Phyllocnistis longipalpa Davis and Wagner

Davis, Donald R. & Wagner, David L., 2011, Biology and systematics of the New World Phyllocnistis Zeller leafminers of the avocado genus Persea (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae), ZooKeys 97, pp. 39-73 : 50-51

Phyllocnistis longipalpa Davis and Wagner sp. n. Figs 2C18 A–E.

Diagnosis:

Phyllocnistis longipalpa can be distinguished from other Persea -feeding Phyllocnistis in the southeastern United States, by its long, slightly upcurved labial palpi (> height of head). The apical spot is poorly developed, which distinguishes it from hyperpersae. It lacks the run of raised black scales from the forewing tornus characteristic of Phyllocnistis subpersea .

Adult

(Fig. 2C): Length of forewing: 2.3 to 2.6 mm.

Head: Frons shiny white, smooth with subtle faint orange tints over vertex. Flagellomeres with faint orange luster above. Labial palpus white, long, 1.2 × height of head, slightly upcurved; basal segment subequal to segments 2 + 3.

Thorax: Patagia and tegulae with subtle, silvery, stramineous to orange tints. Longitudinal fascia joining transverse fascia, edged with black scales above and below, with those below more consistently present distad. Transverse fascia leaves costal margin at 45° angle; proximal edge of transverse fascia where it leaves the inner margin vague, composed of 2-3 rows of dark scales. Second costal fascia fusing with transverse f ascia distally. Apical spot poorly differentiated; likewise apical strigulae vague and poorly developed. Black fringe scales about tornus little broadened and not conspicuously elevated above plane of wing. Legs essentially silvery white and unmarked with exception of faint orange luster to dorsal and outer surfaces of foretibiae and foretarsi; distal tarsomeres sometimes modestly darkened.

Abdomen: Silvery white and unmarked.

Male Genitalia (Figs 18 A–C): Similar to Phyllocnistis hyperpersea and subpersea except apex of valva not evenly rounded, instead more oblique and extended dorsad; total length of valva ~ 2.0 × length of vinculum; basal apodemes of valva less divergent than in other species, with ventral apodeme strongly curved (Fig. 18B). Aedeagus ~ 0.65 × length of valva.

Female Genitalia (Figs 18 D–E): Similar to Phyllocnistis perseafolia , with ductus bursae long, ~ 6.5 × length of papillae anales and terminating near caudal end of corpus bursae; corpus bursae elongate-ovoid, enlarged, ~ 0.6 × length of elongate ductus bursae; ductus seminalis ~ 2.4 × length of corpus bursae.

Larva and pupa:

Not examined.

Larval Mine:

Similar to that described for Phyllocnistis subpersea . A long, slender, serpentine gallery, containing a dark, narrow, median frass trail, present on the underside of the leaf, with pupation occurring in a slightly enlarged, elliptical chamber at the mine terminus along the leaf edge.

Host:

Persea borbonia (L.) Spreng.

Type Material:

Holotype: ♂, USA: FLORIDA: Dade Co: Everglades National Park: Pa-hay-okee Overlook, 26°27'N, 80°47'W: mines 12 Apr 1998, emerged 29 Apr 1998, D., M., and S. Davis, DRD 2135.1, host: Persea borbonia , (USNM). Paratypes: USA: Same data as holotype except: 1 ♂, emerged 14 Apr 1998; 3 ♂, 2 ♀ emerged 19 Apr 1998, ♀ slides 34206, 34209; 2 ♂, 1 ♀ emerged 29 Apr 1998, ♂ slides 34176, 34178, ♀ slide 34177, BOLD ID: RDOPO401-09 (USNM). Cheika [Recreation Area], NW Homestead: mines 12 Apr 1998, D., M., and S. Davis, DRD 2135, 1♀ emerged 14 Apr 1998; 2♂ emerged 19 Apr 1998, BOLD ID: RDOPO402-09 (USNM). Monroe Co: Loop Road, Tamarind Hammock, 25°27'N, 81°16'W: mine 11 Apr 1995, D., M., and S. Davis, DRD 1624, host: Persea borbonia , 1 ♂, emerged 11 Apr, 1995, BOLD ID: RDOPO400-09 (USNM). The holotype is provisionally deposited at the USNM, Washington, D.C., pending mutual resolution and agreement with the National Park Service regarding specimen deposition.

Parasitoids:

Unknown.

Flight Period:

Adults have emerged in April in southern Florida.

Distribution:

Known only from the Everglades National Park, Dade County, and along the Loop Road near Tamarind Hammock, Monroe County, Florida.

Etymology:

The specific name is derived from the Latin longus (long) and palpus (feeler), in reference to the elongate labial palpi, which are diagnostic for this species. The specific epithet is a noun in the nominative singular.

Remarks:

We initially “discovered” Phyllocnistis longipalpa intermixed among our series of Phyllocnistis subpersea in 2009. As noted in the diagnosis, adults are reliably distinguished from that species by their longer labial palpi, the absence of the numerous, broad, raised tornal scales, and absence of the fuscous subbasal spot along the inner margin on the forewing which occurs in most subpersea. The larvae form serpentine mines on the undersides of new leaves, similar to those of Phyllocnistis subpersea .