Coptotriche pulverea ( Walsingham, 1897 )

Stonis, Jonas R., Diškus, Arūnas, Remeikis, Andrius & Lewis, Owen T., 2020, Exceptional diversity of Tischeriidae (Lepidoptera) from a single tropical forest site in Belize, Central America, European Journal of Taxonomy 723, pp. 33-76 : 69-71

Coptotriche pulverea ( Walsingham, 1897)

Figs 30–31 , 132–134

Tischeria pulverea Walsingham, 1897: 145 .

Coptotriche pulverea – Stonis et al. 2008: 165–166, figs 1, 2a–b, 3a–e.

Diagnosis

External characters are not sufficient for the identification of this species. In the male genitalia, Coptotriche pulverea resembles C. forsteroniae Stonis & Diškus, 2008 ; however, Coptotriche pulverea is distinguishable from the latter and all other Coptotriche by the extremely short, rod-like vinculum and the gradually narrowed, tulip-shaped apex of the phallus (in C. forsteroniae the apex of the phallus is rhomboid). The host plant, Terminalia amazonia (J.F.Gmel.) Exell ( Combretaceae R.Br. ) makes C. pulverea unique among all other Tischeriidae (the morphologically similar C. forsteroniae feeds on Forsteronia myriantha Donn.Sm. , Apocynaceae Juss. ).

Material examined

BELIZE • 1 ♂; Cayo District, Chiquibul Forest Reserve, Las Cuevas ; 16°43′53″ N, 88°59′11″ W; alt. 550 m; 3–16 Apr. 1998; R. Puplesis and S.R. Hill leg.; at light; genitalia slide no. 010316204♂; NHMUK 010289321 • 1 ♂; Cayo District, San Ignacio , secondary forest; 17°09′15″ N, 89°04′04″ W; alt. 85 m; 17–18 Apr. 1998; R. Puplesis and S.R. Hill leg.; at light; NHMUK 010289323 • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; NHMUK 010289324 • 1 ♂; same locality as for preceding; 13 Mar. 1998; O.T. Lewis leg.; mining larvae on Terminalia amazonia (J.F.Gmel.) Exell (Combretaceae); field card no. 6.040-13/3; genitalia slide nos 010316203♂; NHMUK 010289322 .

Description

This species was redescribed and illustrated by Stonis et al. (2008: 165, 166, figs 1, 2a–b, 3a–e). Here, on the basis of the material from Belize, we provide the first photographic documentation of the male genitalia of the species ( Figs 132–134 ).

Biology

Host plant: Terminalia amazonia (J.F.Gmel.) Exell (Combretaceae) . Larvae mine leaves in March. The leaf mine starts as a corridor, broadening into a blotch as the larva develops. The leaf mine sample was not preserved by the collector with the reared specimen and is therefore not documented in detail.

Flight period

Based on specimens collected at light, adults occur in April. Based on reared specimens in Belize and the Caribbean (lectotype), adults also occur in March.

Distribution

This species was described from the Caribbean (Virgin Is., USA) (Walsinhgam 1897) and was recently recorded from Belize ( Stonis et al. 2008).

Figures

Figs 21–34. Tischeriidae collected in Las Cuevas, Belize. 21. Paratischeria tubifex sp. nov., holotype (NHMUK 010289272). 22. Same, paratype (010289282). 23. Same, paratype (010289276). 24–25. P. belizensis sp. nov., holotype (010289283). 26–28. P. neotropicana (010289285). 29. Dishkeya gouaniae, paratype (010289320). 30. Coptotriche pulverea (010289324). 31. Same (010289322). 32–34. C. forsteroniae, paratype (010289330).

Figs 132–138. Male genitalia of Tischeriidae from Las Cuevas, Belize (NHMUK). 132. Coptotriche pulverea (Walsingham, 1897), capsule with phallus removed (genitalia slide no. 010316203). 133–134. Same, phallus. 135. C. forsteroniae Stonis & Diškus, 2008, capsule with phallus removed, paratype (genitalia slide no. 010316201). 136–138. Same, phallus.