Epicephala vitisidaea Li, Wang & Zhang, 2012

Kawakita, Atsushi & Kato, Makoto, 2016, Revision of the Japanese species of Epicephala Meyrick with descriptions of seven new species (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae), ZooKeys 568, pp. 87-118 : 102

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Gracillariidae

Epicephala vitisidaea Li, Wang & Zhang, 2012 Figs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Epicephala sp. ex Breynia vitis-idaea ( Kawakita and Kato 2009); Epicephala sp. 10 ( Breynia ) ( Kawakita et al. 2010).

Diagnosis.

Lamella antevaginalis of this species forms a sclerotized complete circle around ostium, a character that cannot be found in any other species of Epicephala . Cornuti of short thick spines occurring dorsally and ventrally on distal portion of aedeagus are also distinctive of this species.

Description.

Description as in Zhang et al. (2012a), except the following.

Head: Female proboscis with a large number of trichoid sensilla; sensilla 1.5 × as long as width of proboscis, denser toward base.

Male genitalia: Cornuti on aedeagus occurring dorsally and ventrally; dorsal cornuti consisting of 4-6 short spines, shorter than 0.7 × width of aedeagus; ventral cornuti a pair of thick and long spines, longer than width of aedeagus.

Material examined.

50♂, 31♀. JAPAN: Kagoshima Prefecture: Amami Island, Setsuko, 29.ix.2002, 9♂, 1♀; Amami Island, Akakina, 15.v.2003, 5♂, 5♀; Amami Island, Kasari, 18.v.2015, 3♂; Tokuno Island, Amagi, 2.xi.2004, 1♂, 1♀; Okinoerabu Island, Uchijiro, 4.xi.2004, 1♂; Okinawa Prefecture: Okinawa Island, Oura, 9.ix.2002, 2♂, 3♀; Okinawa Island, Yona, 15.vi.2015, 1♂, 6♀; Miyako Island, Mt. Nobaru, 24.ix.2004, 18♂, 6♀; Irabu Island, Makiyama, 23.ix.2004, 1♂, 1♀; Ishigaki Island, Mt. Banna, 15.x.2002, 3♂, 1♀; Iriomote Island, 13.x.2002, 6♂, 7♀.

DNA barcodes.

FJ235380.

Known host and adult behavior.

Known only from Breynia vitis-idaea . The adult is the pollinator of the host plant ( Kawakita and Kato 2004b). Eggs are placed in the interspace between the tepal and ovary (Fig. 8H), so the ovipositor does not penetrate floral tissue. Larva feeds on seeds.

Distribution.

In Japan occurs widely in the Ryukyu Archipelago (Fig. 9E). Known also from China ( Zhang et al. 2012a).