Astrotischeria casila Diškus & Stonis, 2018

Stonis, Jonas R., Diškus, Arūnas, Remeikis, Andrius & Lewis, Owen T., 2020, Exceptional diversity of Tischeriidae (Lepidoptera) from a single tropical forest site in Belize, Central America, European Journal of Taxonomy 723, pp. 33-76 : 52-54

Astrotischeria casila Diškus & Stonis, 2018

Figs 16 , 85–86

Astrotischeria casila Diškus & Stonis in Stonis et al., 2018a: 37 , 43, figs 127–159.

Tischeria sp. 9 – Lewis et al. 2002: 872.

Diagnosis

External characters are not sufficient for the identification of this species. In the male genitalia, the combination of a unique, helmet-like anellus, a large dorsal lobe on the uncus and weakly divided apical lobes of the phallus in the male genitalia distinguishes A. casila from all other congeneric species.

Material examined

Holotype

BELIZE • ♂; Cayo District, Chiquibul Forest Reserve, Las Cuevas ; 16°43′53″ N, 88°59′11″ W; alt. 550 m; 29 Jun. 1998; O.T. Lewis leg.; mining larvae on Montanoa atriplicifolia (Pers.) Sch.Bip. (Asteraceae); field card no. 3954-29/6; genitalia slide no. 010316219♂ (former no. AD939); NHMUK 010289244 .

Paratypes

BELIZE • 9 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀; same locality and host-plant data as for holotype; 2 Apr. 1998 and 13 Jun.–12 Jul. 1998; O.T. Lewis leg.; field card nos 2850, 3676 to 3679, 3944, 3953, 4202, 4247, 2.096, 3.030, 23.029, 27.046, 30.026; genitalia slide nos 010316220♂ (former no. AD849), 010316221♂ (former no. AD295), 010316223♀ (former no. AD940); NHMUK 010289245 to 010289253 and NHMUK 010289255 to 010289260 • 1 ♂; Cayo District, San Ignacio , secondary forest; 17°09′15″ N, 89°04′04″ W; alt. 85 m; 17–18 Apr. 1998; R. Puplesis and S.R. Hill leg.; at light; genitalia slide no. 010316222♂ (former no. AD934); NHMUK 010289254 .

Description

The species was described and illustrated by Stonis et al. (2018a: 37, 43, figs 127–159).

Biology

Host plant: Montanoa atriplicifolia (Pers.) Sch.Bip. (Asteraceae) . The leaf mine is a blotch which forms a translucent window in the leaf. This species was listed as ‘ Tischeria sp. 9’ by Lewis et al. (2002). Of 213 mines reared successfully, 59 (27.7%) produced parasitoids.

Flight period

Based on reared specimens from Las Cuevas, adults occur during April and June–October.

Distribution

Currently known only from the Cayo District of Belize (Las Cuevas and San Ignacio).

Figures

Figs 6–20. Tischeriidae collected in Las Cuevas, Belize. 6. Astrotischeria papilloma sp. nov., head, paratype (NHMUK 010289202). 7. Same, holotype (010289201). 8. Same, paratype (010289202). 9. A. scutifera sp. nov., holotype (010289214). 10. Same, paratype, hindwing (010289218). 11. Same, paratype (010289221). 12. A. basilobata sp. nov., holotype (010289226). 13. Same, frontal tuft. 14. Same, dorso-lateral view. 15. A. selvica, paratype (010289241). 16. A. casila, holotype (010289244). 17. A. furcata, holotype (010289261). 18. Paratischeria robinsoni sp. nov., holotype (010289262). 19. Same, paratype (010289269). 20. Same, paratype (010289270).

Figs 83–89. Male genitalia of Astrotischeria spp. (NHMUK). 83. A. selvica Diškus, Carvalho-Filho & Stonis, 2018, capsule with phallus removed, holotype (genitalia slide no. AD920). 84. Same, phallus, paratype (genitalia slide no. AD919). 85. A. casila Diškus & Stonis, 2018, capsule with phallus removed, holotype (genitalia slide no. AD939). 86. Same, phallus. 87. A. furcata Diškus & Stonis, 2018, capsule with phallus removed, holotype (genitalia slide no. AD925). 88. Same, lateral view of capsule. 89. Same, phallus.