Revision of the Japanese species of Epicephala Meyrick with descriptions of seven new species (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae)
Author
Kawakita, Atsushi
Author
Kato, Makoto
text
ZooKeys
2016
568
87
118
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.568.6721
journal article
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.568.6721
1313-2970-568-87
F6635BDF82F64747B04FB3C7387D84BA
Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Gracillariidae
Epicephala bipollenella Li, Wang & Hu, 2012
Figs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Epicephala
sp. 2 (
Kato et al. 2003
);
Epicephala
sp. (
zeylanicum
) (
Kawakita et al. 2004
); Clade 6 (
Kawakita and Kato 2006
);
Epicephala
sp. ex
Glochidion zeylanicum
(
Kawakita and Kato 2009
);
Epicephala
sp. 5 (
Glochidion zeylanicum
) (
Kawakita et al. 2010
).
Diagnosis.
This species is distinctive among other species of
Epicephala
in that the anterior margin and midline of the seventh sternite of females have strong sclerotized wrinkles. The species is similar to
Epicephala lanceolatella
but can be distinguished from the latter by the apically rounded sacculus, stronger wrinkles on seventh sternite of females and broader lamella postvaginalis.
Description.
Description as in
Zhang et al. (2012a)
, except the following.
Head: Female proboscis with a large number of trichoid sensilla; sensilla 1.5
x
as long as width of proboscis, denser toward base.
Male genitalia: Aedeagus slightly curved downwardly; dorsal surface with a sclerotized longitudinal ridge beginning medially at base and curving left toward apex.
Material examined.
64♂, 51♀. JAPAN: Kagoshima Prefecture: Amami Island, Akakina, 3.vii.1999, 1♂, 1♀; Amami Island, Akakina, 2.x.2002, 1♂; Amami Island, Akakina, 23.xii.2004, 2♂, 1♀; Amami Island, Taira, 24.vi.2008, 2♂, 1♀; Okinawa Prefecture: Okinawa Island, Henoko, 13.vi.2004, 41♂, 32♀; Okinawa Island, Henoko, 15.vi.2015, 7♂, 9♀; Okinawa Island, Taiho, 13.vi.2004, 2♂, 1♀; Okinawa Island, Higashi, 13.vi.2004, 3♂, 4♀; Ishigaki Island, Omoto, 25.ix.2005, 1♂, 1♀; Iriomote Island, Funaura, 29.ix.2004, 3♂, 1♀; Iriomote Island, Sonai, 9.ix.2008, 1♂.
DNA barcodes.
AY221966-AY221971, AY525733, DQ299033-DQ299039.
Known host and adult behavior.
Known only from
Glochidion zeylanicum
. Pollination behavior present. Oviposition from apical stylar pit, in stylar tissue (Fig. 8C). Larva feeds on seeds.
Distribution.
Occurs widely throughout the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan (Fig. 9B). Known also from China (
Zhang et al. 2012a
).
Remarks.
Zhang et al. (2012a)
suggest that this species pollinates two
Glochidion
species (
Glochidion zeylanicum
and
Glochidion hirsutum
, hence the name
bipollenella
). However,
Glochidion hirsutum
is a name used to refer to hairy individuals of
Glochidion zeylanicum
, which occur in low frequency in some populations. Similar co-occurrence of glabrous and pubescent individuals is common in
Glochidion
(A. Kawakita, personal observation). This species is therefore better viewed as a specialist of
Glochidion zeylanicum
, at least in populations thus far studied.