Review of the Neotropical Species of the Elachista praelineata Species Group (Lepidoptera, Elachistidae, Elachistinae) with Identification Keys and Description of a New Species from Bolivia

Virginijus Sruoga; Jekaterina Havelka

doi:10.3390/insects14010062

Review of the Neotropical Species of the Elachista praelineata Species Group (Lepidoptera, Elachistidae, Elachistinae) with Identification Keys and Description of a New Species from Bolivia

Insects. 2023 Jan 9;14(1):62. doi: 10.3390/insects14010062.

Authors

Virginijus Sruoga¹, Jekaterina Havelka¹

Affiliation

¹ Institute of Biosciences, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Saulėtekio Ave. 7, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania.

Abstract

Neotropical species of the Elachista praelineata species group are reviewed. Five species are recognized in the Neotropics. A new species, Elachista stonisi sp. nov., and female of E. albisquamella Zeller, 1877 are described and illustrated with photographs of the adults, some of the immature stages, female genitalia, and leaf mines. The female of E. lata Sruoga, 2010 is associated with the male based on morphology and the comparison of partial mitochondrial COI sequences. Identification keys to the Neotropical species of E. praelineata species group, based on male and female genitalia, are provided.

Keywords: DNA; Microlepidoptera; South America; mining moths; mitochondrial COI; morphology; taxonomy.

Grants and funding

This research was partially funded by the Institute of Biosciences of Life Sciences Center (Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania).