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Title: A NEW SPECIES OF COELOSTATHMA (LEPIDOPTERA: TORTRICIDAE) FROM COCOS ISLAND,COSTA RICA, WITH COMMENTS ON THE PHYLOGENETIC SIGNIFICANCE OF ABDOMINAL DORSAL PITS IN SPARGANOTHINI

Author
item Brown, John
item MILLER, SCOTT - NHM OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY

Submitted to: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/27/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: ThetribeSparganothiniincludesavarietyofsmallmothswhoselarvaeare pests of crops (e.g., bell pepper, avocado, cotton, corn). Identification and subsequent communication is hindered by the fact that many species in the tribe are undescribed (not named) and relationships among most species and genera are unknown. This paper describes a new species in the genus Coelostathma and discusses a character that may be of significant value in identifying relationships among members of the tribe. Knowledge of relationships provides a predictive value in terms of life histories, includingthepropensityofcertainspeciestoattackcertaingroupsof plants. This information will be useful to researchers and quarantine officers charged with detection of potential pests to U.S. agriculture.  

Technical Abstract: The entomofauna of Cocos Island, Costa Rica, includes nearly 100 species of Lepidoptera, among which are 13 species of Tortricidae, most of which are endemic. One of these, Coelostathma insularis, new species, is described and illustrated. The new species is most similar to C. binotata (Walsingham) from Mexico among described species. A lectotype is designated for C. binotata. Although abdominal dorsal pits are shared by Coelostathma Clemens, Amorbia Clemens, Aesicopa Zeller, and Sparganopseustis Powell and Lambert, other morphological features do not suggest a close phylogenetic relationship among these genera within Sparganothini.