Scrobipalpa obsoletella (Fischer von Röslerstamm, 1841)

Figs 52–54, 123–125, 178

Lita obsoletella Fischer von Röslerstamm, 1841: 225, pl. 79, figs a-k.

Gnorimoschema miscitatella Clarke, 1932: 66, pl. 2, fig. 1, pl. 3, fig. 1.

Phthorimaea bipunctella Hartig, 1941: 158, pl. 6, fig. 7.

Phthorimaea calaritanella Amsel, 1952:128, fig. 33.

Scrobipalpa xylochroa Janse, 1963: 241, pl. 107, pl. 112, pl. 127a, pl. 95c, d. Syn. nov.

Scrobipalpa obsoletella hospes Povolný, 1964b: 354, pl. 11, fig. [70], fig. 11. Syn. nov.

Type material examined. Holotype of xylochroa ♂, [South Africa] “Port Elizabeth, 7.xii.1950, C.G.C. Dickson” | Scrobipalpa xylochroa, male, HOLOTYPE No: 4320” (TMSA). Paratypes: 1 ♀, same data as holotype, but 10.i.1951 (gen. slide 8493); 1 ♂, same data, but 28.iv.1951, (gen. slide 247/12, O. Bidzilya); 1 ♂, Port Elizabeth, 18.xi.1951 (gen. slide 8492). Holotype of hospes ♂, [South Africa] “Vredendal, 23–30 July ’27, G. v. Son” | “HOLOTYPE” | “gen. slide K. Sattler, 287a” (SMNK).

Material examined. South Africa: 6 ♀, Port Elizabeth, 29.xi.1950; 13.ii.1951; 17.i.1953; iv.1950; 1.ii.1951; 10.i.1951 (all TMSA). 1 ♂, West Cape, Rocherpan N.R., 20–21.xi.2008 (Ebert, Mey, Kuhne) (MFN-00097) (gen. slide 137/12, O. Bidzilya) (MfN); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Vredendal, 23–30 July ‘27 (G.v Son); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Cape Prov., Kentonon-Sea [33 26 DA], 22–23 Feb 1978 (Scoble) (gen. slide 275/12, O. Bidzilya); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Vredendal, 23–30 July ‘27 (G.v. Son) (gen. slide 37/ 13♀; 39/ 13♂, O. Bidzilya) (all TMSA). Namibia: 3 ♀, Abachaus, S.W.A., April 43, Feb. 44, July 44 (G. Hobohm) (TMSA); 2 ♂, S.W. Africa, Wlavis Bay, 25–26.i.1972 (B.M. Gen. slide 34187) (NHMUK).

Diagnosis. Scrobipalpa obsoletella is a rather variable species, with the forewing ground light brown to light grey with brown spots and dots in the cell and brown suffusion, mainly along the costal margin. Differences from superficially similar S. typica sp. nov. are given in the diagnosis of the latter species. Scrobipalpa ergasima is somewhat similar, but it is darker grey, with black rather than brown markings. The male genitalia of S. obsoletella can be distinguished by the comparatively large (both deep and wide), U- or V- shaped posteromedial emargination of the vinculum in combination with a long saccus. Scrobipalpa afromontana sp. nov. differs in having both the sacculus and vincular process shorter, and a narrower posteromedial emargination of the vinculum. The anteromedially broadly separated, comparatively narrow, unmodified (without foam-sculpturing) lobes of the anteromedial depression, in combination with a stout, basally densely serrated and weakly curved signa are characteristic for the female genitalia. For differences from the somewhat similar S. traganella, S. swakopi and S. etoshensis sp. nov., see the diagnoses for those species.

Biology. In the Palaearctic region the larvae feed on Atriplex spp. and Chenopodium spp. (Amaranthaceae) (Huemer & Karsholt 2010: 87). Host plants in the Afrotropical region are unknown. Adults fly from November to February, April and July.

Distribution. Broadly distributed in the Palaearctic region from Europe to China (Povolný 2002a; Bidzilya & Li 2010); South Africa, Namibia (first record).

Remarks. Scrobipalpa xylochroa was described from three males and seven females collected in Port Elizabeth and Mossel Bay, South Africa. There is no doubt that the members of type series are conspecific. The holotype male is undissected, but the male and female genitalia of paratypes collected at the same place and date as the holotype are undistinguishable from those of S. obsoletella, and the synonymy proposed here is based on that observation.

Scrobipalpa obsoletella hospes was described from a single male from Vredendal. Later this species was considered to be introduced to South Africa (Povolný 2002a: 59) and, therefore, its subspecific state is erroneous (Huemer & Karsholt 2010: 88). My study of the holotype of S. obsoletella hospes along with additional male and female from Vredental support their conspecificity with S. obsoletella.