Designation of a new family group name, Tonzidae fam. nov., for the genus Tonza (Lepidoptera, Yponomeutoidea), based on immature stages of Tonza citrorrhoa

Abstract

Abstract. The systematic position of Tonza Walker, 1864 is re-evaluated, based on the characteristics of immature stages and DNA barcodes. Larvae and pupae of Tonza citrorrhoa Meyrick, 1905 are described and illustrated for the first time. Larvae of this species form a loose web among the leaves and branches of the host plant, Putranjiva matsumurae Koidz. (Putranjivaceae Endl.). The immature stages of Tonza exhibit four unique apomorphies including: in the larva, the prolegs on A5 and A6 absent, and the seta L2 on the A1-A8 very small; in the pupa, four minute knobs are positioned in the middle portion on abdominal segments V and VI; while its caudal processes possess a W-shaped spine with numerous minute spines. These characteristics clearly distinguish Tonza from other yponomeutoid families and hence, we propose a new family group name, Tonzidae Kobayashi & Sohn fam. nov., for the genus Tonza. Existing DNA barcode data suggest a relationship with Glyphipterigidae Stainton, 1854. The family level status of Tonzidae fam. nov. provides a hypothesis that needs to be tested with larger molecular data.

Sex dimorphism in pupae and adults of the specialist Ipomoea batatas defoliator Bedellia somnulentella (Lepidoptera: Bedelliidae)

“…Anal pore absents in the last three abdominal segments of B. somnulentella pupae, of different sizes collected on I. batatas plants, makes sexing di cult at this stage. This differs from reports of this structure in other Ditrysia species, such as in pupae of the microlepidopteran Tonza citrorrhoa Meyrick, 1905 (Lepidoptera: Tonzidae) in the ninth abdominal segment with a distinct morphology between females and males, allowing sexing this insect (Kobayashi et al, 2018). Anal pores, with a variable shape between immature females and males, were reported in pupae of the microlepidopteran Tuta absoluta Meyrick, 1907 (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), with an anal ssure in the eighth abdominal segment of the former and in the tenth in the latter, as a dimorphism in this stage (Genc, 2016).…”

DNA barcodes reveal deeply neglected diversity and numerous invasions of micromoths in Madagascar

“…Of the up to 47 different micromoth families found, Dryadaulidae, Bucculatricidae, Bedelliidae, Batrachedridae, and Blastobasidae are newly reported for Madagascar (Table 2). Other families, namely Micropterigidae, Opostegidae, Tonzidae, and Eriocottidae, have been previously reported from Madagascar, but they have no described species (Krüger 2007;Lees and Minet 2003;Davis and Stonis 2007;Gibbs 2016;Kobayashi et al 2018).…”