Crypsithyris japonica Petersen & Gaedike, 1993

Huang, Guo-Hua, Hirowatari, Toshiya & Wang, Min, 2009, The genus Crypsithyris Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Tineidae) in Guangdong Province, China, with comments on the biology and the description of a new species, Zootaxa 2310, pp. 51-58 : 56-57

Crypsithyris japonica Petersen & Gaedike, 1993

( Figs. 1 D, F, H, J, 2C, 3D–E)

Crypsithyris japonica Petersen & Gaedike, 1993 , Bonner Zoologische Beiträge, 44: 245, 246, figs. 6–7; type locality: Japan (Unzen).

Diagnosis. Forewing length 4.8‾ 5.5 mm, antenna length about 5.0 mm ( Fig. 1 D). Vertex and face brownish cream; labial palpus yellowish cream with more than 10 bristles on the second segment. Forewing brownish gray with a distinct black spot present on the outer margin of the subhyaline spot in discal cell, R4 and R5 longstalked, M2 and M3 short-stalked ( Fig. 2 C). Male genitalia ( Fig. 3 D; Sakai & Saigusa 2002: fig. 3) with uncus strongly tapered at apical 0.5; gnathos slender, strongly sclerotized; tegumen broad and vinculum thin; juxta absent; subscaphium membranous; saccus slender; valva constricted and curved dorsally at middle, with a distinct projection at middle, inner surface with long slender bristles; aedeagus cylindrical, about 2X length of valve; vesica with a pair of slender cornuti nearly 0.5X length of aedeagus. Female genitalia ( Fig. 3 E; Sakai & Saigusa 2002: fig. 7) with bands of dense thick bristles on middle of tergum and on anterior margin of sternum, ovipositor short without ventral rods, apophyses posteriores about 2X length of apophyses anteriores; bursa copulatrix about 3X length of apophysis anterioris; ductus bursae thin-walled; corpus bursae lantern-shaped with about 10 spinelike signa.

Specimens examined. 2 males, China: Guangdong, Conghua, Nankunshan Provincial Nature Reserve, 500 m, 18 March 2006, reared from larval cases, eclosed 15 May 2006, G.H. Huang and T. Hirowatari leg.; 1 female, same data except eclosed 11 May 2006. All specimens deposited in HUNAU.

Biology. Larvae were discovered in March on the wall of a wooden shed ( Fig. 1 F) in secondary forest; they construct a portable case ( Fig. 1 H). About 15 cases were collected on 18 March 2006 and kept in plastic box at room temperature with material from the habitat. Three adults eclosed 11–15 May 2006. The adults usually stayed around the case ( Fig. 1 H) and were inactive during the daytime; however, no specimens were collected at light. From our observations, larvae appear to feed on organic debris on the wood of the shed. Sakai & Saigusa (2002) reported this species to feed on lichen growing on stones and wood, and also on insect debris from Japan.

Distribution. China (new record), Japan (Honshu, Kyushu).

Remarks. Sakai & Saigusa (2002) redescribed the morphology of C. japonica .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Crypsithyris spp. with immature stages, habitats, and larval cases. A. C. nanlingensis, sp. nov., male, holotype; B. C. nanlingensis, sp. nov., female, paratype; C. C. sp., female; D. C. japonica Petersen & Gaedike, 1993; E. Crypsithyris sp.; F. Crypsithyris japonica Petersen & Gaedike, 1993; G. Crypsithyris sp.; H. C. japonica Petersen & Gaedike, 1993; I. C. sp.; J. C. japonica Petersen & Gaedike, 1993.

FIGURE 2. Wing venation. A. C. nanlingensis, sp. nov., holotype, male; B. Crypsithyris sp., female; C. Crypsithyris japonica Petersen & Gaedike, 1993, male.

FIGURE 3. Genitalia of Crypsithyris spp. A. C. nanlingensis, sp. nov., male, holotype; B. C. nanlingensis, sp. nov., female, paratype; C. C. sp., female; D. C. japonica Petersen & Gaedike, 1993, male; E. C. japonica, female.