Acalyptris statuarius Diškus & Stonis, 2013

Stonis, Jonas R., Diškus, Arūnas, Remeikis, Andrius, Noreika, Remigijus & Schuster, Jack, 2013, Four new leaf-mining Acalyptris species from Guatemala and Belize, with new data on bionomics of Stigmella pruinosa (Lepidoptera: Nepticulidae), Zootaxa 3737 (2), pp. 101-117 : 109

Acalyptris statuarius Diškus & Stonis , sp. nov.

( Figs 35–47 )

Type material. Holotype: ♂, BELIZE: Caribbean Archipelago, Ambergris Cay, 17°56'N, 87°57'W, elevation ca. 4 m, coastal bush, mining larvae 11.ii.2012, ex pupae iii.2012, field card no. 5086, LT-GT Scientific Expedition, genitalia slide no. AD520 (ZMUC). Paratype: ♂ (ex developed pupa, no pinned adults/moths available), same label data as holotype, genitalia slide no. AD519 (ZMUC).

Diagnosis. In male genitalia this new species differs from all known Acalyptris (including the Neotropical species) in the very specialized paired juxta with two spine-like processes on each rounded lobe. The combination of large inner process on valva, very long lateral lobes of vinculum and apically broadened and elaborate aedeagus of Acalyptris statuarius , sp. nov. also is unique among Acalyptris .

Male ( Figs 39, 40 ). Forewing length 1.7 mm, wingspan 3.6 mm (n=1). Head: palpi grey; frontal tuft dark orange; collar unknown (absent or rubbed in the type series); eye-caps grey-cream; antenna with ca. 27 segments, slightly shorter than half of forewing; flagellum grey to pale brown on upper side, grey-cream to cream on underside. Thorax, tegulae and forewings pale grey, speckled with brown to fuscous scales; these dark scales more prominent in apical half of forewing; two postmedian and one small distal spot weakly defined, cream with some ochre tinge; cilia white-grey to grey apically, grey to dark grey, at certain angle with ochre-brown tinge and bluish iridescence on tornus; underside of forewing dark grey, with some bluish tinge. Hindwings and its cilia grey, with no androconia, underside of hindwing with some bluish tinge. Legs cream to grey, with grey-brown darkening on upper side. Abdomen pale brown on upper side, brown cream on underside.

Female. Unknown.

Male genitalia ( Figs 42–47 ). Capsule longer (260–275 µm) than wide (140–145 µm). Vinculum with two slender but very long (80–100 µm) lateral lobes. Pseuduncus very broad, truncate ( Figs 42, 45 ). Uncus with small caudal projection and slender heavily sclerotized lateral (posterior) arms ( Figs 42, 45 ). Gnathos with weakly sclerotized triangular caudal process and narrow heavily sclerotized arms ( Figs 42, 45 ). Valva ( Fig. 43 ) 115–120 m long, narrow, with broad trianguliar basal projection and long slender sublateral process; transverse bar of transtilla absent. Juxta paired ( Fig.46 ); each body comprises a complex basal element and two caudal processes (one 40–45 µm long, other twice or three times shorter, 15–20 µm) ( Figs 46, 47 ). Aedeagus ( Figs 44, 45 ) 235–240 µm long, 75–80 µm wide, strongly sclerotized, with very large and very complex apical carinae and two shorter, lobe-like lateral carinae ( Fig. 44 ).

Bionomics. Mines in leaves ( Figs 37, 41 ). Host-plant unknown (unidentified) ( Fig. 36 ). Egg on upper side of the leaf. Larvae mine in February. Sinuous or contorted gallery of mine filled with dark brown to blackish frass ( Fig. 41 ). Larva pale yellow, with yellowish brown intestine. Larval exit slit on upper side of the leaf. Cocoon beige-brown; length 1.4, maximal width 0.9 mm ( Fig. 38 ). Adults emerged in March.

Distribution. Coast region of Belize ( Fig. 35 ). Occurs in the coastal tropical bush ( Fig. 36 ).

Etymology. The species name is derived from Latin statuaries (a sculpture) or statuarius (a sculptor) in reference to the unique and very complex (sculpture-like) structures of juxta and carinae.

Figures

FIGURES 35 – 41. Acalyptris statuarius Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov. 35, currently known distribution; 36, habitat; 37, host-plant; 38, cocoon. Scale 1 mm. 39, 40, male adult, holotype. Scale 1 mm; 41, leaf-mine.

FIGURES 42 – 47. Acalyptris statuarius Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov., male genitalia. 42, capsule, holotype, genitalia slide no. AD 520. Scale 100 µm; 43, valva, paratype, genitalia slide no. AD 519. Scale 100 µm; 44, aedeagus, holotype, genitalia slide no. AD 520. Scale 100 µm; 45, general view of genitalia with aedeagus inside capsule, paratype, genitalia slide no. AD 519. Scale 125 µm; 46, juxta, ventral view, holotype, genitalia slide no. AD 520. Scale 50 µm; 47, same, dorsal view. Scale 75 µm.