Gibberifera xylosmae, Kawashima & Matsui & Yagi, 2025

Kawashima, Ikumi, Matsui, Yuki & Yagi, Sadahisa, 2025, Taxonomic study of Japanese species of the genus Gibberifera Obraztsov (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Olethreutinae), with a description of a new species, Zootaxa 5660 (4), pp. 547-559 : 549-553

Gibberifera xylosmae sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:F491A61A-C5AE-4DE2-ABC0-9D0B835738E8

[New Japanese name: Kusudoige-usukishiro-himehamaki]

( Figs 1–4 , 7, 8 , 13 , 16–22 )

Type material. Holotype. [ JAPAN] ♂, Kyushu: Fukuoka Pref., Itoshima-shi, Shimakeya , Keya first parking, 33.588°N, 130.111°E, 5 m, 9.V.2023 (larva), 23.VI.2023 em., collected on Xylosma congesta, Y. Matsui leg., genitalia slide No. IK0063 -M, DNA extraction No. IKA0136 ( ELKU) . Paratypes. [ JAPAN] Honshu: Okayama Pref.: 1♀ Asakuchi-shi, Yorisima-cho , 34°28'10.90"N, 133°35'35.27"E, 18. V .2025 (larva), 5. VI .2025 em., collected on young leaves of X. congesta, R. Kobashi leg. ( ELKU); Yamaguchi Pref.: 1♂, Ohshima-gun, Touwa-cho, Jikamuro , 29.VII.1990, T . Mano leg. ( ELKU); 1♂, ditto , 1.VIII.1990, T . Mano leg. ( ELKU). Shikoku: Kochi Pref.: 1♀, Tosashi, Usa-cho , Yokonami-hantou , Ryu , MC 5033–1306 , 10.IV.2012, Y. Manabe leg. Kyushu: Fukuoka Pref.: 1♀, the same locality as holotype , 9. V.2023 (larva), 11.VII.2023 em., collected on X. congesta, Y. Matsui leg., genitalia slide No. IK0027 - F, DNA extraction No. IKA0127 ( ELKU); 1 unsexed, Itoshima-shi, Shimakeya , 33.5862°N, 130.1113°E, 6.5 m, 8.X.2024 (larva), 18.XII.2024 em., collected on leaves of X. congesta, I. Kawashima leg. ( ELKU); 12♂, 11♀, ditto , 18.X.2024 (larvae), 15.XI–2.XII.2024 em., collected on fruits of X. congesta, I. Kawashima leg., genitalia slide No. IK0083 - M, IK0043 - F ( ELKU); 1♂, ditto , 10.XII.2024 (larva), 2.I.2025 em., collected on fruits of X. congesta, I. Kawashima leg., genitalia slide No. IK0091 -M ( ELKU).

Diagnosis. Gibberifera xylosmae sp. nov. is closely similar to G. qingchengensis Nasu & Liu, 1996 , which shares the following characters: colliculum as long as 2/5 of ductus bursae (ring-shaped in other species); apical 2/5 of ductus bursae wrinkled and slightly constricted anteriorly; corpus bursae inverse pear-shaped and granular throughout. However, this new species can be distinguished by the following characters: median fascia of forewing cream-yellow (cream-white in G. qingchengensis ); ventral margin of sacculus rounded (angulated in G. qingchengensis ); slender process on cucullus straight (bent subapically in G. qingchengensis ); anterolateral corners of sterigma rounded (moderately angulated in G. qingchengensis ).

Description. Adults. ( Figs 1–4 , 22 ). Head ( Fig. 4 ): vertex grayish brown, each scale darker toward apex; frons cream-white. Antennae filiform, blackish-brown. Labial palpus grayish brown, cream-white on apical 1/8 of the second and third palpomeres. Thorax: thorax blackish-brown with or without two cream-yellowish bands, the two bands slightly connected medially; tegula blackish-brown at basal 1/3, dark cream-yellow and darker toward apex at apical 2/3. Forewing length 4.06–5.60 mm (n = 24). Forewing ground color blackish brown; costa with seven pairs of costal strigulae from basal 1/4 to apex; each pair of costal strigulae cream-white, with plumbeous streaks; apical three pairs of costal strigulae confluent below apex, gently curved outward and reaching tornus; basal patch represented by several plumbeous streaks, occupying basal 1/5; median fascia cream-yellow, fused with first and second pairs of costal strigulae; inner edge of median fascia whitish cream at base, sharply bent on cubitus; outer edge of median fascia plumbeous, moderately convex medially; ocelloid patch large, rather dark cream-yellow, surrounded by plumbeous streaks from third to seventh costal strigulae; a conspicuous blackish brown spot located between median fascia and ocelloid patch; cilia light grayish brown. Hindwing grayish-brown, slightly paler to base; cilia light grayish-brown. Legs grayish brown. Abdomen: abdomen light grayish-brown. Male genitalia ( Figs 7, 8 ): uncus apically shallowly bifurcated; neck of valva approximately half as wide as valva base; ventral margin of sacculus rounded; cucullus oblong and setose except dorsal part, with a rather long slender process bearing a short spine apically; slender process approximately three times as long as spine; phallus rather short; vesica with approximately ten needle-like deciduous cornuti of equal length. Female genitalia ( Fig. 13 ): papilla analis narrow and long, setose; apophysis posterioris as long as apophysis anterioris; posterior margin of sternum VII deeply emarginate in the middle; sterigma a small horizontally oblong plate, with the posterior edge rather convex; ductus bursae shorter than corpus bursae, with colliculum as long as 2/5 of ductus bursae; anterior 3/5 of ductus bursae membranous, wrinkled, rather bulging, and slightly constricted anteriorly; ductus seminalis originating from anterior 3/5 of ductus bursae; corpus bursae inverse pear-shaped, granular throughout, with two straight, horn-shaped signa, equal in size, and emerging from a moderately broad sclerite plate.

Mature larva ( Figs 17, 19 ). Length about 10.0 mm; head brown; prothoracic shield dark brown; thoracic legs dark brown; body, prolegs, and anal plate cream-yellow; anal plate with a pair of dark brown distorted commashaped patches. The larvae in Fig. 17 were collected on May 9, 2023, within the leaf shelter, and the larvae in Fig. 19 were collected on October 18, 2024, within the fruits.

Pupa ( Fig. 21 ). Length 4.5–6.0 mm (n = 7); color pale brown, turning dark brown before emergence, except on the abdomen.

Additonal material examined. Larva. JAPAN: Kyushu: Fukuoka Pref.: 1 unsexed, Itoshima-shi, Shimakeya, 33.5862°N, 130.1113°E, 6.5 m, 18.X.2024 (larva), collected on fruits of X. congesta, I. Kawashima leg., DNA extraction No. IKA0139 ( ELKU). Pupal exuviae. 7 unsexed, ditto, 15.XI–2.XII.2024 em., collected on fruits of X. congesta, I. Kawashima leg., preserved in 70% ethanol on 28.II.2025 ( ELKU).

Distribution. Japan (Honshu: Okayama Pref., Yamaguchi Pref.; Shikoku: Kochi Pref.; Kyushu: Fukuoka Pref.).

Host plant. Xylosma congesta ( Salicaceae ).

Biology. Larvae were collected during spring, autumn, and winter. On May 9, 2023, two larvae were obtained from the leaf shelters of Xylosma congesta composed of several young leaves tied together ( Figs 16, 17 ). The mature larvae entered dormancy for approximately a month in the pupal cases. Subsequently, adults emerged on June 23, 2023 and July 11, 2023. From October 18 to December 10, 2024, larvae were found within the fruits of X. congesta . These larvae spun several fruits together ( Fig. 18 ), bored into them ( Fig. 19 ), and never consumed mature leaves near the fruits. In captivity, mature larvae constructed pupal cases by cutting the edges of leaves to create flaps at one or two points ( Fig. 20 ). The mature larvae also entered dormancy, and adults emerged between November 15, 2024 and January 2, 2025.

Our observations suggested that G. xylosmae sp. nov. is at least bivoltine in Fukuoka Prefecture. First-generation larvae feed on young leaves, whereas second-generation larvae feed primarily on fruits. First-generation larvae appear in early May, and adults emerge from June to July. Second-generation larvae appear in October and overwinter as mature larvae, and adults emerge the following spring.

Etymology. This species was named after Xylosma , its host plant genus.

Figures

FIGURES 1–6. Adults of Gibberifera spp. 1–3, 5, 6, dorsal habitus; 4, head. 1, G. xylosmae sp. nov., paratype, ♂; 2, ditto, paratype, ♀; 3, G. xylosmae sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 4, G. xylosmae sp. nov., paratype, ♂; 5, G. simplana, ♂; 6, G. hepaticana, ♂. Scale bars = 5.0 mm (1–3, 5, 6); 1.0 mm (4).

FIGURES 7–12. Male genitalia of Gibberifera spp. 7, G. xylosmae sp. nov., paratype, IK0083-M; 8, ditto, paratype, phallus, IK0091-M; 9, G. simplana, IK0082-M; 10, ditto, phallus, IK0092-M; 11, G. hepaticana, IK0081-M; 12, ditto, phallus, IK0093- M. Scale bars = 0.5 mm (7, 9, 11); 0.2 mm (8, 10, 12).

FIGURES 13–15. Female genitalia of Gibberifera spp. 13, G. xylosmae sp. nov., paratype, IK0043-F; 14, G. simplana, IK0042- F; 15, G. hepaticana, IK0041-F. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 16–22. Biology of Gibberifera xylosmae sp. nov. 16, a leaf shelter made by larva on young leaves of Xylosma congesta (Salicaceae); 17, larva within the leaf shelter; 18, fruits tied together with silk by larva; 19, larva within the fruit; 20, cocoon made using a leaf; 21, pupa, ventral view; 22, adult, resting posture, lateral view.