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Zootaxa 3609 (2): 223–230 ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition) www.mapress.com/zootaxa/ Article ZOOTAXA Copyright © 2013 Magnolia Press ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition) http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3609.2.8 http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:DC289CDF-6B9B-4E4F-ACA1-9410CE3B9BA8

New species (Insecta: ) from the Yucatán Peninsula (SE Mexico)

JONAS R. STONIS*, ANDRIUS REMEIKIS, ARŪNAS DIŠKUS & REMIGIJUS NOREIKA Division of Biosystematics Research, Department of Biology and Science Education, Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences, Studentu 39, Vilnius LT–08106, Lithuania. E-mail: [email protected] *Corresponding author

Abstract

Thirty-eight species of Nepticulidae are known from the Yucatán Peninsula and adjacent areas (mainland Mexico and Be- lize). This paper describes two new species: Stigmella maya Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov. (a leaf-miner of Karwinskia hum- boldtiana, Rhamnaceae), and Acalyptris yucatani Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov. (a leaf-miner of Schinus sp., Anacardiaceae). S. maya is among the smallest Lepidoptera in the world. In its male genitalia S. maya resembles a sizeable group of undescribed species occurring in the Andes (Patagonia: Argentina). The adults of both new species are illustrated with photographs of adults, genitalia and leaf-mines.

Key words: Nepticulidae, new species, Stigmella, Acalyptris, , leaf-mines, Yucatán

Introduction

The family Nepticulidae comprises the world’s smallest monotrysian Microlepidoptera. It has a worldwide distribution and includes about 800 described species. Their morphology and biology has been reviewed, amongst others, by Johansson et al. (1990), Puplesis & Robinson (2000) and Puplesis & Diškus (2003). Due to the concealed mining life-style of the larvae, difficulties in rearing the adults, and minute size of the adults, Nepticulidae have not been sufficiently studied in many regions (e.g. Stonis & Remeikis 2011; Navickaitė et al. 2011). A historical review of the description of Nepticulidae from the Neotropical Region is given by Puplesis and Robinson (2000), with updates by Puplesis et al. (2002a, 2002b) and Šimkevičiūtė et al. (2009). The Yucatán Peninsula and adjacent mainland Mexico and Belize are famous for their great general biodiversity (Puplesis 2002). However, past studies of Nepticulidae in the Yucatán arguably underestimate the diversity of this group. In the present paper, two new species from the lowland tropical forests of Yucatán are described, and an updated distribution map for all currently known 38 species of Central America is provided.

Material and methods

The type material of nearly all species listed in the current paper was available to the authors from BMNH (London) and LUES (Vilnius). The adults of the new species were collected by A. Remeikis and J.R. Stonis in the lowland forests of Yucatán (Tulum, Figs 1, 15) by rearing imagoes from mining larvae using a standard method. Collecting methods, techniques for genitalia preparation and protocols for description are outlined in Puplesis & Robinson (2000) and Puplesis & Diškus (2003). Permanent slides were photographed and studied using a Leica DM2500 microscope and Leica DFC420 digital camera. The descriptive terminology of morphological structures follows Johansson et al. (1990), Puplesis (1994) and Puplesis & Robinson (2000).

Accepted by J.-F. Landry: 10 Dec. 2012; published: 29 Jan. 2013 223 TERMS OF USE This pdf is provided by Magnolia Press for private/research use. Commercial sale or deposition in a public library or website is prohibited.

Institutional abbreviations used in the text are as follows:

BMNH The Natural History Museum, London, U.K.; LUES Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences (formerly VPU), Vilnius, Lithuania; USNM National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C., U.S.A.; ZMUC Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Descriptions of new species

Stigmella maya Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov. (Figs 2–10, 15–16)

Type material. Holotype: ♂, MEXICO, Yucatán, Quintana Roo, Tulum, 20°12'35"N, 87°25'55"W, elevation 15 m, mining larvae 29.xi.2011, ex pupa 11.xii. 2011, leg. A. Remeikis & J.R. Stonis, gen. slide no. RA 473. Paratypes: 2♂, 3♀, same label data, ex pupae 8–16.xii.2011, gen. slide nos RA 472♂, RA 469♀, RA 470♀, RA 471♀ (all specimens of the type-series are currently deposited in LEUS, with further re-deposition at ZMUC). Diagnosis. A very distinctive, very small dark-winged species with a silver-white fascia in the forewing. Externally, males of the new species easily distinguished from all other currently known Stigmella species, including Neotropical ones, by black hindwings densely covered with androconial scales. In male genitalia, S. maya differs from all Neotropical Stigmella species by a combination of a specialized uncus, a broad U-shaped gnathos and a simple apically pointed valva. Male (Figs 2, 4). Forewing length 1.4–1.5 mm; wingspan 3.04–3.27 mm (n=3). Head: palpi cream; frontal tuft cream, on vertex brown to orange; collar and scape whitish to cream; antenna with 23–24 segments, slightly longer than half forewing; flagellum brown-grey to cream-glossy (particularly first 8 segments) on upper side, cream on underside. Thorax fuscous grey; tegulae black. Forewings fuscous grey, speckled in apical part, with silver-white slightly shiny fascia; terminal cilia white, comprised of broadened (lamellar) scales; tornal cilia blackish grey, comprising piliform scales (Fig. 2); underside of forewing black. Hindwings fuscous grey, densely covered with black androconia, except at apex (Fig. 4); cilia of hindwings blackish grey. Legs dark cream to black on upper side, dark cream on underside. Abdomen black on upper side, dark grey, with purple and some green iridescence on underside; anal tufts white-cream. Female (Figs 3, 5). Forewing length 1.3–1.4 mm; wingspan 2.8–3.0 mm (n=3). Hindwings grey to blackish grey; no androconial scales. Abdomen shiny black on upper side, grey on underside, without purple and green iridescence. Otherwise as male. Male genitalia (Figs 6–9). Capsule longer (215 mm) than wide (160 mm) (n=2). Vinculum with two large lateral (anterior) lobes. Uncus with small heavier sclerotised lateral (posterior) lobes (Fig. 7). Gnathos narrow, broadly U-shaped, posterior projections far apart (Fig. 7). Valva (Figs 6, 9) 130 mm (n=2) long, basally broad, narrowed apically, with thickened and pointed apical process; transtilla with short triangular pointed sublateral processes. Aedeagus (Fig. 8) 230 mm (n=2); vesica with numerous minute cornuti. Female genitalia (Fig. 10). Total length 575–585 mm (n=3). Vestibulum relatively broad, without sclerites. Corpus bursae broadly oval, very large, covered with numerous pectinations, without signa. Ductus spermathecae with 2.5 large convolutions. Bionomics. Mines in leaves (Fig. 16). Host-plant: Karwinskia humboldtiana (Schult.) Zucc. (Rhamnaceae) (Fig. 18). Egg on upper side of the leaf. Larvae mine in late November and early December. Contorted or sinuous gallery of mine filled with dark brown to blackish frass (Fig. 16). Larva pale green to green, with dark green intestine. Larval exit slit on upper side of the leaf. Cocoon very pale brownish cream to grey-beige; length 1.4 – 1.75 mm, maximal width 0.7–1 mm (n=6). Adults emerged in December. Distribution (Fig. 1). Lowland coastal forest of Yucatán (SE Mexico: Quintana Roo) (Fig. 15). Etymology. This species is named after the Maya people, a Mesoamerican civilization.

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FIGURES 1–5. Nepticulidae of Yucatán and adjacent areas. 1, currently known distribution: 1. Stigmella maya, Acalyptris yucatani. 2. Enteucha hilli, E. contracolorea, Stigmella barbata, S. kimae, S. albilamina, S. fuscilamina, S. pruinosa, Ectoedemia sp. 29105, E. fuscivittata, Fomoria diskusi, F. sp. 29122, Acalyptris latipennata, A. dividua, A. bovicorneus, A. martinheringi, A. hispidus, A. novenarius, A. bifidus, A. trifidus, A. unicornis, A. laxibasis, A. sp. 29135, A. platygnathos, A. sp. 29140, Glaucolepis argentosa. 3. Enteucha snaddoni, Acalyptris fortis. 4. Manoneura basidactyla. 5. Acalyptris lascuevella. 6. Stigmella racemifera, S. sp. 018, Acalyptris paradividua, A. terrificus, A. sp. 015, A. sp. 016. 7. Stigmella plumosetaeella (Map —courtesy of T.Patterson, USA); 2, adult of Stigmella maya sp. nov., male; 3, female; 4, male, hindwing with black androconia; 5, female. Scale bar 1 mm.

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FIGURES 6–10. Genitalia of Stigmella maya sp. nov. 6, capsule of male genitalia, holotype, gen. slide no. RA 473. Scale bar 50 mm; 7, uncus and gnathos, holotype, gen. slide no. RA 473. Scale bar 10 mm; 8, aedeagus, holotype, gen. slide no. RA 473. Scale bar 50 mm; 9, valva, holotype, gen. slide no. RA 473. Scale bar 25 mm; 10, female genitalia, paratype, gen. slide no. RA 470. Scale bar 100 mm.

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Acalyptris yucatani Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov. (Figs 11–15, 17)

Type material. Holotype: ♀, MEXICO, Yucatán, Quintana Roo, Tulum, 20°12'35"N, 87°25'55"W, elevation 15 m, mining larva 29.xi.2011, ex pupa 14.xii.2011, leg. A. Remeikis & J. R. Stonis, gen. slide no. RA 468♀ (currently deposited in LEUS, with further re-deposition at ZMUC). Diagnosis. Externally, the new species can be distinguished from most Acalyptris species, including Neotropical ones, by the presence of two white spots (costal and tornal) on the speckled forewing. In female genitalia it differs from all known Neotropical Acalyptris species by a combination of specialized large asymmetrical signae and a vestibulum without distinct sclerites. Male. Unknown. Female (Fig. 11). Forewing length 1.65 mm, wingspan 3.63 mm (n=1). Head: palpi brownish cream; frontal tuft cream, on vertex dark brown; collar whitish cream, comprising piliform scales; scape white; antenna with ca. 25 segments, slightly shorter than half forewing; flagellum dark grey on upper side, pale grey on underside. Thorax, tegulae and forewings cream-white, speckled with blackish brown tipped scales. Forewing with two cream-white oblique spots: costal and tornal; cilia grey; underside of forewing brownish cream, grey-brown distally and along costa. Hindwings grey (at certain angle of view may look pale grey) on upper side and underside; cilia of hindwings grey. Legs cream, with blackish darkening on upper side; forelegs darkened on both sides. Female genitalia (Figs 12–14). Total length 565 mm (n=1). Vestibulum narrow, folded, without shaped sclerites. Corpus bursae oval, with very large, distinctly asymmetrical signae (245 and 350 mm) (n=1) (Figs 13–14). Bionomics. Mines in leaves (Fig. 17). Host-plant: Schinus sp. (Anacardiaceae) (Fig. 19). Egg on upper side of the leaf. Larvae mine in late November and early December. Sinuous gallery of mine filled with dark green to blackish or black frass (Fig. 17). Larva yellow, with dark green intestine. Larval exit slit on upper side of the leaf. Cocoon very pale ochre-brown; length 1.65 mm, maximal width 1.1 mm (n=1). The single adult emerged in December. Distribution (Fig. 1). It occurs in the lowland coastal forest of Yucatán (SE Mexico: Quintana Roo) (Fig. 15). Etymology. This species is named after the Yucatán Peninsula.

Discussion

Currently 31 species of Nepticulidae are recorded from Yucatán (Puplesis and Robinson 2000) and seven others from the adjacent areas (Puplesis & Robinson 2000; Šimkevičiūtė et al. 2009): Enteucha hilli Puplesis & Robinson, 2000; E. contracolorea Puplesis & Robinson, 2000; E. snaddoni Puplesis & Robinson, 2000; Manoneura basidactyla (Davis, 1978); Stigmella plumosetaeella Newton & Wilkinson, 1982; S. barbata Puplesis & Robinson, 2000; S. kimae Puplesis & Robinson, 2000; S. albilamina Puplesis & Robinson, 2000; S. fuscilamina Puplesis & Robinson, 2000; S. pruinosa Puplesis & Robinson, 2000; S. racemifera Šimkevičiūtė & Stonis, 2009; S. species 018 (described but unnamed in Šimkevičiūtė & Stonis 2009); S. maya Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov.; Ectoedemia (Zimmermannia) species 29105 (described but unnamed in Puplesis & Robinson 2000); E. (Ectoedemia) fuscivittata Puplesis & Robinson, 2000; Fomoria diskusi Puplesis & Robinson, 2000; F. species 29122 (described but unnamed in Puplesis & Robinson 2000); Acalyptris latipennata (Puplesis & Robinson, 2000); A. dividua Puplesis & Robinson, 2000; A. bovicorneus Puplesis & Robinson, 2000; A. martinheringi Puplesis & Robinson, 2000; A. fortis Puplesis & Robinson, 2000; A. hispidus Puplesis & Robinson, 2000; A. novenarius Puplesis & Robinson, 2000; A. lascuevella Puplesis & Robinson, 2000; A. bifidus Puplesis & Robinson, 2000; A. trifidus Puplesis & Robinson, 2000; A. unicornis Puplesis & Robinson, 2000; A. laxibasis Puplesis & Robinson, 2000; A. platygnathos Puplesis & Robinson, 2000; A. species 29135; A. species 29140 (described but unnamed in Puplesis & Robinson 2000); A. paradividua Šimkevičiūtė & Stonis, 2009; A. terrificus Šimkevičiūtė & Stonis, 2009; A. species 015; A. species 016 (described but unnamed in Šimkevičiūtė & Stonis 2009); A. yucatani Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov.; Glaucolepis argentosa Puplesis & Robinson, 2000 (Fig. 1).

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FIGURES 11–14. Acalyptris yucatani sp. nov. 11, adult, female. Scale bar 1 mm; 12, female genitalia, gen. slide no. RA 468. Scale bar 100 mm; 13, 14, signae in corpus bursae, gen. slide no. RA 468. Scale bar 100 mm.

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FIGURES 15–19. Bionomics. 15, type locality and habitat of Stigmella maya sp. nov. and Acalyptris yucatani sp. nov., Yucatán, Tulum, 20°12'35"N, 87°25'55"W, elevation 15 m; 16, leaf-mine of Stigmella maya sp. nov., with mining larva; 17, empty leaf-mine of Acalyptris yucatani sp. nov.; 18, Karwinskia humboldtiana (Rhamnaceae), a host-plant of Stigmella maya sp. nov.; 19, Schinus sp. (Anacardiaceae), a host-plant of Acalyptris yucatani sp. nov.

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Nepticulids are rather abundant in the tropical forests of the Maya Mountains (Belize) (Puplesis & Robinson 2000). However, none has been described from the “heart” of Yucatán – the lowland forests. The results of the most recent trip to the northeastern areas of the Yucatán Peninsula (2011) suggest the following peculiarities of seasonal activities and distribution of Nepticulidae. There were no adults observed in November, i.e. shortly after the rainy season (May to mid-October). Larvae started mining in very late November or early December. No larval activity of Nepticulidae or Tischeriidae leaf-miners was observed – only old or very old leaf-mines could be found during October and most of November. The diversity of leaf-miners seemed lower than in the pre-montane forests of Belize. The taxonomic composition of Nepticulidae occurring in Yucatán is dominated by the Acalyptris Meyrick. Further fieldwork in the peninsula is now needed to estimate the true nepticulid diversity there. Stigmella maya, sp. nov. represents a species that is among the smallest nepticulids and the smallest Lepidoptera known in the world. The new species exhibits remarkable morphology and provides new data for further taxonomic studies: in its male genitalia, S. maya mostly resembles a group of undescribed species occurring in the Andes (Patagonia: Argentina) (Stonis & Remeikis, unpublished).

Acknowledgements

We are indebted to Dr. Donald R. Davis (USNM) and O. Karsholt (ZMUC) for the loan of material and for providing the initial stimulus for the Neotropical Project together with generous support during its course. Special thanks are due to Dra. Elfriede de Pöll (Universidad del Valle de Guatemala), who helped identify the host-plants. We thank Dr. Erik J. van Nieukerken and an annonymous referee for their critical evaluation of the initial version of the manuscript as well as numerous critical remarks and useful suggestions. This study was conducted as part of the “New Faunas” project by the Division of Biosystematics Research of the Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences, supported from the Research Foundation of the Research Council of Lithuania (MIP-049/2011).

References

Johansson, R., Nielsen, E.S., Nieukerken, E.J. van & Gustafsson, B. (1990) The Nepticulidae and Opostegidae (Lepidoptera) of North West Europe. Fauna Entomologica Scandinavica, 23 (1/2), 1–739. Navickaitė, A., Diškus, A., Stonis, J.R. & Dobrynina, V. (2011) Taxonomic catalogue of the world Nepticuloidea and Tischerioidea (Lepidoptera) described by members of the Biosystematics Research Group (Lithuania) up to 2009. Acta Zoologica Lituanica, 21 (2), 113–132. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/v10043-011-0014-2 Puplesis*, R. (1994) The Nepticulidae of Eastern Europe and Asia: western, central and eastern parts. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden. 291 pp. + 840 figs. Puplesis*, R. (2002) Biodiversity: an introduction to global and plant diversity (in Lithuanian). Lutute Publishers, Kaunas. 151 pp. Puplesis*, R. & Diškus, A. (2003) The Nepticuloidea & Tischerioidea (Lepidoptera) – a global review, with strategic regional revisions. Lutute Publishers, Kaunas. 512 pp. Puplesis*, R., Diškus, A. & Robinson G.S. (2002a) New Neotropical Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera) from the western Amazonian rainforest and the Andes of Ecuador. Bulletin of the Natural History Museum (Entomology), 71 (1), 19–58. Puplesis*, R., Diškus, A., Robinson, G.S. & Onore, G. (2002b) A review and checklist of the Neotropical Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera). Bulletin of the Natural History Museum (Entomology), 71 (1), 59–76. Puplesis*, R. & Robinson, G.S. (2000) A review of the Central and South American Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera) with special reference to Belize. Bulletin of the Natural History Museum (Entomology), 69 (1), 3–114. Šimkevičiūtė, A., Stonis, J.R. & Diškus, A. (2009) Taxonomic checklist of Nepticulidae of Mexico, with the description of three new species from the Pacific Coast (Insecta, Lepidoptera). Acta Zoologica Lituanica, 19 (4), 268–277. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/v10043-009-0037-0 Stonis, J.R. & Remeikis, A. (2011) Acalyptris platani (Müller-Rutz) in the Crimea, Ukraine – the Easternmost record of the Sub-mediterranean species in Europe (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Nepticulidae). Acta Zoologica Lituanica, 21 (2), 89–95. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/v10043-011-0011-5

(* Stonis, J.R., formerly Puplesis, R.)

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