A new pygmy leafmining moth, Stigmella tatrica sp. n., from the alpine zone of the Tatra Mountains (Lepidoptera, Nepticulidae)

Zdenko Tokár,Aleš Laštůvka,Erik Van Nieukerken

doi:10.3897/nl.40.12674

Abstract

Stigmella tatrica sp. n. is described from moths taken in the alpine zone of the Tatra Mountains in Slovakia. The new species is similar to several other montane species of Stigmella Schrank, 1802 in the S. aurella (Fabricius, 1775) group in external characters and male genitalia; its closest relative is S. dryadella (O. Hofmann, 1868). It is indistinguishable from S. tormentillella (Herrich-Schaffer, 1860) by the colour and pattern elements of the forewing; however, it differs in the male genitalia in the shape and number of cornuti, in the female genitalia by long apophyses with protruding ovipositor, and by COI barcodes. Immature stages are unknown, but Dryas octopetala L. (Rosaceae) is the possible hostplant. The long ovipositor suggests an unusual, possibly hidden place for oviposition. The male and female adults and genitalia of both sexes are figured and photographs of the habitat are provided.

Highlights

The pygmy leafmining moths or Nepticulidae have around 300 species in Europe, the great majority of which are leafminers, feeding on woody plants and they are abundant in forested areas
The high altitude Stigmella species of the Tatra Mountains, especially above the tree line, have been poorly studied and all records reside in a handful of publications
The discovery of Stigmella tatrica shows that the montane fauna of Central European Nepticulidae is still insufficiently studied and can provide surprises

Summary

Introduction

The pygmy leafmining moths or Nepticulidae have around 300 species in Europe, the great majority of which are leafminers, feeding on woody plants and they are abundant in forested areas (van Nieukerken et al 2016). Overall they do not form an important aspect of the diversity of high mountain faunas (but see Stonis et al (2016) for a group of Stigmella Schrank, 1802 species occurring in the high Andes). In late July 2005, while inventorying the Lepidoptera fauna of the Western Tatra Mountains, the first author with his friend found four males of an unknown Stigmella species in alpine grasslands at altitudes between 1800 and 1900 m. An examination of the female genitalia of this tiny moth, as well as the analysis of the DNA barcodes, showed that it represents a hitherto undescribed Stigmella species

Material and methods

Discussion