed for an exceptionally rare but widespread boreal insect, which primarily occurs in hard-to-reach, uninhabited areas of Eurasia.

DNA barcode library for European Gelechiidae (Lepidoptera) suggests greatly underestimated species diversity.

For the first time, a nearly complete barcode library for European Gelechiidae is provided. DNA barcode sequences (COI gene - cytochrome c oxidase 1) from 751 out of 865 nominal species, belonging to 105 genera, were successfully recovered. A total of 741 species represented by specimens with sequences ≥ 500bp and an additional ten species represented by specimens with shorter sequences were used to produce 53 NJ trees. Intraspecific barcode divergence averaged only 0.54% whereas distance to the Nearest-Neighbour species averaged 5.58%. Of these, 710 species possessed unique DNA barcodes, but 31 species could not be reliably discriminated because of barcode sharing or partial barcode overlap. Species discrimination based on the Barcode Index System (BIN) was successful for 668 out of 723 species which clustered from minimum one to maximum 22 unique BINs. Fifty-five species shared a BIN with up to four species and identification from DNA barcode data is uncertain. Finally, 65 clusters with a unique BIN remained unidentified to species level. These putative taxa, as well as 114 nominal species with more than one BIN, suggest the presence of considerable cryptic diversity, cases which should be examined in future revisionary studies.

A review of some new or little-known species of the genus Gnorimoschema (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae) from the Palaearctic region.

Six new species of Gnorimoschema Busck, 1900 are described: G.pamira sp. nov. (Tadzhikistan), G.brachyptera sp. nov. (Russia: Buryatia), G.altaica sp. nov. (Russia: Altai), G.tabazhok sp. nov. (Russia, Altai, Tuva), G.yakovlevi sp. nov. (Russia: Altai, Buryatia), G.kozlovi sp. nov. (Mongolia). A new synonym is established: G.mikkolai Povolný, 1994 syn. nov. of G.radkevichi Piskunov, 1980. Gnorimoschemamontanum Povolný, 1966, sp. rev., stat. nov. is taken out from synonymy with G.soffneri (Riedl, 1965). An annotated check-list of the genus Gnorimoschema in the Palaearctic region is provided.

A review of the Elachista subula Parenti species complex (Lepidoptera, Elachistidae), with descriptions of nine new Palearctic species.

Taxonomy of the here established Elachista subula species complex is reviewed. This species complex is subordinate to the E. dispilella group sensu Kaila et al. (2015), in subgenus Aphelosetia. The E. subula species complex is exclusively Palearctic. Most of the currently recognized species occur in dry areas in Central Asia where they appear to form a significant part of the Elachista diversity. The constituent species are characterized by a phallus with bent and sharp-tipped apex, and the vesica with one weakly sclerotized plate-like cornutus that usually bears one blunt or spine-like tooth. Fourteen species are recognized, of which the following 9 are described as new: E. ameteria Kaila, sp. nov. (Type locality country Kazakhstan), E. cisoria Kaila, sp. nov. (Spain), E. cultella Kaila, sp. nov. (Mongolia), E. drepanella Kaila, sp. nov. (Russia: Tuva), E. marusiki Kaila, sp. nov. (Mongolia), E. perona Kaila, sp. nov. (Kyrgyzstan), E. platamodes Kaila, sp. nov. (Croatia), E. scalpra Kaila, sp. nov. (Turkey) and E. spinipyra Kaila, sp. nov. (Turkmenistan). Redescriptions are given to E. mus Parenti¸ E. bimaculata Parenti, E. semnani Parenti, E. subula Parenti and E. acutella Kaila.

New species and new records of gelechiid moths (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae) from southern Siberia.

Noteworthy records of 23 species of the family Gelechiidae from southern Siberia are reported. The following seven new species are described: Metzneria transbaikalica Bidzilya, sp. nov., Istrianis jaskai Bidzilya, sp. nov., Teleiopsis kyraensis Bidzilya, sp. nov., Athrips nigrilineella Bidzilya K. Nupponen, sp. nov., Filatima multicornuta Bidzilya K. Nupponen, sp. nov., Lutilabria pallidella K. Nupponen Bidzilya sp. nov. and Caryocolum unicolorellum Bidzilya, sp. nov. Two new synonyms are established: Filatima bidentella Bidzilya, 1998 syn. nov. of Filatima asiatica Sattler, 1961; Filatima autocrossa Meyrick, 1937 syn. nov. of Filatima pallipalpella Snellen, 1884. Lutilabria kaszabi Povolný, 1978 is re-described based on additional material. The hitherto unknown females of Filatima asiatica, F. karsholti Ivinskis Piskunov, 1989, F. sciocrypta (Meyrick, 1936) and Athrips kerzhneri Piskunov, 1990 are described. Dirhinosia interposita Bidzilya Budashkin, 2015, Scrobipalpa flavinerva Bidzilya Li, 2010, Scrobipalpa sinica Bidzilya Li, 2010 and Filatima karsholti are recorded from Russia for the first time. Nine species are recorded for the first time from different regions of Siberia. Female brachyptery in Filatima Busck, 1939 and Lutilabria Povolný, 1965 is reported for the first time.

Recent records of scythridids from the islands of Socotra and Maldives in the Indian Ocean, with descriptions of two new species (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea, Scythrididae).

Records of five species embracing 211 specimens of the family Scythrididae from the islands of Socotra and Maldives in the Indian Ocean are presented. The material was collected during four trips in 2008-2010 on Socotra, and in December 2011 on the Maldives. Two new species are described: Scythris digitibasella Nupponen & Saldaitis sp. nov. from Socotra and S. atollicola Nupponen, Saldaitis & Fischer sp. nov. from the Maldives. Catascythris kebirella Amsel, 1935 and Scythris paralogella Bengtsson, 2002 are reported as new to Socotra. The known distributional range of each species is given.