Gnophopsodos hilmari Erlacher & Erlacher, 2016, spec. nov.

4. Gnophopsodos hilmari spec. nov.

(adults Pl. 1, Figs 4 a, 4b; male gen. Pl. 3, Fig. 4 c)

Locus typicus: Uzbekistan, western Tian Shan, Tschatkalski Chrebet, 70 km E Tashkent, Bolshoy Chimgan Mountain, 2800 m. Deposition of holotype: MNC.

Material examined. Type material. Holotype Ƌ (Pl. 1, Fig. 4 a; Pl. 3, Fig. 4 c): [Uzbekistan:] ‘UdSSR/ Usbekische SSR | westl. TIENSHAN | Tschatkalski Chrebet | Bolschoi Tschimgan 2800 m | TASCHKENT 70 km O | 12. Juli 1984 | leg. Dr. B. Mueller Berlin’, ‘SE–451 Ƌ | gen. prep. | Erlacher, 2011’, <red label> ‘ HOLOTYPE Ƌ | Gnophopsodos hilmari | Erlacher & Erlacher, 2016’, MNC.

Paratypes 2Ƌ: Kyrgyzstan: 1Ƌ (Pl. 1, Fig. 4 b), Tian Shan, Ala–Artscha national park, 3500–4000 m, 10.vii.1979, leg. L. & Kr. Krušek, gen. prep. SE–489, barcode id. SE–MNC– Lep –01278, BIN BOLD:ABW1867, SMM. Uzbekistan: 1Ƌ, 70 km E Tashkent, Bolshoy Chimgan Mountain, 41°17’N / 69°58’E, 2800 m, 12.vii.1984, leg. B. Müller, gen. prep. SE–652, barcode id. BMB – Lep –00358, MBB.

Description. Adults (Fig. Pl. 1, Figs 4 a, 4b).

Measurements. Wingspan: 30 mm (Ƌ); forewing length: 18 mm (Ƌ); forewing width: 12 mm (Ƌ).

Wings. Upper side yellowish-cream, densely powdered with dark gray scales; discal spot gray, faintly in contrast to the background; antemedial line gray, faintly visible, blurring with background; postmedial line rather indistinct, occasionally mingling with the basic coloration, darkened on veins, giving an interrupted impression; marginal line faintly implied or absent; underside pale yellowish-cream; discal spot rather indistinct, light-gray; postmedial line slightly visible, shadow-like; marginal line missing; fringes yellowish, darker on vein ends.

Male genitalia (Pl. 3, Fig. 4 c). Total length: 2.02–2.34 mm; valvae span: 1.41–1.43 mm; valvulae span: 1.33– 1.38 mm; valvae width: 0.66–0.77 mm. Costa covered with about 15–20 short and thick costal thorns; uncus strongly sclerotized, slenderly triangular-shaped with blunt peak; gnathos strongly sclerotized, slender, laterally not compressed, intensely pointed; juxta small, unremarkable, not bifurcate or broadened; aedeagus length: 0.70–0.77 mm; appendix aedeagi: 0.64–0.68 mm.

Diagnosis. Gnophopsodos hilmari closely resembles G. badakhshanus in wing-form and type of coloration, but G. badakhshanus is conspicuously whitish whilst G. hilmari bears a more yellowish-brown or cream basic color. But relying solely on external characters should not lead to a firm determination of the species. Using genitalia characteristics attention should be given to the number of costal thorns and the form of the anterior appendices of the juxta: the costa of G. badakhshanus bears about 6–8 short and thick costal thorns, which is about half the number of thorns on the costa of G. hilmari. The anterior appendices of the juxta of G. badakhshanus terminate typically cusp-like, while in G. hilmari appendices are moderately pointed. The aedeagi of both species are extremely similar in form, but the aedeagus of G. hilmari is clearly longer (0.70–0.77 mm) than that of G. badakhshanus (0.59–0.65 mm).

Distribution (Fig. 4). Of the three known specimens of G. hilmari two originate from the Bolshoy Chimgan Mountain (2800 m) in Uzbekistan and the third one was collected in the Ala–Artscha National Park (3500 m – 4000 m) in Kyrgyzstan.

Biology. All examined specimens were collected at the beginning of July. No further records are available.

Remarks. Based on available molecular data the nearest species of G. h i l m a r i is G. puengeleri with a COI distance of 6.9% (see also Tab. 1 and Fig. 6), whereas the morphology of male genitalia indicates a relationship of G. hilmari and G. badakhshanus.

Etymology. The new species is dedicated to the Chemnitz performer, mime artist, philosopher, and father of the co-author, Hilmar Messenbrink.