Phyllonorycter melhaniae (Vari, 1961)

Prins, Jurate De & Kawahara, Akito Y., 2012, Systematics, revisionary taxonomy, and biodiversity of Afrotropical Lithocolletinae (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), Zootaxa 3594 (1), pp. 1-283 : 128

The melhaniae species group

The melhaniae group consists of two species: P. melhaniae ( Vári, 1961) and P. rongensis De Prins , n. sp. Adults belonging to this group can be distinguished from other groups by their genitalia. There are slight differences in wing pattern between both species of the melhaniae group in shape of fasciae and intensity of edging of white markings. However, wing markings should not be used as the primary diagnostic feature as differences are generally minor. Therefore, only dissections of genitalia provide the means for accurate identification of adult moths. Larvae of the melhaniae species group feed on plants in the family Malvaceae .

The male genitalia of the melhaniae species group resemble those of the rhynchosiae species group, ventral surface of valva with no valval process. Cucullus slightly enlarged, setose. The female genitalia are characterized by large cone-like sterigma, which is connected to segment VII anteriorly and loose posteriorly, forming a broad and short extension of segment VII. Ostium bursae opens on truncate apex of sterigmatic extension, at a distance from the main sternum of segment VII. Ductus bursae broad and short approximately as long as segment VII, corpus bursae elongate, of medium size, with a small elongate signum at junction of ductus and corpus bursae, caudal part of corpus bursae at about anterior margin of segment VI.

Key to the species of melhaniae group based on external characters

1. Frons white with irroration of dark, ochreous-tipped scales; first fascia equally narrow on costal and dorsal margin of forewing, edged basally and apically; second fascia more or less rectangular shaped, of more or less equal width on costal and basal margins of forewing, equally edged basally and apically ( Fig. 91–93 ).....................................45. melhaniae

– Frons entirely white; first fascia ca. 3× broader on dorsal margin than on costal margin of forewing, edged apically with only a few scales present basally at subcostal sector; second fascia more or less triangular shaped very broad at dorsal and very narrow costal costal margin of forewing, edged basally ( Fig. 94 )......................................... 46. rongensis

Key to females of melhaniae group based on genitalia

1. Anterior apophyses ca. 2/3 as long as posterior apophyses; sclerotized ring absent on sterigmatic extension ( Fig. 336 ).................................................................................................45. melhaniae

– Anterior apophyses only slightly shorter than posterior apophyses; a strongly sclerotized ring present on median part of sterigmatic extension ( Fig. 337 )..................................................................... 46. rongensis

Figures

FIGURES 87–92. Adults. Scale bar 1 mm. 87, Phyllonorycter anchistea, holotype 6348♂, South Africa, Louis Trichardt, 11.v.1953, leg. L. Vári, in TMSA. 88, Phyllonorycter anchistea, ♂, South Africa, Buffelspoortdam, 20.vii.1971, specimen ID: RMCA ENT 000004151. 89, Phyllonorycter melanosparta, holotype 360♀, South Africa, Barberton, 31.xii.1910, leg. A.J.T. Janse, in TMSA. 90, Phyllonorycter melanosparta, ♀, Kenya, Kakamega Forest, mine 19.iv.2001, leg. J. De Prins, specimen ID: RMCA ENT 000004144. 91, Phyllonorycter melhaniae, holotype 6396♂, Zimbabwe, Hot Springs, 29.iv.1956, leg. L. Vári, in TMSA. 92, Phyllonorycter melhaniae, paratype 6399♀, Zimbabwe, Hot Springs, 03.v.1956, leg. L. Vári, in TMSA.

FIGURES 93–98. Adults. Scale bar 1 mm. 93, Phyllonorycter melhaniae, ♀, South Africa, Potgietersrus, 26.iv.1968, specimen ID: RMCA ENT 000003361. 94, Phyllonorycter rongensis, holotype ♀, Kenya, Rift Valley, Rongai, 06.i. 2000, leg. D.J.L. Agassiz, specimen ID: RMCA ENT 000003269. 95, Phyllonorycter mida, holotype ♀, Kenya, Arabuko Sokoke Forest, 27.iii.2004, leg. J. & W. De Prins, specimen ID: RMCA ENT 000003282. 96, Phyllonorycter mida, paratype ♀, Yemen, Shabwah, Abdalla Garib Plateau, 02.v.1999, leg. M. Fibiger et al., in ZMUC. 97, Phyllonorycter tsavensis, holotype ♀, Kenya, Tsavo, 11.iv.2002, leg. J. De Prins, specimen ID: RMCA ENT 000003268. 98, Phyllonorycter obandai, paratype ♂, Kenya, Rift Valley, Turi, 27.ii.2000, leg. D.J.L. Agassiz, in BMNH.

FIGURES 336–337. Female genitalia. Scale bar 200 µm. 336, Phyllonorycter melhaniae, paratype, the drawing is made by Willy De Prins after the genitalia prep. Vári 7496, in TMSA. 337, Phyllonorycter rongensis, holotype, genitalia prep. MRAC/ KMMA 00383, in RMCA.