Bonagota salubricola (Meyrick)

Fig. 41

Eulia salubricola Meyrick, 1931b: 153 .

Phtheochroa cranaodes Meyrick, 1937: 149; Clarke, 1963: 32. New Synonymy.

Bonagota salubricola: Razowski, 1986: 23; Razowski and Becker, 2000: 67.

Bonagota cranaodes: Razowski, 1986: 23; Park et al., 1998: 2583; Coracini et al., 1999: 43; Eiras et al. 1999: 595; Razowski and Becker, 2000: 67.

Discussion. Eulia salubricola was described from one male and one female from Buenos Aires, Argentina (“unpublished” lectotype male in NHMW) and Phtheocroa cranaodes from a single female from Tigre, Argentina (holotype in BMNH). Although the synonymy of the two has been suspected (e.g., specimen labels by J. Clarke; unpublished studies by J. Pastrana; Razowski and Becker 2000), it has not been investigated thoroughly. In addition to the types cited above, we have examined 7 males and 5 females of Bonagota from Argentina (with males and females associated by collecting localities), and all are within the range of variation one would expect at the species level (Fig. 41). The females are similar to the holotype of P. cranaodes, and the males are similar to the lectotype of E. salubricola; on this basis we synonymize the two. Because E. salubricola has priority the correct name is Apotomops salubricola .

This species has become an important pest of apples in Brazil. Work on the sex pheromones has been conducted by Park et al. (1998), Coracini et al. (1999), Eiras et al. (1999), and Yadav and Reddy (2000); limited investigations on parasitoids have been reported by Querino et al. (2002).

Types. Lectotype ɗ ( salubricola), Argentina, Buenos Aires, Aug 1920 (NHMW). Holotype Ψ ( cranaodes), Argentina, Tigre, Mar, on Mimosa, F. Bourquin (BMNH).

Specimens Examined. Argentina: Buenos Aires, Aug 1920 (1Ψ) (NHMW). Salta, Rosaria de la Fontera, Los Baños, 6–11 Apr 1979 (4ɗ, 1Ψ), Mision Cientifica Danesa (ZMC). Buenos Aires, Río Santiago, Palo Blanco, Berisso, 3 Dec 1979 (3ɗ), 19 Dec 1979 (1Ψ), C. M. and O. Flint (USNM). Buenos Aires, Tigre, Paraná de las Palmas, 29 Oct 1979 (1Ψ), Mision Cientifica Danesa (ZMC). Tigre, reared from apple, Jan 1939 (1Ψ), J. A. Pastrana (USNM), “Comp. with type Eulia salubricola Meyrick = cranaodes Meyr. det. J. F. G. Clarke 1948.” Tigre, reared from apple 4–1940 [Apr 1940] (1Ψ), J. Pastrana (USNM).

Distribution. In addition to the Argentine specimens cited above, we have examined specimens referable to this species from Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay (Razowski and Becker 2000; USNM).