BIOLOGIJA. 2020. Vol. 66. No. 1. P. 10–20 © Lietuvos mokslų akademija, 2020

Diagnostics based on the juxta morphology reveals a new species of Tischeria Zeller (Lepidoptera, Tischeriidae) from the Caucasus

Adam Klasiński1,

Jonas Rimantas Stonis2,

Andrius Remeikis2

1 Częstochowskie Koło Entomologiczne przy Muzeum Częstochowskim, Aleja NMP 47, 42-217, Częstochowa, Poland

2 Institute of Ecology, Nature Research Centre and Baltic-American Biotaxonomy Institute, Akademijos St.  2, Vilnius 08412, Lithuania

We describe a new species, Tischeria caucasica Klasiński & Stonis, sp. nov., a trumpet moth (Tischeridae) recently discovered from Georgia, the  Caucasus. We briefly discuss the  diagnostics of T. caucasica, an outstanding new species possessing an extremely long and distally bifurcated juxta. The new species is illustrated with photographs of the adults, male and female genitalia, and the type locality.

Keywords: leaf miners, new species, Tischeria caucasica, trumpet moths

INTRODUCTION

Tischeriidae, or trumpet moths, represent a small but important family of leaf-mining Lepidoptera. Trumpet moths are almost cosmopolitan: various species are known from all continents except Australia and Antarctica. They are represented in very diverse terrestrial ecosystems, from the tropics to the temperate regions; however, the family is more abundant in subtropical and tropical areas (Stonis  et  al., 2018). For morphological and biological characterization of Tischerridae, we recommend the monographs by Braun 1972 and Puplesis, Diškus 2003 and the most recent papers by Lees, Stonis, 2007; Stonis, Diškus, 2007, 2008; Stonis et al., 2008, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019; Mey, 2010; Diškus et al., 2014; Diškus, Stonis, 2015; and Xu et al., 2017, 2018.

In May 2019, the first author, Adam Klasiński, conducted a  fieldwork in central Georgia (Figs. 1–5), Kartli, near Kura River (Fig. 4). The landscape was rather denuded, semiarid, steppe-like (Figs.  2, 5), currently used mostly as pastures, where bushes or young trees were scanty and occurring mostly in ravines (Fig.  3). During the fieldwork, a series of tischeriids were collected among many other moths. Externally, the collected specimens resembled Tischeria ekebladella (Bjerkander, 1795), a  species widely distributed in Europe and reported from the Caucasus (Diškus, Puplesis, 2003). However, our detail examination of the male genitalia showed that the juxta strongly differed from those of Tischeria ekebladella or another similar species, T.  ekebladoides Puplesis  &  Diškus, 2003 (Fig. 6).

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Figs. 1–5. Type locality and habitat of Tischeria caucasica Klasiński & Stonis, sp. nov. 1, 2, 4, 5 – type locality, Georgia, Kartli, Gomi, 41°54’19.2”N, 44°22’50.7”E; 3 – habitat, a stand of bushes and young trees occurring in a ravine, elevation 570–710 m

Below we name and describe this new species, Tischeria caucasica sp. nov., characterized mostly by a unique juxta in the male genitalia as well as some unique but not so conspicuous characters of the female genitalia. We provide a detail documentation of genital structures of the male genitalia as well as photographs of the adults and the female genitalia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The description of the new species is based on the  material collected by Adam Klasiński in Georgia in 2019. The majority of the type material, including the holotype and single available female, will be deposited in the collection of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia (ZIN). In addition, two male paratypes of Tischeria caucasica will be deposited in the collection of the  Muzeum Częstochowskie, Częstochowa, Poland (MUZC) and other two in the private collection of Adam Klasiński, Częstochowa, ul. Łukasińskiego 88/8, Poland (PCAK).

Collecting methods and protocols for species identification and description are outlined in Puplesis, Diškus (2003) and Stonis et al. (2014). Permanent preparations on microscope slides were photographed and studied with a  Leica DM2500 microscope and Leica DFC420 digital camera. Adults were photographed using a Leica S6D stereoscopic microscope with a  Leica DFC290 digital camera attached.

DESCRIPTION OF TISCHERIA CAUCASICA KLASIŃKI & STONIS, SP. NOV.

Type material. Holotype: ♂, GEORGIA, Kartli, Gomi, 41°54’19.2”N, 44°22’50.7”E, elevation 570–710  m, at light, 5–21.v.2019, leg. Adam Klasiński, genitalia slide no.  RA1080 (ZIN). Paratypes: 2 ♂, 1 ♀, same label data as holo-type, genitalia slide nos. AK5144♂, RA1081♂, RA1082♀ (ZIN); 2  ♂, same label data as holotype, genitalia slide no. AK5143 (PCAK); 2 ♂, same label data as holotype (MUZC).

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Fig. 6. Diagnostics of Tischeria caucasica Klasiński & Stonis, sp. nov. based on the juxta in the male genitalia (a comparison with the most resembling species, T. ekebladella and T. ekebladoides)

Diagnosis. Externally, Tischeria caucasica sp. nov. can be confused with many other uniform Tischeria species, including T. ekebladella (Bjerkander, 1795) and T. ekebladoides Puplesis & Diškus. In the male genitalia, the unique, very long and distally bifurcated juxta distinguishes the  new species from all known congeneric species, including the  most similar T.  ekebladella and T.  ekebladoides (Fig.  6). In the  female genitalia, this species also differs from all congeneric species, including the most resembling T. ekebladella, T. sichotensis Ermolaev, 1986, and T.  ekebladoides by the  combination of a weakly chitinized anterior margin of antrum (Fig. 32) with unique membranous part (Fig. 35), and a wide base of the shortest prela (Fig.  33); however, these characters, in comparison to the  male genitalia, are far less conspicuous and less useful for species differentiation.

Male (Figs. 7–12). Forewing length 4.2–4.8 mm; wingspan 9.1–10.1 mm (n = 3). Head: palpi cream; frons golden cream, very glossy; frontal tuft (Figs. 8–10) overlapping the frons, comprised of long, lamellar, yellowish ochre or ochre cream scales; collar (Fig.  8) ochre cream to yellowish ochre, comprised of lamellar scales; antenna much longer than one half the length of forewing; flagellum ochre cream on upper side, dark brown on underside. Thorax ochre cream; tegula ochre cream to yellowish ochre, proximally densely covered with grey scales. Forewing (Figs. 11, 12) densely covered with yellowish ochre to ochre cream scales, apically with some darker, ochre scales; fringe yellowish ochre; fringe line absent; underside of forewing densely covered with dark grey scales. Hindwing dark grey on upper side and underside, however, may look greyish cream depending from the angle of view; fringe grey to ochre cream depending from the angle of view. Legs ochre cream, covered with pale grey scales laterally; forelegs with blackish to grey scales on upper side. Abdomen glossy, with inconspicuous purple iridescence, pale yellowish brown basally, dark grey distally; underside of abdomen predominantly dark yellow-brown; genital plates ochreous cream; anal tufts indistinctive (or partially rubbed), ochreous cream.

Female (Figs. 13, 14). Forewing length about 4.5 mm; wingspan about 9.5 mm (n = 1). Abdomen without anal tufts; otherwise, similar to male.

Male genitalia (Figs. 15–31). Capsule significantly longer (1395–1570  μm) than wide (755–780 μm). Uncus (Fig. 16) with two large lateral lobes. Socii membranous (Fig.  17). Valva (Figs.  18, 29, 30) 940–1035  μm long, narrowing distally; transtilla absent. Juxta (Figs. 15, 18, 21–25, 27, 28, 31) comprised of two shorter (260–360 μm) and two very long (980–1070  μm) horn-like processes (Fig.  6); the latter bifurcated distally and bent basally (see Figs.  21–25). Vinculum with a  triangularly-shaped, slender ventral plate (Figs.  15, 16). Phallus (Figs. 19, 20, 26) 1190–1215 μm long, basally 80–150  μm wide, but broadly bifurcated in apical half (Fig. 20), with weakly chitinized plates on the  top of each branch (Fig. 19).

Female genitalia (Figs. 32–35). Total length about 2700  μm. Antrum elaborated (Fig.  32) but little chitinized anteriorly. The  shortest process of prela with a  wide, plate-like base (Fig.  33). Ductus bursae with spines. Corpus bursae heavily folded but without signum or pectinations (Fig.  34). Ductus spermathecae with about 4–5 large coils.

Bionomics (Figs. 2–5). Host plant is unknown, probably Quercus sp. as the  closely related Tischeria ekebladella is an oak-feeding species (also see Discussion). Larva and leaf mine are unknown; however, as in the case of all other Tischeria species, T. caucasica is supposed to be a leaf-mining insect. Adults were collected at light in May. Otherwise, biology is unknown.

Distribution. Currently known from a single locality in Georgia (the Caucasus), at an elevation of about 570–710 m (Fig. 1).

Etymology. This species is named after the Caucasus where it occurs.

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Figs. 7–14. Adult of Tischeria caucasica Klasiński & Stonis, sp. nov. 7 – male antenna with sensillae trichodea; 8 – frontal tuft, dorsal view; 9, 10 – same, frontal view; 11 – general view of adult, male paratype (ZIN); 12 – right side of the adult, male holotype (ZIN); 13 – same, female paratype (ZIN); 14 – same, details of scaling at different angle of view

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Figs. 15–26. Documentation of the male genitalia of Tischeria caucasica Klasiński & Stonis, sp. nov., holotype, genitalia slide no. RA1080 (ZIN). 15, 18 – general view, with phallus removed; 16 – uncus; 17 – socii; 19, 20 – details of phallus; 21–25 – details of juxta; 26 – phallus, general view

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Figs. 27–31. Documentation of the male genitalia of Tischeria caucasica Klasiński & Stonis, sp. nov. 27, 28 – fragment of capsule with phallus inside, paratype, genitalia slide no. RA1081 (ZIN); 29, 30 – capsule with phallus inside, paratype, genitalia slide no. AK5144 (ZIN); 31 – same, juxta

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Figs. 32–35. Documentation of the female genitalia of Tischeria caucasica Klasiński & Stonis, sp. nov., paratype, genitalia slide no. RA1082 (ZIN). 32 – antrum, without a membranous part; 33 – prela and ovipositor; 34 – general view; 35 – membranous part of antrum and spines on ductus bursae

DISCUSSION

As regards the male genitalia, Tischeria caucasica sp. nov. appears to be an outstanding taxon: a species possessing a very unusual, long and distally bifurcated juxta. In general, the  male genitalic characters of Tischeriidae are well-known for their great taxonomic and systematic value since in Tischeria, the adult scaling or wing venation is only rarely useful because its uniformity. The male genitalia of tischeriids exhibit some diversity and modification across genera and some structures (characters) appear particularly informative and important for species delimitation: a shape of the dorsal processes of the valva and phallus in Astrotischeria Puplesis & Diškus, various modifications of the anellus in Paratischeria Diškus & Stonis, or spines on the “tulip”-shaped phallus in Coptotriche Walsingham. In the  genus Tischeria Zeller, a male genitalic structure widely known as the “juxta” is present in all species (but absent in all other Tischeriidae genera) and, therefore, various modifications of this character are especially useful for species diagnostics and probably for some phylogenetical treatments. It is widely known that the organs of the genitalia of insects are under strong reproductive and evolutionary pressures and, therefore, they hold a wide range of informative morphological characters for taxa at different levels (Nakahara et al., 2019). The long and distally bifurcated juxta of Tischeria caucasica sp. nov. (Fig. 6) appears to be highly derived in comparison with the related species, including the most similar T. ekebladella and T. ekebladoides.

The host plant of Tischeria caucasica sp. nov. was not detected during our study and, therefore, remains unknown. However, it should be noted that all other morphologically similar tischeriids from Europe or East Asia and North America are oak-feeding and associated with various species of Quercus L. In the locality where T. caucasica sp. nov. was collected (Fig. 3), the following Quercus species occur: Q. petraea (Matt.) Liebl., Q. macranthera Fisch. & C. A. Mey. ex Hohen., and Q.  robur  L. The  larvae of the  new species may feed at least on one of them.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE RESEARCH

Contributions to this research are as follows: Adam Klasiński  –  fieldwork and collecting of all adult specimens of the  type series, photographic documentation of the type locality and habitat, proving information and photographs (Figs.  2–5), preparation of genitalia slides of two male paratypes; Jonas Rimantas Stonis  – the concept and design of the research, diagnostics and identification of the new species, writing the manuscript, and technical preparation of all tables of illustrations; Andrius Remeikis – dissection, photographic documentation, and measuring of T.  caucasica  sp.  nov., providing scales on all tables of illustrations, some additional labelling of the  material collected by Adam Klasiński, discussion on diagnostics of Tischeria, compiling the list of references.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The first author thanks Jarosław Klasiński, the  chairman of the  Częstochowskie Koło Entomologiczne (Częstochowa, Poland), for the  fruitful and enjoyable collaboration and great companionship during the  fieldwork in Georgia in 2019.

This research was partially funded by a grant (S-MIP-19-30, “DiagnoStics”) from the  Research Council of Lithuania. Andrius Remeikis is grateful to the  Research Council of Lithuanian for the research stipend he was awarded in 2019.

Received 9 January 2020
Accepted 18 January 2020

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Adam Klasiński, Jonas Rimantas Stonis, Andrius Remeikis

PAGAL GENITALINIŲ STRUKTŪRŲ MORFOLOGIJĄ IDENTIFIKUOTA MOKSLUI NAUJA TISCHERIA ZELLER GENTIES RŪŠIS (LEPIDOPTERA, TISCHERIIDAE), APTINKAMA KAUKAZE

Santrauka

Straipsnyje aprašoma mokslui nauja Tischeria caucasica Klasiński & Stonis rūšis, 2019  m. aptikta Centrinėje Gruzijoje. Trumpai aptariami esminiai diagnostiniai požymiai, leidžiantys identifikuoti šeriuotaūsių (Tischeriidae) taksonus. Pagal genitalinių struktūrų (ypač juxta) morfologiją identifikuota nauja rūšis dydžiu ir forma ženkliai skiriasi nuo anksčiau žinomų giminiškų Tischeria ekebladella ir T. ekebladoides morfologinių struktūrų. Straipsnyje pateikiama išsami naujos rūšies suaugėlių patino ir patelių genitalinių struktūrų morfologijos doku-mentacija. Nors naujos rūšies mitybos augalas nėra nustatytas, tačiau manoma, kad T. caucasica lervos, kaip ir kitų artimų Tischeria rūšių, yra ąžuolų lapų minuotojai, mitybos ryšiais galbūt susiję su tyrimų vietovėje aptiktais Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl., Q. macranthera Fisch. & C. A. Mey. ex Hohen. arba Q. robur L.

Raktažodžiai: lapų minuotojai, nauja rūšis, šeriuotaūsiai, Tischeria caucasica

* Corresponding author. Email: stonis.biotaxonomy@gmail.com