Pleurota lacteella Tabell, sp. nov.

Barcode Index Number: BOLD:ACW1892

Table 1, Figs. 12, 13, 38, 43, 48

Type material. Holotype ♂ (DNA sample 23743 Lepid Phyl): Morocco, Anti-Atlas, Tiznit Prov., 19.5 km SW Tafraout, 1010 m, N29.60585 W9.13183, 14.IV.2016, J. Tabell leg. (coll. MZH), BOLD sample ID: MM23743.

Paratypes: 1 ♂ (DNA sample 23742 Lepid Phyl), same collecting data as holotype (coll. TAB); 1 ♂ (GP 5490 J. Tabell, DNA sample 23738 Lepid Phyl), Morocco, Anti-Atlas, Tiznit Prov., 24 km SW Tafraout, 1125 m, N29.58058 W9.17267, 13.IV.2016, J. Tabell leg. (coll. TAB); 1 ♂, Morocco, 1400 m, 25 km N Ar-Rachidia, 15.IV.1989, Zool. Mus. Copenh. Exp. (coll. ZMUC); 1 ♀ (GP 5429 J. Tabell, DNA sample 23713 Lepid Phyl), Morocco, Souss-Massa-Draa, Ouarzazate, 30°50´, -6°49´, 11.V.2011, 1140 m, Anssi & Jaakko Kullberg (coll. MZH).

Diagnosis. Pleurota lacteella is characterized by a broad white median line in the forewing. Externally it resembles P. moroccoensis, but the forewing is slightly broader, and the white median area is larger, forming short apical lines. In the male genitalia, a broader uncus and gnathos, a broader median section of juxta, a longer posterior lobe, and a shorter phallus distinguish P. lacteella from P. moroccoensis. The female genitalia of P. lacteella have broader posterior signa.

Molecular diagnosis. Four specimens of P. lacteella were sequenced, resulting in 658 bp, full-length DNA barcode fragments for all specimens. The nearest neighbour to P. lacteella is an undetermined Corsican species with a 7.2% divergence. The barcodes of P. lacteella exhibit 0.46% maximum intraspecific variation (Table 1).

Description. Adult. Wingspan 20–26 mm. Labial palpus off-white, laterally and ventrally mixed with brown scales, about 6.5 x as long as diameter of eye (1 st and 2 nd segments), 3 rd segment 0.29 x length of 1 st and 2 nd segments. Scape brown, flagellum grey, basally with white scales. Frons, collar and tegula white, mixed pale ochre, thorax pale ochre. Costal line white, moderately narrow, from near base to 0.83; subcostal line yellowish brown, evenly slightly expanded towards apex, distinctly edged; median line broad, white; median area with four more or less distinct white narrow lines; dorsal 0.5 pale beige, suffused with white scales. Fringe white. Hindwing pale grey, margin brown, fringe pale brown, apically paler. Abdomen slightly lustrous, pale grey, each segment with transverse row of ochre scales.

Male genitalia. Uncus thimble-shaped dorsoventrally, lined with several bristles of different length, apex blunt. Gnathos 1.7 x as long as uncus, dorsoventrally elongate, funnel-shaped, gradually tapered towards rounded apex, medially covered with small scale-like scobination. Valva elongate, moderately narrow, upwards oblique, ventral margin slightly sinuous; sacculus moderately narrow, covered with long bristles. Juxta long; anterior extension straight, median part broad, posterior lobe extended to uncus, apex armed with a small tooth; valval lobe elongate, outer margin broadly folded, lined with several bristles. Vinculum U-shaped. Phallus curved, with one robust plateshaped cornutus surrounded by numerous tiny spines.

Female genitalia. Papillae anales oval, covered with bristles of different length. Apophyses long; posterior apophysis 6 x as long as papillae anales and 1.75 x as long as anterior apophysis. Segment 8 longitudinally elongated, rectangular, membranous, dorsolaterally reinforced by sclerotized band, distal 0.5 ventrally sparsely covered with bristles, ventral longitudinal sclerotization narrow, as long as segment 8, branch of apophysis anterioris club-shaped. Antrum tubular, slightly shorter than segment 8, posteriorly wider, membranous, anteriorly sclerotized. Ductus bursae membranous, as long as antrum, broad. Corpus bursae with one robust arched signum with two narrow and long sclerotized thorn-like protuberances, and two broad leaf-shaped signa.

Biology. Unknown. The flight period extends from mid-April to mid-May.

Distribution. Known only from few localities in the High Atlas and Anti-Atlas mountains at an altitude between 1010 m and 1400 m.

Derivation of name. The specific name refers to the coloration of forewing, dominated by milk-white colour.