Cameraria melhaniella Triberti & Lopez-Vaamonde, 2024

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 : 26-27

28. Cameraria melhaniella Triberti & Lopez-Vaamonde sp. nov.

( Figs 21 , 29 , 50–51 , 84 )

Holotype: 1♂, South Africa, Limpopo, Hoedspruit, Casketts , farm, mn 01/xii/2013, pup 03/xii/2013, em 12/xii/2013, Melhania acuminata , (rearing: M538), A. & I. Sharp leg., CLV7566, slide TRB4441♂.

Etymology. The name of this new species is derived from the generic name of the hostplant, Melhania , adding the suffix – ella.

Diagnosis. Forewing pattern represented by three fasciae in the basal half, two costal fasciae and one dorsal strigula in the apical half. All fasciae are edged with black scales on both sides, except for the first one, which only has some traces of dark scales on its inner margin. Cameraria melhaniae is externally very similar to C. torridella De Prins, 2012 , another species that feeds on Malvaceae ( Dombeya torrida (J.F. Gmel.) Bamps ) and has only been recorded in Kenya. The main differences between the two species are the presence of a defined basal streak and the different curvature of the fasciae. In terms of male genitalia, there are notable differences: in torridella , the valvae are shorter and broader with a rounded cucullus, the transtilla is H-shaped, the phallus is thicker and the vesica has elongated rod-like cornuti (see figs 167-169 in De Prins & Kawahara 2012). There is another species, belonging to Phyllonorycter , whose larva mines the leaves of Melhania : P. melhaniae ( Vári, 1961) , which feeds on M. velutina Forsk. The forewing pattern of this species is quite similar, but the presence of a second fascia with a gentle constriction in the middle allows for safe identification. The male genitalia of P. melhaniae are easily distinguishable due to the valva of melhania widening towards the apex and then being decidedly truncated.

Description of adult. Forewing length 2.9 mm. Head. Labial palpus straight, directed downwards, white, third segment almost completely dark on outer surface, the second only at apex. Antenna with scape and pedicel light ochreous. Thorax. Dorsum ochreous with white posterior margin. Midleg white, femur yellow ochre with a dark median patch, tibia with three patches and one on the spurs, tarsus with two dark patches, one on tarsomere I, divided in two parts by a white line, second present on the junction of tarsomeres II-III. Wings. Forewing elongate ( Figs 21 , 29 ), ground colour bright ochreous with white markings represented by three fasciae very oblique towards apex, nearly parallel to each other and edged with a blackish line on both margins, more decidedly externally, two costal and one dorsal strigulae; first fascia near base short, not reaching costa, edged only externally; second fascia at ¼ of forewing with nearly parallel margins, third fascia at middle of forewing, slightly narrowing towards costa; first costal and dorsal strigula rounded, opposite, edged with black scales; second costal strigula comma-shaped, inclined towards base, edged with dark and delimiting an area irrorated with blackish scales. Abdomen. Sternum VIII moderate, subtriangular, very pointed caudally. Male genitalia. ( Fig. 51 ) Tegumen slightly shorter than valva, apex microsetose and with a pair of lateral larger setigerous pores whose setae were probably brocken during the dissection. Valvae symmetrical, long and slender, with parallel edges, which then gently narrow in apical third until they become pointed, weakly setose but with apical sector covered by rather stiff setae. Vinculum narrow with slender saccus 1/4 of phallus, transtilla developed, thickly sclerotized. Anellus short, weakly sclerotized. Phallus slender ( Fig. 50 ), tubular, 1.2 times the valva long, phallobase about 0.4 the length of phallus, fusiform, weakly sclerotized and with a thin thickening along its entire length, bifid at the base; aedeagus long and thin, with parallel edges; vesica with two slight filiform thickenings about a quarter of aedeagus long. Female genitalia. Unknown.

Biology. Melhania acuminata ( Malvaceae ) but identification at species level to be confirmed, mine upperside ( Fig. 84 ).

Distribution. South Africa (Limpopo).

DNA barcodes. DNA barcoding failed (CLV7566, SOURE010-19).

Remarks. Unfortunately, it is impossible to examine the pre-imaginal stages in detail and can only rely on a few photos, which prevents a definite attribution to the Cameraria genus. However, the presence of two setigerous pores on the tegumen is considered significant. Based on the resemblance to the forewing pattern, it is tentatively suggested to place it in the torridella group within the Cameraria genus ( De Prins & Kawahara 2012).

Figures

FIGURES 19–24. Adults of South African Gracillariidae. 19, Leucocercops curatellifoliae, Limpopo, Hoedspruit, A. & I. Sharp leg. 20, Telamoptilia cordati, Limpopo, Hoedspruit, A. & I. Sharp leg. 21, Cameraria melhaniella sp. nov., Limpopo, Hoedspruit, A. & I. Sharp leg. 22, Phyllonorycter grewiella, Limpopo, Hoedspruit, A. & I. Sharp leg. 23, P. pseudogrewiella sp. nov., Limpopo, Hoedspruit, A. & I. Sharp leg. 24, Acrocercops loxias, Rajputana, Jodhpur (India), syntype.

FIGURES 25−30. Forewing pattern of South African Gracillariidae. 25, Leucocercops curatellifoliae sp. nov., Limpopo. 26, Phodoryctis tephrosiella sp. nov., Gauteng. 27, Telamoptilia cordati sp. nov., South Africa, Limpopo. 28, Telamoptilia sp., Madagascar. 29, Cameraria melhaniella sp. nov., Limpopo. 30, Phyllonorycter pseudogrewiella sp. nov., Limpopo.

FIGURES 47–51. Male genitalia of South African Gracillariidae. 47-49, Telamoptilia cordati sp. nov., holotype (120 μm): 47, ventral view; 48, segment VIII in ventral view; 49, phallus with bulbus ejaculatorius. 50-51, Cameraria melhaniella sp. nov., holotype (190 μm): 50, phallus (ae: aedeagus; an; anellus; be: bulbus ejaculatorius; de: ductus ejaculatorius; ma: manica; pb: phallobase); 51, ventral view.

FIGURES 84−88. Immature stages of South African Gracillariidae species. 84, Cameraria melhaniella sp. nov., larva on Melhania acuminata (Malvaceae), Limpopo, Hoedspruit, A. & I. Sharp leg. 85, Metriochroa pergulariae, mine on Pergularia daemia (Apocynaceae), Limpopo, Hoedspruit, A. & I. Sharp leg. 86, Phyllocnistis allisonae, mine on Protea rubropilosa (Proteaceae), Limpopo, Lopez Vaamonde leg. 87, Phyllocnistis magalismontani sp. nov., mine on Englerophytum magalismontanum (Sapotaceae), Limpopo, Hoedspruit, leg. A. & I. Sharp. 88, Phyllocnistis faureae, mine on Faurea saligna (Proteaceae), Gauteng, Tshwane, leg. A. Sharp.