Splitting the leafmining shield-bearer moth genus Antispila Hübner (Lepidoptera, Heliozelidae): North American species with reduced venation placed in Aspilanta new genus, with a review of heliozelid morphology

By

Nieukerken, Erik J. van
Eiseman, Charles

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2020

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

957

Pages

105--161

Subjects

Canada , DNA barcodes , grapevine pest , Heliozela , Phylogeny , United States , Vitaceae

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.957.53908

 

Abstract

The new genusAspilantagen. n.is described to harbour Nearctic heliozelid moths with reduced venation, previously placed inAntispilaHübner, 1825, with type speciesAntispila oinophyllavan Nieukerken & Wagner, 2012. The erection of this genus has become possible now that monophyly has been supported by a recent phylotranscriptomics analysis. Six species are combined in this genus:Aspilanta oinophylla(van Nieukerken & Wagner, 2012),comb. n.,A. hydrangaeella(Chambers, 1874),comb. n.,A. ampelopsifoliella(Chambers, 1874),comb. n.,A. voraginella(Braun, 1927),comb. n.,A. argentifera(Braun, 1927),comb. n.,A. viticordifoliella(Clemens, 1860),comb. n.and two candidate species are recognised. DNA barcode COI sequences of Malaise trapped specimens suggest a rich fauna ofAspilantain Central America. All are leafminers, with Vitaceae as main host family, and single species feeding respectively on Hydrangeaceae and Myricaceae. The species are briefly diagnosed, and data on biology, DNA barcodes and distribution are provided. To place the genus in context, a review of heliozelid morphology and phylogeny is presented and a key to Nearctic genera is given. The genus is confined to North and Central America, possibly also occurring in South America.Aspilanta oinophyllais also an invasive species on grapevine in Italy. The genus is sister toCoptodiscaWalsingham, 1895. Another species is removed fromAntispila:Heliozela eugeniella(Busck, 1900),comb. n., feeding onEugenia(Myrtaceae), from Florida.