Metura phyllosacca, Beaver, 2020

Beaver, Ethan P., 2020, Revision of the genus Metura (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) with description of two new species, Zootaxa 4861 (2), pp. 188-210 : 203-205

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4861.2.2

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:9616FBB9-6A81-4052-B085-08E6A17E33D0

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4414644

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/75EB6495-9A61-47F0-AA8D-04F5CB9DEC27

taxon LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:act:75EB6495-9A61-47F0-AA8D-04F5CB9DEC27

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Metura phyllosacca
status

sp. nov.

Metura phyllosacca View in CoL sp. n.

( Figs. 2 View FIGURE 2 C–D, 8C–D, 3G–H, 4I–J, 4N, 5I, 5J, 6C)

Type specimens: Holotype ♂, ANIC . Paratypes 14 ♂, ANIC, QM, AHC, SAMA .

Type locality: Caparra, New South Wales, Australia.

Type material. HOLOTYPE, (in ANIC) 1 ♂ Lot 72, Caparra, NSW, Aust., 05 January 1994, S. Watkins, J. Stockard, to MV light / BOLD DNA voucher specimen, sample ID 10ANIC-04439, BOLD proc.ID ANICH442-10 / ANIC 31-036053 About ANIC / Dissection ID EPB-024.

PARATYPES: (14 ♂ in total), 9 in ANIC: 1 ♂ Upper Brookfield , Qld , Aust., 19 Sept 2009, J.F. R. Kerr / ANIC 31-036054 About ANIC / Dissection ID EPB-023. 1 ♂ Cooran , Noosa , Qld , Aust., M. Pulvertaft / ANIC 31-036055 About ANIC . 1 ♂ pupa and associated larval bag, 25 Nov 2018, Banyabba Station Rd , Banyabba , NSW, Aust., 29°20’44.3”S 153°00’32.7”E, E.P. & G. P. Beaver, on Alphitonia excelsa / ANIC 31-036056 About ANIC . 1 ♂ 29 Jan 1998, Mapleton , Qld, J.F. R. Kerr / ANIC 31-036057 About ANIC . 1 ♂ 10 Dec 2001, Cooran , Noosa , Qld, M. Pulvertaft / ANIC 31-036058 About ANIC . 1 ♂ 07 Oct 2004, Sunshine Beach , Qld, M. Pulvertaft / ANIC 31-036059 About ANIC . 1 ♂ 04 Jan 1962, St Bernard’s , Mt Tamborine , Qld, C & W. Frazier, at light / ANIC, Uni of New England coll, donated 1983 / ANIC 31-036060 About ANIC . 1 ♂ Oct 1995, Bucasia , nth. Qld, K.J. Sandery, emerged unnoticed / ANIC 31-036061 About ANIC . 1 ♂ 10 Nov 2015, 7 km SWS of Millaa Millaa , Qld , 17°34’S, 145°35’E, E.D. Edwards / ANIC 31-036062 About ANIC . 1 in SAMA: 1 ♂ Atherton , Qld , Aust., Dec 1943 / SAMA no. 31-017607 / Dissection no. EPB-022. 1 ♂ in QM: 0.5 km S of Dayboro, Qld , 27.12’S x 152.49’E, 31 Oct 2002, 60m, S & J. Wright, at light / Photographed QM slide no. PN8.34. 3 ♂ in AHC: 2 ♂ Mt Glorious , SE Qld, Aust, 2000’, to light, 16 Dec 1976, A. Hiller. 1 ♂ Mt Glorious, 22km NW Brisbane, SE Qld, 635m, rainforest, to light, 09 Feb 1981, A. Hiller GoogleMaps .

Additional material examined: 1 ♂ (by photograph, Fig. 8 View FIGURE 8 C-D) 30 Dec 2019, Bull Hill, Tinonee, NSW, Aust., V.W. Fasio III.

Diagnosis. The male of this species is readily distinguished from the sympatric M. elongatus by the scale pattern on the thorax, which is black dorso-centrally on the mesoscutum and with only the patagium yellow or orange compared with M. elongatus , which has the mesoscutum anteriorly orange. The similarities in thoracic colour pattern are shared with M. aristocosma and M. oceanica . However, Metura aristocosma has the frons yellow, which in M. phyllosacca and M. oceanica is mixed yellow with dark brown scales. Metura phyllosacca lacks the distinctive triangular patch of orange scales on the dorso-anterior aspect of the abdomen present in M. oceanica . (Not to be confused with the brown integument showing through in Figure 2C View FIGURE 2 , see live Figure 8 View FIGURE 8 C–D for a specimen in better condition). The male genitalia are superficially similar only to M. oceanica however may be distinguished primarily by the shape of the uncus, which is shorter (as high as wide) in this species with lateral margins concave near apex, while in M. oceanica the uncus is higher than wide, with lateral margins straight. Additionally, the transitellar arms have both anterior and posterior margins straight in this species while in M. oceanica they are convex anteriorly and concave posteriorly. The spines on the valvae are close to the dorsal margin in M. phyllosacca while in M. oceanica they are distributed on the inner surface closer to the medial area. The phallus is distinctive, the vesica is elongate, strongly recurved and heavily spined with the dorsal aspect bulbous in this species while in M. oceanica it is shorter, straight, not spined, and the dorsal aspect is narrow. Sternite VIII is also similar however the lateral margins of the anterior apophyses are straight, whereas they are convex in M. oceanica , and the posterior margin is weakly convex compared with the concave condition in M. oceanica . The later instar larval bags are diagnostic, like M. oceanica this species adorns the larval bag with foliage, however with near no parts of the silken bag visible externally. The foliage is less haphazardly placed compared with M. oceanica , and is larger at 105 mm compared with the ~ 80 mm male M. oceanica . The foliage is placed in such a way as to be widest at the posterior aperture, unlike M. oceanica which is widest towards the middle. These same differences also distinguish M. phyllosacca from the Australian Hyalarcta huebneri . Metura phyllosacca is the only Metura species in Australia with a foliage bag design.

Description. Male ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 C–D, 3G–H). Forewing 21-24 mm, hindwing 12-14 mm. Expanse 45-52 mm.

Head. Scape club like, broad, rounded at posterior apex, anterior apex over ½ width of posterior. Pedicel flattened, disc-like. Scape and pedicel covered with ochreous-brown scales. Antenna bipectinate, filiform at apex, 45 flagellomeres, scaled along entire length, yellow at scape, becoming white toward apex, rami 8× width of flagellomere at widest. Frons and vertex with ochreous-brown scales. Labial palps greatly reduced, two segmented, rectangular, narrow, final longest, apex blunt.

Thorax. Black scales dorsally on mesoscutum and mesoscutellum, dark orange scales along lateral edge from wing base along tegula and patagium, ventral similar. Forelimb femur and tibia yellow-ochreous, tarsus black, mid- and hindlegs black. When cleared ( Fig. 5I View FIGURE 5 ), all lightly sclerotised, all tibiae with rounded node at ventral anterior apex. Foreleg with narrow, elongate epiphysis, femur ventrally convex. Mid and hindleg with two tibial spurs, inner spur ½ size of outer. Forewing elongate, triangular; costa straight, gently convex to blunt apex, termen with subtle convex central part, inner margin subtly concave posteriorly, convex anteriorly. Hindwing costa highly convex, apex pointed, termen convex centrally, inner margin expanded, convex. Venation as in Figure 5J View FIGURE 5 . Both forewing and hindwing surface black, distal ends of all veins lightly scaled, transparent. Scales on basal hindwing are piliform.

Abdomen. Telescopic; sternites and tergites joined by highly elastic membrane, sternites and tergites highly sclerotised dark brown, membrane lighter reddish brown. Tergites clothed with black scales dorsally and orange at lateral margins, sternites yellow, membrane unscaled. Sternite VIII ( Fig. 4N View FIGURE 4 ) anterior apophyses long, outer lateral margins straight, anterior margin concave. Posterior margin weakly convex, lateral margins concave.

Genitalia ( Figure 4 View FIGURE 4 I–J). Saccus narrow, elongate, posterior margin weakly discernible, broad ‘V’ shape. Vinculum with vincular arms straight, parallel on inner margin with saccus, outer margin sclerotised, triangular towards tegumen. Tegumen outer margin straight. Uncus broad, approximately as high as wide, triangular, posterior apex pointed, bifurcate, setose on dorsal aspect, lateral margins mostly straight except concave near apex. Transitellar arms narrow, anterior and posterior margin straight. Valvae narrow, apexes bifurcate to two lobes, ventral lobe shorter, hooked, short spines at apex, inner surface with many short spines close to dorsal margin, sacculus low, lightly spined at apex, otherwise smooth. Phallus elongate, ventrally concave, dorsally convex, ductus ejaculatorius heavily spined, vesica elongate, strongly recurved, heavily spined, dorsal aspect bulbous.

Female. Unknown.

Larval bag. Figure 6C View FIGURE 6 . Grey-white silken tube, length 105 mm, width in middle 35 mm, comprised of approximately 60 leaves and leaf sections, all of which are attached in overlapping layers by the leaf bases. The largest leaves selected by the larva are towards middle.

Etymology. The name phyllosacca refers to the larval bag which is constructed from leaves, a distinct condition among Australian Metura species. A noun in the nominative singular case.

Distribution. This species is widespread in eastern Australia, specimens are known from northern New South Wales and southern Queensland, as well as from the Wet Tropics region of far north Queensland, Australia ( Fig. 9A View FIGURE 9 ) in the higher rainfall regions of the eastern edge of the Great Dividing Range.

Biology and phenology. An empty larval bag and associated pupal exuvia was collected attached to Alphitonia excelsa (Rhamnaceae) . The foliage included in the larval bag ( Fig. 6C View FIGURE 6 ) is comprised exclusively of that from this plant, and it is expected that this is also a hostplant for the larvae. The habitat in which the larval bag was collected is a mixed lowland subtropical Eucalyptus and Casuarina forest ( Fig. 10C View FIGURE 10 ), with Alphitonia growing in cleared and disturbed areas such as along roadsides. Other specimens were also taken from Eucalyptus forest (Dayboro, Qld; S. Wright pers. comm.) while a few specimens have been taken from upland subtropical and tropical rainforest ( Fig. 10A, D View FIGURE 10 ). The males have been collected at light from September through to February. This species is relatively commonly encountered, with most specimens taken after 1990, though appears less common than the sympatric M. elongatus .

Remarks. This species may be found to be more widespread in eastern Queensland where several large gaps are present in the distribution ( Figure 9A View FIGURE 9 ). This may be reflective of collection bias as suitable habitat is present in these regions. There are two colour forms of the adult males, one dark orange ( Fig 2 View FIGURE 2 C–D, holotype) and the other yellow ( Fig. 8 View FIGURE 8 C–D). Metura phyllosacca differs by 28.6% in mitochondrial CO1 (uncorrected p-distance) compared with M. aristocosma , and by 24.7–24.9% compared with M. elongatus (see supplementary table S1). Metura phyllosacca shares many similarities with M. oceanica and may share a common ancestor with this Pacific species rather than with the partially sympatric Australian M. aristocosma , however further research is required to provide a molecular phylogeny of Metura .

ANIC

Australian National Insect Collection

QM

Queensland Museum

SAMA

South Australia Museum

MV

University of Montana Museum

R

Departamento de Geologia, Universidad de Chile

V

Royal British Columbia Museum - Herbarium

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Lepidoptera

Family

Psychidae

Genus

Metura

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