Phyllonorycter acanthus Davis & Deschka 2001

Phyllonorycter acanthus

ADULT (Figure 37).—Length of forewing: 2.7–3.6 mm. Small moths with slender golden brown forewings with a large basal-dorsal white spot, five white costal strigulae, and three white dorsal strigulae. Male genitalia with symmetrical valvae. Larva on Salix.

Head: Vertex rough, with largely white, sometimes heavily mixed with brown, piliform scales; frons smooth, lustrous white. Antenna ringed with light brown dorsally, entirely white ventrally. Labial palpus white dorsally, mostly brown ventrally.

Thorax: Dorsum mostly white, often with suffusion of pale brown near center of mesonotum and over tegula. Venter lusterous white. Forewing light golden brown heavily marked with white as follows: a large, basal-dorsal spot usually with faint brown suffusion near center; five costal strigulae with basal two slanted obliquely toward apex; three dorsal strigulae with basal two the broadest and most oblique, third dorsal strigula usually connecting fourth costal strigula to form a thin band across outer fifth of wing; most strigulae margined basad with dark brown; a more or less distinct, dark brown subapical spot present; fringe gray. Hindwing uniformly gray. Legs dark grayish brown dorsally, becoming progressively paler on mid- and hindlegs, with white banding dorsally on tibia and at apices of tarsal segments; entirely white ventrally.

Abdomen: Grayish brown dorsally, white ventrally; conspicuous sex-scaling absent. Seventh sternite of female moderately rough; anterior margin without follicles, smooth, except for rugose lateral angles (Figures 450, 451). Eighth sternite of male elongate, triangular, tapering to narrowly rounded caudal apex (Figure 252).

Male Genitalia (Figures 254, 256): Vinculum U-shaped. Transtilla moderately robust, quadrate. Valvae symmetrical, moderately long, broadest near middle, terminating in a minute, apical process bearing longitudinal ridges and an apical pore (Figure 312); a dense, rugose cluster of short, nonarticulated spines located immediately basad to subapical cluster of more elongate spinose setae (Figures 310, 311). Anellus completely membranous. Aedoeagus slender, elongate, approximately twice the length of eighth sternite, with a short subapical lobe.

Female Genitalia (Figures 433, 434): Accessory bursa well developed, ductus approximately two-thirds the length of ductus bursae, both uniting at anterior end of elongate, tubular antrum that extends about one-third the length of ductus bursae, or ~0.5 mm in length. Signum circular, with a pair of minute spines; a secondary, faintly sclerotized oval plate also present at anterior end.

MAP 5.—Distribution of Phyllonorycter acanthus, P. erugatus, and P. mildredae.

LARVA.—Not examined.

LARVAL MINE (Figure 25).—As illustrated.

PUPA (Figures 195–203).—Maximum length 3.7 mm, width 0.8 mm. Vertex with triangular cocoon cutter similar to P. apparella. Forewing and antenna extending to A6; hindleg to A8. Dorsum of A2–A8 almost completely covered with dense concentration of small to minute, scattered spines, the largest situated cephalad; intersegmental surfaces reticulate as in Figure 199. Caudal half of sternum A7 with a slightly raised area (accessory cremaster) bearing 3 or 4 laterally projecting spines, usually 1 or 2 on each side (Figure 200). Cremaster consisting of two pairs of bilateral hooks with broad bases; ventral pair more separated than dorsal pair (Figure 202). A9 with sternum abruptly constricting to flattened A10 (Figure 201).

HOLOTYPE.—Mexico: Durango, E1 Salto, 2100 m, ; e. 26–31 Jul 1980 [e.=emerged], G. Deschka, mine in Salix sp. [bonplandiana], zucht nr. 1516, 25 Jul 1980, slide USNM 30779 (GD 1704) (USNM).

PARATYPES.—MEXICO: DURANGO: Same data as holotype: 3. JALISCO: Ajijic, 1700 m: 2, 1 Aug 1980, e. 2–3 Aug 1980, G. Deschka, mine in Salix sp. [bonplandiana], zucht nr. 1521; E1 Salto, 1590 m: 3, 3, 30 Jul 1980, e. 2–5 Aug 1980, G. Deschka, mine in Salix sp. [bonplandiana], zucht nr. 1520, slide GD 1687. MICHOACAN: Paricutin, 2000 m: 1, 2, 11 Aug 1980, e. 12–29 Aug 1980, G. Deschka, mine in Salix sp. [bonplandiana], zucht nr. 1526, slide USNM 22740 (USNM). Paratypes deposited in GD and USNM.

HOST (Table 1).—Salix bonplandiana Kunth.

FLIGHT PERIOD.—August; univoltine.

DISTRIBUTION (Map 5).—This species ranges in scattered riparian habitats in otherwise generally arid, montane regions of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt of Jalisco and Michoacan.

ETYMOLOGY.—The specific name is derived from the Greek acanthus (thorny) in reference to the short, apomorphic spine cluster on the male valva.

Phyllonorycter acanthus is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is found in scattered riparian habitats in otherwise generally arid, montane regions of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt of Jalisco and Michoacán in Mexico.

The length of the forewings is 2.7–3.6 mm. Adults are on wing in August in one generation.

The larvae mostly feed on Salix bonplandiana mining the leaves of their host plant.

Phyllonorycter acanthus là một loài bướm đêm thuộc họ Gracillariidae. Nó được tìm thấy ở scattered riparian habitats in otherwise generally arid, montane regions of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt of Jalisco và Michoacan in México.

Chiều dài cánh trước là 2.7-3.6 mm. Con trưởng thành bay vào tháng 8 làm một đợt.

The larvae mostly feed on Salix bonplandiana. Chúng cuộn lá làm tổ.