University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln USDA Systematic Entomology Laboratory Entomology Collections, Miscellaneous 2009 Redescription and Immature Stages of Promalactis Suzukiella (Matsumura) (Gelechioidea: Oecophoridae), A New Introduction into the United States David Adamski Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 168, Washington, D.C., 20013- 7012, U.S.A., [email protected] Gary F. Hevel Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, P.O. Box 37012, NHB - CE716, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012, [email protected] Alan Pultyniewicz 6148 Agail Place, Columbia, MD 21045 Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/systentomologyusda Part of the Entomology Commons Adamski, David; Hevel, Gary F.; and Pultyniewicz, Alan, "Redescription and Immature Stages of Promalactis Suzukiella (Matsumura) (Gelechioidea: Oecophoridae), A New Introduction into the United States" (2009). USDA Systematic Entomology Laboratory. 51. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/systentomologyusda/51 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Entomology Collections, Miscellaneous at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in USDA Systematic Entomology Laboratory by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. PROC. ENTOMOL. SOC. WASH. 111(1), 2009, pp. 204–214 REDESCRIPTION AND IMMATURE STAGES OF PROMALACTIS SUZUKIELLA (MATSUMURA) (GELECHIOIDEA: OECOPHORIDAE), A NEW INTRODUCTION INTO THE UNITED STATES DAVID ADAMSKI,GARY F. HEVEL, AND ALAN PULTYNIEWICZ (DA) Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, P.O. Box 37012, NHB - E523, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012 (e-mail: [email protected]); (GFH) Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, P.O. Box 37012, NHB - CE716, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012 (e-mail: [email protected]); (AP) 6148 Agail Place, Columbia, MD 21045 Abstract.—Promalactis suzukiella (Matsumura) was discovered independently several times over the past 5 years throughout the northeastern United States by private collectors and biophotographers. These discoveries represent the first records of this species in the United States and validate its approximate distributional range. Color photographs and a redescription of the adult, including the male and female genitalia, are provided. The larva and pupa of Promalactis are described in detail for the first time, with scanning electron micrographs and chaetotaxal maps. A lectotype for Borkhausenia suzukiella Matsumura, 1931, is designated herein. The importance of ‘‘backyard collecting’’ and amateur biophotography is emphasized, and participants are encouraged to continue the documentation of their findings through meetings, publication, and the internet. Key Words: Asia, invasive species, Japan, rotting wood, tree bark Species of Promalactis are small 1959, Moriuti 1982). Larvae are known moths, usually brilliantly patterned with to feed under bark of rotting logs. brownish-orange ground color scales, The purpose of this study is to narrow white wing bands, small margin- document Promalactis suzukiella (Mat- al patches or spots, and occasionally sumura) (Oecophoridae) as a new intro- with some metallic or shiny scaled areas. duction in the United States, provide There are about sixty species known evidence that it is established throughout worldwide, and they are found in the many of the north Atlantic states along Eastern Palearctic (Lvovsky 1976, 1985, the east coast, and present details on its 1986a, 1986b) and Indo-Asian regions, biology that are similar to those of its from India to Far Eastern Asia (Meyrick Asian congeners. 1908a, 1908b, 1922, 1931, 1935), includ- Evidence leading to the identity of the ing China, Korea (Park 1980, 1981; Park moth, Promalactis suzukiella, and its and Park 1998), and Japan (Matsumura biology came from studies of Michael 1931, Inoue 1954, Issiki 1957, Kuroko Gates and Mark Metz of the United States Department of Agriculture, Agri- * Accepted by David R. Smith cultural Research Service, Systematic VOLUME 111, NUMBER 1 205 Entomology Laboratory, National Mu- made using a dissecting microscope seum of Natural History, Smithsonian (reflected light) with a calibrated micro- Institution, Washington, D.C. A speci- meter. Genitalia were dissected as de- men of Promalactis suzukiella was reared scribed by Clarke (1941), except Mercu- while trying to obtain specimens of rochrome and chlorazol black were used Balcha indica (Mani & Kaul) (Eupelmi- as stains. The Methuen Handbook of dae), a parasitoid wasp of the emerald Colour (Kornerup and Wanscher 1978) ash borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire was used as a color standard. All (Buprestidae), and specimens of Endo- voucher specimens of adults and imma- mychus flavipes Ashmead (Pteromali- ture stages generated from this study are dae), a parasitoid wasp of Endomychus deposited in the National Museum of biguttatus Say (Endomychidae), from Natural History, Smithsonian Institu- rotting logs. Although the moth’s iden- tion, Washington, D.C. (USNM). tity was not known at the time, the site (39u069300N, 77u019300W) with the log Promalactis suzukiella (Matsumura that Gates obtained had a large wood- 1931) pile, which was examined later for (Figs. 1–18) lepidopterous larvae by the authors. Diagnosis.—In the United States, Approximately sixty larvae were dis- Promalactis suzukiella may be confused covered under bark of rotting logs. with Callima argenticinctella Clemens Larvae were collected using soft forceps (5 Epicallima) due to similarities in size or a camel’s hair brush and placed into and maculation of the forewings. How- diet cups partially filled with a standard sugarcane borer diet (Southland Prod- ever, P. suzukiella is distinguished by uctsH, Lake Village, AR). Representative having a white frons of the head and forewings with broader white basal and larvae and pupae were boiled in H2O and preserved in 70% EtOH for later exam- submedian bands, a larger white costal ination. The remaining pupae were patch near the distal 2/3, and a conspic- allowed to complete development. Newly uous brownish-orange ground color. emerged adults were frozen and later Redescription.—Head: Vertex pale spread and double-mounted. Only adults brownish orange; frontoclypeus white; of Promalactis suzukiella were obtained scape of antenna white, flagellum with from the rearing efforts. alternating black and white bands on For SEM study, larvae and pupae were each flagellomere; outer surface of labial cleaned in a full-strength solution of all- palpus with segments 1–2 pale brownish purpose cleaner, Formula 4092 deter- orange, segment 3 brown with white gent, and subsequently dehydrated in apex, inner surface as above but paler; increasing concentrations of alcohol to proboscis white. Thorax: Tegula and absolute alcohol. After dehydration, spec- mesonotum pale brownish orange or imens were critical point dried using a brown on anterior 1/3, pale brownish Tousimis critical point dryer, mounted on orange on posterior 2/3. Foreleg with SEM stubs, and coated with gold-palla- coxa and femur gray, tibia gray with 3 dium (40/60%), using a Cressington white spots (equally spaced) on anterior sputter coater. The ultrastructure of the surface, tarsomere-1 white, tarsomere-2 larva and pupa was studied with an gray, tarsomere-3 white, tarsomeres 4–5 Amray 1810 scanning electron micro- black; midleg with femur pale yellowish scope at an accelerating voltage of 10 kV. gray, tibia gray with a narrow subapical Gross morphological observations and band and apical band, spurs gray; measurements of larvae and pupae were tarsomeres as above; hindleg with femur 206 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON Figs. 1–3. Adults of Promalactis suzukiella (Matsumura). 1, A female from Prince Georges County, Maryland. 2, A female from same locality as above, showing variation in size of costal spot and fusing of basal and submedian bands. 3, Live adult on leaf. white, tibia pale gray intermixed with white. Forewing (Figs. 1–3) Length 4.5– pale brownish-orange scales, tarsomeres 7.0 mm (n 5 161), brownish orange with 1–2 pale gray intermixed with pale a short, narrow, oblique band from base brownish-orange scales, tarsomeres 3–5 of CuP to 1/2 distance from margin; VOLUME 111, NUMBER 1 207 Figs. 4–5. Male genitalia of Promalactis suzukiella (Matsummura). 4, Genital capsule. 5, Aedeagus. submedian oblique band white, wider stricted subapically; vinculum with elon- anteriorly, slightly curved inwardly on gate saccus; juxta a rodlike support with posterior 1/2; or rarely, basal band may two short, lateral arms apically; valva be fused posteriorly with submedian narrow basally, gradually widened dis- band, forming a chevron-shaped mark- tally; costa with a small, setose, down- ing (Fig. 2); a large white costal spot on curved lobe near 2/3 length, and a short, distal 2/3 connecting posteriorly with a setose, digitate apical process; outer recurrent shiny, brown band; few to margin broadly scalloped inwardly; ven- several small, shiny brown spots along tral part of valva acutely upturned submargin; outer fringe pale brownish inwardly to beyond middle, with inner orange. Undersurface brownish gray. margin setose mesially, distoventral mar- Hindwing pale gray near base, gradually gin extending dorsolaterally, forming a darkening to apex.