Coleophora vacciniella Herrich-Schäffer, 1861

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 : 25-29

7. Coleophora vacciniella Herrich-Schäffer, 1861

[Korean name: san-aeng-do-na-mu-tong-na-bang (newly named)]

( Figs 1H ; 2H ; 5E, F ; 7E )

Coleophora vacciniella Herrich-Schäffer, 1861: 135 . Type locality: Europe // [ Baldizzone (2019) stated that original specimens for designating a lectotype could not be located].

Coleophora viminetella var. rhododendri Hofmann, 1869: 188 . Type locality: Germany, Bavaria. Coleophora molybdodella Rebel, 1929: 53 . Type locality: Austria. Coleophora pallescentella Kanerva, 1941: 122 . Type locality: Finland. Coleophora betulaenanae Klimesch, 1958: 1 . Type locality: Austria. Eupista vacciniella ; Toll 1953: 78. Agapalsa vacciniella ; Lelej 2016: 98; Anikin 2019: 72. Coleophora vacciniella ; Hofmann 1869: 114; Spuler 1910: 392; Schütze 1931: 155; Benander 1939: 53; Hackman 1945: 28;

Hering 1957: 1096; Toll 1962: 626; Patzak 1974: 240; Vives 1988: 124; Razowski 1990: 57; Itämies & Tabell 1997: 146;

Baldizzone & Wolf 2000: 396; Roweck & Savenkov 2002: 207; Baldizzone et al. 2006: 119; Kusunoki & Oku 2015: 91;

Richter & Pastorális 2015: 31; Baldizzone 2019: 96. Coleophora vaccinella [sic, recte vacciniella ]; Barasch 1934: 35.

Material examined. 1♂, “ 2017.5.23. / Wol-ag [[= Worak ]] Mountain Training Forest [[in Korean ]] [[detailed address: Hansu-myeon, Jecheon-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, KOREA]] / [[Coll.]] EUNJI LIM” // gen. slide no. KJM0366 // wings slide no. KJM0483 // specimen accession no. CBNUPM000385, in CBNU .

Diagnosis. The species is comparable with C. lusciniaepennella ( Treitschke, 1833) in sharing male genital characteristics, such as a short cucullus, the sacculus curved inward, and the phallotheca with spines. However, it can be distinguished from the latter by the following characteristics: 1) the adult of C. vacciniella has the flagellum alternately ringed with dark brown and white, while C. lusciniaepennella (see Baldizzone 2019: Pl. AD V, Fig. 29 ) has the flagellum alternately ringed with brownish-orange (or brownish grey) and white; 2) in the male genitalia of C. vacciniella , the valvula with a triangular tooth on the ventral corner, and the phallotheca with spines forming a row in the distal 1/3 are present, while in C. lusciniaepennella (see Baldizzone 2019: Pl. GM IX, Fig. 28 ), male genitalia possess the valvula without any teeth, and the phallotheca with spines forming a row in the distal half; and 3) in the female genitalia of C. vacciniella (see Baldizzone 2019: Pl. GF XI, Fig. 31), the sterigma with an expansive elliptical concavity starting from the middle of the posterior margin, and a broad colliculum are present, while in C. lusciniaepennella (see Baldizzone 2019: Pl. GF X, Fig. 30), female genitalia possess the sterigma without such an elliptical concavity and an well-elongated colliculum.

Redescription. Male adult ( Fig. 1H ), forewing length 6.5 mm (wingspan 13.0 mm) (n=1) ( Benander 1939: wingspan 13.0 mm; Kusunoki & Oku 2015: wingspan 11.0–14.0 mm; Baldizzone 2019: wingspan 12.5–14.0 mm).

Head: Vertex greyish-brown with orange-white laterally. Postocular scales greyish-brown. Antenna about 0.7–0.8× shorter than the length of the forewing; scape+pedicel greyish-brown; flagellum covered with appressed scales, alternately ringed with dark brown and white. Second palpomere of labial palpus greyish-brown on the outer surface, and pale orange on the ventral and inner surfaces, about 1.6× longer than the length of the third palpomere; the latter greyish-brown on the outer surface, and pale orange on the inner surface. Proboscis covered with orange-white scales.

Thorax: Notum greyish-brown with same-coloured tegula. Forewing greyish-brown with same-coloured fringe; venation ( Fig. 2H ) with R 1 arising from the basal 2/5 of the discal cell; distance between origins of R 1 and R 2 about 1.9× longer than that of R 2 and R 3; R 4+5 and M 1 stalked in about basal 1/5; distance between origins of M 1 and M 2+3 about the same length as 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 3/10; discal cell open. Hindwing brownish-grey with greyish-brown fringe; frenulum with three acanthi fused distally into a single acanthus; costa slightly arched at the basal 3/10; venation ( Fig. 2H ) with slightly curved Rs; M 1 forked with Rs; discal cell open. Hind tibia greyish-brown on the outer surface, and brownish-grey on the inner surface; dorsal and ventral bristles greyish-brown; two pairs of spurs, one pair at the basal 3/5, other pair at the distal end. Hind tarsus greyish-brown with a pale orange end on the outer surface of each tarsomere, and brownish-grey on the inner surface.

Abdomen: Abdomen covered with greyish-brown scales; tergal disks glabrous. In the male ( Fig. 7E ), posterior lateral struts about 0.4× shorter than anterior lateral struts. Transverse strut near straight; anterior and posterior edges sclerotized. Terga I–VI with two parallel tergal disks bearing conical spines on each tergum; tergal disks of the terga II–VI elongated, about 3.7–6.7× longer than each width; tergal disks of the terga I and II expanded and merged into one; terga VII and VIII sclerotized. Sternum II–VI well-sclerotized; anterior margin of the sternum VII and VIII sclerotized.

Male genitalia ( Figs 5E, F ): See also Benander (1939: Pl. I, Fig. 17 ); Hackman (1945: Fig. 18 ); Toll (1962: Pl. 7 M, Figs 44, 45); Kusunoki & Oku (2015: Fig. 31); Baldizzone (2019: Pl. GM X, Fig. 29 ). Gnathos knob globular; basal arm of gnathos about 0.7× shorter than the median stem of tegumen, with setae on the dorsal and the ventral margins. Tegumen with dilated pedunculus bearing setae laterally; median stem of tegumen elongated trapezoidal, slightly constricted laterally, about 1.6× longer than the pedunculus. Transtilla finger-shaped, joined at the middle. Vinculum well-sclerotized. Valvula subtrapezoidal, setose evenly, with triangular tooth on the ventral corner. Cucullus short thumb-shaped, setose. Sacculus subtriangular, setose ventral and distal margins, with a triangular tooth on each dorso- and ventro-distal margins. Phallotheca conical, slightly curved, sclerotized dorsally, with pointed apex, about 1.3× longer than the sacculus; dorso-medial portion with 1–5 denticles or without any denticles (see Itämies & Tabell 1997: Fig. 2 , where the variation in the number of denticles on the dorso-medial portion of phallotheca is shown); spines forming a row situated in the distal 1/3. Aedeagus membranous. Annulus indistinct. Longitudinal sclerite of outer tube weakly sclerotized. Vesica membranous, with cornuti forming a single bundle.

Female genitalia: See Hackman (1945: Fig. 47); Toll (1962: Pl. 5 W, Fig. 34); Kusunoki & Oku (2015: Fig. 35); Baldizzone (2019: Pl. GF XI, Fig. 31). Papillae anales ovaloid, setose. Apophyses posteriores 2.4–2.5× longer than the apophyses anteriores. Sterigma depressed subtrapezoidal, about 2.0–2.3× wider than its length, setose along the posterior margin except for ostium bursae; concavity, starting from the middle of the posterior margin, progressively widening inward with a horizontally oriented, more expansive elliptical shape inside. Ostium bursae ovoidal situated at the anterior margin of sterigma. Colliculum large cup-shaped, about 1.6–1.9× longer than the length of the sterigma; anterior half asymmetric, slightly curved with bulged outer curve (right side); posterior half sclerotized laterally. Ductus bursae membranous, about 4.2–5.1× longer than the colliculum, with spinulate section in the posterior 3/10–2/5; anterior 2/5–1/2 finely dotted with darkened internal grains in the posterior 3/10–2/5 of dotted portion. Ductus seminalis arising from the posterior end of the grainy portion of the ductus bursae. Corpus bursae ovaloid, about 0.6× shorter than the ductus bursae; signum horn-like with a curved signal plate bifurcating on both sides.

Larval case (leaf miner): Composite leaf case. See Hering (1957: Fig. 718); Toll (1962: Pl. 29 S, Fig. 271); Kusunoki & Oku (2015: Figs 10–14 ); Baldizzone (2019: Pl. AST IV, Fig. 28 ).

Host plants. [ Ericaceae ] Vaccinium uliginosum L., V. myrtillus L. ( Hofmann 1869; Benander 1939; Hackman 1945; Kusunoki & Oku 2015), V. vitis-idaea L., Andromeda polifolia L. (De Prins & Steeman 2024), Chamaedaphne calyculata (L.) Moench, Rhododendron L. ( Falkovitsh 2006); [ Betulaceae ] Betula nana L., B. pubescens Ehrh. ; [ Myricaceae ] Myrica gale L.; [ Rosaceae ] Rubus chamaemorus L.; and [ Salicaceae ] Salix lapponum L. ( Itämies & Tabell 1997; Baldizzone 2019). Falkovitsh (2006) also listed Rubus chamaemorus L., Myrica L., Salix L., and Betula L., but the author noted that these raise doubts about the relationship with C. vacciniella .

Biology. The larvae of this species are known to mine the leaves of host plants in Europe ( Baldizzone 2019), however, in Japan, they exclusively mine the leaves of V. uliginosum L. ( Kusunoki & Oku 2015). According to Kusunoki & Oku (2015), authors speculated that C. vacciniella takes almost three years for one generation based on their observations and breeding experience. Furthermore, both Kusunoki & Oku (2015) and Baldizzone (2019) noted that the species inhabits alpine meadows, particularly in Japan, with altitudes ranging 1,700 –1,850 m in the Daisetsu Mountains (including Akadake Komakusa Flat, Midori Mountain, Hiragatake Mountain, and Upepesanke Mountain), and 1,800 –2,000 m in the Hidaka Mountains (specifically the Poroshiri Mountain Alpine Zone) in Hokkaido.

Based on the observations in the Daisetsu Mountains by Kusunoki & Oku (2015), the initial larvae were observed in early September, building a flattened primary case (about 4.0–5.0 mm in length). They then continue to undermine shallowly (see Kusunoki & Oku 2015: Fig. 10 ) and enlarge the case by adding other pieces of the leaves. As these larvae are bred, they gradually transit to feeding by scraping the leaf surface. After feeding until mid-September, they descend to overwinter in locations such as the lower stem of the host. Following the first overwintering, the larvae resume feeding in late May. Initially, they feed shallowly from the leaf underside, but as they grow, the surface of the leaf increases which is chewed by individual larvae. By mid to late June, the larvae deeply mine the leaf edges, significantly cutting and connecting this part to create a simple larval case with three to four leaves (see Kusunoki & Oku 2015: Figs 11 , 12 ). This becomes the final bivalved tubular case (about 8.0–10.0 mm in length). Larvae in the final case stop mining and enter into a state of dormancy by the end of June, either moving to the container wall or staying on the leaf surface. Activity resumes in late August to early September for the larvae in captivity, actively feeding on the leaf surface again. The thickness of the previously flattened tubular nests gradually increases (see Kusunoki & Oku 2015: Fig. 13 ). They then move to branches or stay on withered leaves, entering their second hibernation (see Kusunoki & Oku 2015: Fig. 14 ). If larvae overwintered are warmed from mid-May, they soon move upwards to branches, then pupate without feeding. Many adults emerge in early June, reaching mid- June in the Daisetsu Mountains, and between July and mid-August in other mountainous regions.

In Europe, according to the records by Baldizzone (2019), the larvae build a primary case with an edge of the first mined leaf, then continue to undermine, enlarging the case by adding other pieces. The larvae are completely mature in autumn, and at the end of their development, larvae no longer mine the leaves but gnaw at the upper surface. In spring, they no longer feed, then pupate in April in the case, fixed to a twig. The complete larval case (about 8.0–14.0 mm in length), made up of a various number of leaf fragments welded together, is bivalved tubular with the mouth part angled from 40° to 55° degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis (see Baldizzone 2019: Pl. AST IV, Fig. 28 ).

Distribution. Central and Northern Europe, Belgium, France, Netherlands, Italy, Romania, Montenegro, Russia (Northern European part, Western and Southern Siberia, Far East), Japan ( Baldizzone et al. 2006; Kusunoki & Oku 2015; Anikin 2019; Baldizzone 2019; Baldizzone & Wolf 2000), Korea (new record).

Remarks. Kusunoki & Oku (2015) noted that C. vacciniella coexists with C. glitzella Hofmann, 1869 and C. murinella Tengström, 1848 , both of which share similar colouration with the species, in the alpine meadows of Japan where the species inhabits. However, the species can be easily distinguished from the latter by notable differences in their genitalia (see Kusunoki & Oku 2013: Figs 26 , 31 for C. glitzella ; Figs 27 , 32 for C. murinella ).

According to the national species list of Korea provided by NIBR (2019), the host species, V. uliginosum L., known as the host plant of the species in Japan, is listed. Concerning distribution, although V. uliginosum L., recognized as the host plant of the species in Japan, is not mentioned in the plant data book for Korea, as provided by NIE (2017), GBIF suggests that V. uliginosum L. is distributed in Gangwon-do and Jeju-do, where C. vacciniella has not been found yet.

In comparison with collection records in the neighbouring country, specimens were collected in Wol-ag (=Worak) Mountain in Chungcheongbuk-do (latitude N36° and altitude 215 m) in Korea, while in Japan, they were collected in alpine meadows of Hokkaido (latitudes N42–43° and altitudes 1,700 –2,000 m) . Considering the characteristic of inhabiting at high altitudes in both Europe and Japan, it is speculated that they descended from the high regions of Wol-ag Mountain, with a maximum altitude of approximately 1,095 m, attracted by light traps, eventually reaching the lowlands. Furthermore, in comparison with the average monthly temperatures of adult occurrence confirmed in the neighbouring country, in Korea, the average high temperature in May is about 25°C, with an average low temperature of about 11°C in Wol-ag Mountain , while in Japan, the average high temperature ranges 20–24°C from June to August, with an average low temperature ranging 9–15°C in Hokkaido . Based on this, despite some latitude differences, it is estimated that the average temperatures during the collected periods do not differ significantly, suggesting similar ecological habits to the population in Hokkaido .

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 5. Newly recorded Coleophora spp. Genitalia. A, male genitalia of Coleophora uliginosella, slide no. KJM0461 (CBNUPM000214); B, phallus of male genitalia of C. uliginosella, with close-up of cornutus, slide no. KJM0461 (CBNUPM000214); C, phallus of male genitalia of C. uliginosella, with close-up of cornutus, slide no. KJM0296 (PCQAIN0000012023); D, female genitalia of C. uliginosella, with close-up of sterigma (top) and signum (bottom), slide no. KJM0462 (CBNUPM000215); E, male genitalia of C. vacciniella, with close-up of distal portion of sacculus, slide no. KJM0366 (CBNUPM000385); F, phallus of male genitalia of C. vacciniella, with close-up of cornuti (left) and spines forming a row in distal 1/3 (right), slide no. KJM0366 (CBNUPM000385).

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 10. Reconfirmed Coleophora spp. Adult. A, Coleophora serinipennella, CBNUPM000373 (male); B, C. silenella, CBNUPM000052 (male); C, C. sternipennella, CBNUPM000247 (female); D, C. therinella, CBNUPM000259 (male); E, C. versurella, CBNUPM000358 (male); F, C. vestianella, CBNUPM000396 (female).

FIGURE 11. Reconfirmed Coleophora spp.Venation.A, Coleophora adspersella, slide no. KJM0381 (male, CBNUPM000378); B, C. albicans, slide no. KJM0519 (male, CBNUPM000381); C, C. cristata, slide no. KJM0494 (female, CBNUPM000145); D, C. elodella, slide no. KJM0489 (male, CBNUPM000121); E, C. falkovitshella, slide no. KJM0508 (female, CBNUPM000229); F, C. fasciella, slide no. KJM0517 (male, holotype, CBNUPM000337); G, C. flavovena, slide no. KJM0487 (female, CBNUPM000098); H, C. fuscocuprella, slide no. KJM0209 (male, reversed left wings, CBNUPM000023); I, C. honshuella, slide no. KJM0165 (female, CBNUPM000104); J, C. kononenkoi, slide no. KJM0506 (male, CBNUPM000224); K, C. mayrella, slide no. KJM0516 (female, CBNUPM000290); L, C. melanograpta, slide no. KJM0486 (male, CBNUPM000090).

FIGURE12. Reconfirmed Coleophora spp.Venation.A, Coleophora montaniella, slideno.KJM0492 (male, CBNUPM000126); B, C. obducta, slide no. KJM0502 (male, CBNUPM000203); C, C. parki, slide no. KJM0541 (female, CBNUPM000395); D, C. quercicola, slide no. KJM0166 (female, CBNUPM000008); E, C. serinipennella, slide no. KJM0339 (female, CBNUPM000027); F, C. silenella, slide no. KJM0485 (male, CBNUPM000051); G, C. sternipennella, slide no. KJM0514 (female, CBNUPM000245); H, C. therinella, slide no. KJM0515 (male, CBNUPM000261); I, C. versurella, slide no. KJM0518 (female, CBNUPM000347); J, C. vestianella, slide no. KJM0507 (male, CBNUPM000228).

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).

FIGURE 14. Reconfirmed Coleophora spp. Male genitalia.A, B, Coleophora flavovena, slide no. KJM0411 (in INU); C, D, C. fuscocuprella, slide no. KJM0233 (CBNUPM000024); E, F, C. honshuella, slide no. KJM0224 (CBNUPM000106); G, H, C. kononenkoi, slide no. KJM0293 (CBNUPM000224); I, J, C. mayrella, slide no. KJM0048 (CBNUPM000289).

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 26. Larval tubular silken cases of C. adspersella and C. sternipennella, and their collection site. A, B, concrete walls where the two species were dormant (in May 2023); C, C. adspersella dormant on concrete wall; D, trivalved distal end of larval case of C. adspersella; E, larval case of C. adspersella, indicating lateral (top), dorsal (middle), and ventral (bottom) views; F, C. sternipennella dormant on concrete wall; G, trivalved distal end of larval case of C. sternipennella; H, larval case of C. sternipennella, indicating lateral (top), dorsal (middle), and ventral (bottom) views.

FIGURE 27. Ecological photographs of C. mayrella. A, field of white clover (Trifolium repens), which is a host plant; B, female ovipositing deep inside flower (on May 26th, 2023); C, egg (indicated by the black arrow) deposited between wings (composed of two middle petals) and keel (composed of two innermost petals) (on May 26th, 2023); D, egg (on May 26th, 2023); E, egg about to hatch (on May 30th, 2023); F, 1st instar larva (on May 30th, 2023); G, intact seed pod; H, damaged seed pod with close-up of hole penetrated by larva (top) and interior showing damaged inner wall, seed, and frass (bottom); I, close-up of hole penetrated by larva into seed; J, 2nd instar larva feeding on inside of seed (on June 1st, 2023); K–O, larval seed cases; P, Q, parasitoid, Tetrastichus sp., dorsal and lateral views, with close-up of submarginal vein showing the characteristic single seta of the genus (indicated by the red arrow).

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.