Epicephala lanceolatella, 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 : 93-94

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Gracillariidae

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

Epicephala sp. ( lanceolatum ) ( Kawakita et al. 2004); Clade 5 ( Kawakita and Kato 2006); Epicephala sp. 6 ( Glochidion lanceolatum ) ( Kawakita et al. 2010).

Diagnosis.

This species is very similar to Epicephala bipollenella but can be distinguished from the latter by the apically acute sacculus, the more curved distal appendages on sacculus and broader lamella postvaginalis.

Description.

Wingspan: 8.8-10.3 mm.

Head: With numerous white scales on dorsal surface. Labial palpus dark brown. 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 narrow white bands beginning at dorsal margin near 1/2 to 3/4 length of wing and extending obliquely toward wing apex, terminating before reaching mid-width of wing; white spots scattered on costal half; 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 band near dorsum; distal end fringed with narrow white band; cilia grayish brown. Hindwing brown, 0.8 × length of forewing; cilia grayish brown.

Male genitalia: Tegumen elongated triangular. Cucullus rounded rectangular; inner surface covered with numerous hairs. Sacculus as long and wide as cucullus, acute apically; dorsal margin rounded medially, attached with a plate possessing short spines sparsely on inner surface and terminating distally as inward hook-like projection with dense spines on dorso-ventral surface. Vinculum V-shaped; saccus oval, about 2/5 length of vinculum. Aedeagus slightly curved downwardly; dorsal surface with a sclerotized longitudinal ridge beginning medially at base and curving left toward apex.

Female genitalia: Lamella postvaginalis rounded triangular, bilobed at apex, as long as seventh sternite, 0.7 × width of seventh sternite. Antrum short, with a pair of sclerotized parallel ridges. Ductus bursae as long as lamella postvaginalis, with longitudinal parallel ridges for its entire length. Corpus bursae elongate oval; signum absent. Apophyses posteriores 1.6 × length of apophyses anteriores. Ovipositor dentate laterally, rounded apically.

Material examined.

36♂, 33♀. Holotype ♀ - JAPAN: Okinawa Prefecture: Okinawa Island, Kunigami, Cape Hedo (26.860200, 128.257979), 30 m, collected as larva in fruit of Glochidion lanceolatum and reared to adult, 15.vi.2015 (KYO). Paratypes - same data as holotype, 2♂ (KYO); same locality as holotype, 13.vi.2004, 11♂, 12♀ (KYO); Other specimens - JAPAN: Kagoshima Prefecture: Amami Island, Setsuko, 19.v.2005, 3♂; Amami Island, Naon, 24.vi.2008; Okinawa Prefecture: Ishigaki Island, Omoto, 30.ix.2004, 7♂, 112♀; Iriomote Island, Funaura, 5.x.2003, 3♀; Yonaguni Island, Mantabaru, 20.ix.2004, 9♂, 5♀.

DNA barcodes.

AY525727, DQ298957-DQ298961, DQ298965, DQ298966, DQ298968, DQ298972, DQ298973, DQ298977, DQ298981-DQ298983, DQ298986-DQ298988, DQ298990-DQ298995.

Known host and adult behavior.

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

Distribution.

Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan (Amami Island, Okinawa Island, Ishigaki Island, Iriomote Island and Yonaguni Island; Fig. 9C).

Etymology.

The name lanceolatella (an adjective) derives from the species name of the host plant Glochidion lanceolatum .