Conopomorpha flueggella Li

Hu, Bingbing, Wang, Shuxia, Zhang, Jing & Li, Houhun, 2011, Taxonomy and biology of two seed-parasitic gracillariid moths (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae), with description of a new species, ZooKeys 83, pp. 43-56 : 45-49

Conopomorpha flueggella Li sp. n. Figs 5-101113

Type material.

Holotype ♂ - China, [1] Tianjin: Baxian Mountain [40°11'03"N, 117°32'55"E], | Ji County, 600 m, 23.VII.2009, | Bingbing Hu reared [from fruit of Flueggea suffruticosa (Pall.) Baill.]. [2] Conopomorpha | flueggella | Li, sp. nov.Holotype ♂. Paratypes - 82 ♂♂, 172 ♀♀, same data as for holotype except date and altitude: 19-24.VIII.2007, 10.V.-26.VII.2008, 16.V.-30.VIII.2009, 290-600 m; 1 ♂, Limutai (40°11'17"N, 117°33'23"E), Ji County, 360 m, 24.VI.2009, coll. Bingbing Hu.

Diagnosis.

This species is similar to Conopomorpha litchiella , but distinguishable by the uniformly greyish brown to dark brown forewing with three pairs of stripes (more conspicuous when moths alive); the valva without protuberance on ventral margin distally and the saccus long linguiform in the male genitalia; the corpus bursae shorter than twice the length of the ductus bursae in the female genitalia; and the larva red-coloured. In Conopomorpha litchiella , the forewing is whitish yellow in distal portion; the valva has one large and one small protuberance on ventral margin distally, and the saccus is very short and small; the corpus bursae is twice as long as the ductus bursae; and the larva is yellowish green.

Description.

Adult (Figs 5-6). Wing expanse 8.0-15.5 mm. Head grey to greyish brown, frons greyish white. Compound eye dark brown. Labial palpus white, second segment with outer surface and distal tuft of ventral surface fuscous, third segment porrect or obliquely upward. Maxillary palpus greyish brown to dark brown. Antenna with scape greyish brown, flagellum brown to dark brown ringed with greyish white basally. Thorax and tegula dark brown. Forewing narrow, costal and dorsal margins nearly parallel; ground color greyish brown to dark brown; costal and dorsal margins with three oblique greyish white stripes respectively, first costal stripe from near middle extending obliquely to end of cell; dorsal margin with black speck at basal 1/3; bluish grey fascia with metallic reflection extending from near costal 5/6 to dorsum and along termen, respectively, between them set a large black spot; cilia pale greyish brown except fuscous apically. Hindwing and cilia greyish brown. Fore and mid legs brown; hind leg greyish white, distal half of tibia dark fuscous on outer surface. Abdomen grey, with first two segments shining white; ventral surface with five pairs of dark brown stripes along lateral sides.

Male genitalia (Fig. 11). Tegumen narrowed gradually to rounded caudal margin, with lateral side straight. Tuba analis indistinct. Valva broad, slightly longer than tegumen; costa nearly straight, basal half slightly sinuate, apex rounded; ventral margin of valva roundly protruded medially, densely with fine hairs; sacculus narrow and short, about 1/4 length of valva. Vinculum broad and short, nearly quadrate. Saccus long linguiform, about half length of tegumen, rounded at apex. Phallus tubular, nearly straight, as long as valva, medially with dense small spines inside.

Female genitalia (Fig. 13). Papillae anales short and small, sparsely with setae. Apophysis anterioris thicker than and 1.6 × as long as apophysis posterioris. Antrum long funnel-shaped. Ductus bursae longer than apophysis anterioris, membranous except posterior 1/3 sclerotized and narrowed, medially expanded slightly and with longitudinal carinae. Corpus bursae membranous, prolonged pyriform, about 1.5 × as long as ductus bursae, with one side concave; signum large, rounded, situated at middle, covered with spines.

Egg. Flat, elliptic, 0.3 mm in length and 0.2 mm in width. Transparent membrane in surface, irregular meshy stripe on egg shell. Milky white, semitransparent; straw yellow when close to hatch.

Larva (Fig. 7). Young instar larva flat, yellowish white, semitransparent, segments distinct, with sparse setae, anterior end wider than posterior. Head capsule semicircular, brown; mandible strong, protruded like pincers. Mature larva 5.5-7.0 mm; head deep brown, anterior 1/2-2/3 of each segment on thorax and abdomen red, posterior 1/3-1/2 white. Body with sparse setae. Three pairs abdominal legs on segment 3, 4 and 5 respectively; anal leg protruded backward.

Pupa (Fig. 8). 4.0-6.0 mm, fusiform. Greenish yellow in early pupal stage, changing gradually to yellowish brown, blackish brown before eclosion. A corniform cocoon breaker on forehead. Forelegs to third abdominal segment, midlegs to fourth abdominal segment, hindlegs to seventh or eighth abdominal segment, wings to fifth abdominal segment, antenna to or slightly exceeding end of abdomen.

Cocoon (Fig. 9). 7.0-9.0 mm, white, flat elliptic, with some white grains attached on surface.

Host plant.

Euphorbiaceae : Flueggea suffruticosa (Pall.) Baill.

Life history.

Conopomorpha flueggella has two generations annually in Tianjin, China (Table 1). The larvae feed on the seeds of Flueggea suffruticosa (Fig. 10). Mature larvae quit the fruits before they are ripe and pupate on leaves or leaf litter. The pupal stage lasts from 9 to 12 days. Adults of the second generation hibernate. Adults occur from May to the first ten days of June, and from the last ten days of June to the first ten days of August. Adults can emerge during the whole day, but the peak occurs in the morning. The mating occurs usually in the morning. At night, the moths are actively drinking nectar and ovipositing. Adults come sometimes at light. A parasitic Ichneumonid species was reared from pupae collected on leaves of Flueggea suffruticosa in the field.

Distribution.

China (Tianjin).

Etymology.

The species name is derived from the larval host plant, Flueggea .