Diphtheroptila glochidia De Prins, Sruoga & Zwick, 2025

Prins, Jurate De, Hartley, Diana, Sruoga, Virginijus, Nicholls, James, Wallace, Jesse & Zwick, Andreas, 2025, Diversity of Australian Ornixolinae (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) with taxonomic and nomenclatural acts within the related taxa (Acrocercopinae and Gracillariinae) based on the evidence of museomics, bionomics, and mitogenomics, Zootaxa 5616 (1), pp. 1-340 : 106-110

Diphtheroptila glochidia De Prins, Sruoga & Zwick , sp. nov.

( Figs 147, 148, 166–169, 198–201; 222–225, 243, 244, 258, 268, 276, 286, 638)

Type locality: Australia, Queensland, Kuranda.

Type specimens: Holotype ♂: [labels verbatim] [1] Australia QLD [Queensland]/ 16.49S 145.38E /Kuranda em.[erged]/ 10 Feb 1997 /T. & M. Kumata. [2] Host 5692/ Glochidion / philippicum, DNA sample NULT025132, genitalia slide ANIC 6182, ANIC Acc. no 31 085524, in ANIC (Canberra).

Paratypes: 15 specimens: Paratype 1(♀): Australia, Queensland, Kuranda, 16.49S 145.38E, 10 February 1997, T. & M. Kumata. Host 5692, Glochidion philippicum (Cav.) C.B. Rob. ( Phyllanthaceae ), DNA sample NULT025257, genitalia slide ANIC 6183, ANIC Acc. no 31 085568. Paratype 2 (abdomen lost): same data, DNA sample NULT025372. Paratype 3(♂): same locality data, 08 February 1997, T. & M. Kumata. Host 5720, Glochidion sp. ( Phyllanthaceae ), DNA sample NULT024656, genitalia slide ANIC 6178, ANIC Acc. no 31 085560. Paratype 4(♂): same locality data, 08 February 1997, T. & M. Kumata. Host 5720, Glochidion sp. ( Phyllanthaceae ), DNA sample NULT024771, genitalia slide ANIC 6179, ANIC Acc. no 31 085561. Paratype 5(♂): same data. Paratype 6: without abdomen, same data, except the date, 06 February 1997. Paratype 7(♂): same data. Paratype 8(♂): same data, except the date, 05 February 1997. Paratype 9(♂): same data, except the date 07 February 1998, DNA sample NULT024896, genitalia slide ANIC 6180, ANIC Acc. no 31 085562. Paratype 10(♂): same data, except the date 08 February 1997. Paratype 11(♀): same data. Paratype 12(♂): same data, except the date, 07 February 1997, DNA sample NULT025017, genitalia slide ANIC 6181, ANIC Acc. no 31 085563. Paratype 13(♀): Kuranda, Cairns , emerged 01 April 1991, leg. T. Kumata, Host 4215, Glochidion sp. , DNA sample NULT024911, genitalia slide ANIC 6195, ANIC Acc. no 31 085571. Paratype 14(♀): same collecting data, except the date, 02 April 1991, ANIC image, ANIC Acc. no 31 075735, DNA sample NULT025035, genitalia slide ANIC 6196, ANIC Acc. no 31 075735. Paratype 15(♀): same collecting data, except the date 04 April 1991, genitalia slide No Grc-5694, T. Kumata 1991, in ANIC (Canberra).

Type depository: Australian National Insect Collection, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.

Diagnosis: This species is grouped with Diphtheroptila virosae sp. nov., the species that is reared from the same host genus Glochidion of the plant family Phyllanthaceae . The diagnosis from external characters is not advisable. Both species D. glochidia sp. nov. and D. virosae sp. nov. following the external characters are almost indistinguishable, however strongly different from D. glochidiella sp. nov. which has snowy white horizontal or oblique stripes on dorsum. The fact is that the wing pattern in this species group might be slightly variable and cannot be considered for diagnosis on species level. It characterises well this species group. The complex dorsal stripe/ patches ornamentation of the forewing as well as the apical pattern can slightly vary, the present spots and stripes are not edged, not contrasting. Geographical data are not helpful either for diagnosis since D. virosae sp. nov. is also reared from Glochidion sp. in the same locality— Queensland, Kuranda. To diagnose the Diphtheroptila species feeding on Glochidion in Australia one should take a combination of characters. The most reliable diagnostic characters to separate these species are in the internal morphology and in the mitogenomics. In many Ornixolinae species genitalia morphological characters are complex and suit well for diagnosis. Wing pattern of Diphtheroptila species feeding on Glochidion spp. have a similar ornamentation, dirty white non contrasting striae mixing into an ochreous fuscous background. The specific differences can be observed in the basal and median sectors of the forewing: in Diphtheroptila virosae sp. nov. the ornamentation of irregularly shaped curving fascia is lighter, while in D. glochidia sp. nov. the ornamentation is dominated by oblique stripes and striae, never crossing the full width of forewing; costal half of the forewing without any ornamentation in Diphtheroptila glochidia sp. nov., while this fascia crosses the forewing in Diphtheroptila virosae sp. nov. In general, Diphtheroptila glochidia sp. nov. is more fuscous grey in colouration and shading, while D. virosae sp. nov. is more ochreous with more contrasted lines. Male and female genitalia are strongly diagnostic. In D. virosae sp. nov. the valvae are broad with strongly narrowing apices, and with a fold on the basal costal margin, while in D. glochidia sp. nov. the valvae are narrow, gradually narrowing towards the base. The most obvious differential character is the double layer of ventral surface of valvae in D. glochidia sp. nov., while in the closely related species the ventral surface of valvae consists of one layer. Aedeagus strongly diagnostic: in D. virosae sp. nov. aedeagus with one, rod-like cornutus, while the aedeagus in D. glochidia sp. nov. has two sharply dentate prolonged cornuti and one digitiform projection. Female genitalia are also diagnostic. Sterigma, similar general pattern in D. glochidia sp. nov. and D. virosae sp. nov. However, the shape of ostium bursae and lamella ante-vaginalis clearly separate those two species: in D. virosae sp. nov. ostium bursae is round, directly connected with antrum, in D. glochidia sp. nov. ostium bursae is funnel-shaped, with a big cup-like lamella ante-vaginalis. Corpus bursae is also diagnostic: in D. virosae sp. nov. corpus bursae with two signa, in D. glochidia sp. nov. corpus bursae with one signum only.

Description: Wingspan 5.5–6.2 mm; length of the forewing 2.8–3.0 mm ( Figs 147, 148).

Head ( Figs 166–169): Vertex light fuscous beige consisting of one bunch of tightly supressed piliform, long scales, unicoloured, occiput covered by shorter scales of the same colour directed posteriorly. Frons of a little bit lighter shading than vertex, thickly covered with long piliform supressed scales that are directed to the midline of frons. Maxillary palpus short, rather small, also with hanging longer scales, similar to labial palpus, ochreous at base with several stout dark brown scales, dirty white, at apical part, apex of terminal palpomere shining white. Labial palpus developed, drooping, covered by bunches of long piliform scales, shining ochreous long piliform scales as long as the length of two palpomeres hang from the inner side of palpomere II; labial palpus fuscous ochreous at the outer side, white at inner side, palpomere III white with some ochreous shading at tip, labial palpus ca. 2,5× longer than the eye. Antenna light fuscous along its entire length with slight silvery shine, ventrally uniformly light ochreous, pedicel short, slightly thicker than the following flagellomere, light fuscous; scape dorsally light ochreous with a narrow white longitudinal stripe, ventrally light ochreous, pecten very short.

Thorax ( Figs 147, 148, 199, 201): ochreous, intermixed with darker beige spots, tegula of the same colouration as thorax, ochreous darker at base. Forewing narrowly elongated, slightly narrower at apex, apex gently rounded, ground colour beige ochreous with darker ochreous spots at sub-dorsum and fuscous spot and fuscous ornamentation in apical area; distinct wing markings only on dorsal margin of the forewing; ten short oblique, directed toward apex stripes grouped by three with seventh stripe as an intermediate between two groups of stripes with ochreous fuscous irregular patches between the groups; basal, sub-basal and median part of costal margin without any ornamentation, only in sub-apical area two indistinct dirty white stripes are present followed by a fuscous patch and arched ochreous white line crossing the sub-apex of forewing, followed by a fuscous line and costal third stripe just before apex; apical area consists of irregular apical patch surrounded by dirty white circle, apical line dark fuscous. The fringe line is dark fuscous, gently surrounding termen and tornus, doubled at tornus, since long fringe scales are dark at bases and at apices; fringe long, the longest piliform scales at dorsum in sub-tornal area, light grey, with light silver shine at tips, shading a little bit darker towards the base of forewing. Hindwing narrow, elongate, sharply pointed, ground colour dark greyish fuscous, fringe shorter at costa and long, ca. 6× longer than the width of hindwing at the base, with the longest piliform scales hanging at the base of the dorsum of the hindwing. The fore femur ochreous fuscous, with prolonged fuscous patch dorsally and light grey ventrally, tarsomeres I–IV fuscous with dirty white apices, tarsomere V uniformly fuscous, tip of fore leg fuscous; mid femur and mid tibia fuscous, mid tibia with sub-apical dirty white spot, tarsus fuscous, tarsomeres I–IV with dirty white apices, terminal tarsomere fuscous; hind femur ochreous beige, hind tibia slightly darker, light fuscous with stout 12–15 spines aligned in a row along tibia, median spurs very long, almost as long as tibia, apical spurs shorter, ca. half the length of tarsomere I, tarsomeres I–III fuscous with dirty white apices, tarsomeres IV–V fully fuscous, tip of the hind leg dark fuscous.

Abdomen ( Figs 198–200, 258, 268): bronze-beige on top of tergites, shiny bronze on top of sternites, lateral sides of abdomen (tergites and sternites) are dirty white with four oblique dark brown stripes. Abdominal opening rather small, shaped as an equilateral triangle, margins of abdominal opening on sternum II strongly sclerotised, especially ventral crossing joint which is ca. double as thick as lateral sides, ventral crossing joint slightly convex anteriorly; sternal apodemes initiating at the corners of abdominal opening are well developed, rather long, as long as ca. 1/3 of segment II, straight, slender, with sharp apices; a lightly melanised sickle-shaped joint connects lateral sides of abdominal opening on tergum I; tergal apodemes initiate at sub-anterior lateral sides of this joint with a short, but stout appendage; tergal apodemes rather long, terminating at mid of segment II, with blunt apices. The anterior margin of segments IV, V, VI and VII are very finely and narrowly sclerotised, abdominal cuticle with dense scobination of small tiny spicules. Segment VI in females is not additionally sclerotised. Abdomens of males and females are indistinguishable.

Male genitalia ( Figs 222–225): Tegumen short, reduced, teguminal arms are weakly sclerotised, anal tube strongly protruding, extending as long as ca. 1/2 of valvae; valvae gently narrowing towards gently rounded apex, costal margin equally straight, ventral margin straight at base until 1/2 of valva, then straight ventral margins turn into the curved and tuberculated sub-apical margin, covered with setae. The most peculiar character of this species is that the ventral surface of valvae are double layered, there is an internal valvae as clavus with strongly sclerotised both dorsal and ventral margins gently following the outer valval margins; sacculus with sclerotisations that can vary in shape and form, costal bases of valvae sharp, triangular meeting each other at teguminal cavity, forming an incomplete transtilla, the inner ventral margin of valvae with long, sharp, thick, spiculose setae; juxta as two broad band sclerotisations with narrow apices that meet at vincular cavity; vinculum is well-developed with big, broad, with folded lateral sides and appendages that extend towards apical part of tegumen, anterior vincular suture is clearly visible, crossing the central part of vinculum; saccus short but well developed, more or less triangular with curved and unequal lateral margins crossed by mid-suture with an arrow-shaped pointed anterior part. Aedeagus is slightly shorter than valva, broad, thick, well developed with gently narrowing and rounded vesica, that carries a rather long, straight, weakly sclerotised cornutus, and the second cornutus with two dentiform sharp processes.

Female genitalia ( Figs 243, 244): Papillae anales flattened and fused, covered with long, thin, setae of different lengths; apophyses posteriores short, with broad bases, slightly bent with blunt apices, terminating at anterior margin of segment VIII; segment VIII is short, weakly sclerotised; apophyses anteriores initiate with broad, separate, not fused into semi-ring bases; both apophyses posteriores and anteriores are approximately of the same length, apophyses anteriores enter ¼ of posterior margin of segment VII with their sharp apices; segment VII moderately sclerotised, with broad sterigma occupying almost entirely sternum VII; the posterior margin of sterigma with light concave indentation; at the central part of the sterigmatic sclerotisation ostium bursae opening with broad, prolonged and strongly sclerotised margins forming a cup-like lamella ante-vaginalis at anterior margin of segment VII; the posterior margin of sterigma with two-lined tubercules, carrying a row of long, nicely arranged setae. Antrum/colliculum and ductus bursae very strongly sclerotised; ductus bursae caries a double-folded sclerotisation, ductus bursae ca. ¼ longer than segment VII; corpus bursae sac-shaped, with one patch-like signum crossed by horizontal thin needle-like suture, situated at central part of the wall of corpus bursae. Posterior part of corpus bursae with many lines of melanised folds, anterior part of the wall with squamous melanised covering. Bulla seminalis big, sac-shaped, slightly smaller than corpus bursae with narrow but sclerotised ductus seminalis entering ductus bursae just posterior the joint of ductus bursae with corpus bursae.

Individual variation: There is a slight variation in dorsal ornamentation of forewing in shape, length, thickness of stripes and ochreous patches. In male genitalia the vinculum can slightly vary in thickness, broadness of lateral folds. Valvae can slightly vary in the shape of internal clavus, and saccular projection. Aedeagus can show slight variation in the size and shape of the second cornutus with two dentiform projections ( Figs 223–225). Female genitalia can very slightly vary in the sclerotisation degree of ductus bursae, size and deepness of cup-like lamella ante-vaginalis.

Bionomics ( Figs 276, 286): The larva feeds on three Glochidion species: G. philippicum (Cav.) C.B.Rob. , Glochidion sp. Host plant no. 5720, and Glochidion sp. Host plant no. 4215 ( Fig. 286) ( Phyllanthaceae ). The mining period of this species is from the first decade of February until early April.Adult moths were collected from the second decade of February till mid of April.

Mitogenomic data: The species is placed as sister to the clade comprising D. oxyloga , D. virosae sp. nov., D. nix sp. nov., and D. crotonella sp. nov., but the molecular support for its placement within the genus is too low to be confident of it ( Fig. 638).

Distribution: Known only from the type locality in Australia: Queensland, Kuranda.

Etymology: The specific name is derived from the species name of the host plant Glochidion sp. It is a noun in apposition, in the feminine gender and in the nominative case.