Rosaceae-feeding Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera) of South America: some taxonomic and trophic diversity revealed

Abstract

The paper reviews the  most recent findings of the  Rosaceae-feeding Nepticulidae species along with previous records of these tropically specialized leaf-miners in South America and describes three new species: one species on Hesperomeles obtusifolia (Pers.) Lindl (Stigmella circinata Diškus  &  Stonis, sp.  nov.) and two species on Rubus  spp. (S. rubiphagiella Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov. and Ectoedemia morae Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov.); all from the equatorial Andes. Additionally, leaf-mines of the unknown Stigmella taxa feeding on Acaena L., Alchemilla L., Rubus L., Prunus L., and Hesperomeles Lindl are documented. Description of previously unknown females of Stigmella nubimontana Puplesis & Diškus and photographic documentation of leaf-mines of S. nubimontana and S. rubeta Puplesis & Diškus are provided for the first time. The discovered Rosaceae-feeding Nepticulidae exhibit morphological and taxonomical diversity: two new species groups, Stigmella imperatoria and S. circinata, are designated; the latter is also compared with the most similar and probably closely related Holarctic S. hemargyrella and S. sorbi groups.