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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Systematic Entomology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #349013
Research Project: Systematics of Moths Significant to Biodiversity, Quarantine, and Control, with a Focus on Invasive Species

Location: Systematic Entomology Laboratory

Title: The American Brachinepticula gen. nov. and Manoneura Davis (Nepticulidae): a new generic concept based on a reinforced cathrema in the phallus

Author
item STONIS, JONAS - Lithuanian Research Centre For Agriculture And Forestry
item DISKUS, ARUNAS - Lithuanian Research Centre For Agriculture And Forestry
item REMEIKIS, ANDRIUS - Lithuanian Research Centre For Agriculture And Forestry
item Solis, M Alma

Submitted to: Biologija
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/22/2018
Publication Date: 7/30/2018
Citation: Stonis, J.R., Diskus, A., Remeikis, A., Solis, M.A. 2018. The American Brachinepticula gen. nov. and Manoneura Davis (Nepticulidae): a new generic concept based on a reinforced cathrema in the phallus. Biologija. 64(2):99-128.

Interpretive Summary: Some leaf mining moths have become serious pests, for example, of citrus. Nepticulid leaf mines created by larvae are serpentine in leaves, twigs, or fruit in over 30 plant families, including American forest trees. This research re-examines, clarifies, and expands the concept of an American moth group and describes two new species from South America. The adults only 1.5 mm to 4.6 mm in wing span, their internal structures, and the leaf mining habit on plants are illustrated. This research will be useful to biologists interested in the biology and identity of American leaf mining moths.

Technical Abstract: We describe one new genus (Brachinepticula Stonis & Diškus, gen. nov.) with two new species (B. plurilobata Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov., B. elongata Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov.), and one species with uncertain taxonomic position (Johanssoniella bina Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov.). We also provide diagnostic characters and an updated Annotated Catalogue of the following related genera: newly restored Johanssoniella Koçak, Brachinepticula gen. nov., Enteucha Meyrick (s. str.), and Manoneura Davis. In the annotated catalogue we provide five new combinations and new data on morphology, biology and distribution of some species, including the first photographic documentation of Manonera basidactyla Davis discovered in the Amazon rainforest, results of re-examination of the male genitalia of the European Johanssonia acetosae (Stt.), also the first documentation of the male genitalia, host plant and leaf mines of the little known Johanssoniella diplocosma (Meyrick) from the Himalayas. All new taxa treated in the paper are illustrated with drawings and (or) photographs of the adults and genitalia; photographs of the leaf mines of Brachinepticula plurilobata Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov. and Johanssoniella diplocosma (Meyrick) are also provided.