Stigmella clinopodiella Diškus & Stonis, 2016

Stonis, Jonas R., Diškus, Arūnas, Remeikis, Andrius, Karsholt, Ole & Torres, Nixon Cumbicus, 2017, Illustrated review of the leaf-mining Nepticulidae of the central Andes (Peru and Bolivia), Zootaxa 4257 (1), pp. 1-70 : 38

29. Stigmella clinopodiella Diškus & Stonis, 2016

( Fig. 1 , 19–24 , 37 )

Stigmella clinopodiella Diškus & Stonis, in Stonis et al. 2016d: 79 , figs 230–244.

Material examined. 2 ♂ (holotype and paratype), 3 ♀ (paratypes), BOLIVIA, Copacabana (southern shore of Lake Titicaca), 16°09'42"S, 69°05'20"W, elevation 3930 m, mining larvae on Clinopodium axillare (Rusby) Harley , 28.iv.2014, field card no. 5172, A. Diškus, genitalia slide nos AD 646♂ (holotype), AD 644♂, AD 651♀, AD 652♀, AD 653♀ (paratypes) ( ZMUC) .

Diagnosis. Belongs to the S. singularia species group. The combination of distally truncated uncus, closely juxtaposed processes of gnathos, very long apical process of valva, and specific set of numerous large horn-like cornuti distinguishes S. clinopodiella from all other Stigmella species. The host-plant Clinopodium axillare (Lamiaceae) also make this species distinctive.

Male. Described in Stonis et al. 2016d: 79. Forewing length about 2.2 mm; wingspan 5.0 mm.

Female. Similar to male.

Male genitalia. Illustrated in Stonis et al. 2016d: figs 230–233.

Female genitalia. Illustrated in Stonis et al. 2016d: figs 234–237.

Bionomics ( Figs 134, 135 ). Larva mines in leaves of Clinopodium axillare (Rusby) Harley ( Lamiaceae : Mentheae ) ( Fig. 134 ). Larva pale yellow with indistinctive intestine and dark brown head; mine in April. Leafmine as a very long gallery strongly widening in distal part (therefore resembling a blotch) ( Fig. 135 ). Black-brown to black frass gathered into a line with very wide unfilled margins in the distal part but filling the whole width of the gallery in the narrow part. Larval exit slit on upper side of the leaf. Cocoon beige to dark beige; length 2.6–2.8 mm, maximum width 1.1–1.5 mm.

Distribution ( Figs 1 , 19–24 ). This species occurs in the Altiplano of the Bolivian Andes ( Bolivia: southern shore of Lake Titicaca) at altitudes around 3930 m.

Figures

FIGURE 37. Diagnostics of the central Andean Stigmella.

FIGURES 1 – 8. Distribution of the central Andean Nepticulidae. 1, high-Andean species recorded at altitudes above 3700 m (after Stonis et al. 2016 d); 2, species recorded at altitudes below 3700 m; 3 – 8, some collecting areas in the Peruvian Andes.

FIGURES 19 – 28. Distribution of some central Andean Nepticulidae. 19 – 28, habitats, Bolivia.

FIGURES 131 – 138. Leaf-mines of Stigmella species. 131, 132, S. calceolarifoliae Diškus & Stonis, 2016, host-plant Calceolaria sp.; 133, same, leaf-mine; 134, S. clinopodiella Diškus & Stonis, 2016, host-plant Clinopodium axillare (Rusby) Harley; 135, same, leaf-mine; 136, S. ageratinae Diškus & Stonis, 2016, host-plant Ageratina pentlandiana (DC.) R. M. King & H. Rob.; 137, 138, same, leaf-mines (after Stonis et al. 2016 d).