Coleophora cytisicolella Takács, Stark, Szabóky & Bozsó sp. nov.

Figs 1 A, B, 2, 3

Type material.

Holotype: ♂; Hungary • Fejér County; Lovasberény, Kazal-hegy, 47°17'51"N, 18°33'53"E; 240 m; 15 April 2024, ex larva on Chamaecytisus austriacus, gen. slide IgR 35384; leg. AT, in coll. HNHM. BOLD Sample ID: COLHU 030-25. The genitalia were mounted on a slide in Euparal, in coll. HNHM. Paratypes: Hungary • same location, same host plant as the holotype, but: 1 ♂; gen. slide IgR, 34836; 21 July 2022; UV led light trap; leg. AT, in coll. HNHM; 1 ♂; gen. slide IgR, 36184 (as Coleophora genistae Stainton, 1857); 08 August 2023; UV led light trap; leg. AT, in coll. HNHM; • same location, same host plant as the holotype, but: 2 ♂♂; gen. slide IgR, 35379; (BOLD Sample ID: COLHU 026-24), gen. slide IgR, 35196, 15 April 2024; leg. AT, in coll. AT; • same location, same host plant as the holotype, but: 2 ♀; gen. slide IgR 35385; (BOLD Sample ID: COLHU 029-25), gen. slide IgR 35195; 16 April 2024; leg. AT, in coll. AT & IR; • same location, same host plant as the holotype, but: 6 ♂♂; gen. slide IgR: 35380; gen. slide IgR: 35381; (BOLD Sample ID: COLHU 028-25); gen. slide IgR: 35383; 35195; (BOLD Sample ID: COLHU 025-24), gen. slide IgR: 35382; 16 April 2024; leg. AT, in coll. AT & IR; • same location, same host plant as the holotype, but: 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; 24 March 2025; leg. AT, in coll. AT; • same location, same host plant as the holotype, but: 1 ♀; 26 March 2025; leg. AT, in coll. CsSz; • same location, same host plant as the holotype, but: 1 ♂; 28 March 2025; leg. AT, in coll. GB; • same location, same host plant as the holotype, but: 1 ♀; 29 March 2025; leg. AT, in coll. AT; • same location, same host plant as the holotype, but: 1 ♀; 30 March 2025; leg. AT, in coll. GB; • same location, same host plant as the holotype, but: 1 ♂; 31 March 2025; leg. AT, in coll. AT; • same location, same host plant as the holotype but: 1 ♂, 1 ♀; 11 April 2025; leg. AT & KK, in coll. AT; • same location, same host plant as the holotype, but: 2 ♀♀; 12 April 2024; leg. AT & KK, in coll. AT; • same location, same host plant as the holotype, but: 1 ♂; 14 April 2025; leg. AT & KK, in coll. AT; 1 ♀; 19 April 2025; leg. AT & KK, in coll. AT; • same location, same host plant as the holotype, but: 1 ♂; 29 April 2025; leg. AT & KK, in coll. AT; • same location, same host plant as the holotype, but: 1 ♀; 12 May 2025; gen. slide IgR 36392; leg. AT & KK, in coll. AT; • same location, same host plant as the holotype, but: 1 ♀; 13 May 2025; leg. AT & KK leg., in coll. AT; • same location, same host plant as the holotype, but: 1 ♀; 21 May 2025; leg. AT & KK leg., in coll. AT; 2 ♀♀; Hungary Fejér County, Sárbogárd, Bolondvár; 46°54'29.0"N, 18°39'48.7"E; 25 March 2025; ex larva on Chamaecytisus austriacus, leg. AT & GL, in coll. AT; • same location, same host plant, but: 2 ♂♂; 31 March 2025; leg. AT & GL, in coll. GB & CsSz; 2 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; Hungary • Fejér County, Székesfehérvár; Aszal-völgy; 47°14'33.1"N, 18°25'36.1"E; 65 m, 31 April 2025; ex larva on Chamaecytisus austriacus, leg. AT & KK, in coll. AT, IR (1 ♂) & CsSz (1 ♀); • same location, same host plant, but: 2 ♂, 3 ♀; 09 April 2025; leg. AT & KK, in coll. AT; 2 ♀♀; Hungary • Pest County, Isaszeg; Szarka berek; 47°32'15.6"N, 19°22'01.3"E, 250 m; 06 April 2025; ex larva on Chamaecytisus austriacus, leg. AT, in coll. AT; • same location, same host plant, but: 2 ♂♂; 07 April 2025; leg. AT, in coll. AT & GB; • same location, same host plant, but: 1 ♀; 09 April 2025; leg. AT, in coll. AT; 1 ♀; Hungary • Pest County, Kistarcsa; Küdői-hegy; 295 m; 26 March 2025; 47°32'00.6"N, 19°19'35.7"E; ex larva on Chamaecytisus austriacus, leg. AT, in coll. CsSz; • same location, same host plant, but: 1 ♂, 1 ♀; 31 March 2025; leg. AT, in coll. CsSz; • same location, same host plant, but: 1 ♂, 1 ♀; 11 April 2025; leg. AT, in coll. AT & JT (1 ♂); • same location, same host plant, but: 2 ♀♀, 12 April 2025; leg. AT, in coll. AT & IR; • same location, same host plant, but: 2 ♀♀; 13 April 2025; leg. AT, in coll. AT; 1 ♂; Hungary • Pest County, Pilisborosjenő; Teve-szikla; 300 m; 26 March 2015; 47°36'50.5"N, 18°58'40.2"E; ex larva on Chamaecytisus austriacus, leg. CsSz, in coll. CsSz; • same location, same host plant, but: 1 ♀; 3 April 2025; leg. CsSz, in coll. AT; • same location, same host plant, but: 1 ♂, 3 ♀; 05 April 2025; leg. CsSz, in coll. AT, GB (♀) & JT (♀); • same location, same host plant, but: 1 ♂; 04 April 2025; leg. CsSz, in coll. AT 1 ♂; Hungary • Pest County, Pilisvörösvár, Kopár csárda; 250 m; 26 March 2025; 47 ° 62 ' 20 " N, 18 ° 86 ' 64 " E; ex larva on Chamaecytisus austriacus, leg. AT & CsSz, in coll. CsSz; • same location, same host plant, but: 1 ♂; 31 March 2025; leg. AT & CsSz, in coll. CsSz; • same location, same host plant, but: 1 ♂; 15 April 2025; leg. AT & CsSz, in coll. AT; • same location, same host plant, but: 1 ♂; 16 April 2025; leg. AT & CsSz, in coll. AT; • same location, same host plant, but: 1 ♂; 17 April 2025; leg. AT & CsSz, in coll. AT; 1 ♀; Hungary • Tolna County, Hőgyész; Lófej-hegy; 200 m; 02 April 2025; 46°46'95"N, 18°44'09"E; ex larva on Chamaecytisus austriacus, leg. AT & GL, in coll. AT; • same location, same host plant, but: 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; 09 April 2025; leg. AT & GL, in coll. AT; 1 ♀; Hungary • Veszprém County, Nagyvázsony; 26 March 2025; 46°54'33.1"N, 18°39'51.0"E; ex larva on Chamaecytisus austriacus, leg. AT, BB & TSz, in coll. CsSz; • same location, same host plant, but: 1 ♀; 03 April 2025; leg. AT, BB, & TSz, in coll. AT; • same location, same host plant, but: 1 ♀; 05 April 2025; leg. AT, BB & TSz, in coll. GB; • same location, same host plant, but: 1 ♂; 11 April 2025; leg. AT, BB, & TSz, in coll. AT; • same location, same host plant, but: 1 ♀; 13 April 2025; leg. AT, BB, & TSz, in coll. AT; 2 ♂♂; Hungary • Veszprém County, Veszprém; Látó-hegy; 03 April 2025; 47°05'17.5"N, 17°56'30.7"E; 220 m; ex larva on Chamaecytisus austriacus, leg. AT, SzM, & TSz, in coll. AT; • same location, same host plant, but: 1 ♂, 2 ♀; 04 April 2024; leg. AT, SzM & TSz, in coll. AT; • same location, same host plant, but: 1 ♂, 1 ♀; 05 April 2025; leg. AT, SzM. & TSz, in coll. AT; • same location, same host plant, but: 1 ♀; 21 May 2025; leg. AT, SzM & TSz, in coll. AT. 1 ♂; Austria, Oberweiden, 48°17'03"N, 16°49'60"E; 30 April 2021, WS leg., in coll. WS. BOLD Sample ID: NOELE 2487-23; • same location, host plant Chamaecytisus austriacus, 3 October 2024, 1 ♀ Austria, Oberweiden, 16 May 2025, WS, leg., in coll. WS, same location, same host plant and date, but 1 ♂ and 1 ♀; Austria, Oberweiden, 17 May 2025, WS leg., in coll. WS, same location, same host plant and date, but 1 ♂; Austria, Oberweiden, 18 May 2025, WS leg., in coll. WS, same location, same host plant and date, but 2 ♀♀; Austria, Oberweiden, 19 May 2025, WS leg., all 7 specimens in coll. WS.

Diagnosis.

Adult males differ from C. bruttia in the following characters: forewings are overall darker with pattern of two white longitudinal strips dividing the forewing into three sections. Forewing is yellowish-brown at base, gradually turning into warm chestnut brown in the middle. The costal margin is broad, white from the base to almost the wingtip. The head is pale yellow at the central part.

The male genitalia (Figs 1 A, 1 B, 2 C – K) exhibited significant similarities to those of C. bruttia (Baldizzone 2023) (Fig. 1 C, D) with some notable differences: the gnathos is larger, broader, and more rounded, densely spinose, and the basal arm of the gnathos is rounded. The tegumen is somewhat longer and slightly broader. The pedunculus is broader and more sclerotised than that of C. bruttia. The valvula is somewhat wider and more or less angular in shape. The arm of the cucullus is broader and more bulbous towards the apex. The sacculus is longer and more rounded, tapering at the base. The vinculum is U-shaped. In the phallotheca, the cornutus forms a looser, more sclerotised bundle that is spreading at the apex.

Based on the habitus of the adult specimens and the structures of the male genitalia, Coleophora cytisicolella belongs to the C. genistae (Stainton, 1857) species group (Baldizzone 2019; Tabell et al. 2024).

The male genitalia structure of Coleophora cytisicolella sp. nov. also shows similarities to the following species: C. trifariella Zeller, 1849, C. genistae Stainton, 1857, and C. saturatella Stainton, 1850. In C. trifariella and C. genistae, the gnathos is rounded but less spinose, whereas the gnathos of C. saturatella is oval in shape. The arm of the cucullus in C. trifariella and C. genistae is uniformly wide towards the apex and only slightly hairy; in C. trifariella, the cucullus is oriented nearly horizontally, and in both species, the costa is straight, lacking any bulge. The cucullus of C. saturatella is more slender than that of C. cytisicolella, with slightly convex costal part in the middle section of it. The sacculus is rounded in C. trifariella and C. genistae, while it is pointed in C. saturatella. In all three species, the cornutus is sclerotised and forms a loose bundle (Tabell et al. 2024).

The female genitalia structure of Coleophora cytisicolella sp. nov. (Fig. 2 A, B) shows similarities to the following species: C. trifariella Zeller, 1849, C. genistae Stainton, 1857, and C. saturatella Stainton, 1850. In C. trifariella and C. genistae, the papillae anales are trapezoidal, and the anterior apophyses are short. In C. saturatella, the anterior apophyses are also short, but the papillae anales protrude from the tergum. The ostium in all three species is pointed and V-shaped, whereas it is rounded and U-shaped in Coleophora cytisicolella sp. nov. In C. trifariella and C. genistae, the basal plate of the signum is heavily sclerotised and C-shaped, while the basal plate of C. saturatella is shaped like a lying ‘ B’ (Tabell et al. 2024).

Description.

Medium-sized species (Fig. 3 A – D). Wingspan 11.5–15.5 mm (N = 99, 47 males, 52 females). Costal margin of forewing white from base to 4 / 5 of wing length; the rest shining coffee-brown; wing divided into three sections by two pale longitudinal strips bordered by darker shade on both sides; white strip next to fold extends from base towards outer corner but fades before reaching it; median strip runs from 1 / 5 th of the wing’s length from base to outer corner; trailing edge of the forewing narrow, white, barely discernible; colour of area between leading edge and median strip gradually changing from pale brown at base to coffee-brown at wing tip; area between median strip and trailing edge pale yellow; hind wing light brown, with a darker shade at base; abdomen brown, scutellum white, central part of head pale yellow; base of antenna white; flagellum annulated with alternating black and white; hind tibia densely covered with silvery bristles (setae) (Baldizzone 2019).

Male genitalia (Figs 1 A, 1 B, 2 C – K): Gnathos large, broad, rounded, densely spined; basal arm of gnathos rounded; tegumen long and broad, with nearly parallel margins; pedunculus relatively broad, strongly sclerotised; valvula broad, more or less angular in shape; arm of cucullus broad, widening towards to the apex; sacculus elongated, rounded, tapering towards base; vinculum U-shaped. Within phallotheca, cornuti strongly sclerotised and form a loose bundle that spreads out at the apex. Abdominal structures: lack of posterior lateral strut remarkable; proximal edge of transverse strut slightly curved, more sclerotised in middle than elsewhere, distal edge arched, thick; tergal disc (4 th tergite) about 3 times longer than wide, covered with about 25–30 small conical spines.

Female genitalia (Fig. 2 A, B): Basal plate of papillae anales oval and heavily sclerotised; posterior apophyses relatively short and straight. Anterior apophyses twice as long as segment VIII. Sterigma relatively short and rounded; ostium bursae wide and relatively short, U-shaped. Ductus bursae heavily sclerotised from antrum to spiral loop, covered with rasp-like spicules; dark inner stripe and medial line shorter; proximal ends of ductus bursae narrower and more sclerotised. Corpus bursae ovoid; basal plate of signum slightly sclerotised, C-shaped, posterior part slightly curved and rounded.

Etymology.

The specific epithet is derived from the generic name of the host plant, Chamaecytisus.

Distribution and habitat.

The species has been collected at 11 locations in Hungary and one in Austria so far. The habitat of C. cytisicolella in Hungary is moderately dry grassland, primarily meadow steppe and forb-rich fescue-feathergrass steppe on stony hillsides, and loess-covered areas in the hills and lowland areas of the forest steppe region, where Chamaecytisus austriacus is abundant. We found cases and imagines in areas where the food plants were growing on loess or sand. The habitat in Austria is a sand steppe on a historically drifting sand dune.

Life history, cases and larval development.

Adults fly in April and May, but we caught a male in Hungary on 21 July 2022, and another one on 8 August 2023. This observation does not fit the idea that the species has a single generation. We currently do not know whether these specimens represent a second generation.

The larvae hatch and begin feeding in early September and continue feeding until late October or early November. Larval development is completed during autumn. The final instar overwinters on the host plant, then pupates in the spring without resuming feeding. The length of the pupal stage is unknown.

During 2023, we found 16 larval cases at the loess wall in Kazal-hegy near Lovasberény, Hungary. Twelve larvae were successfully reared on Chamaecytisus austriacus, and all developed into imagines. In 2024, we found a total of 112 cases in the settlements listed above.

The morphology of the case changes during larval development. The first case is tubular and only 1.5 mm long (Fig. 4 A). It is constructed by the small larva in early September, immediately after hatching. The L 2 case is 2.5 mm long and is prepared from two pieces of leaf, which are cut out of the leaf tip (Fig. 4 B). The case built by the L 3 instar is similar in shape and structure to the final case, however smaller in size (Fig. 4 C). The L 4 case consists of numerous distinct leaf pieces, but its size falls short of that of the final case (Fig. 4 D).

The case of the final instar (L 5) is a characteristic leaf-case (Fig. 4 E, F) (Emmet et al. 1996). It is prepared from leaf pieces by the end of October. At this point, the case is 7.5 mm long but has shrunk to 6 mm after overwintering. The leaf pieces are incorporated into the case approximately half to two-thirds of the length of the case, while the remaining free part is incorporated (Fig. 4 C). Each leaf piece is incorporated into the sheath for about half of its length, while the remainder is leafless and smooth. The first protruding leaf pieces are set at 1.5 mm from the mouth. The mouth is perpendicular to the axis of the case. The anal opening is bivalved.

Larval development is completed during autumn. The final instar overwinters on the host plants, then pupates in the spring without resuming feeding. The length of the pupal stage is unknown.