Philodoria touchardiella (Swezey, 1928)

Figs. 21E, 27N, O, 50H, 51F, 52F, 59J, 94.

Parectopa touchardiella Swezey, 1928: 189 .

Philodoria touchardiella (Swezey, 1928); Zimmerman 1978a: 690, figs. 445, 452, 460.

Type locality. Black Gorge, north side of the Iao Valley (Maui) .

Type material. Lectotype ♀, North side of Iao Valley, Black Gorge, 1800 ft., Maui, 15.i.1926 O.H. Swezey Collector, host: Tonchardia latifolia, Type no. 4265 in BPBM (here designated). Described from two specimens from Maui. Swezey noted that ‘ holotype and paratype in the collection of the Hawaiian Entomological Society’. However, because a holotype was not specified in the original description, the so-labeled holotype and paratype can be treated as syntypes under Article 73.2 of the Code (ICZN 1999), and any specimen can designated as lectotype under Article 74 of the Code (ICZN 1999). The syntype labeled ‘holotype’, which Zimmerman (1978a) treated as the holotype, is here formally designated as lectotype (Fig. 21E). The other syntype is the paralectotype, but we could not find ‘Paratype’ and its genital slide no. Z-VII-14-61 (Zimmerman 1978a, fig. 452) in BPBM, we only found a slip of paper in the specimen’s box that read, ‘ paratype ♂ sent E.C.Z 6-5-61’.

Additional material. (3♂, 2♀, 1 sex unknown). Adult: 1♂, 1♀, Kaluaaha, Molokai, 14.iii.2015 (stored) , K. Bustamente leg., host: Tonchardia latifolia, 5.xii.2014, KMB04|CJ401a / SK 764♀, CJ401b / SK765♂ in BPBM ; Maui Is: 2♂, Iao Valley, 11.viii.2014 (stored), host: Tonchardia latifolia, CJ 365 / SK642♂, 643♂ in BPBM ; 1♀, East Wailuaiki Stream, 26.vii.2015 (stored) , K. Bustamente leg., host: Tonchardia latifolia, 26.vi.2015, KMB01|CJ507b / SK 766♀ in BPBM . Pupa: 1 (sex unknown), same locality and data as holotype, BPBM34326 .

Diagnosis. The forewing pattern and male genitalia are very similar to that of P. nigrella (Walsingham), but is distinguishable by its rather brown forewing with ds 1 that does not reach the middle of the wing and slightly broad white ds 2 (Fig. 21E). The female genitalia differ from other congeners in having a larger corpus bursae and a pair of small linear signa in the middle with a series of minute spines (Fig. 59J).

Redescription: Adult (Fig. 21E). Wingspan 6 mm in type series; forewing length 3.25 mm in holotype. Head light buff; frons white; maxillary palpus white; labial palpus white, median joint slightly infuscated externally at apex, terminal joint infuscated in front. Antenna light buff, infuscated on apical half, a little longer than forewing. Thorax, abdomen and legs olive brown, pale beneath. Forewing olive brown with white patches: three large triangular white dorsal streak (ds 1–3) extending obliquely outward: ds 1 at near base, ds 2 at about middle, longer and narrower reaching to middle of wing, and ds 3 near tornus; an outwardly oblique white cs 3 at 3/4, with a few blue scales at its terminus; apical portion beyond the cs 3 with a few yellow scales, and a few blue scales at extreme apex; cilia olive brown, with three white spots (a, b, c) in costal cilia alternating with black spots, terminal cilia with bl 1 at base. Hindwing and cilia nearly uniform olive brown.

Male genitalia (Figs. 50H, 51F, 52F) (n=3). Capsule 820 µm. Tegumen 0.8–0.9 x length of valva; valva 570 µm long, tapering along costal margin and slightly sinuous from basal 2/5 to apex (Fig. 50H). Saccus rather long and stick-shaped in ventral view (Fig. 51F). Phallus 520 µm long and straight, widening at phallobase with small coecum; cornuti in vesica indistinct (Fig. 52F).

Female genitalia (Fig. 59J) (n=2). 1280 µm long. Ostium bursae large; antrum cup-shaped with a pair of lateral lobes; lamella antevaginalis 210 µm, weakly sclerotized, semicircular in ventral view. Ductus bursae rather wide, middle part weakly sclerotized, round and flat; terminus of ductus bursae tubular, biforked. Corpus bursae 720 µm, pyriform; anterior end of corpus bursae weakly sclerotized with some minute wrinkles; two short linear signa with a series of minute spines.

Distribution. Molokai: new record, and Maui (Swezey 1928).

Host plants. Urticaceae: Touchardia latifolia Gaudich. (Swezey 1928) .

Biology. (Fig. 94). Larvae form a broad linear mine (Fig. 94). Usually two or more mines per leaf. Pupation occurs in the cocoon outside of the mine on the leaf surface. The leaf mine quickly becomes discolored, turning black or dark gray, and can be mistaken for other forms of leaf damage. When Touchardia is present, leaf mines tend to be abundant.

Remarks. It is possible that this moth occurs on other Hawaiian Islands, but we were unable to survey Touchardia on the islands of Hawaii (Big Island), Lanai, and Oahu.