Sophronia salaganella Šumpich & Bidzilya & Ponomarenko 2019, sp. n.

Sophronia salaganella Šumpich et Bidzilya, sp. n.

(Figs. 1–7, 17–22)

Type material. Holotype ♀: ‘ Russia, Altai Republic | Kosh-Agach Distr. | Kurai env. (15 km SW) | Dzhangyskol lake (or | SALAGANA lake) | 50°10’49’’N; 87°44’19’’E | coniferous forest/steppe | 24.–25.vi. 2015, 1830 m | Jan Šumpich leg.’ | ‘ Photo / | Gen. prep. | J. Šumpich | 18/419 ’ | ‘ HOLOTYPUS ♀ | Sophronia salaganella | Šumpich & Bidzilya, 2018’ [red label] (NMPC).

Paratypes: Russia, Altai Mts. 4♂♂, 2♀♀, the same data as holotype. 1♂, 1♀, Aktash village, 50°19’12’’N, 87°36’00’’E, grassy steppe, rocks, 1400 m, 11.vii.2014 (J. Šumpich) (gen. prep. 18425 ♀, Jan Šumpich); 1♂, 1♀, the same locality, but 21.vi.2015 (J. Šumpich) (gen. prep. 18424 ♂, J. Šumpich). 1♂, 1♀, Belyashi (Dzhazator) environs (25 km NW), confluence of Argut and Karagem rivers, 49°51'56"N, 87°10'22"E, 1400 m, rocky steppe, 27.–28.vii.2017 (J. Šumpich). 1♂, Shebalino distr., 8 km W of Cherga, rocky slopes, steppe, 580 m, 7.vii.2015 (J. Šumpich) (all NMPC). 1♂, Kuraiskiy khrebet near Aktash, Jarly-Jary upper stream, mountain tundra, 2600 m, 8.vii.1976 (Yu. A. Kostjuk) (gen. slide 164/18, O. Bidzilya). 1♂, Kuraiskiy khrebet near Aktash, Jarly-Jary middle stream, south mix-grass steppe slope, 2400 m, 5.vii.1976 (Yu. A. Kostjuk). 4♂♂, Kosh-Agatch distr., Ukok plateau, 11, 20, 22.vii.2001, 2200 m (O. Bidzilya). 4♂♂, Kosh-Agatch distr., Tjurgun river near Tchuja road, 1500 m, 7.vii.2001, on light (O. Bidzilya). 1♀, 15 km S Ongudai, 1200 m, 50°40’N, 86°16’E, 7–8.vii.1997 (P. Ustjuzhanin) (gen. slide 59/17, O. Bidzilya) (all ZMKU). 1♀, Ulagan distr., 11 km NNW of Aktash, 1 900 m, 28– 30.vii.2016 (P. Huemer, B. Wiesmair). 1♀, Ulagan distr., 10 km NE of Aktash, Kurai Mountains Range, between the rivers Korumdyajry and Yarlyamry, 2150 m, 7.viii.2016 (P. Huemer, B. Wiesmair) (all TLMF). 1♂, Kuraiskiy khrebet, 50°16‒20’N 87°50‒55’E, 2400‒2800 m, 7.vii.2001 (K. Nupponen); 1♀, the same locality, but 8.vii.2001 (K. Nupponen). 1♂, Kuraiskaya steppe, 50°14–16’N, 87°50–55’E, 1500–1700 m, 13.vii.2001 (genitalia slide K. Nupponen 1/ 1.i.2002) (K. Nupponen) (all NUPP). [Buryatia], East Sayan Mts., 1♂, Mondy village (2 km E), 51°47–48’N 100°55–58’E, forest steppe, 1450 m, 13.vi.2002 (K. Nupponen) (NUPP).

Description. Adult (Figs. 1–7). Wingspan 18–19 mm in male, 16–18 mm in female. Head and thorax whitish brown, slightly lighter than general coloration of forewings. Labial palpi slightly curved, segment 2 very broad, fan-shaped, both inner and outer sides chocolate brown, upper edge closer to frons whitish. Segment 3 long, almost straight, pointed, slightly longer than the segment 2, upper surface white, under surface side brown. Antennae dark brown dorsally, whitish ventrally throughout. Forewings narrow, strongly curved at the apex. Forewing in basal and distal parts with a comparatively short longitudinal streak, two pairs of short thicker streaks (less visible on dark specimens) in middle. Coloration in area from base to middle of costa as well as tornal area whitish. Forewings of fresh and lighter specimens suffused by orange-ochreous scales; in distal part two distinct light arrow-shaped lines, and one, sometimes two, short lines along sickle-like curve; between them, and perpendicularly to them, two very short whitish streaks, mostly visible also in dark specimens. Hindwings unicolourous, grey to grey-brown, fringes concolourous. Sexual dimorphism is imperceptible, females are slightly smaller, and the forewings are weakly narrower. Dark brown coloration varies considerably: sometimes considerably reduced, whereas some specimens of both sexes entirely dark brown, with only light arrow-shaped subapical lines visible (Figs. 3–6).

Male genitalia (Figs. 17–20). Uncus subrectangular, twice as long as broad, posterior margin with narrow triangular medial emargination. Gnathos strongly curved in middle, relatively uniform in width, apex pointed. Tegumen subrectangular, two to three times longer than broad, weakly constricted beyond mid-length, anteromedial emargination triangular, extending to 1/4–1/3 length of tegumen. Cucullus narrow, broadened in distal 1/3, apex rounded, slightly extending half length of uncus. Valvella straight, about twice as short as the length of cucullus. Vinculum very narrow, band-shaped. Juxta and sacculus form setaceous tube surrounding aedeagus. Saccus subrectangular, twice as long as than broad, slightly extending beyond top of pedunculus. Aedeagus longer than tegumen and uncus, straight, nearly uninform in width, with a small subapical hook.

Female genitalia (Figs. 21–22). Papillae anales broad, round. Apophyses posteriores long, apophyses anteriores aproximately one third length of apophyses posteriores. Antrum long, slightly tapering anteriorly (funnel-shaped), sclerotized. Ductus bursae membranous, narrow, slightly expanding toward to bursa copulatrix, only slightly longer than antrum. Bursa copulatrix symmetricaly oval, same length as antrum and ductus bursae combined. Signum in shape of a longer broad plate with irregular edges with darkly sclerotized ends.

Diagnosis. In habitus, S. salaganella is most similar to S. illustrella (Figs. 11–12), but S. illustrella lacks the two short whitish streaks at the point where the bend of the apex begins. Additionally, the suffusion of the forewings is mostly whitish in S. salaganella and ochreous, sometimes reddish, in S. illustrella. In the male genitalia, the aedeagus is shorter and stouter in S. illustrella; in the female genitalia the shape of the signum distinguishes the species. Sophronia salaganella also resembles S. orientalis (Figs 23–26), but the latter is comparatively smaller with a wingspan of 11.5–15.0 mm (cf. Park & Ponomarenko 2007), the longitudinal streaks in the proximal and distal areas of the forewings are longer and more distinct, and the two pairs of short streaks in the middle of wing are usually absent. The suffusion of the forewings is mostly reddish in S. orientalis and whitish in S. salaganella. In the male genitalia, the aedeagus is narrower, slightly curved and just beyond the middle with a toothed lobe-like ventral process in S. orientalis, but straight and without a toothed plate in S. salaganella. Females are easily distinguished by the signum shape: its middle part is oval in S. orientalis and rectangular in S. salaganella. Sophronia salaganella cannot be confused with S. alaicella (Figs 13–14) which has narrower forewings, with a less arcuate apex and with all longitudinal streaks practically absent.

Sophronia salaganella can be distinguished from S. gelidella (Figs 15–16) by the following: S. gelidella lacks the longitudinal streak in the distal area of forewings; in the male genitalia the aedeagus is distally curved and with a subapical, dentiform process (not present in S. salaganella); and in the female genitalia the signum is markedly larger in S. gelidella (its length is about half as long as the bursa copulatrix, whereas about one-fourth as long in S. salaganella). For a more detailed comparison, along with photographs of the genitalia of both sexes, see Landry et al. (2013: 24, 28).

Distribution. Russia: Altai Republic, Buryatia.

Bionomics. Early stages unknown. Adults have been found from late June to late July at altitudes between 1200 m and 2600 m on rocky steppe, in mountains tundra, and in mixed-grass steppe in Altai Mountains (Fig. 10).

Etymology. The species is named after the local name of the mountain lake Salagana near Kurai village in the Altai Mts, which is located near the type locality of the new species. This lake is better known on some maps as Dzhangyskol lake.