Argyrotaenia sphaleropa ( Meyrick, 1909 )

Trematerra, Pasquale & Brown, John W., 2004, Synopsis and descriptions of two new species, Zootaxa 574, pp. 1-12 : 6-7

Argyrotaenia sphaleropa ( Meyrick, 1909)

Figs. 7, 8 , 12 , 13

Diagnosis. Argyrotaenia sphaleropa can be distinguished easily from other Argentine Argyrotaenia by its characteristic forewing color (darker than other species), pattern (more complex and with less dimorphism) and shape (usually with a more sinuate costa) ( Figs. 7, 8 ) (see Clarke, 1958 for an additional illustration of the adult); by its distally expanded uncus and short valva in the male genitalia ( Fig. 12 ); and by the short sterigma in the female genitalia, with a well developed anteostial part ( Fig. 13 ) (see Köhler, 1940 and Clarke, 1958 for additional figures of the genitalia).

Types. Lectotype, ɗ ( sphaleropa ), Bolivia, Sapago, “S..07” (BMNH). Two paralectotype males, same data as lectotype (BMNH). Holotype, ɗ ( fletcheriella ), Argentina, Tigre, Bourquin Collection. The lectotype of A. sphaleropa was designated by Clarke (1958), who figured the adult and male genitalia. Köhler (1940) figured the male and female genitalia of E. fletcheriella .

Distribution. Argyrotaenia sphaleropa is a common and widespread species in the New World tropics; Razowski and Becker (2000) reported it from Bolivia, Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina . We have examined specimens that appear to be referable to this species from Argentina , Bolivia, Brazil, Panama, Peru, and Uruguay (USNM). Pastrana (in litt.) reported it from Chaco, Tucumán, Santa Fé, Buenos Aires, and Delta del Paraná in Argentina .

Specimens Examined. ARGENTINA: Tigre, Jun 1939 (1Ψ), Aug 1941 (1ɗ), Bourquin (USNM). Buenos Aires, 1939 (2ɗ), r.f. Vitis vinifera, Pastrana (USNM). BOLIVIA: Songo, May 1907 (1ɗ, paralectotype) (USNM). BRAZIL: Santa Catarina: São Bento do Sol, 2800', 6–9 Mar 1995 (2ɗ, 1Ψ), R. Leuschner (USNM). São Paulo: Ribeirão Preto, 4– 17 Mar 1939 (1ɗ, 3Ψ), E. J. Hambleton (USNM). Campinas, 11 Mar 1936 (1ɗ), 2 Apr 1936 (1ɗ), E. J. Hambleton (USNM). Nova Teutonia: 27°11' B, 52°23' L, Jun 1938 (1ɗ), F. Plaumann (USNM). Rio Grande do Sul: Pinto Bandeira, May 2000 (5ɗ, 5Ψ), MECB, B. Gonçalves (USNM). Parana: Curitiba, 3 Mar 2002 (1ɗ), 3 Dec 2001 (1ɗ), r.f. Schinus terebinthifolius, J. Medal & H. Pedrosa (USNM). PANAMA: Cabima, May 1911 (1ɗ), A. Busck (USNM). PERU: Lima: Nov 1954 (4ɗ, 2Ψ), [no collector], May 1932 (2Ψ), Salmon & Wille, 10 Feb 1950 (2ɗ), de la Torre (USNM). URUGUAY: Montevideo, Sayago, 23 Aug 1970 (1ɗ), 28 Mar 1974 (1ɗ, 2Ψ), M. Moartoria (USNM), 5 Apr 1967 (2ɗ), r.f. Medicago sativa, Morey, Moratorio & Casini (USNM), 20 Jan 1965 (1Ψ), r.f. Pyrus malus, Mory & Casella (USNM); Montevideo, Villa Colón, 24 Nov 1965 (2Ψ), r.f. Mentha rotundifolia, Morey (USNM), 11 Nov 1965 (1ɗ), r.f. Salix vitellina, C. Morey (USNM); Montevideo, Lag. Morán, 26 Apr 1964 (1ɗ), r.f. Schinus longifolia, Morey & Casella (USNM); Montevideo, 14 Mar 1940 (3ɗ, 1Ψ), r.f. rose, E. Parker (USNM); San José, Mar 1973 (2ɗ, 1Ψ), C. Carbonell (USNM).

Biology. In his description of the early stages, Bourquin (1940) reported larvae from the fruit of Solanum bonariense (Solanaceae) and the flower heads of Cosmos sp. and Baccharis cf. salicifolia (Asteraceae) . Pastrana (in litt.) reported the following hosts: Ilex paraguariensis (Aquifoliaceae) ; Araucaria angustifolia (Araucariaceae) ; Lonicera japonica (Caprifoliaceae) ; Chrysanthemum vulgare , Cosmos bipinnatus , Dahlia pinnata , Wedelia glauca (all Asteraceae ); Antirrhinum majus (Scrophulariaceae) ; Pelargonium domesticum (Geraniaceae) ; Zea mays (Poaceae) ; Mentha piperita (Lamiaceae) ; Laurus nobilis , Nectandra saligna , Ocotea acutifolia (Lauraceae) ; Acacia farnesiana , Acacia sp., Arachis hypogaea , Medicago sativa , Phaseolus vulgaris , Vigna sinensis (Fabaceae) ; Magnolia grandiflora (Magnoliaceae) ; Rapanea lorentziana (Myrsinaceae) ; Ligustrum lucidum , L. sinense (Oleaceae) ; Polygonum sp. ( Polygonaceae ); Punica granatum (Punicaceae) ; Crataegus sp., Malus sylvestris , Prunus domestica , P. p e r s i c a, Pyrus communis , Rosa spp. ( Rosaceae ); Citrus aurantifolia , C. paradisi , C. sinensis , C. sp., Ruta chalepensis (Rutaceae) ; Salix humboldtiana (Salicaceae) ; Capsicum annuum , Cestrum parqui , Lycopersicum esculentum , Solanum bonariense , S. tuberosum (Solanaceae) ; Apium graveolens (Apiaceae) ; and Vitis vinifera (Vitaceae) . Because this species is distinct from other Argentine Argyrotaenia , we assume that these host plants are correctly attributed to A. sphaleropa . Specimens in the USNM are reared from the following hosts: Diospyros khaki (Ebenaceae) , Lantana camera (Verbenaceae) , Medicago sativa (Fabaceae) , Mentha rotunifolia (Lamiaceae) , Persea sp. ( Lauraceae ), Pyrus malus , Rosa sp. (both Rosaceae ), Salix vitellina (Salicaceae) , Schinus terebinthifolius , S. longifolia (Anacardiaceae) , Vitis sp., and Vitis vinifera (Vitaceae) . The sex pheromone of this species recently was reported by Nuñez et al. (2002).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 8. Adults of Argyrotaenia species. 1, A. pomililiana (male); 2, A. pomililiana (female); 3, A. tucumana (male); 4, A. tucumana (female); 5, A. loxonephes (male); 6, A. loxonephes (female); 7, A. sphaleropa (male); 8, A. sphaleropa (female).

FIGURES 9 – 12. Male genitalia of Argyrotaenia species; valvae spread and aedeagus removed. 9, A. pomililiana; 10, A. tucumana; 11, A. loxonephes; 12, A. sphaleropa.

FIGURES 13 – 15. Female genitalia of Argyrotaenia species. 13, A. sphaleropa; 14, A. loxonephes; 15, A. tucumana; 16, A. pomililiana.