Epicephala relictella Kuznetzov, 1979

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 : 49-52

Epicephala relictella Kuznetzov, 1979 Figs 121415-20

Epicephala relictella Kuznetzov 1979: 854; Kuznetzov 1981: 179; De Prins and De Prins 2005: 181; Kawahara et al. 2010: 132.

Material examined.

Russia: Holotype ♂, - Southern Maritime Territory, Gornotayezhnaya Station, 12.VII.1978, coll. V. I. Kuznetzov [in Russian]. Paratypes - 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, same data as for holotype but dated 3.VII.1978. China, Tianjin: 20 ♂♂, 9 ♀♀, Mt. Jiulong, Ji County, 130-200 m, 9-28. VI.2004; Limutai, Ji County, 300 m, 11.VI.2004, coll. Houhun Li et al., 6 ♂♂, 1 ♀, 24.VI.2009, coll. Bingbing Hu; 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, Baxian Mountain, Ji County, 550 m, 15.VII.2007, coll. Mingfeng Cao & Bingbing Hu; 74 ♂♂, 60 ♀♀, 290-480 m, 8.V.-1.VII.2008, 19.V.-30.VIII.2009, coll. Bingbing Hu; Hebei Province: 1 ♂, Shangsi, Xiaowutai, Wei County, 1200 m, 25.VII.2000, coll. Yanli Du & Zhendong Li; Heilongjiang Province: 1 ♀, Haerbin, 150 m, 22.VII.1997, coll. Houhun Li; Gansu Province: 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, Bifenggou, Wenxian, 860 m, 10-12.VII.2005, coll. Haili Yu.

Redescription.

Adult (Figs 15-16). Wing expanse 9.0-13.0 mm. Head white, tufted. Labial palpus white except outer surface grey. Antenna with scape pale grey dorsally, white ventrally; flagellum dark brown dorsally, copper-colored ventrally. Thorax white. Tegula and forewing greyish brown; white stripes at costal 2/5, 3/5, 4/5 and near apex as well as at dorsal 2/5 and 3/5 respectively, concentrated obliquely outward to 2/3 length and outside of cell, outmost one shortest, between first three stripes sometimes with short white strigulae; thin bluish white fascia with metallic reflection extending from costal 5/6 to dorsum; large black spot near apex; dorsal margin white tinged with ocherous yellow, longitudinally forming a broad band; termen dark brown; cilia white except fuscous distally from costal 5/6 along termen to before tornus, greyish brown along dorsal margin. Hindwing and cilia greyish brown. Fore and mid legs brown, hind leg greyish white, tibiae and tarsi with white rings. Abdomen greying brown on dorsal surface except first two segments grey; vental surface grey, with five pairs of oblique dark brown stripes along lateral sides.

Male genitalia (Fig. 12). Tegumen broadly elliptic, caudal margin rounded. Tuba analis broad, distinct. Valva narrow, slightly longer than tegumen, expanded subapically, rounded at apex; costa sclerotized, gently concave; ventral margin nearly straight except basal 1/4 oblique, with dense fine hairs. Sacculus sclerotized, separated from valva, elongate lanceolate, about 4/5 length of valva; dosal margin gently arched, ventral margin slightly concave medially; distal portion longitudinally with sclerotized carina, apex spiculate. Vinculum broad, rounded anteriorly. Saccus slender, tapering, about 1/3 length of tegumen. Phallus tubular, straight, as long as valva, apex truncate; cornuti composed of dense small spines, compacted into one to three bundles.

Female genitalia (Fig. 14). Ovipositor sclerotized to a strong spine, extensible. Apophysis very strong, apophysis posterioris slightly longer than apophysis anterioris. Lamella antevaginalis nearly trapezoid, caudal margin concave medially. Antrum strongly sclerotized, about half length of apophysis anterioris, oblique anteriorly. Ductus bursae thick and short, weakly sclerotized, slightly longer than antrum, expanded with irregular sclerotized carinae posteriorly, narrowed gradually towards corpus bursae, with sclerotized longitudinal pleats. Corpus bursae membranous, elongate elliptic, about same length as apophysis posterioris; signum small, coniform or stelliform, placed anteriorly.

Egg. Oval, diameter about 0.15-0.20 mm. Surface smooth, shiny. Egg first yellowish white, nearly transparent, then becoming straw yellow before hatching.

Larva (Fig. 17). Young instar larva very similar to that of Conopomorpha flueggella . Mature larva 5.0-6.5 mm; head capsule brownish yellow, median 2/3 of each segment on thorax and abdomen dark red, anterior and posterior ends white; thoracic segments slightly blue, abdominal segments with blue spots. Body with sparse white setae. Three pairs abdominal legs on segment 3, 4 and 5 respectively; anal leg protruded backward.

Pupa (Fig. 18). 4.0-5.5 mm, fusiform. Greenish yellow in early pupal stage, changing gradually to dark brown. A corniform coccon breaker on forehead. Forelegs to third abdominal segment, midlegs to fourth abdominal segment, hindlegs to eighth abdominal segment, wings to fifth abdominal segment, antenna obviously exceeding end of abdomen.

Cocoon (Fig. 19). 6.0-8.0 mm; white, flat elliptic, with some white grains attached on surface.

Host plant.

Euphorbiaceae : Flueggea suffruticosa (Pall.) Baill., recorded for the first time herein.

Life history.

Epicephala relictella has one generation annually in Tianjin, China (Table 2). The larvae feed on the seeds of Flueggea suffruticosa (Fig. 20). The larval stage is completed within one fruit. When completing larval development, the mature larvae quit the fruits and pupate on the leaves, and overwinter under leaf litter or stones.

Adults appear from June to July. They can emerge during the whole day, but the peak occurs in the morning. The moths are most active at night, drinking nectar and ovipositing. During the daytime they rest on leaves or branches. Adult longevity is 3-10 days, but adults generally live for 5-7 days. Adults hardly come to light.

Distribution.

China (Tianjin, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Gansu), Korea, Russia.