A new leaf-mining pest of guava, Hesperolyra guajavifoliae sp. n., with comments on the diagnostics of the endemic Neotropical genus Hesperolyra van Nieukerken (Lepidoptera, Nepticulidae)

Authors: STONIS, JONAS - Lithuanian University Of Educational Sciences; REMEIKIS, ANDRIUS - National Research Centre; DISKUS, ARUNAS - Lithuanian University Of Educational Sciences; ORLOVSKYTE, SVETLANA - National Research Centre; VARGAS, SERGIO - University Of Colombia; Solis, M Alma

Submitted to: ZooKeys
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/27/2019
Publication Date: 12/31/2019
Citation: Stonis, J.R., Remeikis, A., Diskus, A., Orlovskyte, S., Vargas, S., Solis, M.A. 2019. A new leaf-mining pest of guava, Hesperolyra guajavifoliae sp. n., with comments on the diagnostics of the endemic Neotropical genus Hesperolyra van Nieukerken (Lepidoptera, Nepticulidae). ZooKeys. 900:87-110. http;10.3897/zookeys.900.46332.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.900.46332

Interpretive Summary: Pygmy moth larvae create mines in leaves, twigs, or fruit in over 30 plant families. Guava or guayaba is a shrub or small tree cultivated for its fruit. Almost 52 million pounds of fresh, dried, and prepared guava worth more than $36 million was imported into the United States in 2018. We describe a new pygmy moth pest of guava or guayaba that was recently discovered in western Colombia. The new species is illustrated with photographs of the adults, some of the immature stages, male and female genitalia, and the leaf mines. This research will be useful to scientists and growers interested in the biology and identity of leaf mining moths on plants of the myrtle family.

Technical Abstract: We describe a new pest of guava (Psidium guajava L.), Hesperolyra guajavifoliae Stonis & Vargas, sp. n., that was recently discovered in western Colombia. Hesperolyra van Nieukerken is a small, Neotropical endemic genus of pygmy moths (Nepticulidae). We re-examine and document the complex morphology of the male genitalia of the type species, H. diskusi (Puplesis & Robinson). We discuss the diagnostics and composition of the genus and provide a simple pictorial differentiation scheme for all currently known representatives of the genus. The new species is illustrated with photographs of the adults, some of the immature stages, male and female genitalia, and the leaf mines. A link to the COI barcode of H. guajavifoliae sp. nov. is provided and the relationship of Hesperolyra van Nieukerken to other genera is discussed.