Antispila hydrangaeella Chambers

Nieukerken, Erik J. van, Wagner, David L., Baldessari, Mario, Mazzon, Luca, Angeli, Gino, Girolami, Vicenzo, Duso, Carlo & Doorenweerd, Camiel, 2012, Antispila oinophylla new species (Lepidoptera, Heliozelidae), a new North American grapevine leafminer invading Italian vineyards: taxonomy, DNA barcodes and life cycle, ZooKeys 170, pp. 29-77 : 45

Antispila hydrangaeella Chambers Figs 3647

Antispila hydrangaeella Chambers, 1874a: 170. Syntypes leafmines and larvae: [USA: Kentucky, Covington] on Hydrangea arborea [probably lost].

Differential diagnosis.

DNA barcodes suggest that two species might be involved, and leafmines from a population in North Carolina (Smoky Mts NP) and northern Georgia do show some differences. Described adults and larvae are from the Georgia population.Externally, adult Antispila hydrangaeella (Fig. 36) is extremely similar to the other species of the Antispila ampelopsifoliella group, but it differs by the last six antennal segments being white and by genitalia and hostplant data. In male genitalia (Fig. 47) uncus only shallowly bilobed; valva with long pecten with more comb spines: ca. 20, triangular lobe absent, at base of valva beardlike setation; juxta rather wide, with groups of spines laterally; phallus with two very long terminal spines and many small spines near phallotrema, not forming a comb. Female genitalia not examined.

Biology.

Hostplant: Hydrangea arborea .

Leafmines.

One type (North Carolina) with long gallery mines, often following a vein, ending in a blotch with greenish to brown frass. The mines from Georgia with early gallery mine much contorted in a small area, with black frass, ending in elongate mine with blackish dispersed frass.

Distribution.

USA: Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, North Carolina, presumably widespread in eastern United States.