Systematics, revisionary taxonomy, and biodiversity of Afrotropical Lithocolletinae (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae)
Author
Prins, Jurate De
Author
Kawahara, Akito Y.
text
Zootaxa
2012
2012-12-20
3594
1
1
283
http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3594.1.1
journal article
20704
10.11646/zootaxa.3594.1.1
79af20a5-77f9-4240-ac45-e27fab775ca1
11755334
6052126
B00799F3-F397-438C-B1E1-A8440E636921
The
achilleus
group
The
achilleus
group includes a single species,
P. achilleus
. This species is placed in its own species group because its wing pattern and male genitalia characters are like no other
Phyllonorycter
. Adults belonging to the
achilleus
species group can be distinguished by a forewing pattern unique among African
Phyllonorycter
: very long basal streak, slightly shorter than 1/2 of the forewing length, semiround basal dorsal patch, narrow oblique costal and dorsal strigulae and three small narrow straight costal strigulae in apical sector of forewing. Male genitalia are distinguished by a narrow valva bearing a large sharp spine at cucullus, an incomplete transtilla, a broad vinculum without an extended saccus, a very long tegumen, and a long and narrow sternum VIII. Female genitalia lack a developed sclerotized sterigma, the posterior apophyses are broad basally and slender distally, the anterior apophyses are short, originating at the anterior margin of segment VIII, the ostium bursae opens in the anterior portion of segment VII, and the corpus bursae has an oblonge, weakly sclerotized signum area bearing a signum. Larvae of the
achilleus
species group feed on
Rosaceae
.