U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Invasive Plant Research Laboratory: Fort Lauderdale, FL
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    Careers


        


                    Outreach
                        Volunteer
                                    Outreach Activities 2019
                                    Outreach Activities 2020
                                    Outreach Activities 2022
                    K.I.N.D. GardenSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Southeast Area Fort Lauderdale, Florida Invasive Plant Research Laboratory Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            DAVIS, D - Smithsonian Instituteitem
                                            MCKAY, F - South American Biological Control Lab(SABCL)item
                                            OLEIRO, M - South American Biological Control Lab(SABCL)item
                                            VITORINO, M - South American Biological Control Lab(SABCL)item
                                            Wheeler, Gregory
  Submitted to: Journal of Lepidopterists Society
                                    Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 7/3/2011
                                    Publication  Date: 8/15/2011
                                    Citation: Davis, D.R., Mckay, F., Oleiro, M., Vitorino, M.D., Wheeler, G.S. 2011. Biology and systematics of the leafmining Gracillariidae of Brazilian pepper tree, Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi, with descriptions of a new genus and four new species. Journal of Lepidopterists Society. 65(2):61-93.Interpretive Summary: Recent surveys in southern Florida, USA, Brazil and Argentina, for biological control agents to assist in the control of the invasive Brazilian peppertree, have discovered several previously unknown species of plant mining moths. Morphological descriptions with summaries of their biology for the following four new species and one new genus are presented: Caloptilia schinusifolia, from Brazil and possibly Argentina; Eucosmophora schinusivora, from Argentina and Brazil; Leurocephala schinusae, new genus and species, from Argentina and Brazil; and Marmara habecki, new species, from Florida, USA. The larvae of all four species exhibit a unique developmental stages where the early stages are sapfeeding and later stages are tissue feeding. Unique specimens representing an additional three species of this group also have been reared from this tree in Argentina or Brazil, but these could not be identified because of inadequate material. Molecular analysis conducted by Paul Hebert and his staff at the Biodiversity Institute of Ontario for Marmara habecki and two morphologically closely related Marmara species, and results from the analysis is summarized herein.
                                Technical Abstract: Recent surveys in southern Florida, USA, Brazil and Argentina, for biological control agents to assist in the control of the invasive Brazilian peppertree, have discovered several previously unknown species of plant mining Lepidoptera of the family Gracillariidae. Morphological descriptions with summaries of their biology for the following four new species and one new genus are presented: Caloptilia schinusifolia Davis and Wheeler, from Brazil and possibly Argentina; Eucosmophora schinusivora Davis and Wheeler, from Argentina and Brazil; Leurocephala schinusae Davis and Mc Kay, new genus and species, from Argentina and Brazil; and Marmara habecki Davis, new species, from Florida, USA. The larvae of all four species exhibit a hypermetamorphic development consisting of early instar sapfeeding and later instar tissue feeding stages typical for members of Gracillariidae. Although not observed in this study, larvae of M. habecki probably possess an additional, nonfeeding, transitional instar prior to the final instar as is believed typical for the genus (Wagner et al, 2000). Larvae of the new genus Leurocephala was discovered to undergo an intermediate, nearly apodal tissue feeding stage between the sapfeeding and final tissue feeding instars. Unique specimens representing an additional three species of Gracillariidae also have been reared from this tree in Argentina or Brazil, but these could not be identified because of inadequate material. CO1 barcodes were sequenced by Paul Hebert and his staff at the Biodiversity Institute of Ontario for Marmara habecki and two morphologically closely related Marmara species, and results from the analysis is summarized herein.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov