Phyllocnistis selene 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 : 324-325

Phyllocnistis selene Brito & Moreira, 2017

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

Phyllocnistis selene ; Brito & Moreira 2017: figs. 2C, F, 3G–I, 14–18.

Type material. Description of Phyllocnistis selene 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. 4V ): / Phyllocnistis selene Brito & Moreira HOLOTYPE #m / 236–22 Brasil, RS Promata 0 7.03.2014 GRPMoreira&RBrito #m / DZ 33.403 /. The holotype genitalia is slide-mounted in Canada balsam ( GRPM 50– 121). According to the original description, the paratypes are as follows: one male ( LMCI 263–18) with genitalia on slide ( GRPM 50–122) and one female ( LMCI 210–34), deposited at DZUP (33.413, 33.423, respectively); another male ( LMCI 263–26) with genitalia on slide ( GRPM 50–123) and one female ( LMCI 263–28) are deposited at MCTP (57.620 and 57.621, respectively).

Forewing length. 2.15 mm (n=2).

Diagnosis ( Figs. 3V, S 1; Tab. 2). Dorsal forewing: ground color light gray. lf thin, light brown, without borders, emerging from the base of costal margin and running straight to center, connecting to fused tf1–tf2. Transversal fasciae light yellow with light brown borders. tf1 short, restricted to costal section. tf2 crossing the wing entirely, merged with tf1. At distal region (III), a light yellow blotch formed by fusion of tf3 + tf4. At the center of this blotch there is another small black blotch. As preceded by a light gray stripe. Costal and apical strigulae typical. The shape of lf, in association with pattern of corresponding fusion with tf1+tf2 are unique for this species compared to other Neotropical Phyllocnistis .

Geographical distribution ( Fig. 5 ). Records are restricted to type locality, in São Francisco de Paula municipality, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, at 900 m of altitude.

Natural history. According to the original description, mines are transparent, serpentine shaped and usually followed by a brown trail of feces. Initially they are thin, increasing in width along larval ontogenesis, and corresponding paths may cross each other forming blotches. The mines are found on the abaxial and adaxial leaf surfaces. The egg is deposited next to the petiole, and usually only one larva feeds per leaf. The cocoon is covered with silk, constructed at the border of the leaf, provoking a leaf wrinkling. Larvae were found in the field in the months of March and April, suggesting that this species is active as leaf mining during late summer and early autumn.

Host plant(s). Drimys angustifolia Miers (Winteraceae) .

Examined material. Holotype male and one specimen, with no sex identified. Brazil: Rio Grande do Sul - São Francisco de Paula (Centro de Pesquisas e Conservação da Natureza—Pró-mata), 900 m, 07.III.2014, G.R.P. Moreira & R. Brito legs., 1 male (DZ 33.403) ( DZUP) ; 04-06.IV.2014, G.R.P. Moreira & R. Brito legs., 1 specimen (LMCI 263.21) (LMCI).

Remarks. In the original description, additional diagnostic characters are provided for this species, such the absence of signum on the female genitalia, the acute, hook shaped cocoon-cutter and two pairs of strong tergal spines facing towards the lateral region of the body on the pupal abdominal segments.

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.