Phyllocnistis sexangula 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 : 325

Phyllocnistis sexangula Meyrick, 1915

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

Phyllocnistis sexangula ; Meyrick 1915b: 242. Davis & Miller 1984: 27. De Prins et al. 2016: 37.

Type material. Description of Phyllocnistis sexangula Meyrick, 1915 was based on two specimens (syntypes) from Matucana, Lima, Peru. Two syntypes with no sex identification were found in Meyrick’s collection at NHMUK. The syntype herein designated as lectotype ( Fig. 3W ) has the following labels (separated by forward slash symbols, Fig. 4W ): / SYNTYPE / Matucana Peru P. 7780 -7-14 [VII.1914] / sexangula Meyr. / Meyrick Coll. B. M. 1938-290. / Phyllocnistis sexangula 1/3 Meyr. E. Meyrick det. in Meyrick Coll. / Abdomen missing / BMNH(E) 1412359 /; the other syntype is herein designated as paralectotype, has the following labels: / SYNTYPE / Matucana Peru P. 7780 -7-14 [VII.1914] / Meyrick Coll. B. M. 1938-290. / Phyllocnistis sexangula 2/ 3 Meyr. E. Meyrick det. in Meyrick Coll. / BMNH(E) 1412356 /. These decisions are made for the correct identification of the species. To the lectotype, the following labels were added: / Lectotypus / Lectotypus P. sexangula Meyrick, 1915 Brito 2017 /. In addition, to the paralectotype: / Paralectotypus / Paralectotypus P. sexangula Meyrick, 1915 Brito 2017 /.

Forewing length. 4.25 mm (n=2).

Diagnosis ( Figs. 3W, S 1; Tab. 2). Dorsal forewing: ground color light gray. Bright yellow fasciae with dark brown borders. lf narrow, emerging from the costal margin base and running slightly convex towards the center region of the wing. tf1 inclined towards apex reaching the middle portion of the wing where it merges to distal section of lf. A small dark brown blotch attached to middle section of lf border on inner portion of region I. tf2 vshaped, crossing the wing entirely. tf3 slightly shorter, emerging from the costal margin reaching the middle portion of the wing. tf4 forming a blotch on the distal region and entirely the wing crossing; another smaller and blackened blotch at its center. Transverse fasciae are connected to each other at the center by a diffuse line of brownish scales. A thin light gray band separates tf4 from as. Strigulae are typical for Neotropical Phyllocnistis . Fringes of inner margin have dark brown base, a thin and black line limits this region from the apical one, which is pale gray. This species is similar to P. drimiphaga , distinguished from it by the separation between the tf3 and tf4, which is not distinct in the former, and by the presence of the dark brown blotch within tf4, absent in P. drimiphaga .

Geographical distribution ( Fig. 5 ). This species has a single record for Matucana, Huarochirí province, Lima region, Peru, at 2371 m of elevation (7780 ft).

Natural history. No information available.

Host plant(s). Unknown.

Examined material. Lectotype and paralectotype.

Remarks. The original description of P. sexangula does not provide illustrations or information regarding genitalia morphology or on immature stages or life history. Due to the small number of samples for this species at the 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.