Asteraceae: Host to the greatest diversity of leaf-mining Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera) in South America?

STONIS, J.; ARUNAS, D.; KATINAS, L.; SOLIS, A.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON

ENTOMOL SOC WASHINGTON

Lugar: Washington, D.C.; Año: 2018 vol. 120 p. 856 - 902

0013-8797

Pygmy moths (Nepticulidae) associated with Asteraceae are poorlyknown and very rare worldwide. Recently, we discoveredmany leaf-mining nepticulids inSouth America feeding on Asteraceae. We review all known records of AsteraceaefeedingNepticulidae, which in the Neotropics (including the Andes and Patagonia) previouslyincluded only Stigmella Schrank. We describe six new species of Stigmella fromequatorial South America: S. jungiae Diskus and Stonis, n. sp. (feeding on Jungia L.f.),S. aeneola Diskus and Stonis, n. sp., S. violea Diskus and Stonis, n. sp., S. bracteataDiskus and Stonis, n. sp. (feeding on Liabum Adans.), S. spatiosa Diskus and Stonis, n.sp. (feeding on Ageratina Spach), and S. auripennata Diskus and Stonis, n. sp. (feedingon Baccharis L.). All new taxa are illustrated with photographs of the adults, their genitalia,and leaf mines. Additionally, leaf mines of three unknown nepticulid taxa on Jungia(aff. J. polita Griseb.), Piptocoma discolor (Kunth) Pruski, Gynoxys laurifolia (Kunth)Cass., and G. acostae Cuatrec. are documented for the first time. We diagnose and designatetwo new species groups and one new species complex in Stigmella.We discuss theorigin and diversity of Asteraceae in the Neotropics and illustrate the distribution ofStigmella species feeding on representatives of Asteraceae at the tribal level.