Phyllonorycter lemarchandi ( Viette, 1951 )

Prins, Jurate De & Kawahara, Akito Y., 2012, Systematics, revisionary taxonomy, and biodiversity of Afrotropical Lithocolletinae (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), Zootaxa 3594 (1), pp. 1-283 : 102-104

32. Phyllonorycter lemarchandi ( Viette, 1951)

( Figs 72 , 221–223 , 325–327 , 385 )

Lithocolletis lemarchandi — Viette (1951: 131–132, fig. 3), Paulian & Viette (1955: 153, 156: fig. 14).

Phyllonorycter lemarchandi — Viette (1990: 30), Dall’Asta et al. (2001: 34–35), De Prins & De Prins (2005: 312).

Diagnosis. Hindwing white markings are diagnostic for this species. Phyllonorycter lemarchandi is also the only Afrotropical Phyllonorycter that has a long, narrow, curved valva with sharp long apices in male genitalia. The female genitalia of P. lemarchandi are characteristic in having a very large tubular antrum, ridged ostium bursae and narrow band on anterior dorsal margin of segment VII. The female genitalia superficially resembles that of P. hibiscola , but differs in the position of ostium bursae, shape of antrum and form of sterigma. An easy difference between P. lemachandi and P. hibiscola is that the ostium bursae of P. lemarchandi is located at the posterior margin of segment VII, whereas it is located in the middle of segment VII in P. hibiscola .

Material examined. Holotype: ♂, [1] [ Madagascar]: ‘439(1) Elev du 3.i.1949 / Eclos le 22.i.1949 / Inst[itut]. Scient[ifique]. [de] Madagascar, chenille mineuse de Solanum sp. / de Tsimbazaza / [leg.] A. R.’; [2] ‘ Lithocolletis / lemarchandi n. sp. / Holotype, P[ierre]. Viette’; [3] ‘TYPE’; [4] ‘Gen. Prep. 3564♂ / De Prins’, in MNHN.

Additional material: 3♂ and 3♀, (including 3♂ and 3♀ genitalia preparations). Madagascar: 2♂, Tananarive-Tsimbazaza, Elev. Elev. 3.ix.1957, 24.xii.1957, Eclos. 14.ix.1957, 26.xii.1957, N°1263, N°3286b, mineur de feuille de sida Malvaceae , [leg.] H. Legrand, gen. prep. De Prins 3561♂, 3563♂, in MNHN. 1♂, 3♀, mineur de feuille de Sida rhombifolia Malvacée, Madagascar-Centre, Elev. 4.i.1960, 23.xii.1969, Eclos. 15.i.1960, 28.xii.1969, No 372, 1380, [leg.] H. Legrand, gen. prep. De Prins 3558♀, 3559♀, 3560♂, 3562♀, in MNHN.

Redescription. Adult ( Fig. 72 ). Forewing length: 2.0–2.3 mm.

Head: Vertex tufted with ochreous brown piliform scales. Labial palpus ca. 1.5× longer than eye, straight, directed latero-ventrally, fulvous. Antenna slightly shorter than forewing, fulvous.

Thorax: Ochreous brown with golden yellow scales. Forewing ground colour yellowish-ochreous with white markings consisting of basal streak, three costal strigulae, one angulated fascia, and 3 dorsal strigulae; basal streak runs to 1/6 of forewing, broader at base, and gently tapering towards apical end, slightly curved towards apex, both margins costal and dorsal edged with a row of black scales; first costal strigula just beyond 1/ 4, thick, rod shaped, truncate, oblique toward tornus of forewing, reaching slightly beyond midline of forewing; first dorsal strigula at 1/4, just below tip of basal streak, shaped as elongate patch along dorsal margin, edged with black scales costally, first fascia just beyond 1/2, angulated at midline of forewing of 90°, with its median part retracted (in holotype first fascia interrupted), edged with black scales basally, some black scales border apical edge of first fascia; second costal strigula at 3/4 of forewing, elongate triangular, borderd with black scales basally, second dorsal strigula opposite second costal strigula, edged basally, reaching midline of forewing (in some paratypes both markings: second costal and second dorsal strigulae can touch each other (Viette: 1951:131)), third costal strigula small, elongate comma shaped in apical sector of forewing, withount distinctive edging; third dorsal strigula at tornus sector, opposite third costal strigula, broader and shorter than third costal strigula, without distinctive edging; an irregular but clear apical spot consisting of assembly of black scales present on apex of forewing; fringe line greyish dark with dark brownish tipped scales at apex and along termen, with brownish golden shine at termen; fringe along dorsal margin light fuscous ochreous with golden lustre. Hindwings pale grey with long pale greyish ochreous fringe of lighter shading than hindwing. Legs golden fuscous.

Abdomen: Dorsally dark brown. Anal tergite golden ochreous with tufted piliform scales. Sternum VIII in males almost rounded, with sparse long setae.

Remarks. In the original description of P. lemarchandi, Viette (1951: 131) , wrote “Les pattes sont gris vert doré avec l’abdomen brun sombre et la touffe anale gris vert doré” Perhaps it could be considered a little bit too subjective to describe legs and anal tuft of P. lemarchandi as golden greyish green. We would suggest considering the mentioned “golden greyish green” as lustre, but not as the colour. Although Viette (1951: 131) clearly lists all white markings present on the forewings of P. lemarchandi , which entirely coincide with the markings of forewing of the examined holotype of P. lemarchandi , the following four characteristic markings are omitted in Viette’s (1951:135, fig. 3) illustration of P. lemarchandi : 1) basal stripe, 2) first dorsal strigula, 3) angulated, medialy retracted first fascia with clearly illustrated dorsal part, and 4) third dorsal strigula.

Male genitalia ( Figs 221–223 ). Tegumen slightly longer than sternum VIII, elongate cone shaped, more strongly sclerotized and thicker in basal half, apex double-peaked sharp pointed, without visible setae at 100×, a longitudinal suture divides tegumen into two equal lateral halves; tuba analis slightly protruding. A sclerotized plate (scaphium) at middle of tegumen; a pair of sclerotized very slender arms subbasally directed upward and not joining (subscaphium). Valvae symmetrical, valva curved and bent, elongate, almost as long as tegumen + sternum VIII, tapering to very slender distally, setose with long and slender setae, more dense dorsally; dorsal margin of valva rough, very strongly sclerotized, scobinated. Vinculum strongly sclerotized, very broad especially towards base of saccus; saccus long, as long as sternum VIII, slender, gently rounded caudally. Transtilla well developed, strongly sclerotized, narrow, arc-shaped, anellus with well sclerotized ring-liked fultura superior bearing an extended, short, ventral appendix. Aedoeagus long, ca. 1.5× longer than saccus, cylindrical, gently curved postmedially, with broad unsclerotized coecum, vesica tapering to cone-like pointed apex, with a long, gently curved, rod-like cornutus almost 1/6 length of aedoeagus.

Female genitalia ( Figs 325–327 ). Papillae anales wide and equally compressed laterally, ca. 2.5× as wide as long, covered with long slender hairs like setae, almost of equal length, most abundant dorsally; short rare setulae present ventrally and arise from round scaled tubercules along base of posterior apophyses; basal bar strongly sclerotized at basal part of posterior apophyses and non sclerotized dorso-ventrally; a slender, needlelike, strongly sclerotized projection runs from posterior margin of segment VIII and reaches basal area of apophyses anteriores. Posterior apophyses long, reaching beyond midway into segment VII, straight, slender gently tapering into narrowly pointed apex, with broad triangular bases, about 1/4 as wide as width of papillae anales. Segment VIII very short, shorter than papillae anales, slightly longer dorsally than ventrally, weakly membranous, weakly connected with segment VII; connection between VII and VIII segments has narrow lateral gap. Anterior apophyses initiate at ventrolateral angles of segment VIII, without sclerotized plate, with broad triangular bases, 1/4 shorter than posterior apophyses, slender, slightly curved with sharp apices. Ostium bursae located at posterior part of segment VII, exposes curved ridge sterigma, consisting of two dorsal and two ventral sclerotized sinusoid depressions with dorsal margins projecting anteriorly; special cuticle projections of segment VII absent. Dorsal anterior margin of segment VII with strongly sclerotized, narrow band. Antrum broad, heavily sclerotized, tubular, long, as long as segment VII, transiting into ductus bursae, curved twice. Ductus bursae short, slightly broadening anteriorly, weakly membranous, with posterior part slightly heavier membranous than anterior part. Corpus bursae oval sack form, without special membranous areas, no signum. Spermatheca large, oval located close to median part of corpus bursae, ductus spermathecae form 26–28 coils, with slightly larger diameter posteriorly.

Variation. There is a slight variation in forewing pattern: the proximal region of the first fascia can be interrupted or obsolete. Corpus bursae in female genitalia varies from oval or drop-shaped to a elongate narrow sack.

Habitat. Surroundings of Anatananarivo in Madagascar.

Host plant(s). Solanaceae : Solanum sp. — Viette (1951: 132), Paulian & Viette (1955: 153), Dall’Asta et al. 2001: 34, De Prins & De Prins 2005: 312) (see Remarks below).

Malvaceae : Sida rhombifolia L.—(new record).

Mine. The illustration of the P. lemarchadi mine in Paulian & Viette (1955:156, fig. 14) shows an abaxial, oval, blotch mine situated close to the base of the leaflet, initiating at the base of the median vein and abruptly enlarging towards the edge of the leaf. The mine occupies ca. 1/8 of the leaf area.

Remarks. Although Paulian & Viette (1955:156) illustrate the mine of P. lemarchandi on a leaf of Solanum sp. , all other specimens of this species, except the holotype, are reared on Malvaceae . The record of Solanum sp. requires confirmation.

Flight period. Adults were collected during two periods of the year: in early September and between late December–early January.

Distribution. ( Fig. 385 ). Recorded from two localities close to Antananarivo in Madagascar.

Figures

FIGURES 69–74. Adults. Scale bar 1 mm. 69, Phyllonorycter hibiscola, holotype ♀, Kenya, Kakamega Forest, mine 28.iii.2003, leg. J. & W. De Prins, specimen ID: RMCA ENT 000003278. 70, Phyllonorycter hibiscola, paratype ♀, Kenya, Kakamega Forest, mine 17.iv.2001, leg. J. De Prins, specimen ID: RMCA ENT 000003266. 71, Phyllonorycter jabalshamsi, holotype ♂, Oman, Jabal Shams, Al Hamra, 07.i.1993, leg. B. Skule, in ZMUC. 72, Phyllonorycter lemarchandi, holotype ♂, Madagascar, Antananarivo, mine 03.i.1949, in MNHN. 73, Phyllonorycter albertinus, holotype ♂, Kenya, Rift Valley, Turi, 05.ii.1999, leg. D.J.L. Agassiz, in BMNH. 74, Phyllonorycter albertinus, paratype ♂, Kenya, Rift Valley, Turi, 18.i.1999, leg. D.J.L. Agassiz, specimen ID: RMCA ENT 000006147.

FIGURES 217–223. Male genitalia. Scale bar 100 µm. 217–220, Phyllonorycter jabalshamsi, paratype, genitalia prep. MRAC/KMMA 00421, in RMCA. 217, ventral view. 218, sternum VIII. 219, aedoeagus. 220, vesica. 221–223, Phyllonorycter lemarchandi, genitalia prep. De Prins 3560, in MNHN. 221, ventral view. 222, sternum VIII. 223, aedoeagus.

FIGURES 324–327. Female genitalia. Scale bar 200 µm. 324, Phyllonorycter jabalshamsi, paratype, genitalia prep. De Prins 3711, in ZMUC. 325–327, Phyllonorycter lemarchandi, paratype, genitalia prep. De Prins 3558, in MNHN. 325, segments VII–X, lateral view. 326, corpus bursae. 327, accessory bursae.

FIGURES 379–390. Distribution of Afrotropical Lithocolletinae species. 379, Phyllonorycter brachylaenae. 380, Phyllonorycter dombeyae. 381, Phyllonorycter hibiscina. 382, Phyllonorycter ipomoellus. 383, Phyllonorycter turensis. 384, Phyllonorycter hibiscola. 385, Phyllonorycter lemarchandi. 386, Phyllonorycter albertinus. 387, Phyllonorycter caudasimplex. 388, Phyllonorycter leucaspis. 389, Phyllonorycter ololua. 390, Phyllonorycter didymopa.