Coleophora levantis Baldizzone & Oku, 1988

Koo, Jun-Mo & Cho, Soowon, 2024, Taxonomic revision of the family Coleophoridae (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea) in Korea, including seven newly recorded species of the genus Coleophora Hübner, Zootaxa 5558 (1), pp. 1-102 : 17-18

4. Coleophora levantis Baldizzone & Oku, 1988

[Korean name: gal-saeg-cham-na-mu-tong-na-bang (newly named)]

( Figs 1D ; 2D, E ; 4A–D ; 6D, E )

Coleophora levantis Baldizzone & Oku, 1988a: 127 . Type locality: Japan, Honshu // [holotype (male) deposited in EIHU]. Coleophora levantis ; Vives 1988: 7; Baldizzone et al. 2006: 75; Anikin 2021: 321.

Material examined. 1♂, “[[ NIBR specimen accession no.]] OONNIN0000015632 [[=NIBRIN0000855172]] / KOREA. (GW) [[ Gangwon-do ]] Yangyang-gun, / Seo-myeon. / Kyu Tek Park, 16 Jun 1993 / [[line]] / NIBR // Coleophoridae  sp.3 / Coleophoridae [[in Korean]] / Det.: Kyu Tek Park, Jun Mo Koo, 02 / Aug 2018 / [[line]] / NIBR ” // gen. slide no. KJM0091 // wings slide no. KJM0178, in NIBR ; 1♀, “ KOREA [ GW] [[ Gangwon-do ]] / Yangyanggun [[Yang-yang-gun]] / Mt. Seolaksan / Osaek / 4. VII. 2002 / Kim, Lee, Yu, & Kim ” // gen. slide no. KJM0420 // wings slide no. KJM0479, deposited in INU .

Diagnosis. The species is comparable with C.tadzhikiella Danilevsky, 1955 in sharing male genital characteristics, such as a constricted stem of tegumen, a narrow cucullus, and a sacculus with a horn-like dorsal corner process and well-developed ventral process, but it can be clearly distinguished from the latter by the following characteristics: 1) the adult of C. levantis has brownish-orange forewings, while C. tadzhikiella (see Danilevsky 1955: Fig. 7 ) has white forewings with densely scattered dark brown scales; 2) in the male genitalia of C. levantis , the sacculus with a ventral process without any spines, and an evenly sclerotized phallotheca are present, while in C. tadzhikiella (see Danilevsky 1955: Fig. 8 ), male genitalia possess the sacculus with a ventral process bearing spines on the distal portion, and a dorsally sclerotized phallotheca; and 3) in the female genitalia of C. levantis , the apophyses posteriores about 2.5× longer than the apophyses anteriores, the sterigma with a massive transverse flap at the posterior half, the ostium bursae situated at the posterior 3/10 of the sterigma, and the ductus bursae with a globular lateral swelling are present, while in C. tadzhikiella (see Danilevsky 1955: Fig. 9 ), female genitalia possess the apophyses posteriores about 6.0× longer than the apophyses anteriores, the sterigma without the transverse flap, the ostium bursae situated at the posterior end of the sterigma, and the ductus bursae without the globular lateral swelling.

Redescription. Adults of both sexes ( Fig. 1D ), forewing length 5.0– 5.5 mm (wingspan 11.0– 11.5 mm) (n=2) ( Baldizzone & Oku 1988a: wingspan 11.0–14.0 mm; Jinbo & Suzuki 2023: forewing length 7.0 mm).

Head: Vertex brownish-orange. Postocular scales brownish-orange. Antenna about 0.8× shorter than the length of the forewing; scape+pedicel brownish-orange; flagellum covered with appressed scales, alternately ringed with brownish-orange and white, the brownish-orange rings gradually darker distally. Second palpomere of labial palpus brownish-orange, about 1.2× longer than the length of the third palpomere; the latter brownish-orange. Proboscis covered with brownish-orange scales.

Thorax: Notum brownish-orange with same-coloured tegula. Forewing brownish-orange, slightly brighter in the basal 1/3; fringe brownish-orange; venation ( Figs 2D, E ) with R 1 arising from the middle of the discal cell; distance between origins of R 1 and R 2 about 1.2–1.4× longer than that of R 2 and R 3; R 4+5 and M 1 slightly stalked near base; distance between origins of M 1 and M 2+3 about 1.4–1.7× longer than that of M 2+3 and CuA 1+2; CuA 1+2 arising from the posterior corner of the discal cell; 1A+2A forked at about basal 1/4; discal cell weakly closed. Hindwing dark brown with same-coloured fringe; frenulum with two acanthi fused distally into a single acanthus; costa slightly arched at the basal 2/5; venation ( Figs 2D, E ) with slightly curved Rs; origin of M 1 remote from that of Rs; discal cell open. Hind tibia brownish-orange on the outer surface, and same-coloured on the inner surface; dorsal and ventral bristles brownish-orange; two pairs of spurs, one pair at the basal 3/5, other pair at the distal end. Hind tarsus brownish-orange.

Abdomen:Abdomen covered with brownish-orange scales; tergal disks glabrous. In the male ( Fig. 6D ), posterior lateral struts absent. Transverse strut straight; posterior edge much more thinly sclerotized than the anterior edge. Terga II–VI with two parallel tergal disks bearing conical spines on each tergum; tergal disks about 1.6–2.3× longer than each width; tergum VIII with two elliptically sclerotized structures on the anterior margin. In the female ( Fig. 6E ), posterior lateral struts absent. Transverse strut same as for male. Tergal disks of the tergum I with few conical spines; tergal disks of the terga II–VI with two parallel tergal disks bearing conical spines on each tergum; tergal disks about 1.9–2.2× longer than each width; tergal disks of the terga I and II expanded and merged into one somewhat H-shape structure. Sternum I sclerotized.

Male genitalia ( Figs 4A–C ): See also Baldizzone & Oku (1988a: Figs 13 , 15 , 16 ). Gnathos knob depressed globular, 1.5–1.9× wider than its vertical length; basal arm of gnathos about 0.7–0.8× shorter than the median stem of tegumen, with setae extending outward from the middle. Tegumen with elongated subtrapezoidal median stem; median stem of tegumen slightly constricted laterally, about the same length as pedunculus. Transtilla small. Vinculum well-sclerotized with a large inverted triangular expansion extending outward on each side. Valvula small, subtriangular, evenly setose, weakly observable. Cucullus slender finger-shaped, evenly setose. The sacculus well-sclerotized, elongated rectangular, about 2.4–2.7× wider than its length; process of dorsal corner horn-shaped, irregularly dentate dorsally, and with a flattened tooth-like fold at the base; ventral process knife-shaped, about 1.8–2.0× longer than the dorsal corner process. Phallotheca scythe-shaped, well-sclerotized, slightly curved, about 1.9–2.1× longer than the width of sacculus. Aedeagus membranous with elongated cornutus; cornutus about 0.5× shorter than the phallotheca. Annulus not evident. Longitudinal sclerite of outer tube absent. Vesica membranous.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 4D ): See also Baldizzone & Oku (1988a: Figs 17–19 : paratype / gen. slide no. Bldz- 8269). Papillae anales elongated elliptical with setae. Apophyses posteriores 2.5× longer than the apophyses anteriores; apophyses anteriores curved in the basal portion. Sterigma subtrapezoidal with rounded posterior margin bearing setae; posterior margin slightly emarginated medially; transverse flap massive, spanning across entire width at the posterior half of sterigma, with slightly sinuous posterior margin; anterior margin of transverse flap roundly expanded with a rounded medial expansion. Ostium bursae ovoidal situated at the posterior 3/10 of sterigma; setae surround ostium bursae. Colliculum cylindrical, weakly sclerotized, about 0.9× shorter than the length of the sterigma. Ductus bursae finely dotted with slightly sclerotized posterior 3/10, about 1.9–2.3× longer than the length of the sterigma; median lamina absent; globular lateral swelling situated between colliculum and ductus bursae; basal 2/5 twisted. Ductus seminalis connected with a lateral swelling. Corpus bursae ovaloid, about 0.9× shorter than the length of the ductus bursae; signum horn-like with blunt apex or ovaloid.

Larval case (leaf miner): Sheath case in early stages, and tubular case covered with light greyish-yellow hairs in late stages. See Baldizzone & Oku (1988a: Figs. 28 , 29 ); Jinbo & Suzuki (2023).

Host plants. [ Fagaceae ] Quercus mongolica var. crispula (Blume) H.Ohashi (recorded as Quercus mongolica var. grosseserrata (Blume) Rehder & E.H. Wilson ) and Q. serrata Murray ( Baldizzone & Oku 1988a; Falkovitsh 2006).

Biology. The larvae of this species are known to feed on the sprouting buds and leaves of Quercus mongolica var. crispula and Q. serrata in Japan ( Baldizzone & Oku 1988a; Falkovitsh 2006). As documented by Baldizzone & Oku (1988a), the young larvae inhabit a curved sheath case (see Baldizzone & Oku 1988a: Fig. 28 , where the case length extends to 4.0–5.0 mm) during early spring, feeding on the sprouting buds of deciduous Quercus . As the larvae grow, they discard the sheath case and construct new ones shaped as trivalved tubular cases with densely haired fractions of the host leaves (see Baldizzone & Oku 1988a: Fig. 29 , where the case length extends to 6.0–7.0 mm; Jinbo & Suzuki 2023), feeding on the upper surface of extended leaves without making mines. Before pupation, last instar larvae typically attach their cases onto the midrib on the upper leaf surface.

Distribution. Japan ( Baldizzone & Oku 1988a; Baldizzone et al. 2006), Korea (new record).

Remarks. The two Korean specimens examined here were collected in June and July, the same months as the Japanese specimens examined by Baldizzone & Oku (1988a). According to the plant data book for Korea provided by NIE (2017), Q. mongolica var. crispula is distributed in Gangwon-do, Chungcheong-do, and Jeolla-do, while Q. serrata is distributed throughout Korea. Furthermore, the latitudes of the collected locations are N38° in Korea and N35–39° in Japan. Considering these factors, it is likely that the Korean population has similar ecological habits as the Japanese population.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Newly recorded Coleophora spp.Adult.A, Coleophora clypeiferella, CBNUPM000333 (female); B, C. kamchatica, CBNUPM000212 (male); C, C. lativittella, OONNIN0000015631 (female); D, C. levantis, OONNIN0000015632 (male); E, C. parthenica, CBNUPM000160 (male); F, C. parthenica, CBNUPM000161 (female); G, C. uliginosella, CBNUPM000214 (male); H, C. vacciniella, CBNUPM000385 (male).

FIGURE 2. Newly recorded Coleophora spp. Venation. A, Coleophora clypeiferella, with close-up of frenulum, slide no. KJM0369 (female, reversed left wings, CBNUPM000333); B, C. kamchatica, with close-up of frenulum, slide no. KJM0478 (male, CBNUPM000212); C, C.lativittella, frenulummissing, slideno.KJM0179(female,OONNIN0000015631);D,C.levantis, frenulum missing, slide no. KJM0178 (male, OONNIN0000015632); E, hindwing of C. levantis, with close-up of frenulum, slide no. KJM0479 (female); F, C. parthenica, with close-up of frenulum, slide no. KJM0484 (female, CBNUPM000161); G, C. uliginosella, with close-up of frenulum, slide no. KJM0482 (female, CBNUPM000215); H, C. vacciniella, with close-up of frenulum, slide no. KJM0483 (male, CBNUPM000385).

FIGURE 4. Newly recorded Coleophora spp. Genitalia. A, male genitalia of Coleophora levantis, with close-up of sacculus, slide no. KJM0091 (OONNIN0000015632); B, male genitalia of C. levantis before slide preparation of A; C, phallus of male genitalia of C. levantis, with close-up of cornutus, slide no. KJM0091 (OONNIN0000015632); D, female genitalia of C. levantis, with close-up of sterigma+colliculum (left) and signum (right), slide no. KJM0420 (in INU); E, male genitalia of C. parthenica, slide no. KJM0476 (CBNUPM000160); F, phallus of male genitalia of C. parthenica, slide no. KJM0476 (CBNUPM000160); G, phallus of male genitalia of C. parthenica, slide no. KJM0121 (CBNUPM000018); H, female genitalia of C. parthenica, with close-up of sterigma+colliculum (top) and signum (bottom), slide no. KJM0477 (CBNUPM000161).

FIGURE 6. Newly recorded Coleophora spp. Abdomen. A, female abdomen of Coleophora clypeiferella, slide no. KJM0228 (CBNUPM000333); B, male abdomen of C. kamchatica, slide no. KJM0157 (CBNUPM000212); C, female abdomen of C. lativittella, slide no. KJM0088 (OONNIN0000015631); D, male abdomen of C. levantis, slide no. KJM0091 (OONNIN0000015632); E, female abdomen of C. levantis, slide no. KJM0420 (in INU).

FIGURE 7. Newly recorded Coleophora spp. Abdomen. A, male abdomen of Coleophora parthenica, slide no. KJM0476 (CBNUPM000160); B, female abdomen of C. parthenica, slide no. KJM0477 (CBNUPM000161); C, male abdomen of C. uliginosella, slide no. KJM0461 (CBNUPM000214); D, female abdomen of C. uliginosella, slide no. KJM0462 (CBNUPM000215); E, male abdomen of C. vacciniella, slide no. KJM0366 (CBNUPM000385).

FIGURE 8. Reconfirmed Coleophora spp. Adult. A, Coleophora adspersella, CBNUPM000378 (male); B, C. albicans, CBNUPM000000381 (male); C, C. cristata, CBNUPM000147 (male); D, C. elodella, CBNUPM000425 (male); E, C. falkovitshella, CBNUPM000229 (female); F, C. fasciella, CBNUPM000336 (male); G, C. flavovena, CBNUPM000097 (female); H, C. fuscocuprella, CBNUPM000023 (male).

FIGURE 9. Reconfirmed Coleophora spp. Adult. A, Coleophora honshuella, CBNUPM000107 (male); B, C. kononenkoi, CBNUPM000224 (male); C, C. mayrella, CBNUPM000326 (female); D, C. melanograpta, CBNUPM000420 (male); E, C. montaniella, CBNUPM000132 (male); F, C. obducta, CBNUPM000203 (male); G, C. parki, CBNUPM000395 (female); H, C. quercicola, CBNUPM000044 (male).

FIGURE 15. Reconfirmed Coleophora spp. Male genitalia. A, B, Coleophora melanograpta, slide no. KJM0183 (CBNUPM000090); C, D, C. montaniella, slide no. KJM0354 (CBNUPM000126); E, F, C. obducta, slide no. KJM0299 (CBNUPM000203); G, H, C. quercicola, slide no. KJM0199 (CBNUPM000006); I, J, C. serinipennella, slide no. KJM0277 (CBNUPM000026).

FIGURE 16. Reconfirmed Coleophora spp. Male genitalia.A, B, Coleophora silenella, slide no. KJM0348 (CBNUPM000055); C, D, C. sternipennella, slide no. KJM0530 (CBNUPM000394); E, F, C. therinella, slide no. KJM0357 (CBNUPM000259); G, H, C. versurella, slide no. KJM0280 (CBNUPM000362); I, J, C. vestianella, slide no. KJM0100 (CBNUPM000226).

FIGURE 17. Reconfirmed Coleophora spp. Female genitalia (all photographed in dorsal view). A, Coleophora cristata, slide no. KJM0285 (CBNUPM000145); B, C. elodella, slide no. KJM0384 (CBNUPM000117); C, C. falkovitshella, slide no. KJM0342 (CBNUPM000229); D, C. fasciella, slide no. KJM0286 (CBNUPM000335); E, C. flavovena, slide no. KJM0107 (CBNUPM000099).

FIGURE 18. Reconfirmed Coleophora spp. Female genitalia (all photographed in dorsal view). A, Coleophora honshuella, slide no. KJM0161 (CBNUPM000104); B, C. mayrella, slide no. KJM0474 (CBNUPM000326); C, C. melanograpta, slide no. KJM0184 (CBNUPM000072); D, C. montaniella, slide no. KJM0421 (CBNUPM000124); E, C. obducta, slide no. KJM0281 (CBNUPM000209).

FIGURE 19. Reconfirmed Coleophora spp. Female genitalia (all photographed in dorsal view). A, Coleophora parki, slide no. KJM0531 (CBNUPM000395); B, C. quercicola, slide no. KJM0198 (CBNUPM000003); C, C. serinipennella, slide no. KJM0278 (CBNUPM000027); D, C. silenella, slide no. KJM0343 (CBNUPM000057); E, C. sternipennella, slide no. KJM0283 (CBNUPM000245).

FIGURE 28. Ecological photographs of C. serinipennella. A, field of white goosefoot (Chenopodium album), which is a host plant; B–D, stem with galls (cecidia, indicated by red arrows), with close-up of larva feeding inside galls (on July 8th, 2024); E, larva.

FIGURE 29. Ecological photographs of C. serinipennella (eclosed on August 1st, 2024). A, intact stem gall; B, stem gall cut laterally showing cocoon with pupa inside; C, closed exit hole; D, open exit hole; E, pupal exuvia, indicating dorsal (left), lateral (middle), and ventral (right) views.

FIGURE13.ReconfirmedColeophoraspp.Malegenitalia.A,B,Coleophoraadspersella,slideno.KJM0044(CBNUPM000378); C, D, C. albicans, slide no. KJM0364 (CBNUPM000381); E, F, C. cristata, slide no. KJM0219 (CBNUPM000147); G, H, C. elodella, slide no. KJM0383 (CBNUPM000113); I, J, C. fasciella, slide no. KJM0284 (CBNUPM000334).