Bryotropha Mundella (Douglas): A New Synonym of Bryotropha Umbrosella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae)

Abstract

consists of almost 80 nominal species, about 40 of which are currently recognised as valid. The genus has never been revised, and especially in the southwestern part of the palaearctic region there are a number of undescribed species. Even among specialists, Bryotropha is regarded as one of the more difficult genera of Microlepidoptera. Pierce and Daltry (1938) divided the genus into two subgenera, Bryotropha s. str. and Mniophaga Pierce & Daltry, 1938. In the subgenus Bryotropha the male genitalia have a strong, specialised gnathos while the female genitalia have a plate-like signum with two transverse ridges (Sattler 1971). The subgenus Mniophaga was reserved for species in which the male has a rather small gnathos and the female a plate-like signum with strong spikes at the corners. There are, however, intermediate taxa, and Sattler (loc. cit.) concluded that a subdivision of Bryotropha is unjustified. Differences in the genitalia are distinct between members of the first group (‘subgenus’ Bryotropha), but less distinct between species of the second group (‘subgenus’ Mniophaga) (Rutten, in press). The latter include the small, ‘dark’ Bryotropha species of northern and central Europe, which often cause much confusion. The light coloured B. mundella (Douglas) also belongs to this group and this moth is the subject of the present paper. According to the original description by Douglas (1850), the distinct feature of B. mundella is its light greyish ground colour which distinguish this moth from other members of the genus. Over the years, however, the name B. mundella has been given to a whole range of small Bryotropha with ground colour varying from nearly white to dark grey. Doubts were raised whether all these forms are representatives of B. mundella (see e.g. Pierce & Daltry 1938). Unfortunately, individual variations within Bryotropha species are poorly investigated and the genitalia of B. mundella have never been properly described. The drawings published by Pierce and Metcalfe (1935) are not suited for an identification. In the best study on Bryotropha so far, Svensson (1962) describes the genitalia of B. mundella as resembling those of B. umbrosella (Zeller). The description and drawings of B. mundella given in Piskunov (1990: 970, 977) probably refer to B. affinis or B. similis (Stainton). Specimens identified by Piskunov as B. mundella and examined by us belonged to B. similis. B. mundella is a rather scarce moth, especially on mainland Europe. Only a handful were known from