Astrotischeria atlantica Diskus & Stonis, 2020

Stonis, Jonas R., Diskus, Arūnas, Remeikis, Andrius, Solis, M. Alma & Katinas, Liliana, 2020, Exotic-looking Neotropical Tischeriidae (Lepidoptera) and their host plants, ZooKeys 970, pp. 117-158 : 117

Astrotischeria atlantica Diskus & Stonis sp. nov. Figs 1-9 , 40 , 41 , 68-76 , 77-80

Holotype.

male, pinned, with genitalia slide no. AD969. Labels: Uruguay, Rocha Department, La Paloma, 34°39'41"S, 54°13'4"W, elevation 5 m, mining larva on Baccharis spicata (Lam.) Baill., Asteraceae , 26 Feb 2019, field card no. 5303, A. Diškus (ZIN).

Diagnosis.

Externally, this new species can be confused with some other speckled Astrotischeria species, including the species described in this paper. Astrotischeria atlantica sp. nov. can be distinguished from similar A. jociui sp. nov. (see described above) by the significantly paler color of forewing: in A. atlantica forewing is cream to pale yellowish ochre, in A. jociui is ochre. In the male genitalia, the shape of dorsal processes of the valva with unique folds (Fig. 75 ) and the presence of additional lobes on the uncus (Figs 68 , 69 ) distinguish A. atlantica sp. nov. from all known congeneric species. In the female genitalia, the presence of a highly modified ovipositor (Fig. 78 ) differentiates this new species from other Astrotischeria taxa. This species is also distinctive because no other species in this genus is known to feed on Baccharis spicata (Lam.) Baill. ( Asteraceae ).

Description.

Male (Fig. 40 ). Forewing length 3.6-4.2 mm; wingspan 7.7-9.3 mm (n = 2). Head: frons and pecten golden cream; frontal tuft glossy cream distally, ochre-grey proximally; collar ochre-grey; antenna slightly longer than one half the length of forewing; flagellum yellowish cream proximally, pale yellowish grey distally. Tegula yellowish grey, distally cream; thorax yellowish cream. Forewing cream to pale yellowish ochre, irregularly speckled with grey and pale grey scales, apically also with some black scales; fringe pale grey, with fringe line comprised of black scales; forewing underside pale ochre-grey to brownish cream, without spots or androconia. Hindwing glossy greyish cream to cream on upper side, pale grey on underside, without androconia, but sometimes with a dark line of grey scales along one third of the fold; fringe cream. Foreleg pale grey or blackish grey on upper side, midleg and hindleg ochre cream to cream, with some pale grey scales on upper side and spurs. Abdomen yellow cream, distally pale grey on upper side, pale ochre with some grey scales on underside; genital plates large, covered with long, yellow cream scales; anal tufts long, merged into one, cream.

Male genitalia (Figs 68-76 ) with capsule 1120 µm long, 730 µm wide. Uncus (Figs 68-71 ) comprised of two short, triangular lobes (Fig. 71 ) and two long, slender lobes (Fig. 70 ); the latter possess a unique lobe-like process (Figs 68 , 69 ). Socii small, paired, membranous. Valva (Figs 72 , 75 ) ca. 730 µm long; dorsal lobe (Figs 72 , 75 ) greatly developed, with folds distally (Fig. 75 ); ventral lobe of valva slender. Anellus mostly membranous, thickened only laterally (Fig. 75 ). Vinculum rounded distally (Fig. 72 ). Phallus ca. 970 µm long, apically bifid, with hook-like apices (Fig. 73 ).

Female (Fig. 41 ). Forewing length 3.6-4.3 mm; wingspan 7.7-9.4 mm (n = 2). Similar to male, but thorax and forewing tend to be paler, i.e., less speckled with grey scales. Anal tuft long, ochre cream; ovipositor slightly protruding. Otherwise, identical with male.

Female genitalia (Figs 77-80 ) ca. 3410 µm long. Ovipositor lobes modified into a unique (among Tischeriidae ) plate-like ovipositor without peg-like setae (Fig. 78 ); second pair of ovipositor lobes large, with numerous long setae. Posterior apophyses shorter than anterior ones (Fig. 79 ); prela comprised of three pairs of unique projections (Fig. 79 ). Corpus bursae with very slender and long proximal part and small main body without pectination (Fig. 77 ). Ductus spermathaecae with three large coils (Fig. 77 ).

Bionomics.

(Figs 1-9 ). Host plant is Baccharis spicata (Lam.) Baill., Asteraceae (Figs 1-4 ). Larvae mine leaves in February. The blotch-like mine (Figs 5-9 ) is irregular, but elongated, pale brown or pale green, without frass. Adults occur in March.

Distribution.

This species is known from a single locality on the Atlantic coast in Uruguay, Rocha Department, La Paloma (Fig. 1 ), at sea level, but the host plant has a much wider distribution (see Discussion).

Etymology.

The species is named after the Atlantic Ocean, in reference to its occurrence on the Atlantic coast of Uruguay.

Other material examined.

2 ♂, 3 ♀, paratypes: Uruguay, Rocha Department, La Paloma, 34°39'41"S, 54°13'4"W, elevation 5 m, mining larvae on Baccharis spicata (Lam.) Baill., Asteraceae , 26 Feb 2019, field card no. 5303, A. Diškus, genitalia slide nos AD970♂ (from adult in pupal skin, no moths preserved), AD968♀ (ZIN).

Figures

Figures 1 - 9. Bionomics of Astrotischeria atlantica sp. nov. 1 habitat, elevation 5 m, La Paloma, Rocha Department, Uruguay 2 - 4 host plant Baccharis spicata (Lam.) Baill., Asteraceae 5 - 9 leaf mines.

Figures 38 - 43. Adults of Astrotischeria spp. 38 A. jociui sp. nov., male, holotype 39 same, female, paratype 40 A. atlantica sp. nov., male, holotype 41 same, female, paratype 42 A. cornuata sp. nov., male, holotype 43 same, female, paratype (ZIN).

Figures 68 - 76. Male genitalia of Astrotischeria atlantica sp. nov. 68, 69 inner process of uncus, holotype, genitalia slide no. AD 969 70 uncus, paratype, genitalia slide no. AD 970 71 smaller lobes of uncus and tegumen, holotype, genitalia slide no. AD 969 72 general view of capsule with phallus inside, holotype, genitalia slide no. AD 969 73 phallus, paratype, genitalia slide no. AD 970 74 socii, holotype, genitalia slide no. AD 969 75 dorsal lobes of valvae and anellus, paratype, genitalia slide no. AD 970 76 lateral view of capsule with phallus inside, holotype, genitalia slide no. AD 969 (ZIN).

Figures 77 - 80. Female genitalia of Astrotischeria atlantica sp. nov. 77 paratype, genitalia slide no. AD 968, general view 78 same, ovipositor lobes 79 same, apophyses and prela 80 same, coils of ductus spermathecae (ZIN).