Coptotriche forsteroniae Stonis & Diškus, 2008

Stonis, Jonas R., Diškus, Arūnas, Remeikis, Andrius & Lewis, Owen T., 2020, Exceptional diversity of Tischeriidae (Lepidoptera) from a single tropical forest site in Belize, Central America, European Journal of Taxonomy 723, pp. 33-76 : 71

Coptotriche forsteroniae Stonis & Diškus, 2008

Figs 32–34 , 135–142

Coptotriche forsteroniae Stonis & Diškus, 2008: 104–105 , fig. 5a–c.

Tischeria sp. 8 – Lewis et al. 2002: 872.

Diagnosis

External characters are not sufficient for the identification of this species. In the male genitalia, Coptotriche forsteroniae resembles C. pulverea ( Walsingham, 1897) ; however, C. forsteroniae is distinguishable from the latter and all other species of Coptotriche by the rhomboid apex of the phallus ( Fig. 138 ). The host plant, Forsteronia myriantha Donn.Sm. (Apocynaceae) , makes C. forsteroniae unique among all other Tischeriidae (the morphologically similar C. pulverea feeds on Terminalia amazonia (J.F.Gmel.) Exell (Combretaceae) .

Material examined

Holotype

BELIZE • ♂; Cayo District, San Ignacio , secondary forest; 17°09′15″ N, 89°04′04″ W; alt. 85 m; 17–18 Apr. 1998; R. Puplesis and S.R. Hill leg.; at light; genitalia slide no. 31446; NHMUK 010289325 .

Paratypes

BELIZE • 4 ♂♂; same collection data as for holotype; genitalia slide no. 31445♂; NHMUK 010289326 to 010289329 • 6 ♂♂; Cayo District, Chiquibul Forest Reserve, Las Cuevas ; 16°43′53″ N, 88°59′11″ W; alt. 550 m; 3–16 Apr. 1998; R. Puplesis and S.R. Hill leg.; at light; genitalia slide no. 010316200♂; NHMUK 010289330 to 010289335 • 4 ♂♂; same locality as for preceding; 24 Mar. 1998; O.T. Lewis leg.; mining larvae on Forsteronia myriantha Donn.Sm. (Apocynaceae); genitalia slide nos 010316199♂, 010316201♂; NHMUK 010289336 to 010289339 .

Description

The species was described and illustrated by Stonis & Diškus (2008: 104–105, fig. 5a–c). Here, on the basis of the studied material, we are the first to provide photographic documentation of the male genitalia of the species ( Figs 135–142 ).

Biology

Host plant: Forsteronia myriantha Donn.Sm. (Apocynaceae) . Larvae mine leaves in March and probably at other times of the year. The leaf mine has a blotch shape (not preserved with the reared specimens by the collector and therefore not studied in detail and undocumented). This species was listed as ‘ Tischeria sp. 8’ by Lewis et al. (2002). Of 6 living mines reared successfully, none were parasitised.

Flight period

Based on specimens collected at light, adults occur in April. Based on reared specimens, adults also occur in March.

Distribution

So far this species is known from a single locality in Belize, Chiquibul Forest Reserve, Las Cuevas, at an elevation of about 550 m.

Figures

Figs 21–34. Tischeriidae collected in Las Cuevas, Belize. 21. Paratischeria tubifex sp. nov., holotype (NHMUK 010289272). 22. Same, paratype (010289282). 23. Same, paratype (010289276). 24–25. P. belizensis sp. nov., holotype (010289283). 26–28. P. neotropicana (010289285). 29. Dishkeya gouaniae, paratype (010289320). 30. Coptotriche pulverea (010289324). 31. Same (010289322). 32–34. C. forsteroniae, paratype (010289330).

Figs 132–138. Male genitalia of Tischeriidae from Las Cuevas, Belize (NHMUK). 132. Coptotriche pulverea (Walsingham, 1897), capsule with phallus removed (genitalia slide no. 010316203). 133–134. Same, phallus. 135. C. forsteroniae Stonis & Diškus, 2008, capsule with phallus removed, paratype (genitalia slide no. 010316201). 136–138. Same, phallus.

Figs 139–142. Male genitalia of Coptotriche forsteroniae Stonis & Diškus, 2008, paratype (genitalia slide no. 010316200, NHMUK). 139–140. General view. 141. Socii, uncus and tegumen. 142. Transtilla.