Stigmella ageratinae 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 : 46-47

35. Stigmella ageratinae Diškus & Stonis, 2016

( Figs 1 , 19–24 , 35 , 37 , 136–138 )

Stigmella ageratinae Diškus & Stonis, in Stonis et al. 2016d: 75 –79, figs 213–229.

Material examined. 1 ♂ (paratype, from mature pupa), 1 ♀ (holotype), BOLIVIA, Copacabana (southern shore of Lake Titicaca), 16°09'42"S, 69°05'19"W, elevation 3930 m, mining larvae on Ageratina pentlandiana (DC.) R.M. King & H. Rob., 28.iv.2014, ex pupa v.2014, field card no. 5171, A. Diškus, genitalia slide nos AD 595♂ (paratype), AD 596♀ (holotype) ( ZMUC) .

Diagnosis. Belongs to the S. nivea species group. The combination of golden cream forewing with fuscous markings, bilobed uncus, closely juxtaposed processes of gnathos, and specific set of large horn-like cornuti distinguishes S. ageratinae from all other Stigmella species, including the members of the nivea species group. The host-plant Ageratina pentlandiana (Asteraceae) also makes this species highly distinctive.

Male. Similar to female; known only from mature pupa ( Stonis et al. 2016d).

Female ( Fig. 35 ). Described in Stonis et al. 2016d: 75, figs 213, 214. Forewing length about 2.4 mm; wingspan 5.5–5.6 mm.

Male genitalia. Illustrated in Stonis et al. 2016d: figs 215–220.

Female genitalia. Illustrated in Stonis et al. 2016d: figs 221–223.

Bionomics ( Figs 136–138 ). Larva mines in leaves of Ageratina pentlandiana (DC.) R.M. King & H. Rob. ( Asteraceae ) ( Fig. 136 ). Larva pale yellow with indistinct intestine and dark brown head; mine in April. Leaf-mine as a gallery strongly contorted in distal third (therefore resembling a blotch) ( Figs 137, 138 ). Black-brown to black frass gathered into a wide central line with wide margins of the gallery remaining unfilled. Larval exit slit on upper side of the leaf. Cocoon beige to pale beige; length 2.5–2.7 mm, maximum width 1.5–1.6 mm.

Distribution ( Figs 1 , 22 ). This species occurs in the Altiplano of the Bolivian Andes ( Bolivia: southern shore of Lake Titicaca) at altitudes about 3930 m ( Figs 19–24 ).

Figures

FIGURE 35. Adults of the central Andean Nepticulidae.

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).