Phyllocnistis jupiter Brito & Moreira, 2017

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 : 313-314

Phyllocnistis jupiter Brito & Moreira , sp. nov.

Figs. 3I , 4I , 5 , 6B, S 1; Tab. 2

Type material. Brazil: Planaltina, Federal District, Brasília , 15º35’ S, 47º42’ W, 1000 m elevation. All preserved dried and pinned. V.O. Becker leg., 3.IV.1984 (228–57); 3.V.1984 (228–56); 10.V.1984 (228–55). HOLOTYPE: #m ( LMCI 228–57 ), with genitalia on slide ( GRPM 50–133 ), deposited at VOB (56.315). PARATYPES: 2#m ( LMCI 228–55 and 56), with genitalia on slide ( GRPM 50–134 and 135, respectively), deposited at VOB (56.370 and 56.370, respectively).

Diagnosis. Dorsal forewing: lf slightly convex, located entirely close to costal margin, and weakly connected to tf1. The latter is v-shaped, crossing the wing entirely. tf2 short and disconnected from other fasciae. The species presents slight similarities in particular to P. norak and P. kawakitai , being differentiated from them by the tf1, which completely crosses the forewing in P. jupiter , contrary to those two species.

Description ( Figs. 3I, S 1; Tab. 2). Forewing length 2.27 mm (n=3). Head: covered with silver scales. Antenna long, filiform and dark gray, longer than wings. Labial palpus ~ 0.25 mm length, with light brown scales. Thorax: forewing with ground color grayish. lf slightly convex, formed by yellowish scales and dark brown borders; emerging from the proximal region of the wing at the costal margin and running towards the central region, where it is weakly connected to tf1 (region II). The latter dark brown, v-shaped, entirely crossing the wing. tf2 short, almost restricted to costal margin, with the same coloration as tf1. Orange brown blotch at the distal region of the wing, formed by fusion of tf3 and tf4; on its center there is a small black blotch. Small stripe of grayish scales precedes as. Costal strigulae (a–c) emerge from tf2 and from blotch formed by tf3 + tf4, respectively. Apical strigulae (d–g) emerging from as. Hindwings reduced, formed by light gray scales, with long fringes. Abdomen: covered with grayish scales.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 6B ): pair of lateral coremata formed by long scales, each located laterally between membranes of VIII–IX abdominal segments, ~1/ 2 x the length of valva. Uncus absent. Tegumen membranous; thin setae of median size from the base to the central region of the tegumen; apex slightly rounded, longer than valva. Saccus rounded and u-shaped, ~0.6 x the length of valva. Valva digitiform, with a few medium sized setae randomly arranged along the distal portion of valva; in addition to these setae another group of setae next to the valva base, facing towards the tegumen. Aedeagus cylindrical, widened and robust; membranous and wrinkled at the base; longer than valva; cornutus absent.

Female genitalia: unknown.

Geographical distribution ( Fig. 5 ). This species shares the type locality with P. helios , they are known from Planaltina , Federal District (Brasília), Brazil.

Natural history. Specimens used for description were collected during the daytime using a butterfly net (V.O.B.).

Host plant(s). Unknown.

Etymology. The specific name jupiter reflects the ground color and bands on forewing as reminiscent of the planet. This name also means 'the God of sky', in Greek mythology.

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.

FIGURE 6. Genital morphology of the new species of Phyllocnistis. (A) P. helios; (B) P. jupiter; (C) P. ohshimai; (D, E, I) P. xylopiella; (G, J) P. norak; (F, K) P. kawakitai; (H) P. petronellii. (A – D) male genitalia, ventral view; (E – H) female genitalia, lateral; (I – K) detail of female signa. Scale bars: 50 (A – D), 100 (E – H), 50 µm (I – K).