Pleurota tricolor Kaila & Mutanen & Sihvonen & Tyllinen & Tabell 2019, sp. nov.

Pleurota tricolor Tabell, sp. nov.

Barcode Index Number: BOLD:ADA1655

Table 1, Figs. 8, 9, 36, 48

Type material. Holotype ♂: Morocco, Al Haouz Prov., 3 km NE Asni, 1120 m, N31.27056 W7.96586, 30.VI.2016, J. Tabell leg. (coll. MZH). Paratypes: 8 ♂ (DNA sample 25598 Lepid Phyl; DNA sample 25614 Lepid Phyl), same collecting data as holotype (colls. MZH and TAB); 2 ♂ (GP 5714 J. Tabell, DNA sample 25594 Lepid Phyl; DNA sample 25612 Lepid Phyl), Morocco, Al Haouz Prov., 2.5 km NE Asni, 1120 m, N31.26526 W7.96847, 30.VI.2016, J. Tabell leg. (coll. TAB); 1 ♂ (GP 5506 J. Tabell, DNA sample 24616 Lepid Phyl), Morocco, High Atlas, 9 km NW Ouirgane, N31°12´24´´ W8°4´33´´, 30.V. – 3.VI. 2015, 970 m, C. Hviid, O. Karsholt & K. Larsen (coll. TAB); 2 ♂ (DNA sample 24617 Lepid Phyl; DNA sample 24618 Lepid Phyl), Morocco, High Atlas, 6 km NW Ouirgane, N31°12´32´´ W8°4´48´´, 30.V. 2015, 850 m, C. Hviid, O. Karsholt & K. Larsen (colls. ZMUC and TAB).

Diagnosis. Pleurota tricolor is characterized by the unicolorous costal half of the forewing. It is externally remotely similar to P. insignella (Fig. 24), of which only the male holotype is known from the High Atlas mountains at an altitude of 3100–3200 m. The smaller size, longer labial palpus, differently coloured forewing (ochreous brown in P. tricolor, grey in P. insignella), and differences in the male genitalia (broader apical half of gnathos, shorter valval lobe, and especially markedly longer posterior lobe of juxta) distinguish P. tricolor from P. insignella. Females of both species are unknown.

Molecular diagnosis. Seven specimens of P. tricolor were sequenced, resulting in 658 bp, full-length DNA barcode fragments for five specimens, and fragments of 632 bp and 611 bp for two specimens. The nearest neighbour to P. tricolor is P. pellicolor with a 7.65% divergence. The barcodes of P. tricolor exhibit 1.17 % maximum intraspecific variation (Table 1). Consequently, the results support the status of P. tricolor as a distinct species.

Description. Adult. Wingspan 17.5–21.0 mm. Labial palpus white, long, laterally and ventrally mixed with brown and dark brown, at base of 3 rd segment dark brown stripe, 7.9 x as long as diameter of eye (1 st and 2 nd segments), 3 rd segment 0.26 x length of 1 st and 2 nd segments. Antenna pale grey. Frons, collar and tegula white, thorax mixed with pale ochre. Forewing tricolored; costal and subcostal lines fused, ochreous brown to brown, extending from base to apex, slightly expanded towards apex, edged distinctly; dorsal half paler, suffused with ochre and white scales; median line white, extending from base almost to apex, lower edge indistinct, apically scattered with ochre scales. Fringe pale brown. Hindwing brownish grey, fringe concolorous, apically paler. Abdomen slightly lustrous, grey, each segment with transverse row of ochre scales.

Male genitalia. Uncus thimble-shaped dorsoventrally, lined with several long and short bristles. Gnathos 1.5 x as long as uncus, funnel-shaped dorsoventrally, slightly bulged medially in lateral aspect, above covered with scobination. Valva elongate, moderately narrow, upwards oblique; sacculus covered with long bristles. Anterior extension of juxta straight, narrow; median part parallel-sided; posterior lobe reaching apex of uncus, apex with a small tooth; valval lobe elongate, outer margin narrowly folded, lined with several short bristles. Phallus curved, parallel-sided, apex blunt, with one weakly sclerotized cornutus surrounded by numerous tiny spines.

Female genitalia. Unknown.

Biology. Unknown. The specimens were collected at light, most of them at dawn. The flight period extends from the end of May to the end of June.

Distribution. Known only from a few closely situated localities in the High Atlas mountains at an altitude between 850 – 1120 m.

Derivation of name. The specific name refers to the coloration of the forewing.