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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Systematic Entomology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #369515
Research Project: Systematics of Moths Significant to Biodiversity, Quarantine, and Control, with a Focus on Invasive Species

Location: Systematic Entomology Laboratory

Title: Diagnostics and updated catalogue of Acalyptris Meyrick, the second largest genus of Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera) in the Americas

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

Submitted to: Zootaxa
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/30/2020
Publication Date: 3/6/2020
Citation: Stonis, J.R., Diskus, A., Remeikis, A., Vargas, S., Solis, M.A. 2020. Diagnostics and updated catalogue of Acalyptris Meyrick, the second largest genus of Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera) in the Americas. Zootaxa. 4748(2):201-247.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4748.2.1

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, and many are leafminers in the legume or bean family. This research re-examines, clarifies, and expands the concept of an American nepticulid moth group and describes seven new species. The adults only 1.5 mm to 4.6 mm in wing span, their internal structures, distribution, and leaf mining habit on plants are illustrated. This research will be useful to biologists interested in the biology and identity of leaf mining moths in the Western Hemisphere.

Technical Abstract: We list all 56 currently known Acalyptris Meyrick species from the Western Hemisphere, designate five new species groups, and provide pictorial diagnostics for all nine revised species groups of the American fauna. We describe seven new species: A. marmor Stonis & Diškus, sp. nov., A. barbudo Stonis & Remeikis, sp. nov., A. jareki Stonis & Diškus, sp. nov., A. hilli Stonis & Diškus, sp. nov., A. mortalis Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov., A. hyacinthum Stonis & Vargas, sp. nov., and A. extremus Stonis & Diškus, sp. nov. We publish new data on morphology or biology and distribution of A. murex Diškus & Stonis, A. hispidus Puplesis & Robinson, A. trifidus Puplesis & Robinson, A. bifidus Puplesis & Robinson, A. terrificus Šimkeviciute & Stonis, and particularly A. yucatani Remeikis & Stonis. We transfer Fomoria miranda Diškus & Stonis to Acalyptris, new combination, and provide the first photographic documentation of A. novenarius Puplesis & Robinson, A. fortis Puplesis & Robinson, A. martinheringi Puplesis & Robinson, A. basihastatus Puplesis & Diškus, A. pseudohastatus Puplesis & Diškus, A. articulosus Puplesis & Diškus, A. bovicorneus Puplesis & Diškus, and A. insolentis Puplesis & Diškus.