Stigmella virginica Remeikis & Stonis

Stonis, Jonas R., Remeikis, Andrius, Diškus, Arūnas & Megoran, Nick, 2017, New species of leaf-mining Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera) from the Neotropical and Ando-Patagonian regions, with new data on host plants, Zootaxa 4272 (1), pp. 1-39 : 29

Stigmella virginica Remeikis & Stonis , sp. nov.

( Figs 1 , 108–111 )

Type material. Holotype: ♂, BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS, Guana Island , elevation ca. 0–80 m, 5–23.vii.1985, S. E. & P. M. Miller, genitalia slide no. RA 660♂ ( USNM) .

Diagnosis. The combination of a unique band of cornuti in the phallus ( Fig. 111 ), two small apical processes of valva, long slender sublateral processes of transtilla, very short vinculum with minute lateral lobes, distinctly lobated uncus, and a speckled forewing with cream, ill-defined subapical fascia distinguishes S. virginica sp. nov. from all other Stigmella .

Male ( Fig. 108 ). Forewing length about 1.7 mm; wingspan about 3.8 mm. Head: palpi cream; frontal tuft very pale orange; collar very large, cream; scape cream; antenna slightly shorter than half the length of forewing; flagellum with 25–26 segments, grey on upper side and underside. Thorax and tegula with some gloss, densely speckled with dark grey and dark grey-brown scales (except distal margin of thorax which remains cream). Forewing cream, slightly glossy, sparsely speckled with dark grey and dark grey-brown scales; fascia of forewing subapical, cream, ill-defined; fringe pale grey to grey cream, distally cream; underside of forewing dark browngrey, except grey elongated scaleless area along dorsum; no androconia. Hindwing pale grey to grey cream on upper side, grey on underside, without spots or androconia; its fringe pale grey. Legs grey on upper side, cream, glossy on underside. Abdomen almost black on upper side, yellowish cream on underside; genital segments cream; anal tufts short, black.

Female. Unknown.

Male genitalia ( Figs 109–111 ). Capsule longer (230 µm) than wide (145 µm). Uncus with two distinctive lobes. Gnathos with two closely juxtaposed caudal processes and very slender plate. Valva 190 µm long, 50 µm wide, with two very small apical processes; transtilla with long and slender sublateral processes. Vinculum with minute lateral lobes and very short ventral plate. Phallus ( Fig. 111 ) 180 µm long, 60–65 µm wide; vesica with a band of numerous close-set small cornuti: slender, spine-like in distal half, minute dentate plate-like cornuti in proximal half of the phallus.

Bionomics. Adults fly in July. Can be attracted to light. Otherwise biology unknown.

Distribution ( Figs 1 ). This species known only from Guana Island ( British Virgin Islands).

Etymology. The species is named after the Virgin Islands, a British overseas territory in the Caribbean.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Distribution map to the species treated in the current paper.

FIGURES 108 – 111. Stigmella virginica Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov. 108, male adult, holotype; 109, 110, male genitalia, slide no. RA 660, holotype, capsule with phallus removed; 111, same, phallus (ZMUC).