Philodoria pipturiana Swezey, 1923

Kobayashi, Shigeki, Johns, Chris A. & Kawahara, Akito Y., 2021, Revision of the Hawaiian endemic leaf-mining moth genus Philodoria Walsingham (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae): its conservation status, host plants and descriptions of thirteen new species, Zootaxa 4944 (1), pp. 1-175 : 58-59

Philodoria pipturiana Swezey, 1923

Fig. 12A–C .

Philodoria pipturiana Swezey, 1923: 295 ; Zimmerman 1978a: 709, figs. 465, 466.

Type locality. Upper Hamakua Ditch Trail , Kohala Mts. (Big Island) .

Type material. Lectotype ♂, Upper Hamakua Ditch Trail, [Kohala Mountains, Hawaii (Big Island)], 31.vii.1921, Swezey Coll., Pipturus , | Philodoria pipturiana Swezey | Holotype |♂ genitalia on slide Z-I-10-67-A |Type no. 4272 in BPBM. Described from two specimens: the holotype was originally in the collection of the Hawaiian Entomological Society and the paratype in the collection of the Hawaiian Sugar Planter’s Association. The ‘holotype’ is now preserved in BPBM. Given the manner in which the description was written, Swezey considered these specimens as holotype and paratype, as indicated on their specimen labels. But because the holotype was not formally specified in the description, the so-labeled holotype and paratype are to be considered syntypes under Article 73.2 of the Code ( ICZN 1999), and either is eligible for designation as lectotype under Article 74 of the Code ( ICZN 1999). The ‘ Holotype, type no. 4272’, which Swezey indicated as holotype in the specimen label, is here designated as lectotype ( Fig. 12A–C ). The other syntype is the paralectotype, but we could not locate that specimen.

Diagnosis. The forewing pattern is similar to P. wilkesiella Swezey , but is distinguished by its longitudinal basal streak and oval white spot in the middle in the forewing ( Fig. 12A–C ). The male genitalia are similar to those of the Asteraceae-feeding Philodoria species (e.g., P. wilkesiella and P. hesperomaniniella sp. n.) in having a broad dorsal margin of valva, but P. pipturiana differs from later two species by its slender saccus.

Redescription: Adult ( Fig. 12A–C ). Wingspan of specimens in the type series 8–9 mm; forewing length 4 mm in lectotype. Head dirty white; frons white; maxillary palpus reduced; labial palpus white, streaked with fuscous externally. Antenna pale fuscous, apical portion white. Thorax dark fuscous, white below. Forewing dark fuscous to nearly black, with several white patches: one outwardly oblique white costal spot at about 1/2, another at 2/3, recurves to the costa, terminating in a few white scales in the costal cilia; a curved transverse white streak at apical portion of wing, nearly interrupted in the middle, with a few white scales in the costal cilia (not present in the paratype); a longitudinal white streak from base to 1/3, followed by a large oval white spot about the middle of wing; a large oval white spot on dorsal 3/4; cilia fuscous except for the white scales previously noted in costal cilia and a few white scales at base of apical cilia. Hindwing and cilia dark fuscous. Abdomen fuscous. Legs pale fuscous, tarsi white spotted.

Male genitalia ( Zimmerman 1978a: fig. 465). Tegumen oblong, 0.8 x length of valva; valva tapering along costal margin from base 2/5 to apex; dorsal margin of valva broad. Saccus slender. Phallus straight in lateral view with spiny cornuti in vesica.

Female genitalia Unknown.

Distribution. Hawaii (Big Island) ( Swezey 1923).

Host plants and Biology. Unknown.

Remarks. Swezey (1923) described this species from two specimens collected on a Pipturus plant which had leaves containing leaf-miners, but according to Zimmerman (1978a) these specimens were not reared. Therefore, we have removed this plant genus as a possible host. Much of the type locality habitat has been destroyed due to non-native plant species, and few host plants remained in sections of the Upper Hamakua Ditch Trail that we surveyed.

Figures

FIGURE 12. Adults of Philodoria species. A P. pipturiana Swezey, 1923 lectotype male, left lateral view, B Same right lateral view, C Same dorsal view, D P. wilkesiella Swezey, 1940 lectotype male. Scale bar 1 mm.