A NEW GALL-INDUCING TORTRICID (LEPIDOPTERA: TORTRICIDAE: OLETHREUTINAE) ON LIMA BEAN (PHASEOLUS LUNATUS; FABACEAE) FROM COSTA RICA.

Authors: Brown, John; NISHIDA, KENJI - UNIVERSIDAD DE COSTA RICA

Submitted to: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/1/2006
Publication Date: 4/5/2007
Citation: Brown, J.W., Nishida, K. 2007. A new gall-inducing tortricid (lepidoptera: tortricidae: olethreutinae) on lima bean (phaseolus lunatus; fabaceae) from costa rica. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 109:265-276.

Interpretive Summary: The caterpillars of many leaf-roller moths are important pests of agricultural, ornamental, and forest plants, causing millions of dollars of damage annually. In this paper we describe as new to science a species of leaf-roller moth that is a pest of lima beans in Costa Rica. We present descriptions and illustrations to assist in its identification. Because it feeds internally within a gall on its host plant, it may be difficult to detect so we also present illustrations of the gall. This information will be of interest to those involved in the production of lima beans in the tropical areas of Central America, and to action agencies such as APHIS, whose goals are to detect and exclude non-native invasive insects at U.S. ports-of-entry.

Technical Abstract: Lusterala phaseolana, new genus and new species, is described and illustrated from Costa Rica. The new genus can be distinguished from all other Olethreutinae by its distinctive forewing maculation (i.e., dark brown with scattered refractive scales) and its unusual male genitalia, with a large, broad uncus covered with long hairs and the absence of socii. Assignment of the new genus to Grapholitini is provisional based on the general appearance and chaetotaxy of the larva and a feature of the wing venation (i.e., M2 and M3 parallel and widely separated at the base). The entire type series was reared from stem galls on lima bean, Phaseolus lunatus L. (Fabaceae). Although gall-inducing is somewhat unusual in Tortricidae, more than 42 species in 16 genera have adopted this life history strategy.