Abstract
The plume moth genus Stenoptilia Hübner, [1825] (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae) is recorded for the first time from Chile. Adults of Stenoptilia socoromaensis Vargas & Gielis sp. nov. from the northernmost part of the Chilean Andes are described and illustrated. The larvae of S. socoromaensis feed on buds, flowers and unripe fruits of the hemiparasitic plant Neobartsia peruviana (Walp.) Uribe-Convers & Tank (Orobanchaceae). Pairwise distances of a DNA barcode sequence of S. socoromaensis with congeneric species ranged from 9.1 to 12.6% (K2P).
Highlights
The plume moth genus Stenoptilia Hübner, [1825] (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae) is recorded for the first time from Chile
Stenoptilia socoromaensis is the first species of the genus described from Chile
The morphology suggests that S. socoromaensis belongs to the group of Stenoptilia tenuis (Felder & Rogenhofer, 1875), from Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, and Stenoptilia suprema Meyrick, 1926, from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru (Gielis, 2006)
Summary
The plume moth genus Stenoptilia Hübner, [1825] (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae) is recorded for the first time from Chile. More species could still be discovered, because sampling for plume moths has been scarce in some parts of the country This is the case of the Andes of the northernmost part of Chile, where only two species have been recorded (Vargas, 2010; Espinoza-Donoso et al, 2018), even though its arid environments harbor a relatively high diversity of native plants (Gatica-Castro et al, 2015). Stenoptilia Hübner [1825] (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae) is a widespread plume moth genus.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
