Abstract
Sabulopteryxbotanica Hoare & Patrick, sp. nov. (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae, Gracillariinae) is described as a new species from New Zealand. It is regarded as endemic, and represents the first record of its genus from the southern hemisphere. Though diverging in some morphological features from previously described species, it is placed in genus Sabulopteryx Triberti, based on wing venation, abdominal characters, male and female genitalia and hostplant choice; this placement is supported by phylogenetic analysis based on the COI mitochondrial gene. The life history is described: the larva is an underside leaf-miner on the endemic divaricating shrub Teucriumparvifolium (Lamiaceae), and exits the mine to pupate in a cocoon in a folded leaf of the host plant. The remarkable history of the discovery and rediscovery of this moth is discussed: for many years it was only known from a single sap-feeding larva found in a leaf-mine in a pressed herbarium specimen of the host. The adult was discovered by BHP in Christchurch Botanic Gardens in 2013. Most distribution records of the moth come from a recent search for mines and cocoons on herbarium specimens of T.parvifolium. Sabulopteryxbotanica has high conservation status, and is regarded as ‘Nationally Vulnerable’ according to the New Zealand Department of Conservation threat classification system, based on the rarity and declining status of its host plant. However, the presence of apparently thriving populations of S.botanica on cultivated plants of T.parvifolium, especially at the type locality, Christchurch Botanic Gardens, suggests that encouraging cultivation of the plant could greatly improve the conservation status of the moth. A revised checklist of New Zealand Gracillariidae is presented, assigning all species to the currently recognised subfamilies. The Australian Macarostolaida (Meyrick, 1880) is newly recorded from New Zealand (Auckland), where it is established on Eucalyptus.
Highlights
New Zealand has a relatively depauperate fauna of the leaf-mining moth family Gracillariidae: revision and further field work can be expected to increase the number of species, but the fauna is probably relatively well known and genuinely species-poor
We follow the Kawahara et al (2017) classification here. Given these recent changes and discoveries, we present an updated New Zealand Gracillariidae checklist here (Appendix 1) and assign the named species as far as possible to the newly defined subfamilies; further changes can be expected once the fauna is revised
These old records of the moth help to confirm that it is an endemic species on its natural host plant and not a recent adventive that has switched to T. parvifolium from an introduced Teucrium species
Summary
New Zealand has a relatively depauperate fauna of the leaf-mining moth family Gracillariidae: revision and further field work can be expected to increase the number of species, but the fauna is probably relatively well known and genuinely species-poor. We follow the Kawahara et al (2017) classification here Given these recent changes and discoveries, we present an updated New Zealand Gracillariidae checklist here (Appendix 1) and assign the named species as far as possible to the newly defined subfamilies; further changes can be expected once the fauna is revised. The miner was rediscovered on 31 January 2004, when Nicholas Martin collected a sprig of T. parvifolium at Paengaroa Scenic Reserve, Mataroa, near Taihape RI, with two mined leaves He discovered a further mine in a Teucrium leaf at Price’s Valley, Banks Peninsula MC on 17 August 2005. This is the first record of the genus from the southern hemisphere
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