Revision of the Hawaiian endemic leaf-mining moth genus Philodoria Walsingham (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae): its conservation status, host plants and descriptions of thirteen new species

Philodoria Walsingham, 1907 is a threatened, Hawaiian endemic genus of leaf-mining gracillariid moths that feeds as larvae on many threatened and endangered Hawaiian endemic plants. These moths are poorly studied and species lack detailed descriptions of morphology, distribution data, and natural history information of adults and immatures. Based on extensive fieldwork from 2013 to 2016, and examination of museum specimens, we describe or redescribe 51 species, 13 which are new species and provide biological and distribution data for 41 species. The 13 new species and their host plants are: P. alakaiensis Kobayashi, Johns & Kawahara, sp. n. (Asteraceae: Dubautia sp.), P. funkae Kobayashi, Johns & Kawahara, sp. n. (Asteraceae: Wilkesia gymnoxiphium), P. haelaauensis Kobayashi, Johns & Kawahara, sp. n. (Urticaceae: Pipturus albidus, P. rockii, Pipturus sp.), P. hesperomanniella Kobayashi, Johns & Kawahara, sp. n. (Asteraceae: Hesperomannia arborescens and H. swezeyi), P. keaensis Kobayashi, Johns & Kawahara, sp. n. (host unknown), P. keahii Kobayashi, Johns & Kawahara, sp. n. (Asteraceae: Remya mauiensis), P. knudseniiella Kobayashi, Johns & Kawahara, sp. n. (Asteraceae: Dubautia knudsenii subsp. nagate and D. latifolia), P. lama Kobayashi, Johns & Kawahara, sp. n. (Ebanaceae: Diospyros sandwicensis and/or D. hillebrandii), P. limahuliensis Kobayashi, Johns & Kawahara, sp. n. (Malvaceae: Hibiscus waimeae subsp. hannerae), P. napaliensis Kobayashi, Johns & Kawahara, sp. n. (Ebanaceae: Diospyros sandwicensis and/or D. hillebrandii), P. obamaorum Kobayashi, Johns & Kawahara, sp. n. (Urticaceae: Pipturus albidus, Pipturus sp.), P. opuhe Kobayashi, Johns & Kawahara, sp. n. (Urticaceae: Urera kaalae and U. sandvicensis) and P. platyphylliella Kobayashi, Johns & Kawahara, sp. n. (Asteraceae: Dubautia platyphylla). Types of 30 species were examined, lectotypes of 16 species are designated, and a key to all Philodoria species and all Hawaiian leaf-mining moths are provided. We also present a new Hawaiian name for Philodoria, which we call Hunelele ʻelilau, meaning “tiny flier, leaf excavator”, referring to their life history and behavior. Philodoria feeds on five herbraceous and woody host plant families, and 41 species persist in localized populations in Hawaii as of 2016. Twelve species (P. alakaiensis, P. funkae, P. haelaauensis, P. hespermanniella, P. kauaulaensis, P. keaensis, P. keahii, P. knudsniiella, P. limahuliensis, P. platyphylliella, P. sciallactis, P. wilkesiella) appear to be severely threatened, as these species are rare or feed exclusively on plants that are endangered or rare. We were unable to document 10 species (P. costalis, P. lipochaetaella, P. micropetala, P. nigrella, P. nigrelloides, P. opuhe, P. pipturiana, P. pipturicola, P. pittosporella, P. spilota) after many efforts to sample in or near their historical habitats. We believe these species may be extinct. Given their restricted distribution and the fact that many species feed on rare and endangered plants, there is a risk that many more Philodoria species may go extinct unless immediate conservation measures are taken.

Download Full-text

New species of leaf-mining Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera) from the Neotropical and Ando-Patagonian regions, with new data on host plants

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4272.1.1 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4272 (1) ◽

pp. 1 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

JONAS R. STONIS ◽

ANDRIUS REMEIKIS ◽

ARŪNAS DIŠKUS ◽

NICK MEGORAN

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Host Plants ◽

Virgin Islands ◽

Distribution Map ◽

Leaf Miners ◽

New Host ◽

British Virgin Islands ◽

Leaf Mining ◽

Plant Data ◽

First Time

The paper treats fifteen species of leaf-mining pygmy moths (Insecta, Lepidoptera, Nepticulidae) discovered in the Neotropics (British Virgin Islands, Belize, Costa Rica, Venezuela, and Ecuador), and Ando-Patagonian region (Argentina and Chile). Except for two species, all belong to Stigmella Schrank. Twelve species are new, and are named and described in the current paper: Stigmella apicibrunella Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov.; S. decora Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov.; S. unicaudata Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov.; S. sanmartini Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov.; S. patula Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov.; S. torosa Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov.; S. monstrata Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov.; S. huahumi Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov.; S. venezuelica Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov.; S. virginica Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov.; Fomoria miranda Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov.; and Hesperolyra robinsoni Stonis, sp. n. Newly discovered variation of male genitalia of the Andean Stigmella rudis Puplesis & Robinson, 2000 is briefly discussed, and the formerly poorly understood Stigmella hylomaga (Meyrick, 1931) is redescribed and documented with photographs for the first time. We also present more photographs and add some addtional information on Stigmella gallicola van Nieukerken & Nishida, a recently described gall-maker from Costa Rica.The paper also provides new host-plant data: some of the described (or redescribed) species are reported for the first time as leaf-miners on plants belonging to Euphorbiaceae (Acalypha padifolia Kunth), Salicaceae (Azara microphylla Hook. f.), Fabaceae (Inga spectabilis (Vahl) Willd. or I. edulis Mart.), Rhamnaceae (Colletia spinosissima J. F. Gmel.), Geraniaceae or Vivianiaceae (Rhynchotheca spinosa Ruiz & Pav.), and Asteraceae (Mutisia decurrens Cav.). All species treated in the paper are illustrated with photographs of the adults and genitalia, a distribution map, and also photographs of the leaf-mines and host plants when available.

Download Full-text

Cytospora (Diaporthales) in China

Persoonia - Molecular Phylogeny and Evolution of Fungi ◽

10.3767/persoonia.2020.45.01 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 45 (1) ◽

pp. 1-45 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

X.L. Fan ◽

J.D.P. Bezerra ◽

C.M. Tian ◽

P.W. Crous

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Host Plants ◽

Southwest China ◽

New Combination ◽

Large Collection ◽

Dna Phylogeny ◽

The Past ◽

Worldwide Distribution ◽

Wide Range ◽

Woody Host

Members of the genus Cytospora are often reported as endophytes, saprobes or phytopathogens, primarily causing canker diseases of woody host plants. They occur on a wide range of hosts and have a worldwide distribution. Although several species have in the past been reported from China, the vast majority are not known from culture or DNA phylogeny. The primary aim of the present study was thus to clarify the taxonomy and phylogeny of a large collection of Cytospora species associated with diverse hosts in China. Cytospora spp. were collected in northeast, northwest, north and southwest China, indicating that the cold and dry environments favour these fungi. In this paper, we provide an assessment of 52 Cytospora spp. in China, focussing on 40 species represented by 88 isolates from 28 host genera. Based on a combination of morphology and a six-locus phylogeny (ITS, LSU, act1, rpb2, tef1-α and tub2), 13 new species and one new combination are introduced. The majority of the species investigated here appear to be host-specific, although further collections and pathogenicity studies will be required to confirm this conclusion.

Download Full-text

Pseudasphondylia tominagai, a new gall midge species (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) inducing flower bud galls on Eleutherococcus spinosus (Araliaceae) in Japan

Biodiversity Data Journal ◽

10.3897/bdj.7.e35673 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ayman Elsayed ◽

Junichi Yukawa ◽

Makoto Tokuda

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Host Plants ◽

Gall Midge ◽

Flower Bud ◽

Australian Species ◽

Plant Families ◽

A New Species

The genus Pseudasphondylia (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae: Asphondyliini: Asphondyliina) comprises ten Palearctic, Oriental and Australian species associated with various hosts belonging to at least ten plant families. A new species, Pseudasphondyliatominagai Elsayed & Tokuda n. sp., that induces flower bud galls on Eleutherococcusspinosus (L.f.) S.Y.Hu (Araliaceae) is described. This species is considered to alternate between host plants seasonally. A key to males of known Pseudasphondylia species is provided.

Download Full-text

Description of two new species of Rhamphus related to R. oxyacanthae (Curculionidae, Curculioninae, Rhamphini) from Italy based on a morphological study supported by molecular data

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4995.1.6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4995 (1) ◽

pp. 111-128

Author(s):

LUCIANO DIOTTI ◽

ROBERTO CALDARA ◽

IVO TOŠEVSKI

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Morphological Study ◽

Host Plants ◽

Molecular Study ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Integrative Taxonomy ◽

The Other ◽

Distribution Data ◽

Two New Species

Two new species of the weevil genus Rhamphus from Italy are herein described: R. bavierai n. sp. (Sicily) and R. hampsicora n. sp. (Sardinia). Both are morphologically and from a molecular perspective close to R. oxyacanthae (Marsham, 1802) and R. monzinii Pesarini & Diotti, 2012. Aside from a diagnostic description and a synoptic key, distribution data and notes on the host plants of the four species are reported. Whereas R. monzinii can be distinguished by several morphological characters, the other three species are morphologically very similar to each other and separable only by the combination of a few subtle characters. On the contrary, a preliminary molecular study revealed substantial divergences of mtCOI from 6.2 to 14.9% between the species, confirming the importance of an integrative taxonomy.

Download Full-text

A review of the endemic Hawaiian Drosophilidae and their host plants

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.1728.1.1 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 1728 (1) ◽

pp. 1 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

KARL N. MAGNACCA ◽

DAVID FOOTE ◽

PATRICK M. O’GRADY

Keyword(s):

Host Plant ◽

Host Plants ◽

Ecological Specialization ◽

Primary Host ◽

Evolutionarily Conserved ◽

Rare And Endangered ◽

Species Groups ◽

Plant Families ◽

Insight Into

The Hawaiian Drosophilidae is one of the best examples of rapid speciation in nature. Nearly 1,000 species of endemic drosophilids have evolved in situ in Hawaii since a single colonist arrived over 25 million years ago. A number of mechanisms, including ecological adaptation, sexual selection, and geographic isolation, have been proposed to explain the evolution of this hyperdiverse group of species. Here, we examine the known ecological associations of 326 species of endemic Hawaiian Drosophilidae in light of the phylogenetic relationships of these species. Our analysis suggests that the long-accepted belief of strict ecological specialization in this group does not hold for all taxa. While many species have a primary host plant family, females will also oviposit on non-preferred host plant taxa. Host shifting is fairly common in some groups, especially the grimshawi and modified mouthparts species groups of Drosophila, and the Scaptomyza subgenus Elmomyza. Associations with types of substrates (bark, leaves, flowers) are more evolutionarily conserved than associations with host plant families. These data not only give us insight into the role ecology has played in the evolution of this large group, but can help in making decisions about the management of rare and endangered host plants and the insects that rely upon them for survival.

Download Full-text

Four new species of Gracillariidae (Lepidoptera) from China and Japan, and description of the pupal morphology of the genera Corythoxestis, Eumetriochroa, Guttigera, and Metriochroa

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.3619.2.1 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 3619 (2) ◽

pp. 101-129 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

SHIGEKI KOBAYASHI ◽

GUO-HUA HUANG ◽

AKIHIRO NAKAMURA ◽

TOSHIYA HIROWATARI

Keyword(s):

Life History ◽

New Species ◽

Host Plant ◽

Host Plants ◽

Female Adult ◽

New Host ◽

Leaf Mining ◽

Fatsia Japonica ◽

China And Japan ◽

First Time

Four new leaf mining Oecophyllembiinae (Gracillariidae) species are described from Chinaand Japan: Metriochroa sym-plocosella sp. nov. (host plants: Symplocos anomala, S. sumuntia, Symplocaceae) from China, Guttigera schefflerella sp. nov. (host plant: Schefflera octophylla, Araliaceae), Eumetriochroa araliella sp. nov. (host plants: Dendropanax trifidus, Evodiopanax innovans, Eleutherococcus sciadophylloides and Fatsia japonica, Araliaceae) and Corythoxestis tricalysiel-la sp. nov. (host plant: Tricalysia dubia, Rubiaceae) from Japan. Corythoxestis sunosei (Kumata, 1998) is recorded from new host plants: Adina pilulifera and Mussaenda parviflora, Rubiaceae, from Japan. The female adult and pupal morphol-ogies, life history and host plant of the genus Guttigera are described for the first time. Pupae of seven species of four genera: Corythoxestis, Eumetriochroa, Guttigera, and Metriochroa, are described for the first time. We provide morpho-logical diagnostic differences between species and genera of Oecophyllembiinae and Phyllocnistis. Our preliminary data suggest that Oecophyllembiinae species have three valuable pupal diagnostic characters: 1) cocoon cutter with unique lat-eral processes or setae on the clypeus, 2) tergal spines with only a pair of dorsal setae, and 3) cremaster with more than two pairs of caudal processes, while Phyllocnistis species possess 1) cocoon cutter without lateral processes or setae on clypeus, 2) tergal spines with a pair of dorsal setae and dorsal hooks, and 3) cremaster with only a pair of caudal processes.

Download Full-text

New species in the treehopper genus Bocydium Latreille, with description of nymphal stages and observations on their natural history

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4281.1.4 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4281 (1) ◽

pp. 22

Author(s):

CAMILO FLÓREZ-V ◽

OLIVIA EVANGELISTA

Keyword(s):

Life History ◽

New Species ◽

Field Data ◽

Host Plants ◽

Key To Species ◽

Type Specimens ◽

Colombian Andes ◽

Nomenclatural Change ◽

Primary Type ◽

And Behavior

Six new species of Bocydium Latreille are described, and life history notes are provided based on field data from the Central and Western Cordilleras of the Colombian Andes. Information on host plants, treehopper-ant mutualisms, and behavior of adults and nymphs are provided for most newly discovered species (B. bilobum Flórez-V sp. nov., B. hadronotum Flórez-V sp. nov., B. mae Flórez-V sp. nov., B. sakakibarai Flórez-V sp. nov., B. sanmiguelense Flórez-V sp. nov., and B. tatamaense Flórez-V sp. nov.) in addition to two previously known species of Bocydium. A key to species of the genus is presented, along with photographs of primary type specimens for all species described by Dr. Albino M. Sakakibara. A nomenclatural change is proposed for B. cubitale Richter, 1954 syn. nov., herein considered junior synonym of B. bullife-rum Goding, 1930.

Download Full-text

Illustrated review of the leaf-mining Nepticulidae of the central Andes (Peru and Bolivia)

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4257.1.1 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4257 (1) ◽

pp. 1 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

JONAS R. STONIS ◽

ARŪNAS DIŠKUS ◽

ANDRIUS REMEIKIS ◽

OLE KARSHOLT ◽

NIXON CUMBICUS TORRES

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Host Plants ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Central Andes ◽

Andean Region ◽

Leaf Miners ◽

Distribution Maps ◽

Leaf Mining ◽

Species Groups

We review forty-five species of Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera) based on an analysis of samples collected in the central Andean region of Peru and Bolivia. Thirteen of these species are new to science, and are named and described here: Stigmella paracosma Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov., S. expressa Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov., S. acalyphae Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov., S. lepida Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov., S. misera Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov., S. inca Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov., S. eiffeli Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov., S. arequipica Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov., S. coronaria Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov., S. azulella Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov., S. sparsella Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov., Manoneura forcipis Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov., and Acalyptris murex Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov. Some of the central Andean species are recorded here as leaf-miners on Euphorbiaceae (Acalypha), Fabaceae (Collaea), Rosaceae (Polylepis), Malvaceae (Sida), Calceolariaceae (Calceolaria), Lamiaceae (Clinopodium), and Asteraceae (Ageratina and Trixis). We create eleven new species groups based on morphological characters designated in Stigmella and one in Acalyptris. A pictorial key to the species groups and distribution maps are provided. All new species are illustrated with 150 photographs and drawings of the adults and genitalia, and, where known and/or available, photographs of host-plants and leaf-mines.

Download Full-text

Diagnostics of Manitisheria gen. nov., an Old-World genus of leaf-mining Tischeriidae, composed of new species and species formerly in Tischeria Zeller

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4964.2.2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4964 (2) ◽

pp. 251-287

Author(s):

JONAS R. STONIS ◽

ARŪNAS DIŠKUS ◽

M. ALMA SOLIS ◽

ALEXANDRE K. MONRO

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

East Asia ◽

Host Plant ◽

Type Species ◽

New Genus ◽

Distribution Data ◽

Herbarium Specimens ◽

South East Asia ◽

New Combinations ◽

Leaf Mining

We describe a new genus, Manitischeria Diškus & Stonis, gen. nov., and five new species: Manitischeria selindica Stonis & Diškus, sp. nov., M. namibiensis Stonis & Diškus, sp. nov. from Africa, and M. brachiata Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov., M. symbolica Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov., and M. baryshnikovae Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov. from South East Asia. We discuss the diagnostics of Manitischeria gen. nov. composed of these new species and others transferred from Tischeria Zeller. Species are mostly trophically associated with Malvaceae, but also Rhamnaceae and Betulaceae. We list 18 currently known species of Manitischeria gen. nov., including M. ptarmica (Meyrick), the type species, and provide 13 new combinations and the first documentation of genitalia of some, previously little-known species. New species are illustrated with photographs or drawings of the adults, genitalia, and the leaf mines when available. We briefly discuss the use of herbarium specimens to discover lepidopteran leaf mines, host plant, and distribution data.

Download Full-text

Hawaiian Philodoria (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae, Ornixolinae) leaf mining moths on Myrsine (Primulaceae): two new species and biological data

ZooKeys ◽

10.3897/zookeys.773.21690 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 773 ◽

pp. 109-141 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Shigeki Kobayashi ◽

Chris A. Johns ◽

Carlos Lopez-Vaamonde ◽

Camiel Doorenweerd ◽

Atsushi Kawakita ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

New Species ◽

Species Complex ◽

Host Plants ◽

Biological Data ◽

Immature Stages ◽

Leaf Mining ◽

Diagnostic Characteristics ◽

Two New Species ◽

First Time

This paper provides new taxonomic and biological data on a complex of gracillariid moths in the endemic genus Philodoria Walsingham, 1907 that are associated with Myrsine (Primulaceae) in the Hawaiian Islands, United States. Two new species, Philodoriakauaulaensis Kobayashi, Johns & Kawahara, sp. n. (host: Myrsinelanaiensis, M.lessertiana, and M.sandwicensis) and P.kolea Kobayashi, Johns & Kawahara, sp. n. (host: M.lessertiana) are described. Biological data are provided for two previously described species that also feed on Myrsine: P.auromagnifica Walsingham, 1907 and P.succedanea Walsingham, 1907. For the first time we detail and illustrate genital structures, immature stages, biology, and host plants of P.auromagnifica and P.succedanea. Philodoriakolea, P.auromagnifica, and P.succedanea occur in sympatry on the island of Hawaii (Big Island), but each species differs in behavioral characters: P.kolea utilizes leaves of seedlings and forms a serpentine mine, whereas the latter two utilize leaves of larger plants, and form linear or serpentine to blotch mines. More broadly, leaf mine forms and diagnostic characteristics of the Myrsine-feeding species complex of Philodoria (as currently known) are reviewed and illustrated.

Download Full-text