American Tischeriidae: re-examination of Astrotischeria melantheranella from Florida (Lepidoptera: Tischeriidae)

Abstract

<p>The American Astrotischeria melantheranella (Heppner, 2010) (Tischeriidae) is re-examined from paratype specimens (described in genus Tischeria), with a detailed documentation of the male and female genitalia, and including the first illustrations of the male genitalia in their natural position. We found that A. melantheranella closely resembles two related Neotropical species, A. maya Diškus & Stonis and, particularly, A. selvica Diškus, Carvalho Filho & Stonis. Our study revealed that A. melantheranella can be distinguished from A. selvica by the straight spine of the valva and the deeply divided phallus, and from A. maya by the horn-like process of the valva and the wide excavation between the median lobes of the uncus. Based on the overall similarity and the presence of a unique chitinized ring in the male genital capsule, we designate the A. maya species complex within the A. trilobata group.<p/>