Phyllocnistis wygodzinskyi Hering, 1958

Brito, Rosângela, Lopez-Vaamonde, Carlos, Gonçalves, Gislene L., Becker, Vitor O., Mielke, Olaf H. H. & Moreira, Gilson R. P., 2017, Taxonomic revision of Neotropical Phyllocnistis Zeller, 1848 (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), with descriptions of seven new species and host plant associations, Zootaxa 4341 (3), pp. 301-352 : 329-330

Phyllocnistis wygodzinskyi Hering, 1958

Figs. 3Z , 4Z , 5 , S1; Tab. 2

Phyllocnistis wygodzinskyi ; Hering 1958: 309 –311, figs. 13, 14A, 15–16. Davis & Miller 1984: 27. De Prins et al. 2016: 38.

Type material. The description of Phyllocnistis wygodzinskyi Hering, 1958 was based on four specimens from Tafí del Valle, Tucumán, Argentina. The male holotype ( Fig. 3Z ) is deposited with the allotype and one paratype at ZMHB with the following labels (separated by forward slash symbols, Fig. 4Z ): / Holotypus / Mine an Composit / IM R Her. 13 / Tafí del Valle Tucumán 21/23.V. 1953 Wygodzinsky / Phyllocnistis wygodzinskyi Hering #m Holotype /. The dissected genitalia, slide mounted in glycerin, containing the same information previously mentioned, is found with the labels. The female allotype has the following labels: / Allotypus / Mine an Composit. / IM R. Her. 13 / Tafí del Valle Tucumán 21/23.V. 1953 Wygodzinsky / Phyllocnistis wygodzinskyi Hering #f Allotype /. Corresponding female genitalia is dissected in glycerin, with the same information. The paratype with no sex identified has the following labels: / Paratypus / Mine an Composit. / IM R. Her. 13 / Tafí del Valle Tucumán 21/23.V. 1953 Wygodzinsky / Phyllocnistis wygodzinskyi Hering Paratype /. The other paratype with no sex identified is deposited at MCN with the following labels: / Paratypus / Mine an Composit. / IM R. Her. 13 / Tafí del Valle Tucumán 21/23.V. 1953 Wygodzinsky / Phyllocnistis wygodzinskyi Hering , Paratype / PARATIPO / TLEP044 /.

Forewing length. 4.35 mm (n = 4).

Diagnosis ( Figs. 3Z, S 1; Tab. 2). Dorsal forewing: ground color silvery. lf curved, with thick dark brown borders, emerging from the proximal region near the costal margin, widening and then narrowing progressively towards the median region of the wing; in the first section its scales are mostly yellowish, changing to dark brown on the distal section. A large dark brown blotch attached to the inner border on the middle section of lf. tf1 inclined to apex, yellowish, with thin dark brown borders, restricted to costal portion of the wing and connected to lf. tf2 with same coloration as tf1, crossing the wing entirely and having borders slightly displaced and narrow at their central portion. tf3 short, restricted to costal section. tf4 crossing the wing entirely; a narrow, light gray band separates it from as. Costal and apical strigulae typical of the genus. Inner marginal fringe with yellowish base, central region dark brown and apex light gray. This species is similar to P. baccharidis , P. bourquini and P. sexangula , for sharing the four distinct transversal fasciae. However, P. wygodzinskyi is differentiated from the first two by presenting a large conspicuous dark brown blotch attached to lf in the inner section of region I. It diverges from P. sexangula by the absence of the blackened blotch in the tf4.

Geographical distribution ( Fig. 5 ). The specimens have distribution records for Quebrada del Mastil, Tafí Del Valle department, Tucumán province, Argentina, 2200 m.

Natural history. According to the author of this species, up to four mines can be found per leaf. Mines are epidermal, serpentine in shape and followed by a slimy trace of feces. The cocoon is constructed in the final portion of the mine, towards the central region of the leaf, where it provokes wrinkling of the leaf; it has a white silver coloration that varies to a rusty brown according to development.

Host plant(s). Larvae were found feeding on an unidentified Asteraceae species.

Examined material. Holotype, allotype 2 paratypes.

Remarks. After Hering’s (1958) description, there is no other record for the species; therefore, information regarding the immature stage morphology and other aspects related to life history do not exist. Due to the small number of specimens available, no additional genitalia were dissected for this review.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Forewings of Neotropical Phyllocnistis. (A) P. abatiae holotype (left forewing reversed); (B) P. aurilinea lectotype (left, reversed); (C) P. baccharidis holotype (left, reversed); (D) P. bourquini holotype (right); (E) P. citrella lectotype (left, reversed); (F) P. dorcas holotype (right); (G) P. drimiphaga holotype (right); (H) P. helios holotype (right); (I) P. jupiter paratype (left, reversed); (J) P. kawakitai holotype (left, reversed); (K) P. maxberryi holotype (right); (L) P. meliacella holotype (right); (M) P. norak holotype (right); (N) P. ohshimai holotype (right); (O) P. ourea paratype (right); (P) P. perseafolia holotype (left, reversed); (Q) P. petronellii paratype (right); (R) P. phoebus paratype (left, reversed); (S) P. puyehuensis holotype (right); (T) P. rotans lectotype (right); (U) P. sciophanta holotype (left, reversed); (V) P. selene specimen (left, reversed); (W) P. sexangula lectotype (left, reversed); (X) P. tethys specimen (right); (Y) P. tropaeolicola holotype (right); (Z) P. wygodzinskyi holotype (left, reversed); (AA) P. xylopiella holotype (right). Scale bars: 1 (A – H, K, L, O, P, R – Z), 0.5 mm (I, J, M, N, Q, AA).

FIGURE 4. Labels of Neotropical Phyllocnistis types found in museums. (A) P. abatiae; (B) P. aurilinea; (C) P. baccharidis; (D) P. bourquini; (E) P. citrella; (F) P. dorcas; (G) P. drimiphaga; (H) P. helios; (I) P. jupiter; (J) P. kawakitai; (K) P. maxberryi; (L) P. meliacella; (M) P. norak; (N) P. ohshimai; (O) P. ourea; (P) P. perseafolia; (Q) P. petronellii; (R) P. phoebus; (S) P. puyehuensis; (T) P. rotans; (U) P. sciophanta; (V) P. selene; (W) P. sexangula; (X) P. tethys; (Y) P. tropaeolicola; (Z) P. wygodzinskyi; (AA) P. xylopiella.

FIGURE 5. Geographical distribution of Phyllocnistis species endemic to the Neotropical region.