Figs 30–31, 132–134
Tischeria pulverea Walsingham, 1897: 145.
Coptotriche pulverea – Stonis et al. 2008: 165–166, figs 1, 2a–b, 3a–e.
External characters are not sufficient for the identification of this species. In the male genitalia, Coptotriche pulverea resembles C. forsteroniae Stonis & Diškus, 2008; however, Coptotriche pulverea is distinguishable from the latter and all other Coptotriche by the extremely short, rod-like vinculum and the gradually narrowed, tulip-shaped apex of the phallus (in C. forsteroniae the apex of the phallus is rhomboid). The host plant, Terminalia amazonia (J.F.Gmel.) Exell (Combretaceae R.Br.) makes C. pulverea unique among all other Tischeriidae (the morphologically similar C. forsteroniae feeds on Forsteronia myriantha Donn.Sm., Apocynaceae Juss.).
BELIZE • 1 ♂; Cayo District, Chiquibul Forest Reserve, Las Cuevas; 16°43′53″ N, 88°59′11″ W; alt. 550 m; 3–16 Apr. 1998; R. Puplesis and S.R. Hill leg.; at light; genitalia slide no. 010316204♂; NHMUK 010289321 • 1 ♂; Cayo District, San Ignacio, secondary forest; 17°09′15″ N, 89°04′04″ W; alt. 85 m; 17–18 Apr. 1998; R. Puplesis and S.R. Hill leg.; at light; NHMUK 010289323 • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; NHMUK 010289324 • 1 ♂; same locality as for preceding; 13 Mar. 1998; O.T. Lewis leg.; mining larvae on Terminalia amazonia (J.F.Gmel.) Exell (Combretaceae); field card no. 6.040-13/3; genitalia slide nos 010316203♂; NHMUK 010289322.
This species was redescribed and illustrated by Stonis et al. (2008: 165, 166, figs 1, 2a–b, 3a–e). Here, on the basis of the material from Belize, we provide the first photographic documentation of the male genitalia of the species (Figs 132–134).
Host plant: Terminalia amazonia (J.F.Gmel.) Exell (Combretaceae). Larvae mine leaves in March. The leaf mine starts as a corridor, broadening into a blotch as the larva develops. The leaf mine sample was not preserved by the collector with the reared specimen and is therefore not documented in detail.
Based on specimens collected at light, adults occur in April. Based on reared specimens in Belize and the Caribbean (lectotype), adults also occur in March.
This species was described from the Caribbean (Virgin Is., USA) (Walsinhgam 1897) and was recently recorded from Belize (Stonis et al. 2008).