Stigmella jaguari Remeikis & Stonis

Stonis, Jonas R., Diškus, Arūnas, Remeikis, Andrius & Schuster, Jack, 2013, First discovery of Quercus feeding Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera) in Central America, Zootaxa 3737 (1), pp. 1-23 : 6

Stigmella jaguari Remeikis & Stonis , sp.nov.

( Figs 2 , 13–17 , 31, 35 –37,55–59)

Type material. Holotype: ♂, Guatemala, Quetzaltenango, 14°47'27"N, 91°32'09"W, mining larvae on Quercus sp., 2500 m, 08.ii.2012, field card no. 5119, LT-GT Scientific Expedition, genitalia slide no. RA491 (ZMUC). Paratype: 1♂, label data as holotype, genitalia slide no. RA489 (ZMUC).

Diagnosis. In male genitalia the new species differs from all other species of the saginella group except Stigmella lauta sp. nov. by the long vinculum and rounded juxta. From related S. lauta sp. nov. it differs by the short cornuti, bulged valva, and tiny sublateral processes of transtilla ( S. lauta posseses long cornuti, stright valva, and large sublateral processes of transtilla).

Male ( Figs 35–37 ). Forewing length 2.2–2.5 mm; wingspan 4.8–5.4 mm. Head: palpi cream; frontal tuft black; collar and scape large, yellowish cream; antenna with 27–29 segments, slightly shorter than half of forewing; flagellum pale grey to dark grey upper side, grey to cream-grey on underside. Thorax, tegulae and forewings yellow-cream or grey-cream densely but irregularly speckled (irrorated with black scales, no distinct forewing pattern); cilia grey (including forewing apex); underside of forewing black-grey, with cream spot on apex. Hindwings and cilia grey. Legs fuscous on upper side, cream on underside. Abdomen fuscous on upper side, greycream on underside, anal plates and tufts cream.

Female. Unknown.

Male genitalia ( Figs 55–59 ). Capsule longer (250 m) than wide (175 µm). Vinculum without lateral lobes; ventral plate large. Uncus with short, distally chitinized lateral lobes ( Figs 55, 57 ). Gnathos with slender transverse bar and two caudal processes ( Fig. 57 ). Valva ( Figs 55, 57 ) 120 µm long, bulged medially, with pointed apical process; transtilla with short pointed sublateral processes. Juxta rounded caudally ( Fig. 55 ). Aedeagus ( Figs 58, 59 )175–195 µm long, 60–70 µm broad; vesica with 7–8 large spine like cornuti and some minute cornuti.

Bionomics. Mines in leaves ( Figs 13–15 ). Host-plants: Quercus crispipilis Trel. (section Lobatae) ( Figs 16 , 11 ). Egg on upper side of the leaf. Larvae mine in February. Sinuous gallery of mine filled with blackish frass ( Figs 13, 14 ). Larva deep green, with dark green or brown-green intestine. Larval exit slit on upper side of the leaf. Cocoon ( Fig. 31 ) whitish; length 2.3 mm, maximal width 1 mm. Adults emerged in March.

Distribution ( Fig. 2 ). Known only from Guatemala in montane mixed forests at elevation 2500 m) ( Figs 3 , 17 ).

Etymology. This species is named after the jaguar, a sacred animal of the Maya people, in reference to the yellow-cream forewing of S. jaguari irregularly speckled with black scales.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 6. Major collecting localities and distribution of the species discovered in Guatemala. 1, distribution of Stigmella nigriverticella (Chambers); 2, distribution of the new Stigmella species; 3, Quetzaltenango, 14 ° 47 ' 27 " N, 91 ° 32 ' 09 " W, montane mixed forests at elevation 2500 m; 4, same, moist broadleaf tropical forest at elevation 2000 m; 5, Santa Cruz del Quiché, 15 ° 01 ' 22 '' N, 91 ° 10 ' 17 '' W, elevation ca 2020 m; 6, Panajachel, 14 ° 45 ' 06 '' N, 91 ° 09 ' 43 '' W, elevation ca. 1660 m (Maps – courtesy of T. Patterson, USA).

FIGURES 13 – 17. Bionomics of Stigmella jaguari Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov. 13 – 15, leaf-mines (a—old mine, b — with feeding larva); 16, host-plant Quercus crispipilis Trel; 17, habitat, montane mixed forest at elevation 2500 m.

FIGURES 30 – 37. Details of Stigmella species discovered in Guatemala. 30, cocoon of S. nigriverticella (Chambers); 31, cocoon of S. jaguari Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov.; 32, 33, adults of S. nigriverticella (Chambers); 34, same, underside of forewing with the elongated yellow-cream spot; 35 – 37, forewing of S. jaguari Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov. Scale 1 mm.

FIGURES 55 – 59. Male genitalia of Stigmella jaguari Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov.; 55, general view, genitalia slide no. RA 491. Scale 100 µm; 56, more dorsal view, genitalia slide no. RA 491. Scale 100 µm; 57, uncus and gnathos, genitalia slide no. RA 491. Scale 75 µm; 58, aedeagus, genitalia slide no. RA 489. Scale 75 µm; 59, same, genitalia slide no. RA 491. Scale 75 µm.

FIGURES 7 – 12. Bionomics of Stigmella nigriverticella (Chambers). 7 – 9, leaf-mines; 10, major host-plant Quercus crassifolia Humb. & Bonpl.; 11, other host-plant Q. crispipilis Trel; 12, habitat, montane mixed forest at elevation 2500 m.