Psoricoptera gibbosella (Zeller, 1839)

(Figs 19–20, 32–34)

Gelechia (Chelaria) gibbosella Zeller, 1839: 202. TL: Berlin, Germany.

Psoricoptera gibbosella (Zeller): Stainton, 1854: 101.

Psoricoptera speciosella Teich, 1893: 358. TL: Latvia.

Chelaria gibbosella (Zeller): Meyrick, 1925: 157.

Chelaria triorthias Meyrick, 1935: 589. TL: Tokyo, Japan. TD: NHMUK.

Hypatima triorthias (Meyrick): Moriuti, 1982: 281.

Lita lepigreella Lucas, 1946: 98. TL: Alger. TD: NHMUK.

Psoricoptera triorthias (Meyrick): Ueda et al., 1995: 148.

Material examined. CHINA: Shanxi Province: 1 ♂, Mt. Lingkong (36.61°N, 112.08°E), Qinyuan County, 1560 m, 2.viii.2013, coll. Tengteng Liu and Peixin Cong; 1 ♂, Mt. Lingkong (36.61°N, 112.08°E), Qinyuan County, 1560 m, 26.vii.2014, coll. Tengteng Liu, Meiqing Yang and Sihan Lu, genitalia slide No. ZML 19307. Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region: 2 ♂♂, Balian (43.26°N, 82.85°E), Mohe Town, Gongliu County, 1206 m, 5.viii.2007, coll. Xinpu Wang et al., genitalia slide Nos. ZML19286, ZML19318.

Diagnosis. Adult (Figs 19–20) wingspan 15.5–16.0 mm. This species is similar to P. speciosella both in adult and male genitalia, it can be distinguished from latter by the uncus with four branches about same height, middle incision normally not deeper than lateral incisions (Figs 32–34). In P. speciosella, the uncus with middle branches higher than lateral branches and middle incision deeper than lateral incisions (Figs 39–39d).

Variation. Uncus with middle incision variable, usually same depth with lateral incisions but can be deeper in some individual (Figs 32–34).

Distribution. China (Shanxi, Xinjiang), Japan, Korea, Russia, Europe, Asia Minor, North Africa (Park & Karsholt 1999).

Remarks. Huemer & Karsholt (1999) and Park & Karsholt (1999) mainly used incisions on posterior margin of uncus and number of microspines (which we called microthorns in the present study) on phallus to distinguish P. gibbosella and P. speciosella in male genitalia: they considered uncus of P. gibbosella with middle incision not deeper than lateral incisions, phallus with more than 20 microspines; while the uncus of P. speciosella with middle incision deeper than lateral incisions, phallus with less than 16 microspines. Kaitila (1996) considered biology and colour of larvae as other effective evidence in identification of the two species. In this study, many more specimens have been checked and dissected. As expected, more morphological variations on genitalia are observed, but the microthorns on phallus and vinculum seemingly are unstable, therefore we don't think the two characters can hold as diagnostic features for Psoricoptera species. We have not been able to collect or rear immature stages of the Psoricoptera species, the larvae can be associated with adults taking advantage of molecular techniques in the subsequent study.