Pectinivalva Scoble

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 : 18-19

Subgenus Pectinivalva Scoble

Type species:

Pectinivalva commoni Scoble, 1983: 13 (original designation and monotypy).

Description.

Adults. Head capsule (Fig. 19): labial palpi 3-segmented; interocular index 0.77-0.84. Antennae unmodified. Collar consisting of piliform scales (lamellate scales in one undescribed species). Wingspan ca. 4.5-8.4 mm. Forewing usually more or less unicolorous, greyish to fuscous, without transverse fascia, occasionally yellowish or with yellow costal streak. Hindwing in male often with longitudinal furrow (here termed 'androconial pocket’) surrounded by androconial scales. Underside of forewing in male often with androconia. Wing venation (Figs 31, 32): R2+3 in forewing present. Abdomen usually without specialized scales; S2a always spinose. Fore-tibia of male usually thickened with blackish scales in those species with an androconial pocket.

Male genitalia (Figs 39, 40, 42, 58, 59). Lateral arms of vinculum not or weakly forked apically. Tegumen occasionally extended laterally. Valva either apically rounded, with conspicuous pectinifer of ca. 25-55 peg-like elements, or elongate and triangular, with pectinifer replaced by stiff setae. Sublateral processes sometimes reduced or absent. Aedeagus (Figs 42, 59): cathrema very weak, associated with 2 or 3 interconnected sclerites of variable length.

Female genitalia (Figs 73, 80-82). Lateral sclerites of vestibulum narrow, occasionally absent. Accessory sac absent. Signum an elongate toothed band with lacunae.

Larva. Head (Fig. 104): antennae 3-segmented, segments 2 and 3 each with 1 sensillum chaeticum and 1 sensillum basiconicum; head-shape distinctly elongate and pyriform. Thorax: prothoracic sternite (Fig. 109) broad, rounded or squarish; chaetotaxy (Fig. 115): T2 with 10 pairs of setae (1 pair of D setae). Abdomen: as described for subfamily. Cuticle of all segments completely lacking spines, and with raised reticulate texture, especially on prothorax.

Biology.

Host-plants: Eucalyptus L’Hérit. spp. ( Myrtaceae ). Mine: usually a short gallery leading to a blotch; exit-hole a semicircular slit.

Diagnosis.

See Table 1.

Distribution.

Australia (known from all states and territories).

Included species.

In addition to the six previously and newly described species, also approximately 65 undescribed species in the anic, of which the following, cited by their anic rearing numbers, have been studied in detail for the current work: Pectinivalva (Pectinivalva) 5; Pectinivalva (Pectinivalva) 34; Pectinivalva (Pectinivalva) 138; Pectinivalva (Pectinivalva) 142; Pectinivalva (Pectinivalva) 163.

Discussion.

Pectinivalva (Pectinivalva) is a relatively diverse subgenus, and could probably be subdivided into several species groups. One such group, the Pectinivalva (Pectinivalva) caenodora group, was diagnosed above. We do not propose to erect any further named species groups here, but we describe below a species that diverges strongly from most other members of the subgenus, and has several close relatives. Their placement in Pectinivalva (Pectinivalva) is argued for below, but as the larvae are as yet unknown, this decision may have to be revised.

Pectinivalva (Pectinivalva) is equivalent to the Pectinivalva commoni group of Hoare et al. (1997).