Philodoria sp. 7 of Johns et al. (2018)

Figs. 39B, 41F, G, 42F, 43F.

Philodoria sp. 7: Johns et al. 2018: fig. 2.

Material examined. 2♂, Kokee, Kauai, 2.vii.2015 (stored), C.A.Johns leg., host: Lysimachia kalalauensis, 15.vi.2015, CJ451ab, SK754♂, SK755♂ in BPBM. Not much remains of these two specimens: 1 specimen, ‘CJ451a’, mounted by placing two wings without mountant under a coverslip: half of right forewing and the half of one hindwing; 1 specimen, ‘CJ451b’, mounted by placing three wings without mountant under a coverslip: 3/4 left forewing and two half of hindwings.

Additional material. 3 adults (CJ-451/AHE_20) entirely sacrificed for molecular analysis (Johns et al. 2018: fig. 2): they are same series and data as the two adults mentioned above (CJ451 ab).

Diagnosis. Similar to P. lysimachiella Swezey, but the male genitalia differed slightly, i.e. the specimens have rather broad dorsal process of valva and round saccus (Figs. 41F, G, 42F).

Adult. Head, antenna, thorax, and legs unknown. Forewing shiny, metallic bronze with ocherous-orange patches, basal 1/4 missing and damaged: a large tp after the middle to costal 3/4, distinctly narrowing in the dorsum, extending to dorsal 2/3, containing white cs; one white band on the middle of the first bronze color band (bb 2), another on costa to the middle of second band (bb 3), dorsally suffused with shining black scales.

Male genitalia (Figs. 39A, 41F, G, 42F, 43F) (n=2). Capsule 960–970 µm. Tegumen same length as valva; valva 610–640 µm long, very broad, having a dorsal process, rounded toward apex (Fig. 41F, G). Saccus short and digitiform in ventral view (Fig. 42F). Phallus 700 µm long and almost straight in lateral view with two series of minute cornuti in vesica (Fig. 43F).

Female genitalia Unknown.

Distribution. Kauai. Host plants. Primulaceae: Lysimachia kalalauensis Skottsb.

Biology. Unknown, but it is presumably similar to that of P. molokaiensis.

(BMNH(E)1621109) in NHMUK, F P. limahuliensis sp. n. holotype male, G Paratype male. Scale bar 1 mm.

Remarks. Swezey (1928: 28) mentioned in a description of P. molokaiensis that “leaf mines have been collected on two occasions on Lysimachia hillebrandii on the high plateau of Kauai, but no moths were reared from them; probably when reared at some future time this will be another closely related species”. This Kauai Lysimachia miner might be P. sp. 7. We investigated two Kauai endangered Lysimachia populations. L. daphnoides in Alakai swamp and an individual plant of L. iniki that fell off of the headwater cliff wall at Blue Hole, but no leaf mines were found. L. iniki only occurs on the high cliff walls and is extremely difficult to access. We observed leaf mines on Lysimachia glutenosa at Kokee, but never found any fresh mines with larvae. Four (sex unknown) adults were reared from L. glutenosa at Kalalau, 9.viii. 2014 (stored), K. Bustamente leg., CJ345 /AHE_10, but they were sacrificed for molecular analysis. Both host plant species noted above should be further examined for possible undocumented Philodoria mines.