Stigmella

Stonis, Jonas R., Diškus, Arūnas, Remeikis, Andrius, Davis, Donald R., Solis, M. Alma & Torres, Nixon Cumbicus, 2016, The first record of Baccharis L. (Asteraceae) as a host-plant genus for Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera), with description of new Stigmella species from South America, Zootaxa 4136 (1), pp. 101-128 : 123-124

7. Stigmella species 609

( Figs 3 , 2 , 54 , 89–96 )

Material examined. ♀, ECUADOR: Pichincha Province, 11 km NW Alóag, 0°26'48"S, 78°37'32"W, elevation 3165–3200 m a.s.l., mining larvae on Baccharis latifolia (Ruiz & Pav.) Pers. , 10.ii.2014, leg. A. Remeikis & J. R. Stonis, genitalia slide no. RA610♀ ( ZMUC); leaf-mines with mining larvae (not reared), same locality, 12.i.2005, field card no. 4807, A. Diškus & J. R. Stonis.

Diagnosis. This species most resembles other species feeding on Baccharis latifolia by the female genitalia (males unknown): Stigmella latifoliae sp. nov. and S. baccharicola sp. nov. It differs from these species in a large accessory sac and slender anterior apophyses. It differs from S. baccharicola in a yellow larva; larva of of this species is green.

Male. Unknown.

Female ( Fig. 96 ) (n=1). Head: antenna slightly longer than half the length of forewing; flagellum dark grey or fuscous.Thorax, tegula and forewing fuscous. Fascia of forewing near postmedian. Abdomen dark brown to fuscous (also see Remarks).

Female genitalia ( Fig. 54 ). Total length about 680 µm. Abdominal apex broad (105–130 µm), rounded. Apophyses anteriores slender, same length as apophyses posteriores. Vestibulum relatively broad, without sclerites. Accessory sac large, folded. Ductus spermathecae narrow, with 1 coil (chitinized convolution). Corpus bursae broad (335 µm), rounded, covered with numerous comb-like pectinations but without signa.

Bionomics. Larvae mine in leaves ( Figs 2 , 92, 94, 95 ). Host-plant: Baccharis latifolia (Ruiz & Pav.) Pers. (Asteraceae) ( Figs 1 , 90 ). Egg on upper side of leaf. Larva greyish green to green, with brown-green intestine and brown head; mine in January and February (judging on available old leaf-mines, also can mine in September– November). The long sinuous or contorted gallery of leaf-mine with central line of black frass; sometimes frass line varies in width and often fills most of gallery width; therefore leaf-mines not always easily observed; sometimes frass line can be interrupted ( Figs 2 , 92, 95 ); initial part of gallery often follows leaf veins, occassionally starts on underside. Larval exit slit on upper side of the leaf. Cocoon dark beige-brown. Adults emerged in February. Abundant mining in all observed localities in Alóag (Pichincha Province).

Distribution ( Fig. 3 ). This species occurs in cloud forests or related habitats on the western slopes of the equatorial Andes ( Ecuador) at altitudes about 3100–3200 m ( Figs 89, 91 ).

Remarks. Description of external features are based on completely developed female pupae. This new species, associated with Baccharis latifolia as a host-plant, is left unnamed until more material will be collected.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Current records of Stigmella species feeding on plants from the genus Baccharis L.

FIGURES 1 – 2. Baccharis latifolia (Ruiz & Pav.) Pers., Asteraceae, Ecuador, elevation 3165 m; 2, mining larvae of Stigmella species 609 in leaf of B. latifolia.

FIGURES 51 – 54. Female genitalia of Stigmella species feeding on Baccharis (ZMUC). 51, S. species 610; 52, S. latifoliae Remeikis, Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov., not belonging to the type-series; 53, S. baccharicola Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov., not belonging to the type-series; 54, S. species 609.

FIGURES 89 – 96. Stigmella species 609. 89, 91, habitat, NW of Alóag, Pichincha Province, Ecuador, the equatorial Andes, elevation 3165 m; 90, host-plant Baccharis latifolia (Ruiz & Pav.) Pers.; 92, 94, 95, leaf-mines; 96, pupa.