Corythoxestis sunosei ( Kumata, 1998 )

Kobayashi, Shigeki, Huang, Guo-Hua & Hirowatari, Toshiya, 2011, Two species of Gracillariidae (Lepidoptera) new to China, and description of the pupal morphology of the genera Corythoxestis and Eumetriochroa, Zootaxa 2892, pp. 25-32 : 26-27

Corythoxestis sunosei ( Kumata, 1998)

Figs. 1 A–B, 2A–L, 3, 4.

Cryphiomystis sunosei Kumata, 1998: 107 –109, figs 10, 13(E, F), 15(C), 23(B), 27(A, B). Type locality: Japan (Kagoshima).

Diagnosis. Forewing dark fuscous. Male genitalia with upcurved costal margin of the valva. Female genitalia without a signum on the corpus bursae ( Kumata 1998).

Description. Wing expanse 4.6–5.0 mm from China.

Male genitalia ( Figs. 4 A–B) and female genitalia ( Fig. 4 C): see Kumata (1998).

Pupa. ( Figs. 2 H–J, 3). Creamy yellow, 3 mm in length, 0.5 mm in diameter. Vertex with a stout, triangular frontal process (cocoon cutter) flanked by a pair of long spatulate, about 2 x longer processes with a hair on inner 2/ 3. Dorsum of A2–A10 with a pair of long setae, and anterior part with a concentration of small spines; A3–A9 with two pairs of long, lateral setae. A10 prominently furcated with a pair of slender, long, slightly curved acute processes from caudal apex; another pair of laterally curved, half as long as caudal ones, claw-shaped processes from dorsal side.

Distribution. China (new record), Japan (Kyushu) ( Kumata 1998).

Host plant. Mussaenda esquirolii H. Lév. (new record), Uncaria rhynchophylla (Miq.) Miq. ( Kumata 1998) , Rubiaceae .

Specimens examined. 6 ♂, 7 Ƥ. China: Houxi, Wuyunjie National Nature Reserve, Taoyuan, Hunan, 28.v.2009 – 2.vi.2009 em. S. Kobayashi, T. Hirowatari & Guo-Hua Huang, Host: Mussaenda esquirolii , 24.v.2009 (larva) (HUNAU, OPU).

Biology. Kumata (1998) recorded the biology of this species in Japan. In the present study, we observed the mined leaves of Mussaenda esquirolii to be a narrow, linear, long serpentine mine; whitish, about ~ 30 cm in length, 2 mm in width. The mines ( Fig. 2 C–D) were found on the upper side of relatively young leaves near the apex of branches and were entirely subepidermal, usually 1–2 mines per leaf. The later instar larva is 3–4 mm long and creamy yellow in coloration. A pupal cocoon fold (whitish, 6 mm in length, 0.8–1.0 mm in width) is situated at the end of the mine, usually found along leaf margins as in typical pupal cocoon folds of Phyllocnistis species.

Remarks. The male genitalia of all Cryphiomystis species possess a vinculum tightly united with valvae and a well-developed saccus. This species is superficially very similar to C. cyanolampra (Vári) and C. aletreuta (Meyrick) , two of which are also leaf-miners of Rubiaceae , but it is distingished from them by the characters shown in the diagnosis ( Kumata 1998). Kumata (1998) characterized the female genitalia as possessing a ductus bursae well striated in its cephalic 3/4, but females from China have a slender, unstriated ductus bursae.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Two species of adult Oecophyllembiinae new to China. A. Corythoxestis sunosei (Kumata, 1998) male. B. Female. C. Eumetriochroa hederae Kumata, 1998 female.

FIGURE 2. Habitat, hostplants and immature stages of Oecophyllembiinae moths. A – L. Corythoxestis sunosei (Kumata, 1998) and Mussaenda esquirolii. M – O. Eumetriochroa hederae Kumata, 1998 and Hedera nepalensis var. sinensis. A. Habitat in Houxi, Wuyunjie Nat. Nature Reser., Hunan. B. Hostplant. C. Hostplant, leaf and mine. D. Leaf mines on the upper surface, arrows pointing larvae. E. Later instar larvae within mines. F. Final instar larva. G. Pupal cocoon fold on upper surface. H. Pupa, ventral view. I. Dorsal view. J. Lateral view. K. Resting posture of the adult, dorsal view. L. Lateral view. M. Habitat in Tianpingshan, Hunan and host plant. N, O. Host plant and leaf mines. M, N. arrows pointing at leaf mines.

FIGURE 4. The genitalia of Corythoxestis sunosei (Kumata, 1998). A. Male genitalia, lateral view. B. Ventral view. C. Female genitalia, ventral view and lateral view. va, valva; ae, aedeagus; ob: ostium bursae; ds: ductus bursae; cb: corpus bursae.