Epicephala anthophilia, Kawakita, Atsushi & Kato, Makoto, 2016

Kawakita, Atsushi & Kato, Makoto, 2016, Revision of the Japanese species of Epicephala Meyrick with descriptions of seven new species (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae), ZooKeys 568, pp. 87-118 : 90

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Gracillariidae

Epicephala anthophilia sp. n. Figs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Epicephala sp. 1 ( Kato et al. 2003); Epicephala sp. ( acuminatum ) ( Kawakita et al. 2004); Clade 2 ( Kawakita and Kato 2006); Epicephala sp. ex Glochidion acuminatum ( Kawakita and Kato 2009; Kawakita et al. 2015); Epicephala sp. 2 ( Glochidion acuminatum ) ( Kawakita et al. 2010).

Diagnosis.

This species is morphologically similar to Epicephala eriocarpa Li, Wang & Zhang, 2012 but differs from the latter in having a longer and apically acute sacculus, lamella postvaginalis with distal arms stretched outwardly, and shorter ductus bursae relative to antrum.

Description.

Wingspan: 9.2-11.0 mm.

Head: With numerous white scales on dorsal surface. Labial palpus with dark brown scales. Antenna brown, about 1.2 × as long as forewing. Female proboscis with a large number of trichoid sensilla; sensilla 1.5 × as long as width of proboscis, denser toward base.

Thorax: White dorsally. Forewing brown with narrow white band on dorsum from base to 2/3 of entire length; three pairs of white bands beginning at costal and dorsal margins near 1/2 to 3/4 length of wing and extending obliquely toward wing apex, terminating before reaching mid-width of wing; a narrow silver band with metallic reflection extending from costa to dorsum at 5/6 length; distal 1/6 orange-brown with black dot centrally, franked by short white spot or band near costa and dorsum; distal end fringed with narrow white band; cilia grayish brown. Hindwing brown, 0.8 × length of forewing; cilia grayish brown.

Male genitalia: Tegumen rounded triangular. Cucullus rectangular oblong, apex rounded, inner surface covered with numerous hairs; dorsal margin longer than ventral margin. Sacculus 0.7 × length of cucullus, wider than cucullus near base but abruptly tapering at mid-length, acute apically; inner surface of dorso-distal portion with minute sclerotized teeth. Vinculum U-shaped; saccus slender, 5/6 length of vinculum. Aedeagus straight; lateral surface with a pair of sclerotized longitudinal ridges near mid-length, fringed by a few spines.

Female genitalia: Lamella postvaginalis H-shaped, about 0.5 × length of seventh abdominal segment, 4 × as broad as ostium bursae; distal arms longer than basal arms and stretched outwardly. Antrum long, as long as lamella postvaginalis. Ductus bursae 1.6 × length of antrum, with longitudinal parallel ridges for its entire length. Corpus bursae oval, as long as ductus bursae; signum triangular, at 1/3 from base. Apophyses posteriores about 1.5 × length of apophyses anteriores. Ovipositor dentate laterally, rounded apically.

Material examined.

16♂, 15♀. Holotype ♀ - JAPAN: Kagoshima Prefecture: Amami Island, Tatsugo, Nagakumo-toge (28.447828, 129.589449), 280 m, collected on female flower of Glochidion acuminatum in the act of pollination and oviposition, 10.v.2015 (KYO). The specimen possesses Glochidion pollen on proboscis. Paratypes - same locality as holotype, 10.xii.2007, collected as larvae in fruits of Glochidion acuminatum and reared to adults, 6♂, 7♀ (KYO). Other specimens - JAPAN: Kagoshima Prefecture: Amami Island, Tatsugo, Nagakumo-toge, 4.xi.2004, 3♂; Amami Island, Asado, 8.xii.2009, 4♂, 5♀ (R. Goto); Amami Island, Setsuko, 4.xi.2004, 1♂; Amami Island, Yakugachi, 19.xii.2005, 2♂, 1♀; Amami Island, Yakugachi, 13.xii.1997, 1♀ (M. Kato).

DNA barcodes.

AY221964, AY221965, AY525718, DQ298944-DQ298956.

Known host and adult behavior.

Known only from Glochidion acuminatum . Pollination behavior present (Fig. 8A). Oviposition from apical stylar pit, in stylar tissue (Fig. 8B). Larva feeds on seeds.

Distribution.

Found in a few islands with high elevation in the Ryukyu Archipelago (Amami Island and Okinawa Island; Fig. 9A). The host plant Glochidion acuminatum is distributed throughout Southeast Asia from southern Japan to India, so this species is likely to be found in other parts of the host plant’s range.

Etymology.

The name anthophilia (an adjective) is derived from the Latin antho- (= flower) and -philia (= love, affection), commemorating that the flower-visiting behavior of Epicephala was first found in this species ( Kato et al. 2003).

Remarks.

The flight period of this species is restricted to a 3-4 week period in May in Amami Island, corresponding to the flowering period of its host plant Glochidion acuminatum . The egg undergoes a prolonged dormancy in the flower for up to five months, and the larva hatches and develops as the fruit begins to mature in late October ( Goto et al. 2010). The moth overwinters as pre-pupa. Epicephala anthophilia is presently the only known univoltine species in the genus.