Anthophila threnodes (Walsingham, 1910)

Rota, Jadranka, Aguiar, Antonio M. F. & Karsholt, Ole, 2014, Choreutidae of Madeira: review of the known species and description of the male of Anthophila threnodes (Walsingham, 1910) (Lepidoptera), Nota Lepidopterologica 37 (1), pp. 91-103 : 93-95

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Choreutidae

Anthophila threnodes (Walsingham, 1910) Figs 1, 2, 9-18

Hemerophila threnodes Walsingham, 1910: 257.

Material examined.

Holotype. 1♀, 'B.M. Genitalia Slide 20115 A. Diak’ | ‘Type’ 'Madeira, V. 1886, Leech, 62296' | 'Walsingham Collection 1910-427' | 'Hemerophila threnodes Wals., ♀, Ent. Monthly Mag. 46, p. 257 (1910). Type ♀ (1/1) descr. 62296' (BMNH). 1♂, 1♀, 'Madeira: 1858. Wollaston. BM 1858-21.' | 'Simaethis fabriciana L. teste Stn. Ann-Mag. N. H. (3. s) III. 210, no 4 (1859), Topotype Madeira.' | ‘V’ [May] (BMNH); 1♂, Funchal, 20-31.iii.1995, leg. L. Sippola, genitalia slide Rota JR2013-05, DNA voucher for extraction An_th2 (ZMUC); 1♂, Cabo Girão, Cruz da Caldeira, 8.vii.1999, leg. A. M. F. Aguiar, genitalia slide Rota JR2013-04, DNA voucher for exraction An_th1 (AMFA); 1♀, Vereda da Entrosa, Arco de São Jorge, 225 m, 12.ii.2000, leg. A. M. F. Aguiar (AMFA); 3♂, 2♀, same data but la. 14.ii.2001, Urtica sp., leg. A. M. F. Aguiar & J. Jesus (AMFA, ICLAM); 2♂, 3♀, same data but 200 m, la. 29.xi.2001, Urtica sp., leg. A. M. F. Aguiar & O. Karsholt, genitalia slides Hendriksen 5240, Karsholt 5236 (AMFA, ZMUC); 2♀, same data but, 15.v.2003, leg. A. M. F. Aguiar & J. Jesus (AMFA); 1♀, AM 5089, Levada Grande, Boaventura, 285m, 4.iii.2000, larva on Urtica membranacea , leg. A. M. F. Aguiar (AMFA); 1♀, Monte, 20.iii.2002, leg. L. Sippola (SIP).

Remarks.

Hemerophila threnodes was originally described from one female collected in Madeira by J. H. Leech in May 1886. No exact locality was stated. Based on the material collected more recently, we provide a description of the male. We also illustrate female genitalia.

Description.

Anthophila threnodes is characterized by its dark, almost black wings and a scattering of light bluish scales on the thoracic dorsum and forewing upperside (Figs 1, 2). The forewings have a cream-white spot at two-thirds of costa and another such spot at four-fifths of the dorsum; fringes are black and cream-white beyond black fringe-line. Hindwings are uniform dark brown.

Male genitalia (Fig. 9). Tegumen triangular with small uncus extending from its apex. Papillae anales present as elongate, somewhat elliptical patches with long hairs. Gnathos well developed as a long, somewhat curved, pointed hook. Vinculum ventrally rounded with a small, triangular saccus (obscured in Fig. 9a, but visible in slide JR2013-04, which is not illustrated). Valva broad, somewhat oval, with a pointed costal process and an unsclerotized triangular, rounded extension distally; distally and ventrally covered with hairs. Juxta as a hood-like plate (in Fig. 9b attached to phallus). Phallus shorter than valva, slightly sigmoidal, with a sharp spine at one-third from apex (Fig. 9c).

Female genitalia (Fig. 10). Apophysis posterioris slender, slightly broader at base; ca. 1.5 times as long as anterioris and much less thick. Apophysis anterioris greatly enlarged in the middle, tapering basally and even more so distally. Ostium on segment 7. Ductus bursae very gradually widening into corpus, with a slight twist of about one to two revolutions. Corpus bursae oval, small, with a signum as small patch of dentations (Fig. 10b).

Host plant.

Urtica membranacea Poir. ex Savigny and probably other Urtica spp. ( Urticaceae).

Remarks.

Larvae have been found in March, May, and November, and adults have been collected in February, March, May, and July, indicating at least two broods. The adult flies during the day. It occurs in open landscapes at low altitudes.

Immature stages and biology

(Figs 11-18). Larva is off-white with dark brown spots (Figs 14, 15) and it spins a thin web on or around the young leaves on which it feeds (Figs 12, 13). The pupa is reddish brown (Fig. 16), and in addition to the single rows of dorsal spines on abdominal segments A2-7 (Figs 17, 18) it also has dorsal lacunae - small round holes in a row immediately posterior to the spines.

Diagnosis.

Anthophila threnodes is characterized by its blackish wings, and should be relatively easy to differentiate from the other Lepidoptera in Madeira. It resembles Anthophila fabriciana but the wings of that species are much lighter greyish brown. Male genitalia are very similar to those of Anthophila fabriciana , but they differ in having a much shorter spine on the phallus. Female genitalia are similar to those of other species of Anthophila , but they differ in only having a hint of spiralization in the basal third of the ductus bursae, unlike those of e.g. Anthophila fabriciana (L.), Anthophila abhasica Danilevsky, and Anthophila armata Danilevsky, where the spiralization is apparent. We cannot find differences between the larvae of Anthophila threnodes and Anthophila fabriciana in their general appearance (the differentiation between the two would likely be possible based on the ultrastructure as seen with the scanning electron microscope, but this has not been done).