Phyllonorycter incanella ( Walsingham, 1889 )

Eiseman, Charles S. & Davis, Donald R., 2020, Wrong side of the leaf: assigning some Lithocolletinae species (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) to their proper genera, Zootaxa 4751 (2), pp. 201-237 : 217-218

Phyllonorycter incanella ( Walsingham, 1889)

( Figs. 38–39 )

Lithocolletis incanella Walsingham 1889: 81 . Phyllonorycter incanella (Walsingham) — Davis 1983: 10.

Leaf mine. On the upper or (apparently infrequently) lower leaf surface.

Hosts. Betulaceae : Alnus incana (L.) Moench, A. rhombifolia Nutt. , A. rubra Bong.

Distribution. Canada: BC; USA: AZ, CA.

Review. Walsingham (1889) described this species from specimens reared from underside mines on Alnus incana collected in Colusa Co., California ( Figs. 38–39 ), along with caught specimens from Shasta Co. Braun (1908) reared a large series from Alnus in Alameda Co. , “where the mines are very common on the upperside of the leaf, but appear very rarely on the lower side.” Deschka (1982) found only upper-surface mines on A. rhombifolia and Alnus sp. in San Bernardino Co. and Kings Canyon, California, and in the Santa Catalina Mountains in Arizona. Brower (1984) reported specimens reared from oak and Alnus in Maine; these records require confirmation. Gates et al. (2002) reported “ Phyllonorycter incana (Walsm.) ” from upper-surface blotch mines on A. rubra in California. They also listed P. incanella as forming upper-surface serpentine/blotch mines on Frangula californica (Eschsch.) A. Gray (Rhamnaceae) , a doubtful record given the unrelated hostplant. Pohl et al. (2015, 2018) listed P. incanella as occurring in British Columbia.

Comments. The type series emerged in July from mines collected in late June. Deschka (1982) collected mines between 15 and 26 July, with adults emerging from 18 July to 9 August.

Figures

FIGURES 38–39. Syntypes of Phyllonorycter incanella, reared by Walsingham from underside mines on Alnus incana (photos: David Lees, © 2019 Trustees of NHMUK). 38: BMNH(E) 1413971; 39: BMNH(E) 1413982.