Phyllocnistis perseafolia Davis & Wagner, 2011

Brito, Rosângela, Lopez-Vaamonde, Carlos, Gonçalves, Gislene L., Becker, Vitor O., Mielke, Olaf H. H. & Moreira, Gilson R. P., 2017, Taxonomic revision of Neotropical Phyllocnistis Zeller, 1848 (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), with descriptions of seven new species and host plant associations, Zootaxa 4341 (3), pp. 301-352 : 318-319

Phyllocnistis perseafolia Davis & Wagner, 2011

Figs. 3P , 4P , 5 , S1; Tab. 2

Phyllocnistis perseafolia ; Davis & Wagner 2011: 65 –70, figs. 2D, 3C, 4, 14–15, 19. De Prins et al. 2016: 37.

Type material. The description of Phyllocnistis perseafolia Davis & Wagner, 2011 was based on ten males, eight females and five pupae from Villamaria, Colombia. The male holotype ( Fig. 3P ) is deposited at USNM and has the following labels (separated by forward slash symbols, Fig. 4P ): / HOLOTYPE Phyllocnistis perseafolia Davis & Wagner #m / Genitalia slide By DRD USNM 34075 #m / COLOMBIA: Caldas Villa Maria Apr. 2008 F. Posada / HOST: Avocado. var. Hass leafminer /. According to the original description, the paratypes (nine males with one genitalia on slide ( USNM 34078) and eight females, with two genitalia on slides ( USNM 34076, 34077)) are deposited at USNM. Five pupae and one pupa on a slide mounted in glycerin ( USNM 34072) are deposited at the USNM and UNCM collections.

Forewing length. 2.58 mm (n=1).

Diagnosis ( Figs. 3P, S 1; Tab. 2). Dorsal forewing: ground color silvery. lf faded, light yellow scales with brown border, emerging from the base of costal margin (region I), thus running convex towards the median region where it narrows, ending near tf l (region II). tf1 and tf2 fused, with same coloration as lf. The tf1 is v-shaped, crossing the wing entirely, connecting to the central region of tf2, which is short, restricted to the costal margin. A blotch is found on the distal region of the wing (III) formed by tf3 and tf4; on the tf3 region the scales are light yellow and on the tf4 they are darker. Strigulae typical for the genus. This species differs from all by the lf convex and tf2 restricted to costal margin, connected to tf1.

Geographical distribution ( Fig. 5 ). Specimens have distribution records for Villamaria, Caldas Department, Colombia. However, according to the authors, there might be chances of finding more specimens in the northern South America , where there is a greater number of the host plant cultivars.

Natural history. Similar to the other Neotropical Phyllocnistis , specimens of P. perseafolia present thin serpentine mines, having a black fine trace of feces, either on the adaxial or abaxial leaf surface. Pupal development occurs in an elliptical chamber, slightly enlarged in the final portion of the mine. According to the authors, some mines were found on the avocado, the fruit produced by the host plant. The adults of this species usually emerge in April.

Host plant(s). Persea americana Mill., Hass variety ( Lauraceae ).

Examined material. Holotype.

Remarks. The authors figured and described in detail this species regarding the adults and pupa. Eggs and larvae were not examined.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Forewings of Neotropical Phyllocnistis. (A) P. abatiae holotype (left forewing reversed); (B) P. aurilinea lectotype (left, reversed); (C) P. baccharidis holotype (left, reversed); (D) P. bourquini holotype (right); (E) P. citrella lectotype (left, reversed); (F) P. dorcas holotype (right); (G) P. drimiphaga holotype (right); (H) P. helios holotype (right); (I) P. jupiter paratype (left, reversed); (J) P. kawakitai holotype (left, reversed); (K) P. maxberryi holotype (right); (L) P. meliacella holotype (right); (M) P. norak holotype (right); (N) P. ohshimai holotype (right); (O) P. ourea paratype (right); (P) P. perseafolia holotype (left, reversed); (Q) P. petronellii paratype (right); (R) P. phoebus paratype (left, reversed); (S) P. puyehuensis holotype (right); (T) P. rotans lectotype (right); (U) P. sciophanta holotype (left, reversed); (V) P. selene specimen (left, reversed); (W) P. sexangula lectotype (left, reversed); (X) P. tethys specimen (right); (Y) P. tropaeolicola holotype (right); (Z) P. wygodzinskyi holotype (left, reversed); (AA) P. xylopiella holotype (right). Scale bars: 1 (A – H, K, L, O, P, R – Z), 0.5 mm (I, J, M, N, Q, AA).

FIGURE 4. Labels of Neotropical Phyllocnistis types found in museums. (A) P. abatiae; (B) P. aurilinea; (C) P. baccharidis; (D) P. bourquini; (E) P. citrella; (F) P. dorcas; (G) P. drimiphaga; (H) P. helios; (I) P. jupiter; (J) P. kawakitai; (K) P. maxberryi; (L) P. meliacella; (M) P. norak; (N) P. ohshimai; (O) P. ourea; (P) P. perseafolia; (Q) P. petronellii; (R) P. phoebus; (S) P. puyehuensis; (T) P. rotans; (U) P. sciophanta; (V) P. selene; (W) P. sexangula; (X) P. tethys; (Y) P. tropaeolicola; (Z) P. wygodzinskyi; (AA) P. xylopiella.

FIGURE 5. Geographical distribution of Phyllocnistis species endemic to the Neotropical region.