Schistophila Chrétien

Schistophila Chrétien, 1899: 114.

Type species: Schistophila laurocistella Chrétien, 1899, by monotypy.

Description. Imago. Labial palpus with third segment shorter than second. Clypeus with ventral margin rounded. Antenna simple in female, thickened and slightly serrate in male. Ocellus absent. Posterior area of sitophore with four campaniform sensilla in asymmetrical trapezoid; anterior area with four campaniform sensilla. Forewing (length/width ratio 4.6) with tufts of raised scales; R5 and M1 stalked, M2 and M3 separate, CuA1 and CuA2 present; median fascia present or absent, if present, transverse or directed from base of costa toward posterior margin. Hindwing (length/width ratio 4.8) with R5 and M1 stalked, M2 and M3 separate, M3 and CuA1 separate. Male abdominal sternum VIII with posterior margin rounded and slightly emarginate mesially; tergum VIII lingulate, with pair of small anterolateral hair pencils basally. Female abdominal segment VIII without modifications.

Male genitalia (Fig. 37): uncus small, suboval with incised apex, with moderately strong, long setae laterally; gnathos horn shaped, subequal in length with uncus; tegumen with distinct emargination anteromesially, with broadly rounded pedunculi; costal part of valva curved, with broadly bulbous base; saccular part of valva distant from costal part, digitate, longer than costal part; tegumen basal width/length ratio 0.8; phallus curved ventrad, slender, without cornuti.

Female genitalia: apophyses posteriores short, about 2 x length of apophyses anteriores; apophyses anteriores about 1.5 x length of abdominal segment VIII; sternum surrounding ostium bursae membranous; antrum indistinct; ductus bursae without microtrichia; corpus bursae small; signum absent.

Larva. Length 4–5 mm; body yellowish or greenish, with abdominal segments flattened; head dark brown with black crown; prothoracic shield large and brown, pale anteriorly and darker posteriorly; pinacula indistinct; venter of abdominal segments with reddish brown, rhomboid spots. Leaf mining (Chrétien 1899).

Pupa. Undescribed.

Diagnosis. Schistophila species resemble Teleiodes in the wing pattern, but differ by having the saccular part of valva present and the signum absent.

Hosts. Cistaceae: Cistus laurifolius L. (S. laurocistella). (Chrétien 1899; Huemer and Karsholt 1999).

Diversity and distribution. Schistophila has one species in western Europe (Huemer and Karsholt 1999).