Phyllocnistis sciophanta Meyrick, 1915

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 : 323-324

Phyllocnistis sciophanta Meyrick, 1915

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

Phyllocnistis sciophanta ; Meyrick 1915b: 241. Davis & Miller 1984: 27. De Prins et al. 2016: 37.

Type material. Phyllocnistis sciophanta Meyrick, 1915 was described based on a single specimen [holotype] from Lima, Peru. This specimen, identified as male, is deposited at NHMUK. The holotype ( Fig. 3U ) has the following labels (separated by forward slash symbols, Fig. 4U ): / Holotype / Lima, 500 ft, Peru. Parish 8-14. [VIII.1914] / sciophanta Meyr / Meyrick Coll. B. M. 1938-290. / Phyllocnistis sciophanta 1/3 Meyr. E. Meyrick det. in Meyrick Coll. / Abdomen missing / BMNH(E) 1412343 /.

Forewing length. 2.97 mm (n=1).

Diagnosis ( Figs. 3U, S 1; Tab. 2) is inferred from the original description, since the only specimen deposited at NHMUK is not in good condition, having an unclearly defined pattern of forewing fasciae. Dorsal forewing (tentative): ground color silvery. lf light yellow with grayish borders, oblique, emerging from the base of the proximal region and ending at the middle region of the wing. tf1 also light yellow, emerging from the costal margin, apparently connected with lf. tf2 apparently crossing the wing entirely. Distal region composed of a yellowish blotch (fused tf3+tf4), preceded by a darkish bar, and located anterior to as (partially missing with the apical strigulae in the type specimen). Presence of three diffuse gray costal strigulae and two apical strigulae. It is apparently close to P. sexangula Meyrick , also from Peru, to which it should be better compared when additional material is available.

Geographical distribution ( Fig. 5 ). Lima, Lima region in Peru, at 152 m.

Natural history. No information available.

Host plant(s). Unknown.

Examined material. Holotype.

Remarks. The description of P. sciophanta was accomplished with no illustration of adults and no information regarding genitalia. The single specimen deposited at NHMUK is not in good condition for providing accurate description of color. We here maintain its species status as valid until additional specimens are sampled at the type locality, and thus more information is available for comparison. Due to the small number of specimens at NHMUK, no genitalia were dissected for this review.

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.