A new species of Ithome Chambers (Lepidoptera, Cosmopterigidae, Chrysopeleiinae) from the Atacama Desert revealed by morphology and DNA barcodes.

Morphology and DNA barcode sequences were used to assess the taxonomic status of a micro-moth of the genus Ithome Chambers, 1875 (Lepidoptera, Cosmopterigidae, Chrysopeleiinae), whose larvae feed on inflorescences of Prosopis tamarugo Phil. (Fabaceae), a tree native to the Pampa del Tamarugal, Atacama Desert, northern Chile. As a result, Ithome tamarugensis Vargas, sp. nov. is described and illustrated. Its genitalia are remarkably similar to those of Ithome tiaynai Vargas, 2004 from coastal valleys of the Atacama Desert. However, the two species can be recognized by the shape of the phallus in males and the shape of the antrum and ductus bursae in females. The genetic distance between DNA barcodes of I. tamarugensis and I. tiaynai was 3.0-3.3% (K2P), and a maximum likelihood analysis indicated that they are in reciprocally monophyletic clusters, providing additional support for the heterospecific status suggested by morphology.

Morphology of the immature stages and notes on the natural history of the little-known plume moth Stenoptilodes juanfernandicus Gielis (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae).

Stenoptilodes juanfernandicus Gielis, 1991 (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae) was described from the Juan Fernandez Islands, Chile; it was subsequently recorded from the Galápagos Islands and mainland Ecuador. Its larva and pupa are described and illustrated for the first time with the aid of light and scanning electron microscopy. Descriptions are based on specimens collected as larvae displaying cryptic coloration feeding on inflorescences of Verbena hispida Ruiz Pav. (Verbenaceae) in the Andes of northern Chile. Several differences were found with the larva and pupa of congeneric representatives, suggesting that immature morphology should be further explored to assess its value in the taxonomy and systematics of Stenoptilodes Zimmerman, 1958. Verbena hispida is the first host plant recorded for S. juanfernandicus, a finding that will be helpful to further explore different Neotropical environments to better characterize the geographic range of this plume moth.

Larva, pupa and DNA barcodes of the Neotropical geometrid moth Glena mielkei (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Ennominae: Boarmiini)

ABSTRACT Glena mielkei Vargas, 2010 (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Ennominae: Boarmiini) is a Neotropical geometrid moth native to the Atacama Desert of northern Chile whose larvae are folivorous on the shrub Trixis cacalioides (Asteraecae). The last instar and pupa are described and illustrated, and DNA barcode sequences are provided for the first time for G. mielkei. Descriptions are made based on larvae collected in the type locality. Comparisons with the available descriptions of congeneric species suggest that the chaetotaxy of the SV group of the abdominal segment and the morphology of the cremaster could be useful tools to species identification based on last instar and pupa, respectively. A search in BOLD (Barcode of Life Data System) showed that the only DNA barcode haplotype found in the two specimens sequenced was closest to Physocleora Warren, 1897 than Glena Hulst, 1896. These results coincide with the morphological peculiarities of the genitalia highlighted in the original description of G. mielkei, suggesting that a definitive assessment of the generic status of this geometrid moth deserves further integrative studies.