Table Of Content© Entomologica Fennica. 15 June 2003
Contribution to the scythridid fauna of southern Buryatia, with
description of seven new species (Lepidoptera: Scythrididae)
Kari Nupponen
Nupponen, K. 2003: Contribution to the scythridid fauna of southern Buryatia,
with description of seven new species (Lepidoptera: Scythrididae). — Entomol.
Fennica 14: 25–45.
A list of 26 species embracing 673 specimens of the family Scythrididae
collected during 13.–29.VI.2002 from southern Buryatia is presented. Seven
new species are described: Scythris erinacella sp. n., S. gorbunovi sp. n., S.
hamardabanica sp. n., S. malozemovi sp. n., S. ninae sp. n., S. potatorella sp.
n. and S. sinevi sp. n. Two unknown species are mentioned but not described
because only females are available. In addition, S. penicillata Chrétien, 1900
is reported as new for Russia, S. emichi (Anker, 1870) as new for the Asiatic
part of Russia and seven further species as new for the Baikal region. The
known distribution range of each species is given as well as further notes on
some poorly known taxa.
Kari Nupponen, Miniatontie 1 B 9, FIN-02360 Espoo, Finland
Received 30 October 2002, accepted 21 January 2003
1. Introduction & Liòka 1996, Sinev 2001) concern occasionally
collected single specimens, and no systematic in-
The Republic of Buryatia is located on the southern vestigations of scythridids have been made in the
and southeastern shores of Lake Baikal. Character- region. The present article is based on material
istic features of the southern part of that region are collected by the author during 13.–29.VI.2002 in
mountain ranges: East Sayan Mountains in the west southern Buryatia.
and Hamar Daban Mountains in the east, the latter
dividing the region into a taiga forest zone in the
north and a steppe zone in the south. The moun- 2. The investigated area, material and
tains, up to 2000 m a.s.l., are covered by conifer methods
forests, and mountain tundra is present only at the
highest elevation. The steppes mainly exist in a rather The investigated area is situated between 50–52∞N and 100–
restricted area in the valley of the River Selenga and 108∞E, mainly in the valley of the River Selenga and south-
its subsidiaries, and very sparsely in Irkut valley in ern foothills of Hamar Daban Mountains, but also in Irkut
East Sayan. The lowest elevation of the region is at valley in the East Sayan Mountains. The material, compris-
ing 673 pinned specimens of Scythrididae, was collected
the shore of the Lake Baikal (456 m), with the high-
by sweeping and netting during daytime. In addition, hun-
est one being in the Sayan Mountains (3491 m).
dreds of specimens were observed but not collected, be-
The scythridid fauna of southern Buryatia is cause they were easily determined in the field. Several spe-
poorly known. The published reports (Bengtsson cies occurred in large numbers and it was possible to col-
26 Nupponen • ENTOMOL. FENNICA Vol. 14
Fig. 1. Map of southern
Buryatia with collecting
localities. — 1: Gusinoe
ozero, steppe slopes. — 2:
Gusinoe ozero, lake. — 3:
Kharamsha. — 4: Mondy,
steppe. — 5: Mondy. — 6:
Novoselenginsk. — 7:
Solyonoye, salt lake. — 8:
Turan. — 9: Gurulba.
lect them without limits. Seven of the recorded species are — 5: Russia, SW-Buryatia, 51∞47–48´N 100∞55–
previously unknown, and they are described in this paper. 58´E, East Sayan Mountains, 1450 m, Mondy
The collected material is generally deposited in the collec-
village 2 km E. 13.–15.VI.2002. Conifer forest
tion of the author.
with restricted forest steppes.
— 6: Russia, S-Buryatia, 50∞58–59´N 106∞38–
40´E, 550–600 m, Chikoy valley, Novo-
3. Collecting sites
selenginsk village 10 km S. 23.–25.VI.2002.
A sand dune region at the river valley,
The collecting sites and dates are mentioned be-
gradually passing into sandy steppe and rocky
low. The number given to each of the localities is
slopes with plenty of Artemisia and Thymus
connected to that on the map (Fig. 1).
at higher elevations (Fig. 4).
— 1: Russia, S-Buryatia, 51∞11–13´N 106∞10– — 7: Russia, S-Buryatia, 51∞28´N 106∞33´E,
12´E, 700 m, Hamar Daban Mountains, 600 m, lake Solyonoye. 26.VI.2002. A small
Murtoy river, Gusinoe ozero village 6 km NW. salt lake, surrounded by salt marshes and dry
19.–22.VI.2002. A foothill region of Hamar Artemisia steppes.
Daban Mountains. Rocky steppe slopes and — 8: Russia, SW-Buryatia, East Sayan
forest steppes (Fig. 2). Mountains, 900 m, Halagun river, Turan
— 2: Russia, S-Buryatia, 51∞09´N 106∞16´E, village 8 km W. 16.VI.2002. Mixed forest with
550 m, lake Gusinoe ozero. 18.VI.2002, small meadows.
23.VI.2002. Dry Artemisia steppe on the shore — 9: Russia, S-Buryatia, Ulan-Ude 10 km W,
of the lake. near Gurulba village, 700 m. 29.VI.2002.
— 3: Russia, S-Buryatia, 51∞37´N 106∞46´E, Forest steppes and meadows.
600 m, Hamar Daban Mountains, bolshoi
Sanzheevka river, Kharamsha village 2 km W.
27.–28.VI.2002. A small, partly rocky steppe 4. List of scythridid species
area at the foothills of Hamar Daban Mountains,
surrounded by conifer forests (Fig. 3). The species are presented in alphabetic order as
— 4: Russia, SW-Buryatia, 51∞47–48´N 100∞52– the family Scythrididae has not been revised and
55´E, East Sayan Mountains, 1500 m, Mondy the relationships within the family are not fully
village 2 km WNW. 13.VI.2002. A rocky understood. The grouping of the species inside
steppe slope. the genus follows that of Bengtsson (1997a). The
ENTOMOL. FENNICA Vol.14 • Scythirids of southern Buryatia 27
Fig. 2. Foothills of Hamar Daban Mountains near Fig. 3. Foothill steppe of Hamar Daban Mountains
Gusinoe Ozero. The habitat of Scythris felixi Bgts. & near Kharamsha village. The habitat of Scythris emichi
Sutter, S. hamardabanica sp. n., S. lativalvella Sinev, (Ank.), S. hamardabanica sp. n., S. minorella Sinev,
S. nitidella Sinev, S. potatorella sp. n., S. sibirella S. penicillata Chrét., S. potatorella sp. n. and S. sinevi
Sinev and S. sinevi sp. n. sp. n.
known distribution for each species is given, as
well as further notes on some poorly known taxa.
Scythris braschiella (Hofmann, 1889)
Russia, S-Buryatia, 51∞11–13´N 106∞10–12´E, 700 m, Hamar
Daban Mountains, Murtoy river, Gusinoe ozero village 6 km
NW, forest steppe, 1 £ 19.VI.2002, K. Nupponen leg.
Distribution. Germany, Greece, Turkey, Po-
land, Russia (S Ural, Altai).
Remarks. The examination of further speci-
mens from the Altai Mountains (Kuraiskaja step,
5 ££ 13.VII.2001, K. Nupponen leg.) confirmed
that the Altaian taxon is the true braschiella, de-
spite its large size (see K. & T. Nupponen 2001).
Fig. 4. Sandy steppe and rocky slopes in Chikoy
The specimens from Buryatia and Altai are exter-
valley near Novoselenginsk village. The habitat of S.
nally alike. This record extends the known distri- erinacella sp. n., S. gorbunovi sp. n., S.
bution range of S. braschiella 1400 km to the east. hamardabanica sp. n., S. malozemovi sp. n., S.
New to the Baikal region. minorella Sinev, S. ninae sp. n., S. potatorella sp. n.
and S. remexella K. Nupponen & Kaitila.
Scythris cassiterella (Snellen, 1884) village 2 km W, forest steppe, 1 £ 28.VI.2002, K. Nupponen
leg.
Russia, SW-Buryatia, 51∞47–48´N 100∞55–58´E, East Russia, S-Buryatia, Ulan-Ude 10 km W, near Gurulba
Sayan Mountains, 1450 m, Mondy village 2 km E, forest village, meadow/steppe, 700 m, 8 ££ 1 ¥ 29.VI.2002, K.
steppe, 5 ££ 7 ¥¥ 13.VI.2002, 1 £ 14.VI.2002, K. Nupponen leg.
Nupponen leg. Distribution. Russia (Altai, Tuva, Krasnojarskij
Russia, S-Buryatia, 51∞11–13´N 106∞10–12´E, 700 m, kraj, Baikal region, Amur).
Hamar Daban Mountains, Murtoy river, Gusinoe ozero vil-
Remarks. Scythris baikalensis Bengtsson &
lage 6 km NW, forest steppe, 10 ££ 12 ¥¥ 19.VI.2002,
1 £ 3 ¥¥ 22.VI.2002, K. Nupponen leg. Liòka, 1996 is a junior synonym of S. cassiterella
Russia, S-Buryatia, 51∞37´N 106∞46´E, 600 m, Hamar (see Sinev 2001). The species is abundant in vari-
Daban Mountains, bolshoi Sanzheevka river, Kharamsha ous kinds of steppe habitats.
28 Nupponen • ENTOMOL. FENNICA Vol. 14
Fig. 5. Imago (holotype) of Scythris erinacella sp. n.
Scythris emichi (Anker, 1870)
Russia, S-Buryatia, 51∞37´N 106∞46´E, 600 m, Hamar
Daban Mountains, bolshoi Sanzheevka river, Kharamsha
village 2 km W, forest steppe, 16 ££ 27.VI.2002, 14 ££
28.VI.2002, K. Nupponen leg.
Fig. 6. Male genitalia of Scythris erinacella sp. n.
Russia, S-Buryatia, Ulan-Ude 10 km W, near Gurulba
village, meadow/steppe, 700 m, 2 ££ 29.VI.2002, K. (paratype).
Nupponen leg.
Distribution. Hungary, Latvia, Russia (S Ural). malozemovi sp. n., S. gorbunovi sp. n., S.
Recently recorded also in lower Volga region in terekholensis Bengtsson, 1997 and some still
the vicinity of Sarepta (Volgograd obl., Volgograd undescribed taxa from Turkey. The male genita-
80 km NW, near Ilovla village, 5 exx. 02.VI.2001, lia structure resembles that of S. terekholensis (see
K. Nupponen leg.). Remarks), but differs in details. The valva of S.
Remarks. These records extend the known erinacella is shorter with roundish posterior half,
distribution range of S. emichi 3300 km to the east. the shape of gnathos is different and the tergum
New to the Baikal region and Asian part of Rus- VIII is triangular with more robust, sclerotized
sia. The host plant of the taxon is Gypsophila distal processes and weak lateral extensions.
patrinii Ser. in Siberia. Description. Wingspan 9.5–11.5 mm. Head
and thorax dark brown mixed with pale brown
scales. Antenna dark brown. Collar, tegula and
Scythris erinacella sp. n. neck tuft pale brown. Labial palp: segment I whit-
ish brown, segment II pale brown, segment III
Type material. Holotype: £ (Fig. 5): Russia, S- fuscous mixed with dirty whitish scales.
Buryatia, 50∞58–59´N 106∞38–40´E, 550–600 m, Haustellum whitish brown, basally darker. Fore-
Chikoy valley, Novoselenginsk village 10 km S, legs and midlegs dark brown with few paler scales.
sand dunes/sandy steppe, 25.VI.2002, K. Hindleg: femur whitish brown, distally with nar-
Nupponen leg. In coll. T. & K. Nupponen. row dark brown ring; tibia pale brown, at 0.9
Paratypes (8 ££): Same data as holotype, except moderately broad, distinct dark brown ring; tar-
for dates: 3 ££ 23.VI.2002, 1 £ 24.VI.2002, 1 £ sus fuscous, outer surface and distal 1/3 darker.
25.VI.2002. 3 ££ Russia, S-Buryatia, 51∞09´N Abdomen dorsally dark brown, posterior margin
106∞16´E, 550 m, lake Gusinoe ozero, steppe, of each segment paler; ventrally pale ochreous.
23.VI.2002, K. Nupponen leg. Genitalia slide: K. Forewing pale brown with darker areas at dorsal
Nupponen prep. no. 1/03.X.2002 (£). In coll. T. margin, around fold, near costal margin at 1/3 and
& K. Nupponen. 3/4, and at apex; indistinct black spots in fold at
Diagnosis. Externally S. erinacella sp. n. can 0.2, 0.4 and at cell end; white scales forming in-
be confused with many small, brown scythridids, distinct streak in fold from base to 2/3; scattered
for example S. hamardabanica sp. n., S. white scales occur also more or less frequently at
ENTOMOL. FENNICA Vol.14 • Scythirids of southern Buryatia 29
Fig. 7. Tergum VIII (left) and sternum VIII (right) of
Scythris erinacella sp. n. (paratype).
Fig. 8. Imago of Scythris felixi Bengtsson & Sutter,
basal 1/3 of dorsal area and in apical 1/5. Hindwing
1996 (pale form).
fuscous.
Male genitalia (Figs. 6–7). Uncus reduced.
Gnathos thick, slightly asymmetrical, basally
wide, terminally tapered with strongly sclerotized
subtriangular portion at tip; tip blunt. Aedeagus
thick, straight, basally enlarged. Valvae fused at
base, spatular, posterior half roundish and cov-
ered with slender and strongly sclerotized pegs.
Sternum VIII subrectangular. Tergum VIII
subtriangular; posterior margin sclerotized with
two thick, blunt processes; anterior margin con-
cave; lateral extensions slightly asymmetrical,
weakly sclerotized.
Female genitalia. Unknown. Fig. 9. Imago of Scythris felixi Bengtsson & Sutter,
1996 (dark form).
Bionomy. The specimens were collected in late
June in sandy steppes. The biology is unknown.
Distribution. Russia (S Buryatia). village 2 km W, forest steppe, 6 ££ 27.VI.2002, 6 ££
Etymology. The species name refers to the 28.VI.2002, K. Nupponen leg.
roundish valvae covered with pegs, resembling Distribution. Mongolia, Russia (Altai).
back of a hedgehog (Erinaceus sp.). Remarks. S. felixi is an externally variable
Remarks. S. erinacella sp. n. is a close rela- species. The ground colour of the forewings var-
tive of S. terekholensis Bengtsson, 1997, a spe- ies from pale greyish to blackish and the pattern
cies described from Tuva ca. 500 km WSW of from distinct to almost invisible (Figs. 8–9). The
Irkutsk. Both taxa belong to the complex of spe- size of the moth varies and most of the Buryatian
cies treated in Remarks of S. gorbunovi sp. n. (see specimens are larger (wingspan 11–15 mm) than
below). the type specimens from Mongolia. There seems
to be some variation also in the male genitalia,
especially in the shape of the subapical part of
Scythris felixi Bengtsson & Sutter, 1996 valva (Figs. 10–11). New to the Baikal region.
Russia, S-Buryatia, 51∞11–13´N 106∞10–12´E, 700 m,
Hamar Daban Mountains, Murtoy river, Gusinoe ozero vil- Scythris gorbunovi sp. n.
lage 6 km NW, forest steppe, 30 ££ 19.VI.2002, 14 ££
22.VI.2002, K. Nupponen leg. Type material. Holotype: £ (Fig. 12): Russia, S-
Russia, S-Buryatia, 50∞58–59´N 106∞38–40´E, 550–600 Buryatia, 50∞58–59´N 106∞38–40´E, 550–600 m,
m, Chikoy valley, Novoselenginsk village 10 km S, sand
dunes/sandy steppe, 1 £ 24.VI.2002, K. Nupponen leg. Chikoy valley, Novoselenginsk village 10 km S,
Russia, S-Buryatia, 51∞37´N 106∞46´E, 600 m, Hamar sand dunes/sandy steppe, 24.VI.2002, K.
Daban Mountains, bolshoi Sanzheevka river, Kharamsha Nupponen leg. In coll. T. & K. Nupponen.
30 Nupponen • ENTOMOL. FENNICA Vol. 14
Fig. 10. Male genitalia of Scythris felixi Bengtsson &
Fig. 12. Imago (holotype) of Scythris gorbunovi sp. n.
Sutter, 1996.
differ by the valvae with longer basal shaft and
convex inner margin, as well as by the shape of
gnathos; in tergum VIII the posterior margin is
without extensions and the sclerotized tip of lat-
eral process is wider, shaped like a hammer. The
female genitalia are close to those of S. hamatella
K. & T. Nupponen, 2001, but medioposterior in-
cision of sternum VII is slightly deeper and the
sclerotized tip of sterigma broader. See also Re-
marks.
Description. Wingspan 7.5–10 mm. Head,
antenna, collar, tegula and thorax fuscous. Neck
tuft and haustellum pale brown with a few dirty
whitish scales. Labial palp: segment I white; seg-
Fig. 11. Tergum VIII (left) and sternum VIII (right) of
Scythris felixi Bengtsson & Sutter, 1996. ment II and segment III fuscous, more (segment
II) or less (segment III) mixed with dirty white
scales. Legs: femur dirty whitish; tibia and tarsus
Paratypes (32 ££, 20 ¥¥): Same data as holotype, pale fuscous, inner surface paler; two indistinct
except for dates: 1 £ 23.VI.2002, 19 ££ 18 ¥¥ pale rings in hindleg tibia at medial and apical
24.VI.2002, 10 ££ 2 ¥¥ 25.VI.2002. 1 £ Rus- spurs, former one larger. Abdomen dorsally grey,
sia, S-Buryatia, 51∞11–13´N 106∞10–12´E, 700 m, in female terminal 2/5 ochreous; ventrally dirty
Hamar Daban Mountains, Murtoy river, Gusinoe white. Forewing fuscous; disconnected white
ozero village 6 km NW, forest steppe, 19.VI.2002, streak in fold from base to cell end, cut by three
K. Nupponen leg. 1 £ Buryatia, 54∞35´N moderately indistinct black spots at 0.2, 0.5 and
110∞48´E, Barguzin valley, Maisky village, 0.75; such black spot present also at cell end; white
500 m, sandy yard, 02.–03.VII.1996, Jalava & scales exist sparsely at dorsal side of basal area
Kullberg leg. Genitalia slides: K. Nupponen prep. and at apex. Hindwing pale fuscous, apically
no. 2/03.X.2002 (£), 4/04.X.2002 (¥); BÅB 703X darker, paler than forewing.
(£). Four further genitalia preparations preserved Male genitalia (Figs. 13–14). Uncus more or
in glycerol. Paratypes in the collections of T. & less reduced, remaining portion strongly
K. Nupponen, Bengt Å. Bengtsson, Zoological sclerotized, tip pointed. Gnathos asymmetrical,
Institute, St. Petersburg and Finnish Museum of lateral margin strongly sclerotized. Tegumen ex-
Natural History, University of Helsinki. tended left-posteriorly. Aedeagus thick and short,
Diagnosis. Externally S. gorbunovi sp. n. re- terminally bent and tapered. Valvae basally fused,
sembles S. malozemovi sp. n., S. erinacella sp. n. subbasally with stout narrow shaft; apical 4/5
and some other small, dark scythridids, but may spatular, elongate, setose; inner and outer margin
be separated by more fuscous forewings. The male slightly convex, apex rounded. Sternum VIII
genitalia are close to those of S. malozemovi, but subrectangular. Tergum VIII subtrapezoid, ante-
ENTOMOL. FENNICA Vol.14 • Scythirids of southern Buryatia 31
Fig. 14. Tergum VIII (left) and sternum VIII (right) of
Scythris gorbunovi sp. n. (paratype).
Fig. 13. Male genitalia of Scythris gorbunovi sp. n.
(paratype).
rior margin concave; one lateral process reduced,
another one hammer-like, distal extension of
which strongly sclerotized.
Female genitalia (Fig. 15). Sterigma triangu-
lar, anterior margin widely incised; posterior part
strongly sclerotized, triangular. Sternum VII
subrectangular; posterior margin, medially weakly
incised without sclerotization. Apophyses
anteriores 0.4 length of apophyses posteriores.
Bionomy. The specimens were collected in late
Fig. 15. Female genitalia of Scythris gorbunovi sp. n.
June. The habitat was a sandy steppe, and the taxon
(paratype).
occurred sympatrically with S. malozemovi sp. n.
The biology is unknown.
Distribution. Russia (S Buryatia). with medioposterior incision, often furnished with
Etymology. I dedicate this species to my friend sclerotization at ‘bottom’ of incision, exhibit
Mr. Pavel Gorbunov, a Russian lepidopterologist. specific traits. All of the species belonging to this
Remarks. S. gorbunovi sp. n. belongs to a group were described recently: S. albisaxella K.
group of closely related small, dark species hav- & T. Nupponen, 2000, S. arkaimensis Bengtsson,
ing very similar genitalia structure. In the male 2000, S. erinacella sp. n., S. cervella K. & T.
genitalia the following features are characteris- Nupponen, 2001, S. hamatella K. & T. Nupponen,
tic: basally fused, more or less spatular valvae, 2001, S. gorbunovi sp. n., S. kullbergi Bengtsson,
tegumen posteriorly extended to the left, strongly 1997, S. lagomorphella Junnilainen, 2002, S.
sclerotized asymmetrical gnathos, and usually malozemovi sp. n., S. sinevi sp. n., S. terekholensis
tergum VIII with a lateral arm being apically Bengtsson, 1997 and one still undescribed taxon
sclerotized. In the female genitalia a triangular from Turkey (Bengtsson in litt.). This complex of
sterigma with sclerotized tip and characters in the species might be assigned to the heterogeneous
posterior margin of sternum VII being elongate laminella-group.
32 Nupponen • ENTOMOL. FENNICA Vol. 14
Fig. 16. Imago (holotype) of Scythris hamardabanica
sp. n.
Scythris hamardabanica sp. n.
Type material. Holotype: £ (Fig. 16): Russia, S- Fig. 17. Male genitalia of Scythris hamardabanica sp.
n. (paratype).
Buryatia, 51∞11–13´N 106∞10–12´E, 700 m,
Hamar Daban Mountains, Murtoy river, Gusinoe
ozero village 6 km NW, forest steppe, nation of characters in the male genitalia (shape
22.VI.2002, K. Nupponen leg. In coll. T. & K. of uncus and valvae, a long gnathos with furrowed
Nupponen. Paratypes (25 ££, 2 ¥¥): Same data basal plate) indicate a relationship to S. elenae K.
as holotype, except for dates: 3 ££ 1 ¥ Nupponen, 2000, but valva of hamardabanica is
19.VI.2002, 6 ££ 22.VI.2002, K. Nupponen leg. broader and posterior margin of sternum VIII is
6 ££ Russia, S-Buryatia, 51∞09´N 106∞16´E, incised. In the female genitalia, the shape of ster-
550 m, lake Gusinoe ozero, steppe, 23.VI.2002, igma and an oval structure in sternum VII are char-
K. Nupponen leg. Russia, S-Buryatia, 50∞58– acteristic.
59´N 106∞38–40´E, 550–600 m, Chikoy valley, Description. Wingspan 10–11.5 mm. Head,
Novoselenginsk village 10 km S, sand dunes/ antenna and thorax dark brown. Collar and tegula
sandy steppe, 5 ££ 1 ¥ 24.VI.2002, K. brown with scattered whitish scales. Neck tuft
Nupponen leg. 1 £ Russia, S-Buryatia, 51∞28´N pale ocreous. Labial palp: segment I, basal part
106∞33´E, 600 m, lake Solyonoye, salt marsh/ of segment II and upper surface greyish white,
steppe, 26.VI.2002, K. Nupponen leg. Russia, otherwise dark brown. Haustellum brown mixed
S-Buryatia, 51∞37´N 106∞46´E, 600 m, Hamar with pale scales. Forelegs and midlegs pale
Daban Mountains, bolshoi Sanzheevka river, brown; hindlegs pale ochreous, tarsus darker.
Kharamsha village 2 km W, forest steppe, 1 £ Abdomen dorsally fuscous, in most specimens
27.VI.2002, 3 £ 28.VI.2002, K. Nupponen leg. with golden hue; ventrally dirty whitish. Fore-
Genitalia slides: K. Nupponen prep. no. 4/ wing brownish with many short, indistinct, black
03.X.2002 (£), 2/07.X.2002 (¥). In coll. T. & longitudinal streaks, more frequently in dorsal
K. Nupponen, Bengt Å. Bengtsson and Zoologi- and apical area; whole wing with scattered white
cal Institute, St. Petersburg. scales being more numerous at black streaks and
Diagnosis. Externally S. hamardabanica sp. more or less sparse elsewhere. Hindwing dark
n. resembles S. potatorella sp. n., but differs from fuscous.
that by more fuscous forewings without distinct Male genitalia (Figs. 17–18). Uncus roundish,
black streaks. Worn specimens may be confused distally incised. Gnathos base a subtriangular,
with many dark scythridids, for example S. furrowed plate; distal part long, tapered, terminal
erinacella sp. n. A good diagnostic character for 1/5 bent, tip pointed. Aedeagus long and slender,
hamardabanica is a golden hue of the dorsal side bent, pointed. Valva very broad, subapically
of abdomen, appearing in both sexes. The combi- broader than near base; apical 1/3 setose, bent
ENTOMOL. FENNICA Vol.14 • Scythirids of southern Buryatia 33
Fig. 18. Tergum VIII (left) and sternum VIII (right) of
Scythris hamardabanica sp. n. (paratype).
inwards and strongly tapered, tip pointed. Ster-
num VIII subtriangular; posterior margin deeply
incised; anterior margin slightly concave, ante-
rior corners extended outwards. Tergum VIII rec-
tangular, moderately membranous.
Female genitalia (Fig. 19). Sterigma stout, U-
shaped, shanks extended posterolaterally. Ostium Fig. 19. Female genitalia of Scythris hamardabanica
well marked, situated at anterior margin of ster- sp. n. (paratype).
igma. Sternum VII rectangular; posterior margin
medially concave and with sclerotized oval struc- Scythris karinupponeni Bengtsson, 2000
ture. Apophyses anteriores 0.6 length of apophy-
ses posteriores. Russia, S-Buryatia, 51∞37´N 106∞46´E, 600 m, Hamar
Bionomy. The specimens were collected in late Daban Mountains, bolshoi Sanzheevka river, Kharamsha
June. The species occurs in dry steppe habitats. village 2 km W, forest steppe, 4 ££ 1 ¥ 27.VI.2002, K.
Nupponen leg.
The biology is unknown.
Distribution. Russia (S Ural, Altai, Trans-
Distribution. Russia (S Buryatia).
baikalia, Magadan region, Primoriye).
Etymology. The name of the species refers to
Remarks. See Remarks of S. mikkolai below.
its geographical origin, foothills of the Hamar
Daban Mountains.
Remarks. S. hamardabanica sp. n. is a close
Scythris lativalvella Sinev, 2001
relative to S. elenae K. Nupponen, 2000 and be-
longs obviously to a specific species-group (see
Russia, S-Buryatia, 51∞11–13´N 106∞10–12´E, 700 m,
K. Nupponen et. al. 2000). However, both taxa
Hamar Daban Mountains, Murtoy river, Gusinoe ozero vil-
share features of the closely related knochella and lage 6 km NW, forest steppe, 2 ££ 19.VI.2002, 1 £
cicadella species-groups and possibly these three 22.VI.2002, K. Nupponen leg.
groups will be fused in the future. Distribution. Russia (Primoriye).
Remarks. These records extend the known
distribution range of S. lativalvella 2000 km to
Scythris hamatella K. & T. Nupponen, 2001 the west. New to the Baikal region.
Russia, SW-Buryatia, 51∞47–48´N 100∞52–55´E, East
Sayan Mountains, 1500 m, Mondy village 2 km WNW, Scythris macrourella Sinev, 2001
steppe, 20 ££ 13.VI.2002, K. Nupponen leg.
Distribution. Russia (Altai).
Russia, SW-Buryatia, 51∞47–48´N 100∞55–58´E, East
Remarks. Previously known only from the type Sayan Mountains, 1450 m, Mondy village 2 km E, forest
locality. New to the Baikal region. steppe, 3 ££ 1 ¥ 13.VI.2002, K. Nupponen leg.
34 Nupponen • ENTOMOL. FENNICA Vol. 14
Fig. 20. Imago (holotype) of Scythris malozemovi sp. n.
Russia, SW-Buryatia, East Sayan Mountains, 900 m,
Halagun river, Turan village 8 km W, mixed forest, 4 ££ 2
¥¥ 16.VI.2002, K. Nupponen leg.
Russia, S-Buryatia, 51∞11–13´N 106∞10–12´E, 700 m,
Hamar Daban Mountains, Murtoy river, Gusinoe ozero vil-
lage 6 km NW, forest steppe, 1 £ 19.VI.2002, K. Nupponen
leg.
Distribution. Russia (Primoriye, Sahalin,
Kamtsatka, Amur, Jakutia, Baikal region, Altai,
Tuva), Mongolia, North Korea.
Fig. 21. Male genitalia of Scythris malozemovi sp. n.
Scythris malozemovi sp. n. (paratype).
Type material. Holotype: £ (Fig. 20): Russia, S- female genitalia are close to those of S. sinevi sp.
Buryatia, 50∞58–59´N 106∞38–40´E, 550–600 m, n., but sclerotization at the tip of sterigma is less
Chikoy valley, Novoselenginsk village 10 km S, extended and medioposterior incision of sternum
sand dunes/sandy steppe, 24.VI.2002, K. VII shows a narrow sclerotized belt at ‘bottom’.
Nupponen leg. In coll. T. & K. Nupponen. See also Remarks of S. gorbunovi sp. n. above.
Paratypes (37 ££, 15 ¥¥): Same data as holotype, Description. Wingspan 9–10.5 mm. Head,
except for dates: 2 ££ 2 ¥¥ 23.VI.2002, 24 ££ antenna and thorax brown with a few paler scales.
11 ¥¥ 24.VI.2002, 10 ££ 2 ¥¥ 25.VI.2002. 1 £ Collar and tegula pale brown. Neck tuft whitish.
Russia, Tuva, Saryg-Sep, 17.VI.1976, Rezhnik Labial palp: segment I and II whitish, segment III
leg. Genitalia slides: K. Nupponen prep. no. 5/ brown with a few pale scales. Haustellum brown
03.X.2002 (£), 5/04.X.2002 (¥). Two further mixed with paler scales. Forelegs and midlegs dark
genitalia preparations preserved in glycerol. brown with scattered pale scales. Hindlegs whit-
Paratypes in the collections of T. & K. Nupponen, ish ochreous with following moderately distinct
Bengt Å. Bengtsson, Zoological Institute, St. dark brown rings: narrow ring at apex of femur;
Petersburg and Finnish Museum of Natural His- two large rings in tibia at 0.2 and 0.8; large rings
tory, University of Helsinki. in tarsus at base, 0.5 and at apex. Abdomen: dor-
Diagnosis. Externally S. malozemovi sp. n. sal side fuscous in male; in female basal 1/3 fus-
may be mixed with several small scythridids, for cous, medial half pale ochreous, terminal 1/6 dark
example S. erinacella sp. n. and S. gorbunovi sp. brown with pale ochreous lateral sides; ventrally
n.. The male genitalia are similar to those of S. whitish ochreous. Forewing pale brown; indistinct
gorbunovi, but differ in certain details: the valva white streak in fold from base to 3/4, cut by three
is shorter with straight inner margin and the shape small, black spots at 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6; black scales
of gnathos is different; in tergum VIII there are are more or less frequently present also near dor-
two digitate processes at posterior margin and the sal margin and at apex; a few white scales at apex.
sclerotized tip of lateral process is bifurcate. The Hindwing fuscous.
