Phyllocnistis phoebus Brito & Moreira, 2017

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 : 320

Phyllocnistis phoebus Brito & Moreira, 2017

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

Phyllocnistis phoebus ; Brito & Moreira 2017: figs. 2B, E, 3D–F, 9–13.

Type material. Description of Phyllocnistis phoebus Brito & Moreira, 2017 was based on five specimens from the Centro de Pesquisas e Conservação da Natureza Pró-Mata ( CPCN Pró-Mata), São Francisco de Paula municipality, Brazil . The male holotype is deposited at DZUP and has the following labels (separated by forward slash symbols, Fig. 4R ): / Phyllocnistis phoebus Brito & Moreira HOLOTYPE #m / 306–54 Brasil, RS PROMATA 22_ 24.06.2016 G.R.P. Moreira et al. #m / DZ 33.373 /. The holotype genitalia is dissected in Canada balsam ( GRPM 50–118 ) . Paratypes: one male (LMCI 306–55) with genitalia on slide (GRPM 50–119) and one female (LMCI 200–14) deposited at DZUP (33.383, 33.393, respectively); one male ( Fig. 3R ) (LMCI 263–24) and one female (LMCI 306–56) with genitalia on slide (GRPM 50–120) deposited at MCTP (57.618 and 57.619, respectively).

Forewing length. 2.78 mm (n=2).

Diagnosis ( Figs. 3R, S 1; Tab. 2). Dorsal forewing: ground color gray, with bright ochre fasciae bordered with dark brown. lf slightly convex, emerging at base of costal margin and running to the median region of the wing (II), fusing with the costal section of tf1. This has a second, separated section located at the inner margin that projects basally. tf2 with diffuse borders, crossing the wing entirely; its inner section joins the tf3 +tf4, forming a large, diffuse, bright ocher blotch that precedes as on the distal region of the wing (III). Strigulae are typical for the genus. P. phoebus differs from other species reviewed here by the isolation and atypical shape of second section of tf 1, and by slight fusion of tf2 + tf3 + tf4.

Geographical distribution ( Fig. 5 ). Recorded for São Francisco de Paula municipality, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, at 900 m of altitude.

Natural history. According to the authors, mines are found solely on the adaxial leaf surface. They are thin, serpentine shaped and followed by a trace of black feces. There is no pattern regarding oviposition site, the larvae begin the mine construction on any leaf portion. Only one specimen was found feeding per leaf for all leaves examined. The larval stage presents three sap-feeding instars, followed by the last, spinning instar. The cocoon is covered with silk, and has an oval shape and whitish color. P. phoebus specimens possibly present multivoltine life cycles, larvae were found feeding in the field during March, April, June and December.

Host plant(s). Begonia fruticosa (Klotzsch) A.DC ( Begoniaceae ).

Examined material. Holotype and paratype males. Brazil: Rio Grande do Sul—São Francisco de Paula (Centro de Pesquisas e Conservação da Natureza—Pró-mata), 900 m, 21-24.VI.2016, G.R.P. Moreira, R. Brito & J. Fochezato legs., 1 male (DZ 33.373) ( DZUP) ; 04-06.IV.2014, G.R.P. Moreira & R. Brito legs., 1 male (MCTP 57.618) (MCTP).

Remarks. Immature stages and adults were illustrated and described in the original description, and information about life cycle was also provided. The authors highlight some additional diagnostic characters such as the acute cocoon-cutter and a group of small tergal spines followed by a pair of lateral setae from the second to seventh abdominal segment. On female genitalia, the authors highlight as unique a pair of signa located at the extremities of the corpus bursae.

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.