Diškus, Stonis & Diškus & Remeikis & Solis, 2018

Stonis, Jonas R., Diškus, Arūnas, Remeikis, Andrius & Solis, M. Alma, 2018, A Gondwanan concept of Simplimorpha Scoble (sensu lato): a step toward clarity in the generic diagnostics of global Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera), Zootaxa 4521 (2), pp. 151-182 : 158-159

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4521.2.1

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B8EA1721-D5EF-4605-BA03-93E3CF255E3E

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5951407

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03C087FA-105A-6010-7E85-D0BF115DFDAB

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Diškus
status

subgen. nov.

Subgenus Myrtinepticula Stonis & Diškus , subgen. nov.

( Figs. 5, 6, 11, 12, 18, 19, 24, 25, 34–37, 45–51, 58, 62 View FIGURES 58–64 , 65–129 View FIGURES 65–74 View FIGURES 75–78 View FIGURES 79–82 View FIGURES 83–86 View FIGURES 88–95 View FIGURES 96–102 View FIGURES 103–106 View FIGURES 107, 108 View FIGURES 109, 110 View FIGURES 111–117 View FIGURES 118–121 View FIGURES 122–125 View FIGURES 126–129 )

Type species: Simplimorpha (Myrtinepticula) cercaria Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov.

Diagnosis. From the subgenus Simplimorpha , s.g. Myrtinepticula differs by its usually strong purple or blue iridescence of adult scaling, the presence of four distal veins (two in Simplimorpha ), the presence of semideveloped anal loop of the forewing (absent in Simplimorpha ), three distal veins of hindwing (two in Simplimorpha ), very elaborate basal part of the valva, the absence of transverse bar of transtilla with some exceptions (always present in Simplimorpha ), slender phallus, greatly reduced corpus bursae, and the very wide anterior apophyses (slender in Simplimorpha ). The feeding habit on Myrtaceae and its distribution in South America also make this new subgenus distinct compared to the subgenus Simplimorpha occurring in Africa and the Mediterranean and feeding on Anacardiaceae .

From subgenus Roscidotoga , Myrtinepticula differs by the presence of four distal veins (two in Roscidotoga ), the presence of semi-developed anal loop of the forewing (absent in Roscidotoga ), three distal veins of hindwing (two in Roscidotoga ), very elaborate basal part of valva (see Figs. 18, 19), and the usual absence of transverse bar of transtilla (usually present in Roscidotoga ). The host plants from Myrtales (i.e. Eurosids II / Malvids) and the distribution in South America also make new subgenus distinctive compared to the subgenus Roscidotoga that occurs in Australia and feeds Oxalidales (i.e. Eurosids I / Fabids).

Description. Adults with a collar comprised of piliform or lamellar scales. Head ( Figs. 88–90 View FIGURES 88–95 ) with a threesegmented labial palpus and five-segmented maxillary palpus. Forewing varying, from shiny without fascia ( Figs. 65, 66, 69, 74 View FIGURES 65–74 ) to dark with one shiny fascia ( Fig. 70 View FIGURES 65–74 ). Hindleg ( Figs. 91, 92 View FIGURES 88–95 ) with two pairs of spurs. Forewing venation with four terminal (apical) veins and half-presented/half-reduced anal loop ( Figs. 50 View FIGURES 50–57 , 93, 94 View FIGURES 88–95 ); hindwing venation with three terminal veins ( Figs. 51 View FIGURES 50–57 , 95 View FIGURES 88–95 ). Male genitalia: tegumen truncate or broadly rounded, setose ( Figs. 5, 6); vinculum large, usually rounded or truncate ( Fig. 12), sometimes with large lateral lobes ( Fig. 11); valva slender, with a variously developed, elaborate basal part ( Figs. 18, 19). Transtilla with a very weak, halfmembranous transverse bar ( Fig. 24) or, usually, entirely without such ( Fig. 25). Female genitalia: anterior apophyses very broad ( Figs. 46–49); ductus spermathecae usually with many distinctive coils ( Figs. 45, 47); corpus bursae greatly reduced ( Figs. 46, 47), sometimes not preserved during slide preparations.

So far as known, larvae are leaf miners on Myrtaceae , Myrtales, Malvids (=Eurosids II) and produce a very long, contorted, linear leaf mine ( Figs. 58 View FIGURES 58–64 , 109–116 View FIGURES 109, 110 View FIGURES 111–117 ), with most of the gallery filled with frass. Cocoon round, with a broad, flat rim ( Fig. 117 View FIGURES 111–117 ).

Currently the genus comprises four species, all of which occur in South America: three species from Patagonian Andes and one from the Peruvian Amazon ( Fig. 62 View FIGURES 58–64 ).

Etymology. The subgenus name is derived from the plant family Myrtaceae combined with Nepticula (synonymous name for the genus Stigmella) in reference to the feeding on Myrtaceae .

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