Genera of Tischeriidae (Lepidoptera): a review of the global fauna, with descriptions of new taxa

Abstract

For the first time, genera of leaf mining Tischeriidae of the global fauna are reviewed and four new genera are described: Coptotrichoides Diškus & Stonis, gen. nov., trophically associated with Sapindaceae from Central and South America; Rytietia Diškus, Xu & Dai, gen. nov., trophically associated with Annonaceae from East and South East Asia; Pafazaria Diškus & Stonis, gen. nov., trophically associated with Fabaceae and Malvaceae from East and South East Asia; and Gnathitischeria Diškus, gen. nov., trophically associated with Malvaceae and Asteraceae from Central America. In addition to the descriptions of new genera, all previously described genera (Coptotriche Walsingham, 1890; Dishkeya Stonis, 2020; Tischeria Zeller, 1839; Manitischeria Diškus & Stonis, 2021; Neotischeria Diškus & Stonis, 2021; Paratischeria Diškus & Stonis, 2017; and Astrotischeria Puplesis & Diškus, 2003) are characterized and a pictorial identification key for all 11 genera is provided. Morphological and biological characteristics of all genera are supplemented with some molecular data. We described 12 new species: South East Asian Coptotriche sapaensis Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov.; Central American Coptotrichoides sapindoidum Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov. and Tischeria neokristenseni Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov.; South East Asian Rytietia uncinata Diškus, Xu & Dai, sp. nov., East Asian R. chongyiensis Xu & Dai, sp. nov.; South East Asian Pafazaria capitata Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov. and P. faboidica Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov.; Central American Neotischeria antigua Diškus & Remeikis, sp. nov. and N. subantigua Diškus & Remeikis, sp. nov.; South American Astrotischeria incae Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov.; and Central American Gnathitischeria atitlani Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov. and G. arcana Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov. The taxonomic rank of the East Asian subspecies Tischeria decidua siorkionla Kozlov, 1986 is elevated to species rank: T. siorkionla Kozlov (stat. nov.). The male genitalia of holotypes, paratypes, lectotypes or paralectotypes, or non-type specimens of some little-known species are examined for the first time. We provide the first morphological documentation for the following: Tischeria ceanothi lectotype and paralectotype; T. immaculata (stat. restored) paratype; Coptotrichoides deliquescens (Meyrick) lectotype and paralectotype; lectotypes of Coptotriche aenea (Frey & Boll), Astrotischeria plagifera (Meyrick), A. helianthi (Frey & Boll), and A. ephaptis (Meyrick); Coptotriche berberella (De Prins) paratype; and the first photographic documentation of Tischeria lvoskyi Kozlov holotype. Some non-type specimens deposited at NHMUK, including a few previously neglected species, are also examined and documented, including the American Astrotischeria solidagonifoliella (Clemens) and A. omissa (Braun). Nine new combinations are provided: Coptotrichoides deliquescens (Meyrick, 1915), comb. nov.; C. singularis (Stonis & Diškus) comb. nov.; C. suprafasciata (Diškus & Stonis) comb. nov., C. serjaniphaga (Remeikis & Stonis) comb. nov.; C. braziliensis (Diškus & Stonis) comb. nov.; Pafazaria jingdongensis (Xu & Dai), comb. nov.; Neotischeria explosa (Braun) comb. nov.; N. pallidipennella (Braun) comb. nov.; and Astrotischeria heteroterae (Frey & Boll) comb. nov. The synonymization of Tischeria longeciliata Frey & Boll, 1878 with Astrotischeria helianthi (Frey & Boll, 1878) is confirmed. One new species group, the Tischeria ceanothi group, is established. We also report a new distribution record of T. dodonaea Stainton from the Caucasus, Armenia. Three tables and 569 figures of adult external morphology, male and female genitalia, leaf mines, and cladograms based on molecular characters are provided.

A new distribution record, first host plant record and DNA barcoding of the Neotropical micromoth Astrotischeria karsholti Puplesis & Diškus (Lepidoptera, Tischeriidae)

“…Full length DNA barcodes of Astrotischeria provided by Stonis et al (2023) were downloaded from GenBank ( Benson et al 2012 ) or BOLD to assess the relationships of A. karsholti .…”

“…The widespread micromoth family Tischeriidae ( Lepidoptera ) currently includes 186 species described worldwide, grouped in 11 genera ( Puplesis and Diškus 2003 , Stonis et al 2023 ). Plants belonging to 22 families have been recorded as hosts for their leaf-mining larvae, although each species has a narrow host range ( Puplesis and Diškus 2003 , Stonis et al 2018 , Xu et al 2021 , Stonis et al 2023 ) .…”

“…The widespread micromoth family Tischeriidae ( Lepidoptera ) currently includes 186 species described worldwide, grouped in 11 genera ( Puplesis and Diškus 2003 , Stonis et al 2023 ). Plants belonging to 22 families have been recorded as hosts for their leaf-mining larvae, although each species has a narrow host range ( Puplesis and Diškus 2003 , Stonis et al 2018 , Xu et al 2021 , Stonis et al 2023 ) . The New World genus Astrotischeria Puplesis & Diškus, 2003 can be differentiated from other genera of Tischeriidae by morphological characteristics of the genitalia ( Puplesis and Diškus 2003 ), amongst which the uncus with four lobes and the valva with at least one elaborated dorsal lobe in the male are the most striking ( Stonis et al 2023 ).…”

“…Plants belonging to 22 families have been recorded as hosts for their leaf-mining larvae, although each species has a narrow host range ( Puplesis and Diškus 2003 , Stonis et al 2018 , Xu et al 2021 , Stonis et al 2023 ) . The New World genus Astrotischeria Puplesis & Diškus, 2003 can be differentiated from other genera of Tischeriidae by morphological characteristics of the genitalia ( Puplesis and Diškus 2003 ), amongst which the uncus with four lobes and the valva with at least one elaborated dorsal lobe in the male are the most striking ( Stonis et al 2023 ). Thirty Nearctic and Neotropical species were originally included in this genus, many of which were previously known as members of Tischeria Zeller, 1839 ( Puplesis and Diškus 2003 ).…”

“…Thirty Nearctic and Neotropical species were originally included in this genus, many of which were previously known as members of Tischeria Zeller, 1839 ( Puplesis and Diškus 2003 ). Subsequent studies raised the number of described species to 45 and revealed many others that remain undescribed ( Landry and Roque-Albelo 2004 , Stonis et al 2018 , Stonis et al 2019a , Stonis et al 2019b , Stonis et al 2020a , Stonis et al 2020b , Stonis et al 2020c , Stonis et al 2023 ). The main host plant family of Astrotischeria is Asteraceae , while a few species are associated with members of Malvaceae ( Puplesis and Diškus 2003 , Stonis et al 2023 ).…”