Astrotischeria ambrosiaeella (Chambers, 1875)

Jonas R. Stonis, Arūnas Diškus, Fernando Carvalho Filho & Owen T. Lewis, 2018, American Asteraceae-feeding Astrotischeria species with a highly modified, three-lobed valva in the male genitalia (Lepidoptera, Tischeriidae), Zootaxa 4469 (1), pp. 1-69 : 57-59

Astrotischeria ambrosiaeella (Chambers, 1875)

( Figs. 14 , 225–229 , 233 )

Tischeria ambrosiaeella CHAMbERS, 1875: 112, 113.

Tischeria ambrosiaeella CHAMbERS, in FORbES (1923: 147); BRAUN (1972: 77–79).

Tischeria ambrosiella WALSINGHAM, 1890: 325. MISSPELLING.

Astrotischeria ambrosiaeella (CHAMbERS); DIŠKUS & PUPLESIS (2003: 427).

Material examined. 1 ♂, 1 ♀, USA: Missouri, Kirkwood, St. Louis, mining larvae on Ambrosia trifida (Asteraceae) , 13.ix.1886, ex. pupa 9.i.1890, Lord Walshingham Collection ( BMNH); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, same label but without host-plant data, [leg. Miss Murtfeldt], Lord Walshingham Collection, genitalia slide nos 28951 ♂, 28962 ♀ ( BMNH).

Diagnosis. The species belongs to the Astrotischeria trilobata group. The combination of the very distinctive, unique, horn-shaped dorsal lobes of valva (see Figs. 226–228 ), unique shape of the phallus (see Fig. 229 ), and a rather large but short uncus in the male genitalia distinguishes A. ambrosiaeella from all other Astrotischeria , including other members of the A. trilobata group. The fact that it feeds on Ambrosia also makes this species rather distinctive.

Male ( Fig. 225 ). Forewing about 3.5–3.6 mm; wingspan about 7.5–7.7 mm. For a description see Braun Braun 1972: 77, 78.

Female. Similar to male.

Male genitalia ( Figs. 226–229 ). Desribed in Braun 1972: 78.

Female genitalia. Described and illustrated in Braun 1972: 78, Fig. 39 (only apophyses and prela).

Bionomics. Host plants: Ambrosia trifida L., A. artemisiifolia L., also possibly A. psilostachya DC. (Braun 1972). Leaf mine is an irregular, elongated blotch, usually between two veins (illustrated in Braun 1972: Fig. 49 ). Larvae recorded from July, September and October; adults from August–November (Braun 1972: 78).

Distribution ( Fig. 233 ). USA (Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Missouri, California).

Figures

FIGURE 233. DISTRIbUTION MAP. CURRENTLy KNOWN SPECIES OF THE Astrotischeria trilobata GROUP. (MAP bASE—COURTESy OF TOM PATTERSON, THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL PARK SERVICE IN HARPERS FERRy, WEST VIRGINIA, USA). NOTE: ALSO SEE REMARKS IN THE TExT ON A. heliopsisella (CHAMbERS).

FIGURES 11–15. DORSAL LObES OF VALVA. 11, 12, Astrotischeria casila DIŠKUS & STONIS, sp. nov., LATERAL VIEW; 13, A. occidentalis (BRAUN, 1972), VENTRAL VIEW (AFTER BRAUN 1972, MODIFIED); 14, A. ambrosiaeella (CHAMbERS, 1875), LATERAL VIEW; 15, A. plagifera (MEyRICK, 1915), VENTRAL VIEW.

FIGURES 225–229. Astrotischeria ambrosiaeella (CHAMbERS, 1875), KIRKWOOD, ST. LOUIS, ON Ambrosia trifida, 13.Ix.1886, WALSINGHAM COLLECTION (BMNH). 225, MALE ADULT; 226, MALE GENITALIA WITH PHALLUS REMOVED, GENITALIA SLIDE NO. 28951; 227, 228, SAME, LATERAL VIEW OF VALVA; 229, SAME, PHALLUS.

FIGURES 38–42. MALE GENITALIA OF Astrotischeria trilobata DIŠKUS & STONIS, sp. nov., COROICO, BOLIVIA (ZMUC). 38, 39, CAPSULE WITH PHALLUS, HOLOTyPE, GENITALIA SLIDE AD752; 40, PHALLUS, PARATyPE, GENITALIA SLIDE AD751; 41, SAME, LObES OF ANELLUS; 42, MEDIAN LObES OF UNCUS, HOLOTyPE, GENITALIA SLIDE NO. AD752.

FIGURES 46–50. MALE GENITALIA OF Astrotischeria trilobata DIŠKUS & STONIS, sp. nov., VILCAbAMbA, ECUADOR (ZMUC). 46, 47, CAPSULE WITH PHALLUS REMOVED, PARATyPE, GENITALIA SLIDE AD915; 48, DORSAL LObES OF VALVA, PARATyPE, GENITALIA SLIDE NO. AD910; 49, SAME, PHALLUS; 50, SAME, GENITALIA SLIDE NO. AD915.