A success for community science: Carmenta brachyclados sp. nov. (Lepidoptera, Sesiidae, Synanthedonini), a clearwing moth from Guyana discovered with its hostplant indoors in Wales (United Kingdom)

By

Sterling, Mark J.
Cadet, Daisy T.
Beasley, Jordan
Lees, David Conway 1959-

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2024-10-2

Original Publication

Nota lepidopterologica

Volume

47

Pages

201--218

Subjects

1878 , Citizen science , Europe , moth and hostplant DNA barcodes , new genus , new species , seed-boring , syntypes of Sesia surinamensis Möschler

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Bonn,

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/nl.47.130138

 

Abstract

A new species of Sesiidae, Carmenta brachyclados Sterling & Lees, 2024 is described from adult specimens, pupal exuviae and larval borings which were accidentally transported to South Wales, United Kingdom. DNA barcoding and morphological evidence shows that this species is native to the Neotropics, where it feeds in the seedpods of the leguminous tree, Mora excelsa Benth. (Fabaceae: Caesalpinioideae) and that it is related to a group of seed-feeding species of clearwing moths within the genus Carmenta Edwards, 1881, naturally occurring in the Neotropics and southern Nearctic, although C. mimosa Eichlin & Passoa, 1984 has been introduced in Australia and elsewhere as a biological agent.