Stigmella ageratinae Diškus & Stonis, 2016

Stonis, Jonas R., Diškus, Arūnas, Remeikis, Andrius, Gerulaitis, Virginijus & Karsholt, Ole, 2016, Leaf-mining Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera) from record high altitudes: documenting an entire new fauna in the Andean páramo and puna, Zootaxa 4181 (1), pp. 1-94 : 75-79

Stigmella ageratinae Diškus & Stonis , sp. nov.

( Figs 20 , 25–28 , 213–229 )

Type material. Holotype: ♀, BOLIVIA, Copacabana (southern shore of Lake Titicaca), 16°09'42"S, 69°05'19"W, elevation 3930 m, mining larvae on Ageratina pentlandiana (DC.) R.M. King & H. Rob., 28.iv.2014, ex pupa v.2014, field card no. 5171, A. Diškus, genitalia slide no. AD 596♀ ( ZMUC) . Paratype: 1 Ƌ [from mature pupa], same label data as holotype, genitalia slide no. AD595Ƌ (ZMUC).

Diagnosis. The combination of a golden cream forewing with fuscous markings, bilobed uncus, closely juxtaposed processes of gnathos, and specific set of large horn-like cornuti distinguishes S. ageratinae sp. nov. from all other Stigmella species. The host-plant Ageratina pentlandiana (Asteraceae) also makes this species highly distinctive.

Male. Similar to female; known only from mature pupa.

Female ( Figs 213, 214 ). Forewing length about 2.4 mm; wingspan 5.5–5.6 mm. Head: palpi greish white to grey, glossy; face golden cream; frontal tuft fuscous centrally, golden cream to ferruginous cream laterally; collar large, golden cream; scape golden cream; antenna slightly longer than half the length of forewing; flagellum with 23–24 segments, fuscous glossy on upper side, yellowish cream to grey cream on underside. Thorax golden cream; tegula fuscous, distally golden cream. Forewing golden cream, with a few scattered fuscous scales and with fuscous ill-defined oblique median fascia, and fuscous apex; all fuscous markings with little or strong purple iridescence; fringe grey to blackish grey, with some overlapping greyish cream lamellar scales and golden cream piliform scales; underside of forewing dark grey to fuscous, without spots or androconia. Hindwing and its cilia pale grey to fuscous grey on upper side and underside, with no spots or androconia; its fringe pale grey. Legs golden cream to brownish cream, darkened with grey on upper side. Abdomen dark grey, glossy on upper side, grey crean on underside; tufts short, grey cream to cream; genital segments cream.

Male genitalia ( Figs 215–220 ). Capsule longer (260 µm) than wide (190 µm). Uncus with two caudally tapering lobes. Gnathos with two closely juxtaposed caudal processes, small central plate and large, triangular lateral lobes. Valva 170–180 µm long, 55–70 µm wide, with two apical processes; transtilla with widely rounded corners, without sublateral processes. Juxta membranous, indistinctive. Vinculum with short ventral plate and without lateral lobes. Phallus ( Figs 217 , 219 ) 140 µm long, 70–75 µm wide, with slender spines apically; vesica with many large horn-like cornuti gathered in a narrow band.

Female genitalia ( Figs 212–223 ). Total length about 530 µm. Anterior and posterior apophyses almost equal in length. Vestibulum without sclerites. Corpus bursae about 320 µm long, with little folded distal part and narrow basal part with comb-like pectinations; signa absent. Accessory sac small; ductus spermathecae with an irregularly shaped sclerite. Abdominal tip narrowing and rounded distally.

Bionomics. (Figs 224–229). Larva mines in leaves of Ageratina pentlandiana (DC.) R.M. King & H. Rob. ( Asteraceae ) (Figs 224, 226). Larva pale yellow with indistinct intestine and dark brown head; mines in April. Leaf-mine as a gallery strongly contorted in distal third (therefore resembling a blotch) ( Figs 2 27–229 ). Blackbrown to black frass gathered into a wide central line with wide margins of the gallery remaining unfilled. Larval exit slit on upper side of the leaf. Cocoon beige to pale beige; length 2.5–2.7 mm, maximum width 1.5–1.6 mm.

Distribution ( Figs 20 , 25–28 ). This species occurs in the Altiplano of the Bolivian Andes ( Bolivia: southern shore of Lake Titicaca) at altitudes about 3930 m.

Etymology. The species is named after the host-plant genus Ageratina Spach (Asteraceae) .

Figures

FIGURES 20 – 21. Distribution of high altitude Stigmella in the Altiplano (Peru and Bolivia). 20, distribution map; 21, the Altiplano in Bolivia (by A. Diškus).

FIGURES 22 – 26. The Altiplano, Bolivia; 22 – 24, habitats; 25, 26, habitats of Stigmella ageratinae sp. nov., S. clinopodiella sp. nov., and S. calceolarifoliae sp. nov., southern shore of Lake Titicaca, Copacabana, 16 ° 09 ' 42 " S, 69 ° 05 ' 19 " W, elevation 3930 m.

FIGURE 27. Distribution map of the high-Andean Nepticulidae with height records.

FIGURE 28. Details of adult morphology of high-Andean Stigmella, Nepticulidae.

FIGURES 213 – 217. Stigmella ageratinae Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov. 213, 214, holotype, female adult; 215, paratype, male genitalia, slide no. AD 595, capsule with phallus removed; 216, same, focused from ventral to more dorsal view; 217, same, phallus (ZMUC).

FIGURES 218 – 223. Genitalia of Stigmella ageratinae Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov. 218, paratype, male genitalia, slide no. AD 595, apical processes of valvae; 219, same, spined apex of phallus; 220, same, transtilla; 221, holotype, female genitalia, slide no. AD 596, pectinations of bursa; 222, same, apophyses; 223, same, general view (ZMUC).

FIGURES 227 – 229. Bionomics of Stigmella ageratinae Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov. 224, 226, host-plant Ageratina pentlandiana (DC.) R. M. King & H. Rob. (Asteraceae); 225, 227 – 229, leaf-mines.

FIGURES 209 – 212. Male genitalia of Stigmella lobata Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov. 209, holotype, genitalia slide no. RA 553, capsule with phallus removed; 210, same, uncus and gnathos; 211, paratype, genitalia slide no. RA 559, capsule with phallus removed; 212, same, phallus (ZMUC).

FIGURES 1 – 5. Habitats: grass páramo near volcano Chimborazo (Ecuador: Chimborazo Province) at altitudes about 3980 – 4000 m. 1, 2, habitat of Stigmella gynoxyphaga sp. n. and S. tripartita Diškus & Stonis, 1 ° 31 ' 20 " S, 78 ° 50 ' 27 " W; 3 – 5, habitat of S. lachemillae sp. n. and S. calceolariae sp. n., 1 ° 45 ' 41 " S, 78 ° 48 ' 51 " W.

FIGURES 6 – 10. Habitats: shrub-dominated páramo and Polylepis forest near volcano Antisana and Papallacta Pass (Ecuador: Napo Province) at altitudes about 3700 – 3900 m, 0 ° 21 ' 45 " S, 78 ° 11 ' 35 " W. 6, view of volcano Antisana; 7, a relict stand of high- Andean Polylepis; 8 – 10, shrub-dominated páramo SE of Papallacta Pass.

FIGURES 11 – 15. Habitats: shrub and grass-dominated páramo, SE of Papallacta Pass (Ecuador: Napo Province) at altitudes about 3700 – 3800 m, 0 ° 21 ' 45 " S, 78 ° 11 ' 35 " W.

FIGURES 16 – 17. Distribution of high altitude Stigmella species in the Ecuadorian Andes. 16, habitat of Stigmella paramica sp. nov. and S. confertae Diškus & Stonis, 3700 – 3800 m, 0 ° 21 ' 45 " S, 78 ° 11 ' 35 " W; 17, distribution map.

FIGURES 18 – 19. Distribution of high altitude Nepticulidae and collecting in the Peruvian Andes. 18, distribution map; 19, collector and co-author Ole Karsholt in Polylepis forest during Polylepis Expedition organized by Prof. Dr. Jon Fjeldså (the leader of the Polylepis Expeditions, ZMUC) in 1987.

FIGURE 29. Morphology of male genitalia of high-Andean Stigmella, Nepticulidae.

FIGURES 30 – 31. Morphology of genitalia of high-Andean Stigmella, Nepticulidae. 30, male genitalia of S. altimontana sp. n.; 31, female genitalia of S. clinopodiella sp. n.

FIGURES 32 – 33. Details of morphology and bionomics. 32, abdominal apex of female of Stigmella calceolarifoliae sp. n.; 33, leaf-mines of S. paramica sp. n. in Pentacalia leaf, and cocoon.

FIGURES 34 – 38. Stigmella paramica Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov. 34, forewing, reconstructed from mature pupa; 35, male genitalia, phallus, paratype, genitalia slide no. AD 620; 36, same, capsule without phallus, holotype, temporary genitalia mount in glycerol no. AD 611; 37, same, permanent genitalia slide in Euparal no. AD 611, dorsal view; 38, same, phallus (ZMUC).

FIGURES 39 – 43. Genitalia of Stigmella paramica Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov. 39, male genitalia, uncus and gnathos, holotype, temporary mount in glycerol no. AD 611; 40, same, phallus, paratype, permanent genitalia slide in Euparal no. AD 612; 41, same, capsule without phallus, holotype, permanent genitalia slide no. AD 611, ventral view; 42, same, paratype, genitalia slide no. AD 620; 43, female genitalia, paratype, slide no. AD 619 (ZMUC).

FIGURES 44 – 48. Bionomics of Stigmella paramica Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov. 44, 45, host-plant Pentacalia sp. (Asteraceae); 46 – 48, leaf-mines.

FIGURES 49 – 54. Stigmella confertae Diškus & Stonis. 49, forewing; 50, host-plant Baccharis conferta Kunth (Asteraceae); 51, female genitalia, holotype, genitalia slide AD 638 (ZMUC); 52 – 54, leaf-mines.

FIGURES 55 – 60. Stigmella lachemillae Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov. 55, adult, male holotype; 56, same, male paratype; 57, same, female paratype; 58, male genitalia, phallus, holotype, genitalia slide no. AD 637; 59, 60, same, capsule without phallus, holotype, genitalia slide no. AD 637 (ZMUC).

FIGURES 61 – 66. Bionomics and female genitalia of Stigmella lachemillae Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov. 61, habitat, grass páramo (predominantly along streams in sheltered damp ravines); 62, 63, host-plant Lachemilla orbiculata (Ruiz & Pav.) Rydb. (Rosaceae); 64, 65, leaf-mines; 66, female genitalia, slide no. AD 664 (ZMUC).

FIGURES 67 – 71. Male genitalia of Stigmella gynoxyphaga Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov., genitalia slide no. AD 662 (ZMUC). 67, uncus, 68, apical part of valva; 69, capsule without phallus, ventral view; 70, same, dorsal view; 71, phallus.

FIGURES 72 – 76. Bionomics and female genitalia of Stigmella gynoxyphaga Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov. 72 – 74, host-plant Gynoxys buxifolia (Kunth) Cass. (Asteraceae); 75, leaf-mine; 76, female genitalia, paratype, slide no. AD 629 (ZMUC).

FIGURES 77 – 81. Stigmella calceolariae Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov. 77, adult, male holotype; 78, same, female paratype; 79, male genitalia, holotype, genitalia slide no. AD 655, capsule without phallus, ventral view; 80, same, dorsal view; 81, same, phallus (ZMUC).

FIGURES 88 – 92. Stigmella tripartita Diškus & Stonis. 88, host-plant Baccharis buxifolia (Lam.) Pers. (Asteraceae); 89, male forewing, reconstructed from adult still enclosed within the pupa shell; 90, male genitalia, paratype, genitalia slide no. AD 624; 91, same, holotype, genitalia slide no. AD 622, capsule without phallus, dorsal view; 92, same, ventral view (ZMUC).

FIGURES 93 – 97. Stigmella rigida Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov. 93, male adult, holotype; left side; 94, same, right side; 95, 96, male genitalia, holotype, genitalia slide no. AD 625, capsule without phallus; 97, same, phallus (ZMUC).

FIGURES 98 – 102. Stigmella altiplanica Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov. 98, male adult, holotype; 99, same, left side; 100, male genitalia, holotype, genitalia slide no. AD 647, capsule without phallus; 101, same, phallus; 102, same, dorsal view of capsule (ZMUC).

FIGURES 103 – 107. Stigmella robusta Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov. 103, male adult, holotype; 104, male genitalia, holotype, genitalia slide no. RA 566, phallus; 105, same, capsule without phallus; 106, same, dorsal view of capsule; 107, female genitalia, paratype, genitalia slide no. RA 580 (ZMUC).

FIGURES 108 – 112. Stigmella pseudorobusta Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov. 108, male adult, holotype; 109, male genitalia, holotype, genitalia slide no. RA 568, phallus; 110, same, capsule without phallus; 111, same, uncus and gnathos; 112, female genitalia, paratype, genitalia slide no. RA 581 (ZMUC).

FIGURES 113 – 117. Stigmella auriargentata Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov. 113, male adult, holotype; 114, male genitalia, holotype, genitalia slide no. RA 537, phallus; 115, 116, same, capsule without phallus; 117, female genitalia, paratype, genitalia slide no. RA 542 (ZMUC).

FIGURES 118 – 122. Stigmella schoorli Puplesis & Robinson. 118, 119, male adult; 120, male genitalia, capsule without phallus, paratype, genitalia slide no. Diškus 201; 121, same, holotype, genitalia slide no. Diškus 200 (after Puplesis & Robinson 2000); 122, phallus, paratype, genitalia slide no. Diškus 201 (ZMUC).

FIGURES 123 – 127. Stigmella marmorea Puplesis & Robinson. 123, 124, male adult, holotype; 125, male genitalia, capsule with phallus, holotype, genitalia slide no. Diškus 182; 126, same, phallus; 127, same, after Puplesis & Robinson 2000 (ZMUC).

FIGURES 128 – 132. Stigmella imperatoria Puplesis & Robinson. 128, 129, male adult, holotype; 130, male genitalia, capsule with phallus, holotype, genitalia slide no. Diškus 195; 131, same, uncus and gnathos; 132, same, phallus (ZMUC).

FIGURES 133 – 138. Stigmella altimontana Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov. 133 – 135, holotype, male adult; 136, paratype, male genitalia, slide no. RA 538, apical processes of valvae; 137, same, capsule without phallus; 138, holotype, genitalia slide no. RA 539, phallus (ZMUC).

FIGURES 139 – 142. Genitalia of Stigmella altimontana Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov. 139, ventral view of capsule without phallus, holotype, genitalia slide no. RA 539; 140, same, paratype, genitalia slide no. RA 538; 141, dorsal view of capsule, holotype, genitalia slide no. RA 539; 142, female genitalia, paratype, genitalia slide no. RA 540 (ZMUC).

FIGURES 143 – 147. Stigmella pandora Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov. 143, 144, holotype, male adult; 145, holotype, male genitalia, slide no. RA 565, capsule without phallus; 146, 147, same, phallus (ZMUC).

FIGURES 148 – 151. Genitalia of Stigmella pandora Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov. 148, holotype, male genitalia, slide no. RA 565, capsule with phallus removed; 149, same, focused from ventral to more dorsal; 150, same, ventral view to apical processes of valva; 151, paratype, female genitalia, slide no. RA 567 (ZMUC).

FIGURES 152 – 156. Stigmella ampla Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov. 152, holotype, male adult; 153, same, genitalia, slide no. AD 645, transtilla; 154, same, valvae; 155, same, capsule with phallus removed; 156, same, phallus (ZMUC).

FIGURES 157 – 161. Stigmella evanida Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov. 157, holotype, male adult; 158, same, male genitalia, slide no. AD 672, cornuti in phallus; 159, same, capsule with phallus removed, focused from ventral to more dorsal view; 160, same, ventral view; 161, phallus (ZMUC).

FIGURES 162 – 166. Stigmella mustelina Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov. 162, holotype, male adult; 163, paratype, male genitalia, slide no. AD 667, cornuti in phallus; 164, holotype, genitalia slide no. RA 550, capsule with phallus removed; 165, same, focused from ventral to more dorsal view; 166, same, phallus (ZMUC).

FIGURES 167 – 173. Stigmella angusta Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov. 167, 168, holotype, male adult; 169, holotype, male genitalia, slide no. AD 633, capsule with phallus removed; 170, same, focused from ventral to more dorsal view; 171, same, tube of phallus (vesica and cornuti removed); 172, 173, cornuti (ZMUC).

FIGURES 174 – 179. Stigmella alticosma Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov., holotype. 174, 175, male adult; 176, male genitalia, slide no. AD 188, phallus; 177, same, uncus and gnathos; 178, same, capsule with phallus; 179, same, focused from ventral to more dorsal view (ZMUC).

FIGURES 180 – 185. Stigmella nivea Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov., holotype. 180, 181, male adult; 182, 183, male genitalia, slide no. RA 700, capsule with phallus removed; 184, same, gnathos; 185, same, phallus (ZMUC).

FIGURES 186 – 190. Stigmella andina (Meyrick) (after Puplesis & Robinson 2000). 186 female adult, paralectotype; 187, male adult, lectotype; 188, male genitalia, slide no. 28841, capsule; 189, same, valva; 190, same, phallus (BMNH).

FIGURES 191 – 195. Stigmella kristenseni Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov. 191, 192, holotype, male adult; 193, holotype, male genitalia, slide no. AD 670, capsule with phallus removed; 194, same, focused from ventral to more dorsal view; 195, same, phallus (ZMUC).

FIGURES 196 – 199. Male genitalia of Stigmella kristenseni Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov., holotype, genitalia slide no. AD 670. 196, valvae; 197, uncus, gnathos and transtilla; 198, basal part of valvae and ventral plate of vinculum; 199, apex of phallus (ZMUC).

FIGURES 200 – 203. Male genitalia of Stigmella kristenseni Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov., holotype, temporary genitalia mount in glycerol. 200, valvae, ventral view; 201, same, lateral view; 202, 203, same, dorsal view (ZMUC).

FIGURES 204 – 208. Stigmella lobata Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov. 204, holotype, male adult; 205, same, forewing and hindwing; 206, holotype, male genitalia, slide no. RA 553, capsule with phallus removed; 207, same, focused from ventral to more dorsal view; 208, same, phallus (ZMUC).