Stygioides jarii Japaridze, Makharadze, Seropian, 2025

Japaridze, Lasha-Giorgi, Makharadze, Giorgi, Bulbulashvili, Natalia, Hulsbosch, Ramon, Petrov, Valeri & Seropian, Armen, 2025, Burrowed through time: Exploring the enigmatic Cossidae moths of Georgia, Zootaxa 5701 (5), pp. 501-523 : 512-513

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5701.5.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:9842A28B-1E33-42EB-A610-5D8D8EBDA6D2
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17326054
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03F6B269-FF98-FFE3-FF7C-F997FBE640BC
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Stygioides jarii Japaridze, Makharadze, Seropian
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Stygioides jarii Japaridze, Makharadze, Seropian , sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:

( Fig. 19 View FIGURES 16–23 , 32–35 View FIGURES 26–38 )

Material examined. GEORGIA • Holotype. ♂; Kakheti, Dedoplistskaro Mun., Vashlovani NP; leg. J. Junnilainen & JP . Kaitila; 17 May 2023; gen. prep. LG33 JLGT • Paratypes. 11♂ Idem; JJVF .

Barcoding. Two specimens submitted to the barcoding pipeline from the collection of Jari Junnilainen (Process IDs ILECA 590-24, ILECA 591-24) yielded nearly identical sequences ( BOLD:AGK2552, p -distance 0.15%). The p - distances range between co-occurring S. mirifica sp. nov. and S. jarii sp. nov. ( BOLD:AGP9748) is 8.97–9.12%.

Diagnosis. The males of the new species resemble those of Stygioides italica Mazzei & Yakovlev, 2016 in general appearance, but differ in having a narrower apex of the valvae, longer and broader saccus ( Fig. 32 View FIGURES 26–38 ; cf. Mazzei & Yakovlev 2016: fig. 5). From the co-occurring Stygioides mirifica sp. nov., it differs by the lack of white scales on the antennae, male genitalia can be well distinguished with less rounded valvae apex and slightly curved aedeagus in Stygioides mirifica sp.nov. ( Figs 32–35 View FIGURES 26–38 ; cf. Figs 36–37 View FIGURES 26–38 ).

Description. Male ( Fig. 19 View FIGURES 16–23 ). Wingspan 15 mm. Antennae half the length of the forewing, bipectinate; rami short. Head, thorax, and abdomen with dense, long grey and black piliform scales, head with white piliform scales. Forewing 6.5 mm, semitranslucent; scarcely covered with blackish scales, more heavily on the margins and the basal area; fringe long, black. Hindwing short, semitranslucent, with blackish scales; rounded anal angle and apex with white scales basally. Genitalia ( Figs 32–35 View FIGURES 26–38 ). Uncus broad, medium length, rounded apically, sclerotised. Tegumen medium-sized, gnathos arms long, slender, fused, forming a slender membranous gnathos. Valvae lanceolate, narrowing apically, apical third membranous; transition area of sclerotisation between sclerotised and membranous part distinct. Saccus rectangular length nearly as long as width. Aedeagus 2/3 size of valvae, strongly curved in the middle third.

Female unknown.

Variation. Males (n=12). Wingspan 13.5–16 mm. Forewing 6–7 mm.

Etymology. The species name is a patronym of Finnish lepidopterists Jari Junnilainen and Jari-Pekka Kaitila, who collected the type series.

Habitat. Semidesert.

Distribution. Type locality only ( Fig. 43 View FIGURES 43–46 ).

Remarks. All specimens were attracted and collected via Sesia bembeciformis pheromones. Males’ activity during the afternoon (11:00–15:00). The biology of the species remains unknown.