Revealing a Novel Potential Pest of Plum Trees in the Caucasus: A Species Resembling the European Leaf-Mining Stigmella plagicolella, Nepticulidae.

In instances of severe infestations, Nepticulidae larvae can inflict damage on cultivated plants. Previously, it was assumed that the Prunus-feeding Nepticulidae have continuous distribution from Europe to the neighboring Caucasus. During recent fieldwork in the Caucasus, leaf mines were found on plum trees that initially resembled those of Stigmella plagicolella (Stainton) in Europe. However, upon rearing the adults, significant differences emerged, leading to the hypothesis that a different Prunus-feeding species exists in the Caucasus; this challenges previous records in Western Asia. This paper presents the outcomes of our morphological, molecular, and statistical investigations, unveiling S. colchica sp. nov., a previously unknown potential plum-tree pest. Distinguished by male genitalia characteristics, the new species differs from S. plagicolella. The inter- and intraspecific divergences between S. colchica sp. nov. and S. plagicolella range from 3.5% to 6.02%. Moreover, the utilized delimitation algorithms reliably clustered two species separately, as does our mitotype network. A statistical analysis also shows a discernible trend between the leaf mines of S. colchica sp. nov. and S. plagicolella. This unexpected discovery not only documents a new potential pest, enhancing our understanding of the Caucasian fauna, but also contributes to the broader biological inventory.

New Nepticulidae species (Insecta: Lepidoptera) from the Yucatán Peninsula (SE Mexico).

Thirty-eight species of Nepticulidae are known from the Yucatán Peninsula and adjacent areas (mainland Mexico and Be-lize). This paper describes two new species: Stigmella maya Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov. (a leaf-miner of Karwinskia hum-boldtiana, Rhamnaceae), and Acalyptris yucatani Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov. (a leaf-miner of Schinus sp., Anacardiaceae). S. maya is among the smallest Lepidoptera in the world. In its male genitalia S. maya resembles a sizeable group of undescribed species occurring in the Andes (Patagonia: Argentina). The adults of both new species are illustrated with photographs of adults, genitalia and leaf-mines.

First discovery of Quercus feeding Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera) in Central America.

Despite the high taxonomic diversity of oaks in Mexico and Central America, no Quercus feeding Nepticulidae have ever been recorded from the region. Here, we present seven species whose larvae are leaf-miners of Quercus (section Lobatae) in Guatemala. Except Stigmella nigriverticella (Chambers 1875), which was previously known from the United States, all other discovered species are new. We describe and name five new species (Stigmella jaguari Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov., S. lauta Diskus & Stonis, sp. nov., S. sublauta Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov., S. aurifasciata Diskus & Stonis, sp. nov. and S. guatemalensis Diskus & Stonis, sp. nov.); the remaining new species is described but left unnamed because of lack of adults (i. e. moths and genitalia are described from developed pupae). All seven treated species are illustrated with photographs of the leaf-mines, adults, and genitalia.

Four new leaf-mining Acalyptris species from Guatemala and Belize, with new data on bionomics of Stigmella pruinosa (Lepidoptera: Nepticulidae).

This paper describes four new species: Acalyptris basicornis Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov., A. peteni Diskus & Stonis, sp. nov., A. caribbicus Diskus & Stonis, sp. nov. (host-plant: Lantana involucrata L., Verbenaceae), and A. statuarius Diskus & Stonis, sp. nov. Another species, Stigmella pruinosa Puplesis & Robinson, is re-described, with new distribution records in Guatemala and with the first documentation of leaf-mines on Guazuma ulmifolia Lam. (Malvaceae). All five species are illustrated with photographs of the leaf-mines, adults, and genitalia.

Description of new species of oak leaf-miners (Lepidoptera: Nepticulidae), with notes on the species groups of Stigmella Schrank associated with Quercus as a host-plant.

Stigmella acuta Diskus, Navickaite & Remeikis, sp. nov., a new species of oak-feeding leaf-miner belonging to the S. hemargyrella group, and S. cornuta Rociene & Stonis, sp. nov., belonging to the newly designated S. cornuta group, are described from Asia and, for the first time, the S. hemargyrella group is associated with Quercus as a host-plant. The new species are illustrated with photographs of the leaf mines, adults, and genitalia. Diagnostics and host-plant preferences of seven Stigmella species groups associated with oaks (the S. caesurifasciella, S. saginella, S. quercipulchella, S. ruficapitella, S. castanopsiella, S. hemargyrella and S. cornuta groups) are discussed.

Dishkeya, a recently described endemic Tischeriidae genus, now discovered in Colombia.

This paper describes Dishkeya ursipedella Diskus, Mey & Stonis, sp. nov. from Cundinamarca, Choachi (Colombia). The new species was collected at night time at light, therefore, the host plant remains unknown. The examination of morphology of the male genitalia of D. ursipedella revealed a highly distinctive new taxon of trumpet moths belonging to the recently described endemic genus Dishkeya Stonis. The new species is illustrated with photographs of the male genitalia, adults, and habitats. In a pictorial scheme, the male genitalia characters of D. ursipedella are compared with those of all other currently known members of Dishkeya.

Diagnostics of Manitischeria /gen. nov., an Old-World genus of leaf-mining Tischeriidae, composed of new species and species formerly in Tischeria Zeller.

We describe a new genus, Manitischeria Diskus Stonis, gen. nov., and five new species: Manitischeria selindica Stonis Diskus, sp. nov., M. namibiensis Stonis Diskus, sp. nov. from Africa, and M. brachiata Diskus Stonis, sp. nov., M. symbolica Diskus Stonis, sp. nov., and M. baryshnikovae Diskus Stonis, sp. nov. from South East Asia. We discuss the diagnostics of Manitischeria gen. nov. composed of these new species and others transferred from Tischeria Zeller. Species are mostly trophically associated with Malvaceae, but also Rhamnaceae and Betulaceae. We list 18 currently known species of Manitischeria gen. nov., including M. ptarmica (Meyrick), the type species, and provide 13 new combinations and the first documentation of genitalia of some, previously little-known species. New species are illustrated with photographs or drawings of the adults, genitalia, and the leaf mines when available. We briefly discuss the use of herbarium specimens to discover lepidopteran leaf mines, host plant, and distribution data.

New leaf-mining Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera): potential pests of aromatic Lamiaceae plants from equatorial Andes.

Members of the Lamiaceae, or mint family, are used worldwide for medicinal, culinary and/or magical-religious purposes, as well as in pesticides and as ornamental plants. Very little is known about nepticulids, or pygmy moths, as leaf miners of Lamiaceae, but they may be an important component of South American diversity and potential pests of economically-important species of the mint family. In this paper, four new species of leaf-mining Nepticulidae are described from the equatorial Andes of Ecuador: S. mentholica Diskus Stonis, sp. nov., Stigmella aromatica Diskus Stonis, sp. nov., S. odora Diskus Stonis, sp. nov., feeding on Minthostachys mollis (Benth.) Griseb., and S. tomentosella Diskus Stonis, sp. nov., feeding on Clinopodium tomentosum (Kunth) Govaerts. It is hypothesized that host-plant distribution ranges can provide clues to potential distribution ranges of these newly discovered, trophically specialized leaf miners. The leaf mines, adults, and the genitalia of the new species are illustrated with photographs.

What are the smallest moths (Lepidoptera) in the world?

The world's smallest moths in Lepidoptera (Insecta) and the complexity in making such a determination are examined and discussed. The forewing length and wingspan of 650 species were measured and the same data were retrieved from published papers to determine which species and family have the smallest moths in the world. The minimal recorded forewing length was found to be around 1.2-1.3 mm and the wingspan around 2.6-2.8 mm in two families, the Gracillariidae and Nepticulidae. Among Lepidoptera, the following species have the smallest moths globally: the European Johanssoniella acetosae (Stainton), the Peruvian Simplimorpha kailai Stonis Diskus, the Mexican Stigmella maya Remeikis Stonis, the Mediterranean S. diniensis (Klimesh), the Mediterranean Parafomoria liguricella (Klimesh) (Nepticulidae), the South East Asian Porphyrosela alternata Kumata, and the Central African P. desmodivora De Prins (Gracillariidae). Additionally, in the Nepticulidae, we provide a measurement update for Stigmella maya Remeikis Stonis, one of the tiniest species with a forewing length of 1.3 mm and wingspan of 2.8 mm, and describe a new species, Stigmella incaica Diskus Stonis, sp. nov., with a forewing length of 1.75 to 1.95 mm and a wingspan of 3.8 to 4.3 mm.

Diagnostics and updated catalogue of Acalyptris Meyrick, the second largest genus of Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera) in the Americas.

We list all 56 currently known Acalyptris Meyrick species from North and South America, designate five new species groups, and provide pictorial diagnostics for all nine revised species groups of the American fauna. We describe seven new species: A. marmor Stonis Diskus, sp. nov., A. barbudo Stonis Remeikis, sp. nov., A. jareki Stonis Diskus, sp. nov., A. hilli Stonis Diskus, sp. nov., A. mortalis Diskus Stonis, sp. nov., A. hyacinthum Stonis Vargas, sp. nov., and A. extremus Stonis Diskus, sp. nov. We provide new data on morphology, biology or distribution for the following species: A. murex Diskus Stonis, A. hispidus Puplesis Robinson, A. trifidus Puplesis Robinson, A. bifidus Puplesis Robinson, A. terrificus Simkeviciute Stonis, and particularly A. yucatani Remeikis Stonis. We transfer Fomoria miranda Diskus Stonis to Acalyptris and provide the first photographic documentation of A. novenarius Puplesis Robinson, A. fortis Puplesis Robinson, A. martinheringi Puplesis Robinson, A. basihastatus Puplesis Diskus, A. pseudohastatus Puplesis Diskus, A. articulosus Puplesis Diskus, A. bovicorneus Puplesis Diskus, and A. insolentis Puplesis Diskus. We also comment on the re-deposition of some type series to the collection of the Zoological Museum of the Natural History Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen.

Documenting new and little known leaf-mining Nepticulidae from middle and southwestern areas of the Asian continent.

We review eighteen species of Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera: Nepticuloidea) from Asia and describe eleven new species from Central Asia and the western Himalaya: Stigmella ziziphifolia Rociene Stonis, sp. nov., S. damocles Remeikis, sp. nov., S. pyramidata Diskus Navickaite, sp. nov., S. alilediella Diskus Navickaite, sp. nov., S. longa Remeikis Stonis, sp. nov., S. latilobata Diskus Navickaite, sp. nov., S. paniculata Diskus Navickaite, sp. nov., Ectoedemia orbiculata Diskus, Remeikis Stonis, sp. nov., Acalyptris brunipexus Stonis, Diskus Remeikis, sp. nov., A. noctilucus Rociene Stonis, sp. nov., and A. nasutus Diskus Navickaite, sp. nov. The new taxa are illustrated with photographs of the adults, their genitalia, and, if available, leaf mines. We also provide the first photographic documentation of adults and male genitalia of some Asiatic species. We synonymize E. petrosa Puplesis with E. spinosella (de Joannis), and E. rosiphila Puplesis with E. ingloria Puplesis.

Exotic-looking Neotropical Tischeriidae (Lepidoptera) and their host plants.

Seven new species of Tischeriidae are described from the Neotropics: Astrotischeria jociui Diskus & Stonis, sp. nov. (feeding on Wissadula excelsior (Cav.) C. Presl., Malvaceae), A. atlantica Diskus & Stonis, sp. nov. (feeding on Baccharis spicata (Lam.) Baill., Asteraceae), A. cornuata Diskus & Stonis, sp. nov. (host plant unknown), Paratischeria guarani Diskus & Stonis, sp. nov. (feeding on Elephantopus mollis Kunth, Asteraceae), P. mesoamericana Diskus & Stonis, sp. nov. (feeding on Montanoa hibiscifolia Benth., Asteraceae), P. suprafasciata Diskus & Stonis, sp. nov. (feeding on Allophyllus edulis (A. St.-Hil., A. Juss. & Cambess.) Hieron. ex Niederl., Sapindaceae), and P. braziliensis Diskus & Stonis, sp. nov. (host plant unknown). Additionally, an updated distribution map of Paratischeria neotropicana (Diskus & Stonis, 2015), which currently has the broadest distribution range among the Neotropical Tischeriidae is provided along with new host-plant data, a list of all recorded host plants in the Neotropics, and a brief discussion on trophic relationships of Tischeriidae. It is hypothesized that host-plant distribution ranges can provide clues to potential distribution ranges of these specialized, monophagous or oligophagous, leaf miners. All new taxa are illustrated with photographs of the adults, their genitalia, and, if available, leaf mines.

Discovery of leaf-mining Tischeriidae (Lepidoptera) in Colombia and their distribution in the Neotropics.

This is the first report of the family Tischeriidae in Colombia. We describe two new species recently discovered in the department of Valle del Cauca in southwestern Colombia: Astrotischeria ochrimaculosa Diskus, Stonis Vargas, sp. nov., and A. colombiana Stonis Vargas, sp. nov. The latter is a leaf miner of Asteraceae, while A. ochrimaculosa is trophically associated with Malvaceae. Astrotischeria colombiana is known only from Colombia, but A. ochrimaculosa is more widely distributed from Colombia to Peru. The new species are illustrated with photographs of their habitats, adults, male and female genitalia, and leaf mines. We comment on the rarity of tischeriids in collections and their current known distribution in the Neotropics.

A new leafmining pest of guava: Hesperolyra guajavifoliae sp. nov., with comments on the diagnostics of the endemic Neotropical genus Hesperolyra van Nieukerken (Lepidoptera, Nepticulidae).

We describe a new pest of guava (Psidium guajava L.), Hesperolyra guajavifoliae Stonis & Vargas, sp. nov., that was recently discovered in western Colombia. Hesperolyra van Nieukerken is a small, Neotropical genus of pygmy moths (Nepticulidae). We re-examine and document the complex morphology of the male genitalia of the generic type species, H. diskusi (Puplesis & Robinson). We discuss the diagnostics and composition of the genus and provide a simple pictorial differentiation scheme for all currently known representatives of the genus. The new species is illustrated with photographs of the adults, some of the immature stages, male and female genitalia, and leaf mines. A link to the COI barcodes of H. guajavifoliae sp. nov. is provided and the relationship of Hesperolyra to other genera is discussed.

Diagnostics of new species of Neotropical Tischeriidae (Lepidoptera), with the first record of Coptotriche Walshingham from South America.

We describe seven new Neotropical species of Tischeriidae: Astrotischeria dondavisi Stonis Diskus, sp. nov., A. bacchariphaga Diskus Stonis, sp. nov., A. guatemalica Diskus Stonis, sp. nov., A. sanjosei Stonis Diskus, sp. nov., A. truncata Diskus Stonis, sp. nov., Coptotriche parvisacculata Diskus Stonis, sp. nov. and C. carmencita Stonis Diskus, sp. nov. We report the discovery of Coptotriche Walsingham in South America and provide the following new host-plant records for the Neotropical Tischeriidae: Terminalia australis Cambess. (Combretaceae), Baccharis latifolia (Ruiz Pav.) Pers., and B. emarginata (Ruiz Pav.) Pers. (Asteraceae). We update the biology of Astrotischeria ochrimaculosa Diskus, Stonis Vargas with the discovery that Wissadula (Malvaceae) is a new, verified host plant. The new species are illustrated with photographs of the adults, male and, if available, female genitalia, and the leaf mines. We expect broader distributions of tisheriid species in South America inferred from known host-plant distributions.

Checklist of American Coptotriche (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Tischeriidae) with descriptions of two new species from the tropical forest of Belize (Central America).

Two new species are described from the tropical forest of Belize: Coptotriche singularis (host-plant unknown) and C. forsteroniae (leaf-miner on Forsteronia myriantha, Apocynaceae). The external features and male genitalia are figured and described for both species. A checklist of Coptotriche species comprising 31 species currently known from the Americas is given. Most of the species are known from mainland USA and Canada, and only a few from the Neotropics (the Caribbean and Belize).

Discovery of Ulmaceae-feeding Tischeriidae (Lepidoptera, Tischerioidea), Tischeria ulmella sp. nov., and the first report of the Quercus-feeding T. naraensis Sato in China.

We provide the first report of Tischeriidae on Ulmaceae, a novel host-plant family, and describe Tischeria ulmella Xu Dai, sp. nov., a new species discovered in the Yellow River Scenic Area of Zhengzhou (Henan Province, China), feeding on Ulmus pumila L. We also provide a redescription of the Quercus-feeding Tischeria naraensis Sato discovered in China for the first time. Both species are illustrated with photographs of the adults, male and female genitalia, and the leaf mines.

A Gondwanan concept of Simplimorpha Scoble (sensu lato): a step toward clarity in the generic diagnostics of global Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera).

The genus Simplimorpha Scoble is recognized for the first time from South America. We describe a subgenus, Myrtinepticula Stonis Diskus, subgen. nov., for three new species from the southern Andes (Chile and Argentina): Simplimorpha (Myrtinepticula) cercaria Diskus Stonis, sp. nov., S. (M.) nielseni Remeikis Stonis, sp. nov., S. (M.) sapphirella Remeikis Stonis, sp. nov.; and one new species from the southwestern Amazon (Peru): S. (M.) kailai Stonis, sp. nov. We provide a pictorial differentiation scheme for Simplimorpha Scoble and Pectinivalva Scoble. We synonymize the recently erected, predominantly Australian Menurella Hoare, syn. nov. and Cosanovula Hoare, syn. nov. with Pectinivalva Scoble. We also revise the taxonomic status of the Australian Roscidotoga Hoare as a subgenus of Simplimorpha which now exhibits a Gondwanan distribution in the Southern Hemisphere, with the presence of a single species in the Mediterranean. All new taxa are illustrated with photographs of the adults and the genitalia; the leaf mines of Simplimorpha (Myrtinepticula) nielseni sp. nov. are also provided.

American Asteraceae-feeding Astrotischeria species with a highly modified, three-lobed valva in the male genitalia (Lepidoptera, Tischeriidae).

We review eleven Astrotischeria Puplesis Diskus (Lepidoptera: Tischeriidae) species which possess a novel character for the Tischeriidae family: a highly modified valva of the male genitalia with one ventral and two dorsal lobes (or processes). The species are distributed in the Americas, including the USA, Caribbean (St. Thomas), Central America (Belize, Guatemala and Honduras), and South America (Ecuador, Bolivia, and Brazil). Species for which the biology has been studied are associated with host plants from Asteroidea of the Asteraceae family. The following seven species are described as new: Astrotischeria trilobata Diskus Stonis, sp. nov., A. amazonica Diskus Stonis, sp. nov., A. maya Diskus Stonis, sp. nov., A. selvica Diskus, Carvalho-Filho Stonis, sp. nov., A. casila Diskus Stonis, sp. nov., A. onae Diskus Stonis, sp. nov., and A. furcata Stonis Diskus, sp. nov. A new informal species unit, the A. trilobata group, is designated for diagnostic purposes despite some doubts about monophyly of the group. Astrotischeria longeciliata (Frey Boll) is synonymized here with the North American A. helianthi (Frey Boll), a species not belonging to the A. trilobata group, syn. nov. For the first time, a method of rearing of adults from mining larvae, specifically adopted for Tischeriidae, is detailed. All species treated in the paper are illustrated with photographs or drawings of the adults, male genitalia, and, if available, the female genitalia, leaf mines and habitats. A distribution map for the species of the A. trilobata group and a scheme of the trophic relationships of the global Tischeriidae fauna are also provided.

Description of Tischeria gouaniae sp. n. from the tropical forest of Belize - an exotic new addition to the American fauna of Tischeria (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Tischeriidae).

We describe Tischeria gouaniae sp. n. from the tropical forests of Belize. The new species is a leaf-miner of Gouania polygama (Rhamnaceae). Together with the related T. bifurcata Braun, it is among the most striking representatives of Tischeria. Both species possess a pseudognathos and very broad aedeagus fused with extremely long lateral processes of the juxta. The new species differs from T. bifurcata in the broadly rounded vinculum, spiny juxta, and slender apical processes of the aedeagus, and in its host plant. The external features and male genitalia of Tischeria gouaniae sp. n. are figured and described. A checklist and distribution map for all nine currently known Tischeria species from North and South America are given. Most American species are known from USA, but others are now known from tropical forest habitats of Central America, the Caribbean, and Guyana. Host-plants are known for five of the nine species reviewed here, belonging to four genera and two plant families (Fagaceae and Rhamnaceae).