Phyllocnistis helios Brito & Moreira, 2017

Brito, Rosângela, Lopez-Vaamonde, Carlos, Gonçalves, Gislene L., Becker, Vitor O., Mielke, Olaf H. H. & Moreira, Gilson R. P., 2017, Taxonomic revision of Neotropical Phyllocnistis Zeller, 1848 (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), with descriptions of seven new species and host plant associations, Zootaxa 4341 (3), pp. 301-352 : 312-313

Phyllocnistis helios Brito & Moreira , sp. nov.

Figs. 3H , 4H , 5 , 6A, S 1; Tab. 2

Type material. Brazil: Planaltina, Federal District, Brasília, 15º35’ S, 47º42’ W, 1000 m elevation. All preserved dried and pinned. V. O. Becker leg., 5. VI.1984 (228–52); 26. VI.1984 (228–53); 15.VIII.1985 (228–54). HOLOTYPE: #m (LMCI 228–53), with genitalia on slide (GRPM 50–130), deposited at VOB (56.488). PARATYPES: 2#m (LMCI 228–52 and 54), with genitalia on slide (GRPM 50–131 and 132, respectively), deposited at VOB (56.439 and 57.752, respectively).

Diagnosis. Dorsal forewing: tf1 faded and short, slightly touching lf; tf2 interrupted at the central region by grayish scales; tf3 and tf4 fused forming a large yellow blotch on the distal region that is separated by a narrow light gray band from as.

Description ( Figs. 3H, S 1; Tab. 2). Forewing length 2.29 mm (n=3). Head: covered with light gray scales, as is antenna that is longer than forewing. Labial palpus ~ 0.2 mm, covered with grayish scales. Proboscis short. Thorax: forewing ground color light gray. lf formed by light yellow scales, bordered by light brown, emerging on the proximal region of the wing at the costal margin. tf1 short and faded, almost restricted to costal margin. tf2 c– shaped, with same coloration as lf, crossing the wing (region II), interrupted by grayish scales and weakly defined in the center. Blotch with same coloration as other fasciae formed by fusion of tf3 with tf4 (region III). Narrow band of light gray scales precedes as. Costal strigulae (a–c) present, the first emerging from tf2, others from blotch formed by tf3 + tf4. Apical strigulae (d–g) emerging from as. Inner margin fringes with yellow scales at the base, changing to dark brown towards apex. Hindwing reduced, with long and light gray fringes. Abdomen: covered with light gray scales.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 6A ): pair of slightly flattened coremata, each located laterally between membranes of VIII–IX abdominal segments, with ~2/3 the length of valva. Uncus absent. Tegumen with membranous base, narrow at the central region, widening close to the apex, where weakly sclerotized, slightly longer than valva; group of medium-sized setae found at the base of tegumen. Saccus u-shaped, well developed, ~0.5 x the length of valva. These are digitiform, slightly narrow at the central region, widening towards the apex, and narrowing once more distally; scattered setae found along valva. Aedeagus ~1.5 x the length of valva, cylindrical, membranous and partially wrinkled at the base. Cornutus absent.

Female genitalia: unknown.

Geographical distribution ( Fig. 5 ). P. helios is known only from the type locality in Planaltina , Federal District (Brasília), Brazil.

Natural history. Specimens were collected during daytime using a butterfly net (V.O.B.)

Host plant(s). Unknown.

Etymology. The specific name alludes to “Helios” (Sun in Greek mythology) because of the large, yellow, apical forewing blotch of this species.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Forewings of Neotropical Phyllocnistis. (A) P. abatiae holotype (left forewing reversed); (B) P. aurilinea lectotype (left, reversed); (C) P. baccharidis holotype (left, reversed); (D) P. bourquini holotype (right); (E) P. citrella lectotype (left, reversed); (F) P. dorcas holotype (right); (G) P. drimiphaga holotype (right); (H) P. helios holotype (right); (I) P. jupiter paratype (left, reversed); (J) P. kawakitai holotype (left, reversed); (K) P. maxberryi holotype (right); (L) P. meliacella holotype (right); (M) P. norak holotype (right); (N) P. ohshimai holotype (right); (O) P. ourea paratype (right); (P) P. perseafolia holotype (left, reversed); (Q) P. petronellii paratype (right); (R) P. phoebus paratype (left, reversed); (S) P. puyehuensis holotype (right); (T) P. rotans lectotype (right); (U) P. sciophanta holotype (left, reversed); (V) P. selene specimen (left, reversed); (W) P. sexangula lectotype (left, reversed); (X) P. tethys specimen (right); (Y) P. tropaeolicola holotype (right); (Z) P. wygodzinskyi holotype (left, reversed); (AA) P. xylopiella holotype (right). Scale bars: 1 (A – H, K, L, O, P, R – Z), 0.5 mm (I, J, M, N, Q, AA).

FIGURE 4. Labels of Neotropical Phyllocnistis types found in museums. (A) P. abatiae; (B) P. aurilinea; (C) P. baccharidis; (D) P. bourquini; (E) P. citrella; (F) P. dorcas; (G) P. drimiphaga; (H) P. helios; (I) P. jupiter; (J) P. kawakitai; (K) P. maxberryi; (L) P. meliacella; (M) P. norak; (N) P. ohshimai; (O) P. ourea; (P) P. perseafolia; (Q) P. petronellii; (R) P. phoebus; (S) P. puyehuensis; (T) P. rotans; (U) P. sciophanta; (V) P. selene; (W) P. sexangula; (X) P. tethys; (Y) P. tropaeolicola; (Z) P. wygodzinskyi; (AA) P. xylopiella.

FIGURE 5. Geographical distribution of Phyllocnistis species endemic to the Neotropical region.

FIGURE 6. Genital morphology of the new species of Phyllocnistis. (A) P. helios; (B) P. jupiter; (C) P. ohshimai; (D, E, I) P. xylopiella; (G, J) P. norak; (F, K) P. kawakitai; (H) P. petronellii. (A – D) male genitalia, ventral view; (E – H) female genitalia, lateral; (I – K) detail of female signa. Scale bars: 50 (A – D), 100 (E – H), 50 µm (I – K).