American Asteraceae-feeding Astrotischeria species with a highly modified, three-lobed valva in the male genitalia (Lepidoptera, Tischeriidae)
Author
Jonas R. Stonis
Author
Arūnas Diškus
Author
Fernando Carvalho Filho
Author
Owen T. Lewis
text
Zootaxa
2018
2018-09-03
4469
1
1
69
journal article
29181
10.11646/zootaxa.4469.1.1
9a69324f-0dfb-463a-a399-070b030037af
1175-5326
1454525
42680994-585D-4230-B574-8DB398341B23
Astrotischeria ambrosiaeella
(Chambers, 1875)
(
Figs. 14
,
225–229
,
233
)
Tischeria ambrosiaeella
CHAMbERS, 1875: 112, 113.
Tischeria ambrosiaeella
CHAMbERS,
in
FORbES (1923: 147); BRAUN (1972: 77–79).
Tischeria ambrosiella
WALSINGHAM, 1890: 325. MISSPELLING.
Astrotischeria ambrosiaeella
(CHAMbERS); DIŠKUS & PUPLESIS (2003: 427).
FIGURES 225–229.
Astrotischeria ambrosiaeella
(CHAMbERS, 1875)
, KIRKWOOD, ST. LOUIS, ON
Ambrosia trifida
, 13.Ix.1886, WALSINGHAM COLLECTION (BMNH). 225, MALE ADULT; 226, MALE GENITALIA WITH PHALLUS REMOVED, GENITALIA SLIDE NO. 28951; 227, 228, SAME, LATERAL VIEW OF VALVA; 229, SAME, PHALLUS.
FIGURES 230–232.
Astrotischeria occidentalis
(BRAUN, 1972), MALE GENITALIA (AFTER BRAUN 1972, MODIFIED). 230, CAPSULE WITH PHALLUS AND RIGHT VALVA REMOVED; 231, RIGHT VALVA; 232, PHALLUS.
Material examined.
1 ♂
,
1 ♀
,
USA
:
Missouri
, Kirkwood, St. Louis, mining larvae on
Ambrosia trifida
(Asteraceae)
,
13.ix.1886
, ex. pupa
9.i.1890
, Lord Walshingham Collection (
BMNH
);
1 ♂
,
1 ♀
, same label but without host-plant data, [leg. Miss Murtfeldt], Lord Walshingham Collection, genitalia slide nos 28951
♂
, 28962
♀
(
BMNH
).
Diagnosis.
The species belongs to the
Astrotischeria trilobata
group. The combination of the very distinctive, unique, horn-shaped dorsal lobes of valva (see
Figs. 226–228
), unique shape of the phallus (see
Fig. 229
), and a rather large but short uncus in the male genitalia distinguishes
A. ambrosiaeella
from all other
Astrotischeria
, including other members of the
A. trilobata
group. The fact that it feeds on
Ambrosia
also makes this species rather distinctive.
Male
(
Fig. 225
). Forewing about
3.5–3.6 mm
; wingspan about
7.5–7.7 mm
. For a description see Braun Braun 1972: 77, 78.
Female.
Similar to male.
Male genitalia
(
Figs. 226–229
). Desribed in Braun 1972: 78.
Female genitalia.
Described and illustrated in Braun 1972: 78,
Fig. 39
(only apophyses and prela).
Bionomics.
Host plants:
Ambrosia trifida
L.,
A. artemisiifolia
L., also possibly
A. psilostachya
DC. (Braun 1972). Leaf mine is an irregular, elongated blotch, usually between two veins (illustrated in Braun 1972:
Fig. 49
). Larvae recorded from July, September and October; adults from August–November (Braun 1972: 78).
Distribution
(
Fig. 233
).
USA
(
Pennsylvania
,
Ohio
,
Kentucky
,
Missouri
,
California
).