Pectinivalva (Casanovula) brevipalpa Hoare

Hoare, Robert J. B. & Nieukerken, Erik J. van, 2013, Phylogeny and host-plant relationships of the Australian Myrtaceae leafmining moth genus Pectinivalva (Lepidoptera, Nepticulidae), with new subgenera and species, ZooKeys 278, pp. 1-64 : 25-27

Pectinivalva (Casanovula) brevipalpa Hoare sp. n.

Material examined.

Holotype. ♂, 34.39S, 150.29E, Fitzroy Falls, N.S.W., emg. 25.x.1996, Tristaniopsis collina , R.J.B. Hoare. Genitalia slide 12111 (anic). Paratypes. 6♂, 5♀, same data as holotype, emg. 17.x.-9.xii.1996; 2♂, 4♀, 34.48S, 150.34E, Cambewarra Lookout, N.S.W., Tristaniopsis collina , emg. 15.x.-22.xii.1995, R.J.B. Hoare and E.S. Nielsen; 1♂, 1♀, 35.37S, 150.16E, 1 km SE of East Lynne, Kioloa State Forest, N.S.W., emg. 26, 28.x.1995, Tristaniopsis collina , R.J.B. Hoare; 1♀, Clyde Mt., N.S.W., [host unidentified], emg. 28.x.1963, I.F.B. Common. Slides 11237, 11238, 11328, 12065, 12136 (anic).

Description.

Male (Fig. 6). Wingspan 4.3-5.9 mm. Head capsule (Figs 23-26): labial palpi reduced, 2-segmented; maxillary palpi with ratio of segments from base approximately 0.2: 0.4: 0.5: 1.2: 1.0; interocular index 0.67; vertex with a pair of sclerotized crests. Frontal tuft ferruginous; collar white; eyecaps white; antennae with basal segments dilated and flattened, gradually tapering, shining lead-grey, whitish beneath, ca. 32 segments. Thorax and tegulae dark fuscous with purplish reflections. Forewing to 2/3 dark fuscous with purplish reflections; a shining silver to pale golden fascia at 2/3, slightly broader on costa, apex of wing dark fuscous without reflections; cilia pale grey beyond a line of fuscous-tipped scales. Hindwing grey, unmodified; cilia grey. Abdomen lead-grey, slightly shining.

Female (Fig. 7). Wingspan 4.3-5.2 mm. Similar to male, but antennae not dilated at base, 18 segments.

Male genitalia (Figs 43-45, 60, 61). Capsule ca. 250 μm. Anterior extension of vinculum with semicircular excavation. Uncus squarish, bilobed, with a tuft of 5-6 setae arising from dorsal side of each lobe near tip, centre of uncus with two weakly sclerotized ‘windows’. Gnathos with elongate central element and short lateral arms. Valva (Fig. 44) ca. 190 μm, squarish; pectinifer consisting of ca. 27 narrow elements. Transtilla absent. Aedeagus (Fig. 45, 61) 360 μm, a single rather broad, blunt spine at apex on left. Vesica with numerous close-set rather broad cornuti.

Female genitalia (Fig. 74, 83-85). Total length 520 μm. T9 with 7 setae on each side. Apophyses anteriores rather narrow with slightly incurved tips; apophyses posteriores slightly narrower and longer than anteriores. Lateral sclerotizations of vestibulum narrow, bent inwards, tips unmodified. Ductus spermathecae with 1 indistinct convolution. Posterior part of corpus bursae very convoluted; anterior part with many coarse pectinations; 2 or 3 indistinct elongate sclerotizations ½ way down corpus.

Larva. Green. Head (Fig. 105) elongate, pyriform; length of head ca. 410 μm; width ca. 295 μm. Thorax: prothoracic sternite as in Fig. 110. Chaetotaxy (Fig. 116) as described for subgenus; T2 with 10 pairs of setae (L3 absent); A10 with 4 pairs. Anal rods distinctly forked posteriorly.

Biology.

Host plant: Tristaniopsis collina Peter G. Wilson & Waterhouse ( Myrtaceae ). Egg: on underside of leaf. Mine (Fig. 117): commences as very long narrow gallery either filled with greenish frass or with black linear frass, broadens rather abruptly into gallery with central line of black frass; exit-hole on upperside, a semicircular slit. Cocoon: reddish brown. Occupied mines have been collected on 25 June, 1 July, 13 July and 3 August.

Diagnosis.

The male is superficially similar to that of Pectinivalva (Casanovula) minotaurus , but differs in its much less strongly expanded antennae. The male of Pectinivalva (Casanovula) minotaurus also differs in having shell-like androconial scales on the upperside of the abdomen, visible on dissection, and a more distinctly H-shaped vinculum (Figs 46, 62). The female of Pectinivalva brevipalpa is also very similiar to that of minotaurus but can be distinguished on dissection by the presence of the indistinct sclerites ½ way down the corpus bursae.

Distribution.

New South Wales.

Derivation.

The specific name is derived from the Latin brevis (short) and palpus (the sensitive palm of the hand: hence, in zoology, a palp) and refers to the reduced, 2-segmented labial palpi of the adult male. It is an adjective.