Manitischeria symbolica Diškus & Stonis, 2021

Stonis, Jonas R., Diškus, Arūnas, Solis, M. Alma & Monro, Alexandre K., 2021, Diagnostics of Manitisheria gen. nov., an Old-World genus of leaf-mining Tischeriidae, composed of new species and species formerly in Tischeria Zeller, Zootaxa 4964 (2), pp. 251-287 : 262

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4964.2.2
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F47CFAFA-8C8E-4728-A52E-5B2EDAF8A05B
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4709328
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/A2C29D53-3192-49A4-807A-B262B010DABA
taxon LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:act:A2C29D53-3192-49A4-807A-B262B010DABA
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Manitischeria symbolica Diškus & Stonis
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

16. Manitischeria symbolica Diškus & Stonis View in CoL , sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:A2C29D53-3192-49A4-807A-B262B010DABA

( Figs. 10–12 View FIGURES 4–12 , 36 View FIGURES 33–36 , 85–95 View FIGURES 85–90 View FIGURES 91–95 )

Type material. Holotype: ♂, VIETNAM: Lao Cai Province, Sapa , 22°19’19”N, 103°49’31”E, elevation 1260 m, feeding larvae 19.ii.2015, ex pupa iii.2015, field card no. 5190, A. Diškus, genitalia slide no. AD 885♂ ( ZIN). GoogleMaps

Diagnosis. Externally, M. symbolica sp. nov. can be confused with other sparsely speckled Tischeriidae species, including the most similar M. baryshnikovae sp. nov., described below. In the male genitalia, the unique, elaborate juxta ( Figs. 91–94 View FIGURES 91–95 ) distinguishes the new species from all known congeneric species.

Male ( Fig. 36 View FIGURES 33–36 ). Forewing length 3.8 mm; wingspan 8.3 mm (n = 1). Palpi and pecten bright yellowish ochre; frons ochre cream; frontal tuft ochre cream, glossy, comprised of slender lamellar scales; collar yellowish ochre; antenna longer than one half the length of forewing; flagellum pale ochre cream, irregularly annulated with brown scales; basally flagellum bright yellow-ochre; sensillae very fine, short, inconspicuous. Tegula and thorax concolourous with forewing. Forewing pale yellowish ochre, sparsely irrorated with dark brown scales, with most of brown scales along costa in apical half of the wing; fringe yellow-ochre; fringe line indistinctive; forewing underside dark ochre-brown, without spots or androconia. Hindwing brownish cream to grey depending on angle of view; on underside, hindwing grey-brown; fringe pale yellowish brown. Legs ochre cream, on upper side and laterally densely speckled with blackish brown scales. Abdomen grey, with some blue and purple iridescence on upper side, densely speckled with dark brown scales on underside; genital plates yellowish cream; anal tufts long, cream to brown.

Female. Unknown.

Male genitalia ( Figs. 85–95 View FIGURES 85–90 View FIGURES 91–95 ) with capsule 720 µm long, 300 µm wide. Uncus comprised of two long lobes ( Figs. 86, 89 View FIGURES 85–90 , 95 View FIGURES 91–95 ). Valva slender at the basal half ( Figs. 89, 90 View FIGURES 85–90 ), with inner, spine-like process ( Fig. 95 View FIGURES 91–95 ); lateral arm prominent ( Fig. 90 View FIGURES 85–90 ). Juxta with straight median and sinuous, elaborate lateral branches ( Figs. 89 View FIGURES 85–90 , 91–94 View FIGURES 91–95 ). Vinculum with a long, median, distally truncated ventral lobe ( Figs. 87–89 View FIGURES 85–90 ). Phallus ( Figs. 85, 87–89 View FIGURES 85–90 ) without lateral arms apically ( Fig. 91 View FIGURES 91–95 ).

Bionomics ( Figs. 10–12 View FIGURES 4–12 ). Host plant is unknown (probably Malvaceae , unidentified) ( Fig. 12 View FIGURES 4–12 ). Larvae mine leaves in February. Larva yellowish grey, with a dark brown head. The mine ( Figs. 10, 11 View FIGURES 4–12 ) is an irregular blotch, usually near leaf margin; upon development, larva bends the leaf margin ( Fig. 10 View FIGURES 4–12 ). Exit hole on the leaf underside. Adults occur in late March.

Distribution. This species is known from the single locality in northern Vietnam, Lao Cai Province (Sapa), at elevation of 1260 m.

Etymology. The species name is derived from the Ancient Greek symbolus (a symbol, seal, logo), based on the elaborate juxta in the male genitalia, which resembles a logo in European folk traditions with two crisscrossed horse heads attached to a house gable (as in the Raiffeisen Bank).