Bucculatrix crataega Liu, 2019

Liu, Tengteng & Wang, Hu, 2019, Bucculatrix crataega sp. nov. (Lepidoptera: Bucculatricidae), a leaf miner on Crataegus, representing the first formally named species of the family from mainland China, Zootaxa 4545 (4), pp. 578-584 : 579-580

Bucculatrix crataega Liu , sp. nov.

山楂颊蛾 [Chinese name]

( Figures 1 ¯15)

Type material. Holotype , ♂, CHINA: Shandong: Yaoxiang National Forest Park, Jinan City, 36.327°N, 117.122°E, 700 m, 8.viii.2016, pupa collected on Crataegus pinnatifida , emerged on 16.viii.2016, leg. Tengteng Liu, genitalia slide no. LIU0024 ♂, registered no. SDNU.JN 160812. Paratypes. 2 ♀, emerged on 13. and 16.viii.2016, genitalia slide and DNA barcode no. SDNU.LIU0021 ♀, registered nos. SDNU.JN 160801, SDNU.JN1608013, other data same as holotype .

Diagnosis. B. crataega resembles most B. malivorella Baryshnikova, 2007 and B. bechsteinella ( Scharfenberg, 1805) , but can be easily separated by genital features and DNA barcodes. In the new species, the lateral lobes of the socii are indistinct, the phallus is about twice the length of tegumen + vinculum in the male genitalia, and the ductus bursae is almost straight on the sclerotized posterior part in the female genitalia; in B. malivorella , the lateral lobes of the socii are visible, the phallus is about three times the length of tegumen + vinculum, and the ductus bursae is smoothly curved on the sclerotized part; from B. bechsteinella , the DNA barcode also supports the separation with the genetic distances ranging from 4.8 to 6.0% (Table 1).

Adult ( Fig. 1 ). Forewing length 2.5–3.0 mm. Frons white, hair tuft on vertex snowy white, mixed with several black hairs in central. Labial palpus minute and white. Antenna with eye cap white, first flagellar segment notched in male, flagellum white on basal three segments, with distinct or indistinct black ring on each of other segments ( Figs 2–3 ). Legs yellowish white, black on outer surface of tibiae, with dense long yellow hair scales on hind tibiae. Forewing ground colour white, two costal streaks at basal 2/5 and 3/5, with scattered black scales near costa, outwards obliquely, joint at apex of cell, outer streak extending to tornus; golden stripe along basal half of fold; dorsum with golden spot at middle of wing, with scattered black scales forming small dot; another black dot above tornus; apical area golden; fringe greyish white, black distally around apex. Abdomen yellowish grey dorsally, yellowish white ventrally.

Male genitalia ( Figs 4–5 ). Socius reduced, without distinct lateral lobe. Tegumen with dense setae near apex laterally which possibly refer to socii. Valva fused with each other on basal 2/5, small process on ventral margin at distal 2/5, distal 3/5 narrowed and hooked, pointed apically. Vinculum weakly sclerotized, triangular in outline, with a small process anteriorly. Phallus about twice as long as length of tegumen + vinculum, basal half forming an oval together with membranous phallobase, cornuti a series of minute spines on vesica. Scale-sac broad and oval, attached on inner wall of second tergum ( Fig. 6 ).

Female genitalia ( Fig. 7 ). Papilla analis weakly sclerotized; posterior apophysis reaching near middle of eighth abdomen, anterior apophysis absent. Ostium bursae widely opened on posterior margin of seventh sternum, antrum funnel-shaped. Ductus bursae sclerotized on posterior 2/5, almost straight, parallel-sided, membranous, gradually widened. Ductus seminalis incepted in middle of corpus bursae dorsally. Corpus bursae oval, with broad ring of series of spine rows and another finer ring anteriorly to the other ring.

DNA Barcode. One DNA barcode of a paratype was generated and deposited in the BOLD system coded SDNU.LIU0021 (Process ID BUCSD002-18 ) .

Biology. The larvae initially mine along veins, making a full-depth gallery ( Figs 9, 10 ); later they feed externally making feeding windows ( Fig. 12 ). The egg is deposited on the upperside of the leaf near the main vein ( Fig. 11 ). The cocoon is white, surrounded by a picket-fence of some ten groups of paired white silk ( Figs 14, 15 ). A single generation per year was observed, but an earlier generation may exist.

Host plant. Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge (Rosaceae) .

Distribution. China (Shandong). The host plant is an important fruit tree in North China, and it is widespread naturally or being cultivated in this area ( Lu et al. 2003).

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the genus name of the host plant.

Figures

FIGURES 1–3. Adult of Bucculatrix crataega sp. nov. 1, adult, female, paratype, registered no. SDNU.JN160801; 2, antenna with indistinct black rings on flagellar segments, indicating the white basal three segments, registered no. SDNU.JN160801; 3, antenna with distinct black rings on flagellar segments, registered no. SDNU.JN1608013.

FIGURES 4–7. Genitalia of Bucculatrix crataega sp. nov. 4, male genitalia with phallus detached, holotype, SDNU.LIU0024; 5, phallus, same slide as fig. 4; 6, scale-sac, same slide as fig. 4; 7, female genitalia, paratype, ductus seminalis outlined by dotted line and ductus bursae by solid line, SDNU.LIU0021.

FIGURES 8–15. Host plant, leaf mine and cocoon of Bucculatrix crataega sp. nov. 8, a leaf of Crataegus pinnatifida, with a white cocoon attached; 9, leaf mine under reflected light, SDNU.JN160801; 10, leaf mine under transmitted light, same mine as fig. 9; 11, egg; 12, feeding windows; 13, moulting cocoon; 14, cocoon; 15, cocoon with a pupal exuvia protruded.