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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Systematic Entomology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #352995
Research Project: Systematics of Moths Significant to Biodiversity, Quarantine, and Control, with a Focus on Invasive Species

Location: Systematic Entomology Laboratory

Title: A Gondwanan Concept of Simplimorpha Scoble (sensu lato): a step toward clarity in the generic diagnostics of global Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera)

Author
item STONIS, JONAS - Lithuanian University Of Educational Sciences
item DISKUS, ARUNAS - Lithuanian University Of Educational Sciences
item REMEIKIS, ANDRIUS - Nature Research Centre
item Solis, M Alma

Submitted to: Zootaxa
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/27/2018
Publication Date: 11/15/2018
Citation: Stonis, J.R., Diskus, A., Remeikis, A., Solis, M.A. 2018. A Gondwanan Concept of Simplimorpha Scoble (sensu lato): a step toward clarity in the generic diagnostics of global Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera). Zootaxa. 4521(2):151-182.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4521.2.1

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 worldwide. This research documents the discovery of a new group to South America that were found to be related to species in other areas of the Southern Hemiphere, specifically Australia and Africa. We describe 4 new species from South America. The adults are only 1.5 mm to 4.6 mm in wing span, their internal structures, and the leaf mining habit are illustrated. This research will be useful to biologists interested in the biology and identity of leaf mining moths worldwide.

Technical Abstract: The genus Simplimorpha Scoble is recognized for the first time from South America. We describe a subgenus, Myrtinepticula Stonis & Diškus gen. nov., for three new species from the southern Andes (Chile and Argentina) and one new species from the southwestern Amazon (Peru). We provide a pictorial differentiation scheme for Simplimorpha Scoble and Pectinivalva Scoble. We synonymize the recently erected, predominantly Australian Menurella Hoare and Cosanovula Hoare with Pectinivalva. We also revise the taxonomic status of the Australian Roscidotoga Hoare as one of three subgenera of Simplimorpha that now exhibits a Gondwanan distribution in the Southern Hemisphere with the presence of a single species in the Mediterranean. All new taxa are illustrated with photographs of the adults and the genitalia; the leaf mines of Simplimorpha (Myrtinepticula) nielseni sp. nov. are also provided.