Astrotischeria jociui Diskus & Stonis, 2020

Stonis, Jonas R., Diskus, Arūnas, Remeikis, Andrius, Solis, M. Alma & Katinas, Liliana, 2020, Exotic-looking Neotropical Tischeriidae (Lepidoptera) and their host plants, ZooKeys 970, pp. 117-158 : 117

publication ID

https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.970.54801

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:EAAFFA3F-EB72-413E-9450-A0A9B7844F14

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/FB1D5882-9D68-4613-9E67-6CFDABED85F8

taxon LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:act:FB1D5882-9D68-4613-9E67-6CFDABED85F8

treatment provided by

ZooKeys by Pensoft

scientific name

Astrotischeria jociui Diskus & Stonis
status

sp. nov.

Astrotischeria jociui Diskus & Stonis sp. nov. Figs 15-18 View Figures 15–21 , 38 View Figures 38–43 , 39 View Figures 38–43 , 50-59 View Figures 50–59 , 60-67 View Figures 60–67

Holotype.

male, pinned, with genitalia slide AD999. Labels: Peru, Urubamba Province, near Machu Picchu, 13°9'48"S, 72°32'10"W, elevation 2160 m, mining larva on Wissadula sp. ( Malvaceae ), 19 Oct 2008, field card no. 4945, A. Diškus (ZIN).

Diagnosis.

Externally, this new species can be confused with some other speckled Astrotischeria species, including the species described below. In the male genitalia, the unique shape of the bifid dorsal processes of valva (Figs 51 View Figures 50–59 , 56 View Figures 50–59 , 57 View Figures 50–59 ) and the unusually complex, angular apex of phallus with ventral spines (Figs 52-55 View Figures 50–59 , 59 View Figures 50–59 ) distinguishes A. jociui sp. nov. from all known congeneric species. In the female genitalia, the combination of wide processes of the prela (Figs 61 View Figures 60–67 , 63 View Figures 60–67 ) and proximally very long and slender corpus bursae differentiate the new species from other Astrotischeria taxa. This species is also distinctive because no other species in this genus is known to feed on Wissadula Medik. ( Malvaceae ), except for the South American Astrotischeria ochrimaculosa Diškus, Stonis & Vargas, which possesses very different male genitalia (see Stonis et al. 2019b).

Description.

Male (Fig. 38 View Figures 38–43 ). Forewing length 3.5-3.8 mm; wingspan 7.7-8.1 mm (n = 2). Head: frons and pecten ochre; frontal tuft and collar comprised of ochre and grey, ochre-tipped scales; antenna longer than one half the length of forewing; flagellum ochre, annulated with grey scales in proximal quarter, but grey distally. Tegula and thorax covered with ochre and grey, ochre-tipped scales. Forewing ochre to pale ochre, apically speckled with grey, ochre-tipped scales; fringe grey; forewing underside dark brown-grey, without spots or androconia. Hindwing and fringe grey on upper side and underside, without androconia. Legs dark brownish grey, with some ochre scales, especially numerous on underside and tarsi. Abdomen grey with some green and purple iridescence on upper side, brownish grey, with some pale ochre scales on underside; genital plates pale grey; anal tufts long, dark grey.

Male genitalia (Figs 50 View Figures 50–59 - 60 View Figures 60–67 ) with capsule 870-950 µm long, 500-510 µm wide. Uncus (Figs 50 View Figures 50–59 , 56 View Figures 50–59 ) comprised of two long, slender lobes. Socii small, paired, membranous. Valva (Figs 50 View Figures 50–59 , 51 View Figures 50–59 , 56-58 View Figures 50–59 ) ca. 610-620 µm long (excluding the basal process); dorsal lobe (Figs 51 View Figures 50–59 , 56 View Figures 50–59 ) greatly developed, bifid, curved dorsally; ventral lobe of valva with a unique spine-like process (Figs 56 View Figures 50–59 , 57 View Figures 50–59 , 60 View Figures 60–67 ). Anellus mostly membranous, thickened only laterally (Fig. 51 View Figures 50–59 ). Vinculum rounded distally (Fig. 50 View Figures 50–59 ). Phallus (Fig. 59 View Figures 50–59 ) ca. 505-520 µm long, apically very complex, angular (Fig. 55 View Figures 50–59 ), with a pair of spine-like processes (Figs 52-54 View Figures 50–59 ).

Female (Fig. 39 View Figures 38–43 ). Forewing length 2.8-3.1 mm; wingspan 6.2-6.8 mm (n = 2). Head similar to male, but frons and palpus pale ochre. Thorax similar to male, but thorax and forewing tend to be slightly darker and dark scales less contrast to main color of forewing. Abdomen similar to male, but without anal tufts, and with a protruding slender ovipositor.

Female genitalia (Figs 61-67 View Figures 60–67 ) ca. 2550 µm long. Ovipositor lobes large (Figs 63-65 View Figures 60–67 ), clothed with peg-like setae. Posterior apophyses slightly shorter than anterior ones (Figs 61 View Figures 60–67 , 63 View Figures 60–67 ); prela comprised of three pairs of unique projections (Figs 61 View Figures 60–67 , 63 View Figures 60–67 ). Corpus bursae with very slender and long (1020 µm) proximal part (Fig. 62 View Figures 60–67 ) and oval main body (Fig. 67 View Figures 60–67 ); pectination indistinctive. Ductus spermathaecae with many large coils (Fig. 66 View Figures 60–67 ).

Bionomics.

(Figs 15-18 View Figures 15–21 ). Host plant is Wissadula excelsior (Cav.) C. Presl., Malvaceae (Fig. 15 View Figures 15–21 ). Larvae mine leaves in October. The blotch-like mine (Figs 17 View Figures 15–21 , 18 View Figures 15–21 ) is irregular, usually white, fully transparent, without frass. Adults occur in late October - November.

Distribution.

This species is known from a single locality in Peru, Urubamba Province, near Machu Picchu, at the elevation 2000-2200 m (Fig. 16 View Figures 15–21 ), but the host plants have a much wider distribution (see Discussion).

Etymology.

The species is named in honor of Mr. Modestas Jocius (Vilnius, Lithuania), recognizing his understanding, continued support, and enthusiasm for biodiversity inventories in tropical countries.

Other material examined.

4 ♂, 4 ♀, paratypes: Peru, Urubamba Province, near Machu Picchu, 13°9'48"S, 72°32'10"W, elevation 2160 m, mining larvae on Wissadula sp. ( Malvaceae ), 19 Oct 2008, field card no. 4945, A. Diškus, genitalia slide nos AD922♂ (from adult in pupal skin, no moths preserved), AD976♂ (from adult in pupal skin, no moths preserved), AD997♀ (from adult in pupal skin, no moths preserved), AD977♂ (from adult in pupal skin, no moths preserved), AD978♀ (ZIN).