Systematics, revisionary taxonomy, and biodiversity of Afrotropical Lithocolletinae (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae)
Prins, Jurate De
Kawahara, Akito Y.
Zootaxa
2012
2012-12-20
3594
1
1
283
8VM4V
De Prins
2012
[207,316,836,862]
Insecta
Gracillariidae
Phyllonorycter
Animalia
Lepidoptera
97
98
Arthropoda
species
hibiscola
The only species belonging to this group, Phyllonorycter hibiscolaDe Prins, n. sp.can readily be distinguished from many Afrotropical Phyllonorycterby the deep golden brownish ground colour and golden brownish shine of forewing that resembles P. adderis, P. gato, P. lemarchandi, P. umukarusand the European species P. schreberellaand P. tristrigellathat feed on Ulmussp.The above-mentioned species also have a different male and female genital morphology and fall into different informal species groups. Therefore, only dissections provide means for the designation into species groups and species identification. The discovery of a male could resolve the taxonomic position of P. hibiscola. At the moment, we place P. hibiscolainto its own species group. Female genitalia are characteristic for having a long, narrow, fold-like sclerotization of cuticle, ostium bursae situated at middle of segment VII, a heavy sclerotized ring encircling the anterior margin of segment VII, short ductus bursae, corpus bursae elongate, without signum. The hibiscolaspecies utilizes Malvaceaeas its host plant.