A review of the genus Scrobipalpa Janse, 1951 (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae) in the Afrotropical region Author Bidzilya, Oleksiy V. text Zootaxa 2021 2021-11-19 5070 1 1 83 journal article 2814 10.11646/zootaxa.5070.1.1 1f9abb22-5370-4d38-bcd1-5595a8ec8e59 1175-5326 5712529 C503CE0D-7175-4D9C-8FF6-85A046A872B3 Scrobipalpa varivansoni sp. nov. Figs 45 , 116 Type material. Holotype ♂ , [ Namibia ] , Nababieb, C.P. , 13–14.viii.1961 , Vari & van Son (gen. slide 173/17, O. Bidzilya ) ( TMSA ). Diagnosis. The new species is nearly indistinguishable externally from S. asantesana sp. nov. , but it is larger (wingspan 14.0 mm vs to 9.2–11.0 mm) and has a more contrasting creamy-white subcostal pattern. The male genitalia are recognized by a combination of the valva far exceeding the top of uncus and a short sacculus. They are most similar to those of S. natalensis sp. nov. , from which they can be distinguished by their shorter tegumen, stronger curved valva, and broader vincular process. Description. Adult ( Fig. 45 ). Wingspan 14.0 mm. Head, thorax and tegulae covered with brown grey-tipped scales, frons light grey; labial palpus upcurved, palpomere 2 light grey to white, mottled with brown on lower surface, palpomere 3 light grey with diffuse medial and subapical rings; scape brown with greyish-white scales distally, flagellum brown, white-ringed; forewing covered with grey brown-tipped scales, diffuse creamy-white narrow longitudinal pattern under costal margin from base to about 2/3–3/4 length, indistinct brown spot at base under costal margin, diffuse black spots on 1/3 and 2/3 on mid-width, folds slightly mixed with light brown; cilia grey, black-tipped; hindwing and cilia light grey. Male genitalia ( Fig. 116 ). Uncus twice as long as broad, gradually narrowed apically, posterior margin rounded; gnathos short, weakly curved, culcitula well developed, elongated; tegumen elongated, anterior emargination extending to 1/4 length; valva broad at base, then nearly uniform in width, weakly narrowed in middle, gradually curved, extending far beyond top of uncus; sacculus slightly broader than valva in middle, about 1/8 length of valva, narrowed distally, subrectangular with distinct posterolateral corner, apex with pointed inward-curved tip, separated from valva by large triangular gap; vincular processes slightly shorter than sacculus, broad at base, distally very narrow, outwardly curved, separated from sacculus by broad gap; vinculum slightly broader than long, medial incision deep, triangular; saccus slender, evenly narrowed towards weakly rounded apex, extending slightly beyond top of pedunculus; distal portion of phallus straight, apex rounded with distinct, weakly curved hook, caecum moderately swollen, about 1/3 length of distal portion of phallus. Female genitalia. Unknown. Biology. Host plant unknown. The holotype was collected in mid-August. Distribution. Namibia . Etymology. The species is named in honor of Lajos Vári and Georg van Son, well-known South African lepidopterologists and former curators of Lepidoptera at the TMSA, who collected the holotype of new species.