Stigmella calceolarifoliae 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 : 33-34

21. Stigmella calceolarifoliae Diškus & Stonis, 2016

( Figs 1 , 19–24 , 35 )

Stigmella calceolarifoliae Diškus & Stonis, in Stonis et al. 2016d: 79 , 84, 85, figs 245–255.

Material examined. 1 ♂ (holotype), 2♀ (paratypes), BOLIVIA, Copacabana (southern shore of Lake Titicaca), 16°09'42"S, 69°05'19"W, elevation 3930 m, mining larvae on Calceolaria sp. 28.iv.2014, ex pupa v.2014, field card no. 5170, A. Diškus, genitalia slide nos AD 650♂ (holotype), AD 649♀, AD 702♀ (paratypes) ( ZMUC) .

Diagnosis. Belongs to S. pandora group. The combination of speckled forewing, distally four-lobed uncus, pointed apical processes of valva, long slender lobes of vinculum, transtilla without sublateral processes, and specific set of four large spine-like cornuti distinguishes S. calceolarifoliae from all other Stigmella species. The host-plant Calceolaria (Calceolariaceae) also makes this species distinctive.

Male ( Fig. 35 ). Described in in Stonis et al. 2016d: 84, 85, fig. 246. Forewing length 2.5–2.8 mm; wingspan 5.5–6.2 mm.

Female. Similar to male.

Male genitalia. Illustrated in Stonis et al. 2016d: figs 246–248.

Female genitalia. Illustrated in Stonis et al. 2016d: fig. 249.

Bionomics ( Figs 131–133 ). Larva mines in leaves of Calceolaria (Calceolariaceae) ( Figs 131, 132 ). Larva greyish white; mine in April. Leaf-mine as a gallery strongly widening in distal part (therefore resembling a blotch) ( Fig. 133 ). In the beginning, beige to dark brown frass filling the whole width of the gallery; further the gallery widened to a blotch with dark brown to brown-black frass distributed irregularly, with very wide unfilled areas of the gallery left. Larval exit slit on upper side of the leaf. Cocoon pale beige to beige; length 2.0– 2.2 mm, maximum width 1.0– 1.1 mm.

Distribution ( Fig. 1 ). 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.

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).