Antispila cf isabella Clemens

Nieukerken, Erik J. van, Wagner, David L., Baldessari, Mario, Mazzon, Luca, Angeli, Gino, Girolami, Vicenzo, Duso, Carlo & Doorenweerd, Camiel, 2012, Antispila oinophylla new species (Lepidoptera, Heliozelidae), a new North American grapevine leafminer invading Italian vineyards: taxonomy, DNA barcodes and life cycle, ZooKeys 170, pp. 29-77 : 46

Antispila cf isabella Clemens Figs 38, 394658, 60 (59, 61 Antispila “vitis2”)

Antispila isabella Clemens, 1860: 209. Syntypes: [USA: Pennsylvania, Easton], larvae on "Isabella grape", September, adults emerged May, Brackenridge Clemens (ANSP if extant).

Antispila isabella ; Chambers 1874a: 167 [redescription].

Differential diagnosis.

Under this name there is probably a complex of species, often with conspicuous androconial scales in males. Among the barcodes we distinguish two clusters, here tentatively named as Antispila cf isabella and Antispila “vitis2”. The adults described here do not necessarily belong to one of the described mine types.

Moths (Figs 38-39) of this species complex are easily distinguished from the Antispila ampelopsifoliella group by the missing apical spot on forewing and larger average size. Moreover males have conspicuous yellow or brown androconial scales on forewing underside (Fig. 39). The venation is also more complete (as in Fig. 7).

Male genitalia were examined of one of the species (Fig. 46) the valva is more elongate, and the pecten includes 10-13 teeth. Phallus lacks larger spines at phallotrema, but has many scale-like, small spines, and posteriorly possesses an asymmetric broad lobe; anteriorly not widened. Other individuals have not been examined; as noted above, the group is in need of revision.

Biology.

Hostplant: Vitis aestivalis , Vitis labrusca [incl. “Isabella” grapes], Vitis riparia .

Leafmines.

Mines of Antispila cf isabella (Figs 58, 60) are relatively large mines, with the egg deposited near a vein. No gallery visible, mine a large blotch, with a roundish patch of reddish frass near beginning, probably attached to upper epidermis, and dispersed black frass throughout mine. Cut-out large, around 5 mm long.

Mines of Antispila “vitis2” (Figs 59, 61) also start on a vein, without gallery, and are relatively compact blotches, with frass concentrated in a mushroom shape or reversed triangular near beginning of mine. Cut-out large, around 4.8 mm.

Distribution.

Canada: Ontario. USA: Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont.

Remarks.

Both COI sequences and external sexual secondary characters show that more species are involved. We have tentatively named the most common form as Antispila cf isabella, and research of types or material from the collections of Clemens and Chambers is needed for establishing the identities of these names.