Eucalantica polita (Walsingham, 1881)

Sohn, Jae-Cheon & Nishida, Kenji, 2011, A taxonomic review of Eucalantica Busck (Lepidoptera, Yponomeutidae) with descriptions of six new species, ZooKeys 118, pp. 75-96 : 79-81

Eucalantica polita (Walsingham, 1881) Figs 1 –27–917– 1831

Calantica polita Walsingham, 1881: 302, pl. 35: 2.

Eucalantica polita ; Busck, 1904: 750.

Types examined.

Lectotype ♂ (here designated; Fig. 7) - USA: "Lectotype [on a round paper with cobalt blue border]", "Lake Co./ CALIFORNIA/ 17-19 1871/ Wlsm. [on a rectangular paper]", "Walsingham/ Collection/ 1910-427 [on a rectangular paper]", "Calantica/ polita Wlsm/ P.Z.S.Lond.p.302.tf.35'2 1881/ TYPE ♂ [on a rectangular paper with black margins]", BMNH. Paralectotypes 2♂ - USA: "Calantica polita Wl. Cala. [California], Pr.Z.S.1881.p302/ pl.35.f.2 [handwriting on a rectangular paper]", "Type 14992 [in a red rectangular paper]", "Wlsm. To Chamb. [handwriting on single line paper]", MCZ. Walsingham (1881) did not state the exact type locality and the number of specimens for his description of Calantica polita . A male specimen from BMNH has a red-bordered round label written "Type". Two type specimens of Calantica polita from MCZ are duplicates by Walsingham which were sent to Chambers ( Miller and Hodges 1990). Therefore, all three specimens from BMNH and MCZ which hold "Type" label must be syntypes as Miller and Hodges (1990) already indicated. We formally designate a lectotype of Calantica polita amongst these specimens.

Specimens examined.

CANADA: 2♂, British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, 3 August 1902 (USNM); 1♂, British Columbia, Vancouver Isl., Wellington, 14 April 1902 (USNM); 3♂, ditto, February 1905, GW Taylor (USNM); 1♂, ditto, 27 April 1904, T Bryant (USNM); 1M, ditto, October 1905, GW Taylor (USNM); 3♂, ditto, November 1905, GW Taylor (USNM); 3♂, ditto, no date, GW Taylor (USNM); 1♂, British Columbia, Vancouver Is., Duncans, 12 April 1892, Hanham (USNM); 1♂, ditto, June 1908, Hanham (USNM); 1♂, ditto, 5 October 1908, Hanham (USNM); 1♂, ditto, April 1909, Hanham (USNM); 1ex, ditto, no date, Hanham (USNM); 1♂1♀, British Columbia, Departure Bay, Bio Station, April 1909 (USNM); 1♂, British Columbia, Goldstream, 18 April 1921, EH Blackmore (USNM). USA: 1♂, Washington, Goldbar, 25 September 1983, DF Bray (USNM); 1♂, Washington, Long Beach, Clarke's Nursery, 24 July 1965, EP Breakey, "reared from Vaccinium ovatum ", GSN [USNM-77947] (USNM); 1♂, Washington, Long Beach, 10 December 1964, EP Breakey & EG Tinius, "from larva boring rhododendron twig, emerged on 31 December 1964" (USNM); 2♂2♀, Washington, Tacoma, 20 May 1928, M Clarke (USNM); 1♂, Washington, Lake Crescent, June 1971, EC Zimmerman (USNM); 1ex, Washington, Tiago, 17 June 1918, HK Plank, "on huckberry [sic]/ winter" (USNM); 1♂, Washington, Seattle, 27 May 1901, GSN [USNM-91608] (USNM); 1♂, ditto, 12 October 1923, JFG Clarke (USNM); 1♂, ditto, 20 April 1931, WMW Baker, "leaf miner in rhododendron" (USNM); 1♂, Washington, Olympic Mts., 12 April 1892 (USNM); 6♂, Washington, Olympic Mts., Barnes Creek, 5-6 August 1936, AF Braun (USNM); 1♂, Washington, Olympic Mts., Hurricane Ridge, alt. 3000ft, 15 June 1955, JFG Clarke (USNM); 2♂, Washington, Harstine Island, 24 July 1960, EP Breakey, "from larvae (leaftiers) feeding in tips of huckleberry" (USNM); 1♀, Washington, Hoquiam, Burke Colr., 6 May 1904, Fivino (USNM); 3♂1♀, Washington, San Juan Co., Deer Harbor, Orcas Island, 14 July 2002, J Powell (EMEC); 1♂, Washington, Kitsap Co., Bainbridge Island, Venice District, 3-4 April 2001, J Powell (EMEC). 3♂1♀, Oregon, NW corner Douglas Co., Lake Tahkenitch, 26 August 1969, J Powell (EMEC); 1♂, ditto, [no date & collector info] (EMEC); 1♀, Oregon, Coos Co., Bullards Beach, 2 mi N from Bandon, 24-25 August 1969, J Powell (EMEC).1♂♀, California, San Francisco, Big Basin, 18 June 1971, E Jäckh (USNM); 1♂, California, Del Norte Co., Redwoods, 23 August 1936, AF Braun (USNM); 1♂, California, Humboldt Co., Fieldbrook, 18 May 1903, HS Barber (USNM); 1♂, ditto, 26 May 1903, HS Barber (USNM); 1♂, California, Humboldt Co., 4 mi S from Fieldbrook, 29 June 1969, J Powell (EMEC); 11♂16♀, California, Humboldt Co., 11 mi NE from Blue Lake, Redwood Summit, 9 May 1961, J Powell (EMEC); 1♂, California, Monterey Co., Big Creek Reserve, 8-9 June 2001, J Powell (EMEC); 1♀, ditto, 21-22 July 1992, B Scaccia & R Zuniga (EMEC); 12♂28♀, California, Monterey Co., Big Creek Reserve, Devils Cr. Flat, alt. 120m, Redwood riparian, 23-25 April 1987, J Powell, "JAP no. 87D29: emerged in 16-21 May 1987, reared from Vaccinium ovatum " (EMEC); 6♂, California, Humboldt Co., Kneeland, 69 Prairie Lane, 12-14 March 2001, RS Wielgus, GSN [USNM96387] (USNM); 14♂11F, ditto, 18-20 March 2001, RS Wielgus (EMEC); 1♂, California, Humboldt Co., Arcata, 24 June 1969, J Powell (EMEC); 1♂, ditto, 28 June 1969, J Powell (EMEC); 1♀, California, Humboldt Co., Richardson Grove St. Park, 18 June 1962, CA Toschi (EMEC); 1♂, California, Marin Co., Inverness Ridge, 15 May 1970, J Powell (USNM); 3♂, ditto, alt. 100m, 21-24 May 1995, JA Powell (EMEC); 1♂2♀, ditto, alt. 40-250m, 20 October 1999, JA Powell (EMEC); 1♀, ditto, alt. 270m, 19 September 1998, JA Powell (EMEC); 1♂, ditto, alt. 250-300m, 19-20 May 1998, JA Powell (EMEC); 1♂, California, Marin Co., Inverness Park, alt. 150m, 26-30 September 1999, J Powell (EMEC); 1♂, ditto, 8-14 October 1999, J Powell (EMEC); 1♂1♀, ditto, 15-22 October 1999, J Powell (EMEC); 1♂, ditto, alt. 175m, 13-19 2003, J Powell (EMEC); 1♂, ditto, 20-26 October 2003, J Powell (EMEC); 2♂, California, Marin Co., 2mi SE Inverness Ridge, alt. 700-1100ft, 15-16 May 1970, RE Dietz (EMEC); 1♀, California, Marin Co., Mt. Vision, Inverness Ridge, 24 April 1982, JA Powell, "JAP no. 82D46: reared from Vaccinium ovatum " (EMEC);1♀, California, Marin Co., Palomarin, 7-8 May 1990, P Super (EMEC); 1♂2♀, California, Marin Co., Alpine Lake, alt. 250-350m, 11 April 1992, J Powell, "JAP no. 92D39.1: emerged on 8 May 1992, reared from Vaccinium ovatum " (EMEC); 3♂1♀, California, Tomales Bay, Marin Co., 21 January 1959, J Powell (EMEC); 1♂, ditto, 17 February 1961, J Powell (EMEC); 14♂10♀, California, San Mateo Co., San Bruno Mt., 13 April 1981, JA DeBenedictis, "JADeB no. 81103-A: emerged in 6-12 May 1981, reared from Vaccinium ovatum " (EMEC); 1♂, ditto, 16 May 1984, JB Whitfield & JA DeBenedictis, "JBW no. 84E31: emerged between 25 May & 4 June 1984, reared from Vaccinium ovatum " (EMEC); 1♂1♀, California, San Mateo Co., San Bruno Mt., Radio Tower Road, 16 May 1984, JA Powell, "JAP no. 84E31: emerged on 4 June 1984, reared from Vaccinium ovatum " (EMEC); 1♀, California, Sonoma Co., 10-25 May, AH Vachell (USNM); 1♂1♀, California, Sonoma Co., Salt Point St. Park, 20 July 1990, RJ Robertson (EMEC); 4♂5♀, California, Mendocino Co., 2 mi S from Rockport, 1 February 1962, J Powell (EMEC); 1♂1♀, California, Mendocino Co., 5 mi NW from Comptche, Pygmy Forest, 10 April 1981, JA DeBenedictis, "JADeB no. 8100-A: emerged on 29 April & 4 May 1981, reared from Vaccinium ovatum " (EMEC); 4♂, California, Del Norte Co., 8 mi N from Klamath, Damnation Cr., 20 July 1969, DP Levin (EMEC); 1♂, California, Santa Barbara Co., Santa Cruz Is., Ridge N of Laguna Canyon, 28 April 1966 (EMEC); 1♀, California, Santa Barbara Co., Santa Cruz Is., Canada de la Cuesta, 15 March 1969, J Powell, "JAP no. 69C39: emerged on 4 April 1969, reared from Vaccinium ovatum " (EMEC); 1♀, California, Santa Barbara Co., Santa Cruz Is., Felton, 20-21 July 1991, J Powell (EMEC); 1♂, [no specific locality], 1882, Walsingham, GSN [USNM-91607] (USNM); 1♂, ditto, [no date], Fernald (USNM).

Diagnosis.

This species externally resembles Euceratia castella Walsingham, 1881, among the described species of North America, but is easily distinguished from the latter in having a dorsal patch on forewings and by in lacking white annulations on the antennae.

Redescription.

(Figs 7-9). Forewing length 5.5-8mm (mean=7.19mm, n=58); basal 1/4 of costa dark brown; an oblique, bar-like, reddish brown patch on distal 1/3 of posterior margin, surrounded by black speckles; posterior suffusion reddish brown, as long as dorsal patch; posterior suffusion and/or dorsal patch lost and black specks peppering, depending on the individuals; a black spot at the end of discal cell; a black scale on each vein along termen; fringes white on basal half, grayish brown on distal half, or entirely white in some specimens. Hindwing anterior margin 2 × longer than maximum width; fringe pale gray on basal half, white on distal half.

Male genitalia.

(Figs 17, 18) (6 preparations examined). Uncus (Fig. 17a) linguiform, convex posteriorly, with a pair of short, digitate tubercle posterolaterally; socii digitate, as long as saccus, with a row of 4 or 5 short ventral spines terminally, gradually smaller from basal to terminal spine (Fig. 17b). Tegumen parallel-sided; subscaphium (Fig. 17d) strongly bulged ventrad. Valva obovate, saccular margin evenly rounded, 2 × longer than tegumen; costa curved at 1/4, narrowly sclerotized in basal 1/4; a small triangular mound above basal 2/5 of saccular margin (Fig. 17c). Saccus slender, as long as socius. Aedeagus (Fig. 18) slender, 3 × length of saccus, weakly sinuate; cornutus absent.

Female genitalia.

(Fig. 31) (5 preparations examined). S8 sclerotized, with a shallow bulge posterior to S8 humps; minute thorns on the bulge; semicircular depression anteriolaterally (Fig. 31b). Apophysis posterioris 2 × longer than papillae anales, 2.5 × longer than apophysis anteroris excluding basal Y-fork; longer branch of the Y-fork 1.2 × longer than shorter branch or apophysis anterioris. Minute thorns on area between S8 humps and ostium bursae. Ductus bursae as long as apophysis posterioris; antrum in posterior 1/5 of ductus bursae, digitate, broadened at ostium, with minute thorns on internal wall (Fig. 31a); bulla seminalis as large as corpus bursae. Corpus bursae ovoid; signum absent.

Distribution

(Fig. 15). Pacific side coastal regions of Canada (British Columbia) and United States (Washington, Oregon, California).

Host plant.

The larvae feed on flowers and leaves of California Huckleberry, Vaccinium ovatum Pursh( Ericaceae ) (Powell & Opler, 2009). In the USNM collection, there exist two specimens of Eucalantica polita reared from "rhododendron", possibly Rhododendron pacificum . These records, however, need to be confirmed. The host record "huckberry" from USNM must be an error for "huckleberry". The label data available from museum specimens indicate that the larvae are twig-borers, leaf-miners or leaf-tiers. The larvae of Eucalantica polita are primarily external feeders which web amongst inflorescences or young vegetative terminals of Vaccinium ovatum (Jerry Powell, personal communication). All records of the internal feeding larvae of Eucalantica polita are associated with "rhododendron", a host which is yet unverified.

Remarks.

Eucalantica polita shows continuous variations in forewing patterns between two extremes which are very reduced (Fig. 8) or maculate throughout (Fig. 9). Those var iants coexist temporally and spatially, for which no taxonomic consideration is necessary. However, some of the variants can be confused with the new species described in this study. Walsingham (1881) illustrated an individual of Eucalantica polita whose forewings have only a dorsal patch and discal spot (Fig. 7). We found that this variant is predominant (ca. 87%) amongst the specimens examined in our study. The maculate variants were the rarest (ca. 0.7%).