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
Myrtinepticula
Stonis
&
Diškus
,
subgen. nov.
(
Figs. 5, 6, 11, 12, 18, 19, 24, 25, 34–37, 45–51
,
58, 62
,
65–129
)
Type
species:
Simplimorpha
(
Myrtinepticula
)
cercaria
Diškus & Stonis,
sp. nov.
Diagnosis. From the subgenus
Simplimorpha
, s.g.
Myrtinepticula
differs by its usually strong purple or blue iridescence of adult scaling, the presence of four distal veins (two in
Simplimorpha
), the presence of semideveloped anal loop of the forewing (absent in
Simplimorpha
), three distal veins of hindwing (two in
Simplimorpha
), very elaborate basal part of the valva, the absence of transverse bar of transtilla with some exceptions (always present in
Simplimorpha
), slender phallus, greatly reduced corpus bursae, and the very wide anterior apophyses (slender in
Simplimorpha
). The feeding habit on
Myrtaceae
and its distribution in South America also make this new subgenus distinct compared to the subgenus
Simplimorpha
occurring in Africa and the Mediterranean and feeding on
Anacardiaceae
.
From subgenus
Roscidotoga
,
Myrtinepticula
differs by the presence of four distal veins (two in
Roscidotoga
), the presence of semi-developed anal loop of the forewing (absent in
Roscidotoga
), three distal veins of hindwing (two in
Roscidotoga
), very elaborate basal part of valva (see
Figs. 18, 19
), and the usual absence of transverse bar of transtilla (usually present in
Roscidotoga
). The host plants from
Myrtales
(i.e. Eurosids II / Malvids) and the distribution in South America also make new subgenus distinctive compared to the subgenus
Roscidotoga
that occurs in
Australia
and feeds
Oxalidales
(i.e. Eurosids I / Fabids).
Description. Adults with a collar comprised of piliform or lamellar scales. Head (
Figs. 88–90
) with a threesegmented labial palpus and five-segmented maxillary palpus. Forewing varying, from shiny without fascia (
Figs. 65, 66, 69, 74
) to dark with one shiny fascia (
Fig. 70
). Hindleg (
Figs. 91, 92
) with two pairs of spurs. Forewing venation with four terminal (apical) veins and half-presented/half-reduced anal loop (
Figs. 50
,
93, 94
); hindwing venation with three terminal veins (
Figs. 51
,
95
). Male genitalia: tegumen truncate or broadly rounded, setose (
Figs. 5, 6
); vinculum large, usually rounded or truncate (
Fig. 12
), sometimes with large lateral lobes (
Fig. 11
); valva slender, with a variously developed, elaborate basal part (
Figs. 18, 19
). Transtilla with a very weak, halfmembranous transverse bar (
Fig. 24
) or, usually, entirely without such (
Fig. 25
). Female genitalia: anterior apophyses very broad (
Figs. 46–49
); ductus spermathecae usually with many distinctive coils (
Figs. 45, 47
); corpus bursae greatly reduced (
Figs. 46, 47
), sometimes not preserved during slide preparations.
So far as known, larvae are leaf miners on
Myrtaceae
,
Myrtales, Malvids
(=Eurosids II) and produce a very long, contorted, linear leaf mine (
Figs. 58
,
109–116
), with most of the gallery filled with frass. Cocoon round, with a broad, flat rim (
Fig. 117
).
Currently the genus comprises four species, all of which occur in South America: three species from Patagonian Andes and one from the Peruvian Amazon (
Fig. 62
).
Etymology. The subgenus name is derived from the plant family
Myrtaceae
combined with
Nepticula
(synonymous name for the genus
Stigmella
) in reference to the feeding on
Myrtaceae
.