Phyllonorycter hibiscina
Creators: name: Prins, Jurate De
name: Kawahara, Akito Y.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2012
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Gracillariidae
Phyllonorycter
Phyllonorycter hibiscina

description: 27. Phyllonorycter hibiscina (Vári, 1961)
(Figs 8, 62–64, 130, 214–216, 320, 381, 421–423)
Lithocolletis hibiscina — Vári (1961: 219–220; pl. 23, fig. 6; pl. 65, fig. 10; pl. 105, fig. 3).
Phyllonorycter hibiscina — Vári & Kroon (1986: 41, 136, 157), Kroon (1999: 37, 105), Dall’Asta et al. (2001: 34), Vári et al. (2002: 26), De Prins & De Prins (2005: 301).
Diagnosis. Phyllonorycter hibiscina is most similar to P. brachylaenae. However, P. hibiscina has a very short, oblique, basal streak and lacks a second dorsal strigula on the forewing. Furthermore, it has stripes on the ventral surface of the abdomen. Females of P. hibiscina have very long posterior apophyses, whereas P. brachylaenae has short posterior apophyses. The general structure of male genitalia is similar in both species. The signum on the corpus bursae in P. hibiscina is as long as the posterior apophyses or slightly longer, whereas in P. brachylaenae the signum is more than 2× as long as the posterior apophyses.
Material examined. Holotype: ♂, [1] [South Africa] ‘ Hennops River / 12.ix.1950 / [leg.] L. Vári / Ac[quisition]. no: 270’; [2] ‘6’;[3] ‘HT’;[4] ‘G[enitalia] / 7129’; [5] ‘ Lithocolletis / hibiscina Vári / ♂ HOLOTYPE No 6403’, in TMSA.
Paratypes: 6♂ and 4♀ (including 1♂ and 2♀ genitalia preparations). South Africa: 1♀, Hennops River, 24.iii.1955, [leg.] L. Vári, Ac[quisition]. no. 1546; G.[enitalia] 7187; Lithocolletis hibiscina Vári ♀ ALLOTYPE No 6404, in TMSA. 5 ♂, 1♀, Hennops River, 12.iii.1955, 13.iii.1955, 15.iii.1955, 19.iii.1955, 21.iii.1955, [leg.] L. Vári, Ac.[quisition] no 1546; G.[enitalia] 7186♂; Lithocolletis hibiscina Vári PARATYPE No 6405-6410, in TMSA. 1 ♀, Pretoria, 23.v.1958, L. Vári; G.[enitalia] 7722♀; Lithocolletis hibiscina Vári PARATYPE No 6411, in TMSA. 1♂, 1♀, Rustenburg, 07.iii.1956, 09.iii.1956, [leg.] L. Vári, Ac.[quisition] no: 1737; G. 7679; Lithocolletis hibiscina Vári PARATYPE No 6412–6413, in TMSA.
Additional material: 43♂, 66♀ (including 9♂, 8♀ genitalia preparations) and 30 specimens. Cameroon: 1♂, Mannsquell Hütte, 2250 m, 07.v.1938, [leg.] S. G. Buhr, mine an Labiate [sic Labiateae], 05 [May], gen. prep. De Prins 3516♂, in ZMHB. Kenya: 1♀, Rift Valley, L. Bogoria, 1000 m, 12.vii.2007, [leg.] D. J. L. Agassiz, gen. prep. De Prins 3782♀, in the collection of David Agassiz. 3♂, 3♀, Nakuru National Park, Makalia Falls Camp Site 00°25’S 36°04’E, 1830 m, 11.x.2001, leg. J. De Prins, e. l. Abutilon indicum (L.) (= mauritianum (Jacq.) Medik.)[Malvaceae] 17.x.2001, 21.x.2001, 25.x.2001, 28.x.2001, in NMK; 14♂, 24♀, same locality and hostplant data, e. l. from 13.x.2001 to 26.x.2001, gen. prep. De Prins 3403♂, 3404♂, 3405♂, 3406♀, 3407♀ (MRAC/KMMA 00355, 00356, 00364–00366), descaled head prep. MRAC/KMMA 00531, specimen IDs: RMCA ENT 000004026—000004063, in RMCA. 1♂ same locality and hostplant data, e. l. 27.iv.2002, specimen ID: RMCA ENT 000003261, DNA voucher CLV12007, in CCDB; 1♀ same locality and hostplant data, e. l. 17.x.2001, specimen ID: RMCA ENT 000003262, DNA voucher CLV12807, in CCDB. 3♂, 4♀, Lake Nakuru N[ational]. P[ark]., 1825 m, 00°25’S 36°04’E, mine 18.iv.2002, leg. J. De Prins, e.l. Abutilon mauritianum (Jacq.) Medik. [Malvaceae] 22.iv.2002, 24.iv.2002, 30.iv.2002; in NMK. 19♂, 26♀, same locality and hostplant data, e. l. from 24.iv.2002 to 29.iv.2002, gen. prep. De Prins 3475–3479♂, 3477♀, 3480♀ (MRAC/KMMA 00357–00360, 00362, 00363), specimen IDs: RMCA ENT 000004066—000004109, in RMCA. South Africa: 1♀, Durban, 14.xii.1916, [leg.] van der Merwe, “ L. triarcha teste Meyrick”, 2491, G. 7500♀, Ac.[quisition] no. 24/20, coll. Janse, in TMSA. 1 specimen, Durban, 11.xii.1916, [leg.] van der Merwe, Ac.[quisition] no. 24, coll. Janse, in TMSA. 1 specimen, Durban, 19.iii.1922, [leg.] D. T. Boyce, coll. Janse, “ Acrocercops spec …, A. J. T. Janse det”, in TMSA. 2 specimens, Hennops River, -1955, [leg.] L. Vári, Ac.[quisition] no.1685, in TMSA. 1 specimen, Pretoria, 04.x.1958, [leg.] R. B. Copley, in TMSA. 1 specimen, Pretoria, 05.v.1962, [leg.] L. Vári, Ac.[quisition] no. 2534, in TMSA. 1 specimen, Lebombo Mountains, Jozini Dam, 18.i.1965, Ac.[quisition] no. 2760, in TMSA. 1 specimen, Pretoria, 07.x.1975, [leg.] L. Vári, Ac.[quisition] no. 3454, in TMSA. 2 specimens, Pretoria W.[est], 31.i.1968, [leg.] L. Vári, Ac[quisition]. no. 2923, in TMSA. 1 specimen, Hartebeespoort Dam, Brits Dist[rict]., 30.ix.1975, [leg.] L. Vári, Ac.[quisition] no. 3454, in TMSA. 1 specimen, Pretoria District, Die Hoekie, 06.x.1975, Ac.[quisition] no.3454, in TMSA. 5 specimens, Umdoni Park, 10.iv.1982, 14.iv.1982,[leg.] M. J. Scoble, Ac.[quisition] no. 3879, in TMSA. 10 specimens, Illovo Beach, 08.xi.1984, 09.xi.1984, 11.xi.1984, 12.xi.1984, 13.xi.1984, 15.xi.1984, 17.xi.1984, [leg.] L. Vári, Ac.[quisition] no. 3956, in TMSA; 1♀, Pretoria, 7.x.1975, [leg.] L. Vári, specimen ID: RMCA ENT 000004113, in RMCA. 1♂, 3♀, Gauteng, 1000 m, Tswaing Crater, 28°28’S 23°46’E, mine 16.ii.2002, e. l. Hibiscus lunarifolius Willd. [Malvaceae], 20.ii.2002, 24.ii.2002, 26.ii.2002, gen. prep. De Prins 3486♂ (MRAC/ KMMA 00361), IDs: RMCA ENT 000003263, 000004110–000004112, in RMCA. 1♂, same locality data, 16.ii.2002, gen. prep. De Prins 3537♂ (MRAC/KMMA 00396), specimen ID: RMCA ENT 000003286, in RMCA, DNA voucher CLV15307, in CCDB; 1♀, same locality data, 16.ii.2002, specimen ID: RMCA ENT 000003263, DNA voucher CLV13807, in CCDB. Zimbabwe: 3 specimens, Lundi, S. Rh. [South Rhodesia], 16.iii.1964, 18.iii.1964, 21.iii.1964, [leg.] L. Vári, Ac.[quisition] no: 2615, in TMSA.
Redescription. Adult (Figs 62–64, 130). Forewing length: 3.0–4.1 mm.
Head: Vertex tufted with white scales predominant posteriorly, with faint intermixture of shiny ochreous, appressed scales and dark ochreous, apressed, piliform scales of different length on latero-occiput; frons smooth, shiny white. Labial palpus 1.5× longer than eye, apically pointed, more or less latero downturned, shiny white dorsally, second and third palpomere covered with a longitudinal row of fuscous scales from outer side; maxillary palpus dirty white, haustellum pale beige. Antenna almost as long as forewing, not clearly ringed, scape white anteriorly and dark ochreous posteriorly with bright ochreous pecten up to nine of same length as scape or shorter; pedicel dark fuscous, first flagellomere dirty white; remainder of flagellum golden ochreous striped with darker fuscous, very slender, piliform, longitudinal scales; pale bases on every flagellomere; terminal flagellomere entirely fuscous.
Thorax: Anteriorly ochreous with white transverse line, golden shiny posteriorly; tegula ochreous with white apex. Forewing ochreous dark golden with white markings consisting of very short basal streak, two transverse fasciae, two costal and one dorsal strigulae; basal streak very short, oblique, directed towards apex; a few black scales mark dorsal margin of basal streak; first fascia at 1/4, twice broader at dorsum than at costa, slightly oblique, finely blackish edged apically; second fascia at middle of forewing narrowed at middle (slightly below costa in holotype), finally blackish edged basally and with a few black scales near costa on apical edge of second fascia; first costal strigula at 3/4, triangular shaped, not reaching midline of forewing, finally edged basally with a few black scales dispersed on apical margin of first strigula, near costa; first dorsal strigula opposite first costal strigula, triangular shaped, almost reaching middle of forewing, finally edged basally; a congregation of black scales intersperse irregularly between first costal and first dorsal strigulae; second costal strigula at apex, indistinct, comma-shaped, without clear edging, but 3–5 blackish brown scales rarely situated along both margins; 3–4 irregular rows of dark brownish scales run along termen to tornus, not forming clearly defined fringe line; fringe short pale ochreous from apex to tornus, with blackish apices at tornus, long pale fuscous along dorsum. Hindwings pale fuscous with long, pale fuscous fringe. Fore costa fuscous, fore femur and fore tibia dark fuscous dorsally and dirty white ventrally, tarsomere I dark fuscous with white base, tarsomere II white with fuscous apex, tarsomeres III–IV fuscous, tarsomere V dirty white; midfemur light with elngate large fuscous patch, mid-tibia white with fuscous base, oblique fuscous stripe and broad subapical fuscous ring at 1/2, tibial spurs with fuscous basal and white apical halves, tarsomere I white basally and fuscous at apical half, tarsomere II white with fuscous apex, tarsomere III white with fuscous base, terminal tarsomeres white; hind femur fuscous dorsally and white ventrally, hind tibia white with very large median fuscous patch, medial spurs white with congregation of dark fuscous scales medially, apical spurs with light fuscous scales subapically, hind tarsomeres I–III white with fuscous apex, tarsomere IV white with fuscous base, tarsomere V white.
Abdomen: Greyish dorsally, except pale shading on tergites I–III and shade of brown on genitalia; sternites white with ochreo-fuscous stripes anteriorly; genital sternites white. Sternite VIII of males slightly shorter than saccus, rounded caudally.
Male genitalia (Figs 214–216). Tegumen very weakly sclerotized, conus-shaped with very short and slender sparse setation from 2/3 to apex, basal 1/3 covered with sparse round minute scales like setae (visible at 200×), apex pointed. Valvae symmetrical,, slightly narrowed at 1/3, gently curved, ventral margin 1.2× longer than dorsal, ca. 230 µ m long, with broadly round cucullus sector; a strongly sclerotized suture runs obliquely from 1/ 2 of dorsal margin towards ventroapex; median surface of valva between suture and dorsal margin is covered with long setae, only a few sparse setae are distributed along ventral margin of valva. Vinculum strongly sclerotized, half rounded, significantly broader caudally towards base of saccus, vinculum arms strongly sclerotized and differentiated from base of saccus; saccus very slender, moderately long, ca. as long as valva. Transtilla very strongly sclerotized, arc-shaped, vertical bars narrow with sharp apices; anellus weakly sclerotized with two short horn-shaped projections. Aedoeagus about as long as saccus, slightly broader at coecum and gently tapering towards vesica; vesica with a short, weakly sclerotized spine and two very long thick rod-like cornuti ca. half as long entire aedoeagus.
Female genitalia (Fig. 320). Papillae anales laterally compressed, about twice as wide as long, trapezoidal, ventral and dorsal angles gently rounded with 8–10 long setae irregularly dispersed from basal margin towards apical margin with shorter setae along apical margin; basal bar not sclerotized. A slender needle-like, strongly sclerotized projection ca. 144–226 µm (n = 4) long extending from anterior bases of papillae anales to anterior half of segment VIII. Posterior apophyses well sclerotized, slender, also at bases, very slightly thickened at midden, with bluntly apices, long, 380–447 µm (n = 5) long, extending about midway into segment VII. Segment VIII weakly sclerotized, connected dorsally and ventrally. Anterior apophyses long, but slightly shorter than posterior apophyses, ca. 300–362 µm (n = 5) long; ratio length of posterior apophyses/length of anterior apophyses 1.22–1.24), broad at bases, very slender with sharp apices, slightly curved. Ostium bursae semiround, sclerotized, located at middle of segment VII, antrum tubular, very short with strong narrow sclerotization ca. 147–162 µm (n = 3) long; sterigma as lightly sclerotized cuticle fold. Ductus bursae enlarged anterior antrum, moderate, posterior 3/4 wider and stronger sclerotized, ca. 377–442 µm (n = 3) long; corpus bursae large, oblong, 538–573 µm (n = 3) long, 2.3–2.6× longer than wide, with a large oval area set with minute spines and long (377–469 µm; n = 5), strongly sclerotized, narrow, band-like signum, extending along entire corpus bursae, ending just before caudal region, covered with 3–4 irregular rows of short fine spines. Signum ca. as long posterior apophyses or slightly longer (ca. 1.1×).
Variation. There is slight variation in the width and curvature of the second forewing fascia. The degree of dark brown irroration in the termen area also varies slightly.
DNA sequences. Two COI barcodes are available for P. hibiscina (Molecular sample codes: Phib1[JX888183], Phib2 [JX888184]; Table S1).
Habitat. Mines of P. hibiscina were collected on lower level of secondary forests usually in blossoming or shortly after blossom period of host plants (Fig. 423)
Host plant(s). Malvaceae: Abutilon mauritianum (Jacq.) Medik. — (new record). (Figs. 421, 422).
Hibiscus calyphyllus Cav. — Vári 1961: 220, Kroon 1999: 37, Dall’Asta et al. 2001: 34, De Prins & De Prins 2005: 301.
Hibiscus lunarifolius Willd. — (new record).
Pavonia sp. —referring to the manuscript notes of Vári: note No 3956 of 07/11/1984; (new record).
Asteraceae: Brachylaena sp. —referring to the manuscript notes of Vári: note No 3454 of 23/09/1975, note No 3879 of 30/04/1982, note No 3968 of 21/05/1985; (new record).
Mine. A moderate, 7–12 mm long, narrow, yellowish, tentiform mine on the underside of the leaf with three folds; fine black frass loose throught mine; pupation in very slender, white cocoon; exuvium protrudes epidermis of a leaf before adult emergence (Vári 1961: 220, De Prins & De Prins 2005: 301). Vári (1961: 220) mentions up to four mines in one leaf. Our observation showed that there is usually only a single mine on a leaf. The mining period is ca. 3–15 days (see Materials examined and Vári’s notes: No 0270 in the manuscript notebook of 27/08/1950, note No 1546 of 12/03/1955, note No 1655 of 14/04/1955, note No 2534 of 05/05/1962, note No 2615 of 03/03/ 1964, note No 2923 of 28/01/1968, note No 3454 of 23/09/1975, note No 3879 of 30/04/1982, note No 3956 of 07/ 11/1984 and note No 3968 of 21/05/1985).
Flight period. Adults are active almost all year round except in June, July, and August. Two peaks in abundance are recorded: one in April and the other in October.
Distribution. (Fig. 381). The species is spread throughout Eastern and Southern Africa: Kenya (new record), South Africa (Vári 1961: 220), and Zimbabwe (new record). In West Africa it is known only from one locality in Cameroon (new record). The only locality written is “Mannsquell Hütte” (Mannsquell Hut). This hut is located on Mount Cameroon, about 60 km NW of Douala.
description: Published as part of Prins, Jurate De & Kawahara, Akito Y., 2012, Systematics, revisionary taxonomy, and biodiversity of Afrotropical Lithocolletinae (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), pp. 1-283 in Zootaxa 3594 (1) on pages 92-94, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3594.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/6052126