urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 6E446B8C-E5BC-4FAF-8CA0-F92DF9A8733E
Figs 9–11, 53–69
Tischeria sp. 6 – Lewis et al. 2002: 872.
External characters are not sufficient for the identification of this species. In the male genitalia, the presence of a unique pseudotranstilla (Figs 61, 63–64), a shield-like lobe on the valva (Figs 57, 60), a bifid dorsal lobe of the uncus (Fig. 54) and the unique phallus (Fig. 59) distinguish Astrotischeria scutifera sp. nov. from other congeneric species. In the female genitalia, the strongly reduced ovipositor lobes make this species similar to the other Malvaceae-feeding species of Astrotischeria (which make up a minority of the genus); however, unlike A. omissa (Braun, 1927) or A. heliopsisella (Chambers, 1875), females of A. scutifera sp. nov. do not possess thickened tooth-like projections or curved hooks distally on the ovipositor.
The species name is derived from the Latin ʻ scutum ʼ (a ʻshieldʼ) and ʻ fero ʼ (ʻto bearʼ, ʻto carryʼ) in reference to the valva possessing a shield-like lobe in the male genitalia.
Holotype
BELIZE • ♂; Cayo District, Chiquibul Forest Reserve, Las Cuevas; 16°43′53″ N, 88°59′11″ W; alt. 550 m; 22 Sep. 1997; O.T. Lewis leg.; mining larva on Sida glabra Mill. (Malvaceae); field card no. 115-22/9; genitalia slide no. 010316175♂; NHMUK 010289214.
Paratypes
BELIZE • 4 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype; 22 Sep.–21 Nov. 1997 and 3–14 Jul. 1998; O.T. Lewis leg.; field card nos 202-2/10♂, 4236-3/7♂, 205-23/9♂, 188-23/9♂, 113-22/9♀, 196-23/9♀, 233-24/9♀, 519-9/10♀, 29.002-1/10♀, 23.080-14/7♀, 31.009-21/11♀; genitalia slide nos 010316174♂, 010316176♂, 010316177♂, 010316178♀, 010316179♀, 010316180♀; NHMUK 010289215 to 010289225.
Male
EXTERNAL CHARACTERS (Figs 9–10). Forewing length 2.5–3.0 mm; wingspan 5.4–6.5 mm (n = 5). Head: palpus cream, frons ochre cream; frontal tuft comprised of lamellar, golden cream scales; collar pale brown, comprised of lamellar, cream-tipped scales; antenna approximately ½ of forewing; flagellum pale grey. Thorax pale brownish grey, laterally sometimes ochre; tegula pale brownish grey. Forewing variable, densely speckled with dark grey scales and irregular, pale ochre to bright ochre spots or a band along fold; sometimes, instead a band or spots, ochre scales form only a line along fold; fringe grey; fringe line often irregular, indistinctive, comprised of a few dark brown scales; forewing underside with some purple iridescence, entirely covered with dark grey scales, without spots or androconia. Hindwing and fringe grey-brown on upper side and underside, without androconia. Legs glossy, with purple iridescence, pale grey or grey to yellowish cream. Abdomen dark brown on upper side and underside, with purple and blue iridescence on upper side; genital plates greyish cream to pale grey; anal tufts large, grey to yellowish grey.
MALE GENITALIA (Figs 53–64). Capsule 780–830 µm long, 340–445 µm wide. Uncus with long, bifid dorsal lobes (Figs 54, 63) and very short, rounded ventral lobes (Fig. 55); medial excavation of uncus shallow. Valva 500–620 µm long; basally with a shield-like lobe (Figs 57, 60) and a distinctive, basally wide, apically pointed dorsal lobe (Fig. 64). Anellus replaced with a unique structure which we name here a pseudotranstilla (Figs 61, 63–64). Ventral lobe of vinculum large, distally rounded (Figs 63–64) or almost triangular (Figs 56–57). Phallus 580 µm long, apically with two bifid lobes (Fig. 59), basally widened (Figs 56–57, 59).
Female
EXTERNAL CHARACTERS (Fig. 11). Forewing length 3.0– 3.1 mm; wingspan 6.6–6.8 mm (n = 3). Similar to male but ochre scales of forewing prevail and form large ochre spots. On underside, abdomen covered with ochre cream medially and distally, without anal tufts. Otherwise, similar to male.
FEMALE GENITALIA (Figs 65–69). Abdominal apex slender, with two caudal papillae (Fig. 65). Genitalia 1570 µm long. Ovipositor lobes reduced (absent) (Fig. 66). Posterior and anterior apophyses almost equal in length (Figs 66, 68); prela comprised of three pairs of rod-like projections (Figs 66–68). Corpus bursae very long and narrow, distally oval-shaped (Fig. 69), pectinations indistinctive. Accessory sac inconspicuous; ductus spermathecae very slender, with numerous large coils (Fig. 69).
Host plant: Sida glabra Mill. (Malvaceae Juss.). Larvae mine leaves in September to November. The leaf mine is a white, opaque blotch; as the larva matures it causes the leaf to distort or curl. This species was listed as ‘ Tischeria sp. 6’ by Lewis et al. (2002). Of 353 mines successfully reared, 189 produced parasitoids (53.5% parasitism).
Based on reared specimens, adults occur throughout the year.
So far this species is known from a single locality in Belize, Chiquibul Forest Reserve, Las Cuevas, at an elevation of about 550 m.