Astrotischeria bacchariphaga Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov.

(Figs 6–9, 38, 39, 71–79, 121–124)

Type material. Holotype: ♂, ECUADOR: Tungurahua Province, Baños de Agua Santa, 1 ° 24ꞌ3ꞌꞌS, 78 ° 25ꞌ45ꞌꞌW, el- evation 1940 m, mining larvae on Baccharis latifolia (Ruiz & Pav.) Pers . (Asteraceae) , 9.ii.2007, ex pupa iii.2007, field card no. 4848, A. Diškus and J. R. Stonis, genitalia slide no. AD 979♂ (ZMUC) . Paratypes (11 ♂, 6 ♀): 2 ♂, 2 ♀, same label data as holotype; 6 ♂, 3 ♀, 1 ° 23ꞌ44ꞌS, 78 ° 26ꞌ14ꞌꞌW, 9.xi.2007, ex pupa xii.2007, field card no. 4910, A. Diškus, genitalia slides nos AD 980♂, AD 982♂, AD 983♀; 3 ♂, 1 ♀, 1 ° 23ꞌ44ꞌS, 78 ° 26ꞌ14ꞌꞌW, elevation 1855 m, mining larvae on Baccharis emarginata (Ruiz & Pav.) Pers . (Asteraceae) , 9.xi.2007, ex pupa xii.2007, field card no. 4911, A. Diškus, genitalia slides nos AD 984♂, AD 985♂ (from mature pupa, adult not preserved) (ZMUC).

Diagnosis. Externally, this new species can be confused with some other speckled Astrotischeria species, including A. guatemalica . However, males and females of A. bacchariphaga possess a unique scaling of the face that is proximally grey-brown, and distally bright ochre. In the male genitalia, the combination of a distinct uncus (Figs 71, 72), large dorsal process of the valva (Fig. 71), distally thickened, round vinculum (Fig. 73), and unique phallus (Figs 74, 75) distinguishes A. bacchariphaga from all known congeneric species. This species is also distinctive because no other species in this genus is known to feed on Baccharis latifolia and B. emarginata .

Description. Male (Fig. 38). Forewing length 3.1–4.2 mm; wingspan 6.8–8.8 mm (n = 7).

Head. Face triangular, pale grey, distally ochre cream to bright ochre; labial palpus ochre cream, contrasting with face; frontal tuft and collar dark, grey-brown, metallic shiny at base; antenna distinctly longer than one-half length of forewing; flagellum glossy, grey-brown, irregularly annulated with darker scales.

Thorax. Tegula, thorax, and forewing covered with grey-brown scales with metallic shiny bases and irregularly speckled with ochre scales (Fig. 38); fringe pale grey-brown, with indistinct and incomplete fringe line, comprised of grey-black scales; forewing underside grey-brown, without spots or androconia. Hindwing and its fringe greybrown on upper side and underside, without androconia. Legs brownish grey.

Abdomen. Glossy, grey-brown on upper side and underside, grey cream on underside; anal tufts pale browngrey, shorter than protruding genital plates. Genitalia (Figs 71–79) with capsule 920–995 µm long, 500–550 µm broad. Uncus (Figs 71, 72, 76) comprised of two wide and very short dorsal lobes (Fig. 71) and two slender and long ventral lobes (Fig. 76). Valva (Figs 71, 72, 76) about 685–690 µm long (excluding the basal process); dorsal lobe greatly developed, very long and broad (see Fig. 71); second dorsal process of valva very small (see Fig. 79); transtilla absent; basal process of valva long (Fig. 73). Anellus only slightly thickened, mostly membranous, with 2–3 setae laterally (Fig. 73). Vinculum rounded and strongly thickened distally (Figs 73, 79). Phallus about 1090–1100 µm long, distally deeply bifurcated, symmetrical (Figs 74, 75), with two small spines on each lobe (Fig. 75).

Female (Fig. 39). Forewing length 3.3–3.8 mm; wingspan 7.2–8.2 mm (n = 8).

Head. Similar to male.

Thorax. Tegula and thorax covered with grey-brown scales with metallic shiny bases and irregularly speckled with ochre scales; forewing usually with three (sometimes two or one) distinctive, large, ochre patches. Otherwise as in male.

Abdomen. Glossy, pale brownish cream on upper side, yellow cream to orange-ochre on underside, without anal tufts. Genitalia (Figs 121–124) about 1995–2180 µm long. Ovipositor lobes large (Fig. 121), clothed with short, modified peg setae; area between ovipositor lobes broad, with tiny papillae and some short setae. Second pair of lobes, lateral and anterior to ovipositor lobes, much smaller than ovipositor lobes, but bearing a few very long slen- der setae, without stout, modified peg setae. Posterior apophyses slightly shorter than anterior ones (Figs 121, 123); prela comprised of three pairs of unique projections (Figs 121, 122). Corpus bursae long and narrow (Fig. 124), without pectinations or signum. Accessory sac inconspicuous; ductus spermathaecae very slender, with 3–4 coils.

Bionomics (Figs 6–9). The host plants are Baccharis latifolia (Ruiz & Pav.) Pers. (Fig. 7). and Baccharis emarginata (Ruiz & Pav.) Pers. (Asteraceae) (Fig. 6). Larvae mine leaves in February and November. Larva is brownish yellow with a pale brown head and pale green intestine. The blotch mine (Figs 8, 9) is irregular, usually pale brownish, with no frass. Adults occur in March and December.

Distribution. This species is known from the single locality in Ecuador (Baños de Agua Santa), at an elevation of 1900–2000 m, but the host plants have a much broader distribution (see Discussion).

Etymology. The species name is derived from the Latin name of the host plant Baccharis in combination with the Greek phago (an eater), in reference to the feeding habit of the new species.