Philodoria napaliensis Kobayashi, Johns & Kawahara

Kobayashi, Shigeki, Johns, Chris A. & Kawahara, Akito Y., 2021, Revision of the Hawaiian endemic leaf-mining moth genus Philodoria Walsingham (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae): its conservation status, host plants and descriptions of thirteen new species, Zootaxa 4944 (1), pp. 1-175 : 42-43

Philodoria napaliensis Kobayashi, Johns & Kawahara , sp. n.

Figs. 9D , 41M, N , 42L , 43L .

Philodoria sp. 4; Johns et al. 2018: fig. 2.

Type locality. Nâ Pali Trail (Kauai).

Etymology. The specific epithet, napaliensis is derived from the type locality, Nâ Pali (pronounced 'Nah-Pahlee') Coast.

Type examined. Holotype (sex unknown), Na Pali Trail, Kauai, 13& 21.vii.2015 (stored), C.A. Johns leg., host: Diospyros sandwicensis , 24.vi.2015, CJ491a (abdomen missing) in BPBM . Paratype 2♂, same locality and data as holotype, CJ482 / SK767♂, CJ491b / SK745♂ (apex of tegumen broken); deposited in BPBM. Three specimens are incomplete but they have features that are distinctive enough to allow this species description. What remains of three specimens were: holotype mounted by placing three wings without mountant under a coverslip: two full forewings slightly damaged at base and small apical region of one hindwing; two paratypes: a specimen mounted by placing four wings without mountant under a coverslip (two forewings [1/3 of left wing and 1/2 right wing] and 1/3 of two hindwing; CJ482); a specimen mounted by placing two forewings and one leg without mountant under a coverslip (almost full left wing and apical portion and basal half of right wing and one hind leg; CJ491b). The head, antenna, thorax, and legs for all specimens were sacrificed for molecular analysis .

Additional material. 2 larvae (CJ-445/AHE_44) entirely sacrificed for molecular analysis ( Johns et al. 2018: fig. 2): 2 larvae, same locality and data as holotype, 26.vi.2015 (stored), CJ445, in FLMNH .

Diagnosis. Very similar to Philodoria that feed on Myrtaceae and P. lama sp. n., but differs from them in having a valva with a dorsal process with a thick inner margin ( Fig. 41M, N ).

Description: Adult ( Fig. 9D ). Forewing length 3.4–3.5 mm in holotype. Head, antenna and thorax unknown. Forewing dark shiny, pale leaden gray with brownish ocherous patches enclosing gray fascia: bp from base to dorsum 1/3, contact to basal tf; tf from costal 1/3 to dorsal 1/2, tp after the middle to apical portion, distinctly narrowing in the dorsum, extending to dorsal 2/3, containing two short, shiny, steel gray costal spots; apical portion with black as and a large jet-black terminal patch from tornus to apex, containing two upright steel-gray spots near its opposite extremities; a single bright white spot in its middle; a very narrow ocherous line along the base of tornus; cilia shining, leaden gray with a blackish fringe line; two white costal streaks, long one extend apex; terminal cilia often blackish. Hindwing coppery brown; cilia tawny. Abdomen tawny brown, white below. Legs unknown.

Male genitalia ( Figs. 41M, N , 42L , 43L ) (n=2). Capsule 600 µm. Tegumen 0.7–0.8 x length of valva; valva 450–460 µm long, similar to P. basalis and P. lama except inner margin of dorsal process thicken ( Fig. 41M, N ). Phallus 550 µm long ( Fig. 43L ).

Female genitalia Unknown.

Distribution. Kauai.

Host plants. Ebanaceae: D. hillebrandii (A.DC.) Fosberg and/or Diospyros sandwicensis (A.DC.) Fosberg. We could not distinguish the two Diospyros species, D. hillebrandii and the closely related D. sandwicensis . Diospyros sandwicensis is found on all of the main Hawaiian islands. It often occurs as a dominant plant in dry to moist forests and occasionally in wet forests. It grows at elevations ranging from close to sea level to 1200 m (4000ft) ( Wagner 1990).

Biology. Unknown, but it is presumably similar to those of P. basalis , P. lama and P. splendida , whose larvae pupate in a “taco” like cocoon.

Figures

FIGURE 9. Adults of Philodoria species. A P. splendida Walsingham, 1907 lectotype male, B Female, Oahu, C P. lama sp. n. holotype male, D P. napaliensis sp. n. holotype (sex unknown). Scale bar 1 mm.

FIGURE 41. Male valva of Philodoria, inner view. A–F, H–J, L, M: Left valva, G, K, N: Right valva. A P. succedanea, Maui, SK641, B P. auromagnifica, Hawaii (Big Island), SK800, C P. auromagnifica, Kauai, SK689, D P. kolea, holotype, Hawaii (Big Island), SK851, E P. lysimachiella, Oahu, SK656, F, G P. sp. 7, Kauai, SK754, H P. molokaiensis, Molokai, SK666, I P. basalis, Hawaii (Big Island), SK614, J P. splendida, Maui, SK696, K Same species, Oahu, SK747, host Syzygium sp., L P. lama, holotype, Maui SK744, M P. napaliensis, paratype, Kauai, SK767, N Same as L, paratype, Kauai, SK745.

FIGURE 42. Genital capsule of Philodoria, excluding right portion of male genitalia, ventral view. A P. succedanea, Maui, SK641, B P. auromagnifica, Hawaii (Big Island), SK800, C P. auromagnifica, Kauai, SK689, D P. kolea, holotype, Hawaii (Big Island), SK851, E P. lysimachiella, Oahu, SK656, F P. sp. 7, Kauai, SK754, G P. molokaiensis, Molokai, SK666, H P. basalis, Hawaii (Big Island), SK614, I P. splendida, Maui, SK696, J Same species, Oahu, SK747, host Syzygium sp., K P. lama, holotype, Maui, SK744, L P. napaliensis, paratype, Kauai, SK745. Abbreviation: ta: tuba analis.

FIGURE 43. Phallus of Philodoria, lateral view. A P. succedanea, Maui, SK641, B P. auromagnifica, Hawaii (Big Island), SK800, C P. auromagnifica, Kauai, SK689, D P. kolea, holotype, Hawaii (Big Island), SK851, E P. lysimachiella, Oahu, SK656, F P. sp. 7, Kauai, SK755, G P. molokaiensis, Molokai, SK666, H P. basalis, Hawaii (Big Island), SK614, I P. splendida, Maui, SK696, J Same species, Oahu, SK747, host Syzygium sp., K P. lama, holotype, Maui, SK744, L P. napaliensis, paratype, Kauai, SK767.