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Title: NOTES ON NEW GUINEA MOTHS. 2. A NEW SPECIES OF XENOTHICTIS MEYRICK (LEPIDOPTERA: TORTRICIDAE: ARCHIPINI)

Author
item Brown, John
item MILLER, SCOTT - NMNH,SMITHSONIAN, DC
item HORAK, MARIANNE - CSIRO, AUSTRALIA

Submitted to: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/15/2003
Publication Date: 7/15/2003
Citation: Brown, J.W., Miller, S.E., Horak, M. 2003. Notes on new guinea moths. 2. a new species of xenothictis meyrick (lepidoptera: tortricidae: archipini). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 105:1032-1043.

Interpretive Summary: The larvae of leaf-roller moths are important pest of crops, forest trees, and ornamental plants. While some species are highly specialized, feeding on one or few species of plants, others feed on a wide range of plants. A long-term ecological study conducted in New Guinea focused on determining host ranges of leaf-rollers and other moths, and we report on one aspect of that work. We name a new species of leafroller that has been recorded from 6 different plants, but likely is a specialist on only one. Understanding such patterns will help determine the invasiveness and/or potential for survival of this and related species should they be inadvertently introduced into the U.S. or elsewhere. This information will be valuable to scientists studying patterns of herbivory, ecologists examining "guilds" of caterpillars that feed on related and unrelated plants, and action agencies such as APHIS whose charge is to intercept and exclude invasive species at our borders.

Technical Abstract: Xenothictis gnetivora, new species, from Papua New Guinea, is described and illustrated. The type series consists of 114 specimens reared from leaf-rolling larvae primarily on Gnetum gnemon L. (Gnetaceae), but also on Celtis philippensis Blanco (Celtidaceae), Sterculia schumanniana (Laut.) Mildbr. (Sterculiaceae), and other plants during a multi-year rearing project (1995-2001). The five previously described species of Xenothictis are from Australia and Melanesia.