Leucocercops dasmophora ( Meyrick, 1908 )

Triberti, Paolo, Staude, Hermann, Sharp, Ian & Lopez-Vaamonde, Carlos, 2024, Exploring the diversity of Gracillariidae (Lepidoptera) in South Africa: host plants, distribution, and DNA barcoding analysis, with the description of nine new species, Zootaxa 5529 (1), pp. 1-51 : 19-20

22. Leucocercops dasmophora ( Meyrick, 1908)

( Figs 17 , 75 )

Acrocercops dasmophora Meyrick, 1908: 735 .

Leucocercops dasmophora Vári, 1961: 170

Material. 1♀, South Africa, Gauteng, Tshwane , 25°35’13.2”S, 28°25’44.4”E, 1270 m, mn 25/xi/2018, em 02/ xii/2018, Parinari capensis , (rearing: AM271), A. Sharp leg., CLV8186, slide TRB4344 ♀ ( Fig. 17 ).

Additional material. 1 adult, South Africa, Gauteng, Magaliesburg, Golden valley , P. Hebert & J. deWaard leg., Malaise trap, 18/ii/2012, BIOUG02090 -G04.

Biology. In the original description, the biology of this species was unknown. Subsequently DePrins & DePrins (2023) reported as hostplant Parinari capensis Harv. ( Chrysobalanaceae ) claiming to have obtained this foodplant from Vári’s notebooks ( Fig. 75 ).

Distribution. South Africa (Gauteng).

DNA barcodes. Two barcodes forming a unique BIN (BOLD: ABW0940) 9.78 % divergent to a new South African Leucocercops species we describe here after.

Remarks. Forewing pattern and female genitalia fit perfectly with Vári’s description. For the differences with the new species see below.

Figures

FIGURES 13–18. Adults of South African Gracillariidae. 13, Cryptolectica capnodecta, Limpopo, Hoedspruit, A. & I. Sharp leg. 14, C. terminalina, Limpopo, Hoedspruit,A. & I. Sharp leg. 15, Dialectica pyramidota, Limpopo, Hoedspruit,A. & I. Sharp leg. 16, Amblyptila cynanchi, Western Cape, Knysna, S. Mecenero leg. 17, Leucocercops dasmophora, Gauteng, Tshwane, A. & I. Sharp leg. 18, L. curatellifoliae sp. nov. Limpopo, Hoedspruit, A. & I. Sharp leg.

FIGURES 73–77. Immature stages of SouthAfrican Gracillariidae. 73, Amblyptila cynanchi, mines on Cynanchum obtusifolium (Asclepiadaceae), Western Cape, S. Mecenero leg. 74, Telamoptilia cordati sp. nov., mine on Syzygium cordatum (Myrtaceae), Limpopo Hoedspruit,A.&I. Sharp leg.75, Leucocercopsdasmophora, mine on Parinari capensis, (Chrysobalanaceae), Gauteng, Tshwane, A. Sharp leg. 76, Telamoptilia cordati sp. nov., larva on Syzygium cordatum (Myrtaceae), Limpopo Hoedspruit, A. & I. Sharp leg. 77, Leucocercops curatellifoliae sp. nov., larva on Parinari curatellifolia, Limpopo, Hoedspruit, A. & I. Sharp leg.