A Gondwanan concept of Simplimorpha Scoble (sensu lato): a step toward clarity in the generic diagnostics of global Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera) Author Stonis, Jonas R. Author Diškus, Arūnas Author Remeikis, Andrius Author Solis, M. Alma text Zootaxa 2018 2018-11-14 4521 2 151 182 journal article 27966 10.11646/zootaxa.4521.2.1 3dad7d04-f7c6-4300-9240-8f2e44d0c257 1175-5326 2609733 B8EA1721-D5EF-4605-BA03-93E3CF255E3E Subgenus Simplimorpha Scoble, 1983 ( Figs. 1, 2, 7, 8, 13, 14, 20, 21, 26–28, 38–40 , 52–55 , 59, 60, 62–64 ) Type species: Stigmella lanceifoliella Vári, 1955 : 331 , 332. Diagnosis. From s.g. Roscidotoga Hoare , s.g. Simplimorpha differs by the lack of shiny markings on forewing, the presence of two distal veins on forewing (three in Roscidotoga ), valva with a ventral lobe (without a lobe in Roscidotoga ), and the slender anterior apophyses in the female genitalia (anterior apophyses very wide in Roscidotoga ). The feeding preference on Anacardiaceae , Sapindales (Malvids / Eurosids II), and the South African-Mediterranean distribution make Simplimorpha distinctive compared with s.g. Roscidotoga that occurs in Australia and feeds on Cunoniaceae and Elaeocarpaceae , Oxalidales (Eurosids I / Fabids). From Myrtinepticula subgen. nov. , s.g. Simplimorpha differs by the absence of strong purple or blue iridescence of adult scaling, the presence of two distal veins (four in Myrtinepticula ), the absence of anal loop of forewing, presence of two distal veins of hindwing (three in Myrtinepticula ), presence of transverse bar of transtilla (usually absent in Myrtinepticula ), wide phallus (slender in Myrtinepticula ), small corpus bursae (greatly reduced in Myrtinepticula ), and the slender anterior apophyses (very broad in Myrtinepticula ). Simplimorpha is distinctive because it feeds on Anacardiaceae (Sapindales) and is distributed in Africa and the Mediterranean in contrast to Myrtinepticula subgen. nov. that feeds on Myrtaceae (Myrtales) and is distributed in South America. Description. Adults with collar comprised of piliform or lamellar scales. Forewing with distinctive pale scales ( Figs. 63, 64 ). Forewing venation ( Figs. 52–54 ) with four veins on Rs+M stem, or two veins distally. Male genitalia: tegumen wide, truncate, laterally setosae ( Figs. 1, 2 ); vinculum large, rounded ( Figs. 7, 8 ); valva slender, with a basal part little or greatly extended in the shape of ventral lobe ( Figs. 13, 14 ); transtilla with a transverse bar (1) weakly chitinized uncus is preserved in S. nielseni , see further for Figs. 97–99 FIGURES 50–57. Wing venation of Simplimorpha Scoble, 1983 ( sensu lato ). 50, S. nielseni , forewing, Hua-Hum, Argentina, slide RA619; 51, same, hindwing; 52, 53, S. promissa , forewing, Crimea, Europe, temporary slide, LEU; 54, lanceifoliella , forewing (modified after Scoble 1983); 55, same, hindwing; 56, S. eucryphiae , forewing (modified after Hoare 2000); 57, same, hindwing Remarks: yet although the wing venation in general is valuable it is not without its limitations: independent losses are likely; being extreme tiny moths, the venation can be rather easily got reduced even in cases of related species (Figs. 53, 54) or, occassionally, within same species (Puplesis & Robinson 2000). Note that the morphological structures are drawn in different scales. FIGURES 1–49. Details of genitalia morphology of Simplimorpha Scoble, 1983 ( sensu lato ). 1–6, tegumen: 1, S. promissa (modified after van Nieukerken 1986); 2, S. lanceifoliella (modified after Vári 1955); 3, S. callicomae (modified after Hoare 2000); 4, S. eucryphiae (modified after Hoare 2000); 5, S. cercaria , Osorno , Chile, slide AD707; 6, S. kailai , Satipo , Peru, slide AD935; 7–12, tegumen and vinculum: 7, S. promissa (modified after van Nieukerken 1986); 8, S. lanceifoliella (modified after Vári 1955); 9, S. eucryphiae (modified after Hoare 2000); 10, S. sapphiripes (modified after Hoare 2000); 11, S. kailai , Satipo , Peru, slide AD935; 12, S. cercaria , Osorno , Chile, slide AD707; 13–19, valva: 13, S. promissa (modified after van Nieukerken 1986); 14, S. lanceifoliella (modified after Vári 1955); 15, S. callicomae (modified after Hoare 2000); 16, S. eucryphiae (modified after Hoare 2000); 17, S. sapphiripes (modified after Hoare 2000: Fig. 19); 18, S. kailai , Satipo , Peru, slide AD935; 19, S. cercaria , Osorno , Chile, slide AD707; 20–25, transtilla: 20, S. promissa , the Crimea, Europe, slide AD938; 21, S. lanceifoliella (modified after Vári 1955); 22, S. eucryphiae (modified after Hoare 2000); 23, S. sapphiripes (modified after Hoare 2000); 24, S. kailai , Satipo , Peru, slide AD935; 25, S. cercaria , Osorno , Chile, slide AD707; 26–37, phallus and cathrema: 26, S. promissa , the Crimea, Europe, slide AD938; 27, 28, S. lanceifoliella (modified after Vári 1955); 29, S. callicomae (modified after Hoare 2000); 30, S. lamingtonia (modified after van Nieukerken et al . 2011); 31, S. callicomae (modified after Hoare 2000); 32, S. eucryphiae (modified after Hoare 2000); 33, S. sapphiripes (modified after Hoare 2000); 34, S. cercaria , Osorno , Chile, slide AD707; 35, S. nielseni , Lago Lacar , Argentina, slide RA621; 36, 37, S. kailai , Satipo , Peru, slide AD935; 38–49, details of female genitalia: 38, 39, S. promissa (modified after Laštůvka & Laštůvka 1997); 40, S. lanceifoliella (modified after Vári 1955); 41, S. callicomae (modified after Hoare 2000); 42, S. sapphiripes (modified after Hoare 2000); 43, S. callicomae (modified after Hoare 2000); 44, S. eucryphiae (modified after Hoare 2000); 45, 46, S. cercaria , Osorno , Chile, slide AD709; 47, S. sapphirella , Cauquenes , Chile, slide RA594; 48, S. nielseni , Hua-Hum , Argentina, slide RA619; 49, S. cercaria , Osorno , Chile, slide AD709. * Character states hypothesized as apomorphic indicated by an asterisk Note: the morphological structures are drawn in different scales FIGURES 58–64. Simplimorpha Scoble, 1983 ( sensu lato ). 58–61, examples of leaf mines: 58, S. nielseni , Hua-Hum , Argentina, ZMUC; 59, S. lanceifoliella (modified after Vári 1955); 60, S. promissa , Crimea , Europe, LEU; 61, S. sapphiripes , S. callicomae and S. eucryphiae (modified after Hoare 2000); 62, distribution map; 63, 64, adult of S. promissa (Staudinger, 1870) , currently the only Simplimorpha species known from the Northern Hemisphere (courtesy of Peter Buchner, Schwarzau am Steinfeld, Austria). Note: the plant taxa names follow APG IV (2016) and Stevens (2017) * approximate, without details, distribution area of S. promissa FIGURES 65–74. Adults of new Simplimorpha ( Myrtinepticula ) species. 65, S. cercaria Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov. , male paratype; 66, same, other male paratype; 67, same, abdomen; 68, S. nielseni Remeikis & Stonis , sp. nov. , male paratype, abdomen; 69, same, male holotype; 70, S. kailai Stonis sp. nov , male holotype; 71–74, S. sapphirella Remeikis & Stonis , sp. nov. , female holotype (ZMUC) ( Figs. 20, 21 ); phallus with a juxta-like ventral process ( Figs. 26, 28 ), and cathrema with or without spines ( Fig. 27 ). Female genitalia: anterior apophyses slender ( Figs. 38, 40, 40 ); ductus spermathecae with many distinctive coils ( Fig. 39 ); corpus bursae small ( Fig. 38 ), sometimes not preserved during slide preparation. Larvae are leaf miners on Anacardiaceae ( Sapindales, Malvids or =Eurosids II). Currently the subgenus comprises species, occurring either in Africa or Mediterranean ( Fig. 62 ).