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A total of 781 species of Microlepidoptera belonging to 41 families are reported for the territory of Omsk Region. The most numerous is the Tortricidae family represented by 255 species, then Crambidae (94 species), Gelechiidae (70), Pyralidae (66), Pterophoridae (44), Depressariidae (32), Gracillariidae (29), Tineidae (25), Elachistidae (14), Adelidae and Elachistidae (8 species in each family), Yponomeutidae, Ypsolophidae, Ethmiidae and Cosmopterigidae (7 species in each family), Scythrididae and Oecophoridae (6 species in each family), Eriocraniidae (4), Nepticulidae, Momphidae and Epermeniidae (3 species in each family), Prodoxidae, Glyphipterigidae, Lyonetiidae and Choreutidae (2 species in each family), Opostegidae, Incurvariidae, Roeslerstammiidae, Argyresthiidae, Plutelliidae, Acrolepiidae, Bedelliidae, Parametriotidae, Chimabachidae, Cryptolechiidae, Batrachedridae, Blastobasidae, Autostichidae, Galacticidae (1 species in each family). 10 species are new to the Omsk Region. Agonopterix purpurea (Haworth, 1811) and Aethes flagellana (Duponchel, 1836) are reported from the territory of Omsk Region as new to the Asian Part of Russia; Fomoria weaveri (Stainton, 1855) reported from the territory of West Siberia for the first time.

The purpose of this application, under Article 23.9.3 of the Code, is to conserve at superfamily level the usage of the family-group name Gelechioidea Stainton, 1854. The name is threatened by three senior family-group names described by Bruand, 1850 [1851], currently considered as valid families in the same superfamily as Gelechiidae: Oecophoridae, Elachistidae and Coleophoridae, which are thus subjective senior synonyms at the superfamily level. Strict application of the Principle of Priority would result in confusion as the superfamily name Gelechioidea has been almost universally used for this very diverse and economically important group of Lepidoptera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

First records of Elachistinae are given from Thailand. Ten species of Elachistinae are reported, eight of which are described as new: Urodeta longa Sruoga & Kaila sp. nov., Elachista buszkoi Sruoga & Kaila sp. nov., E. oryx Sruoga & Kaila sp. nov., E. pellineni Sruoga & Kaila sp. nov., E. capricornis Sruoga & Kaila sp. nov., E. phichaiensis Sruoga & Kaila sp. nov., E. loeiensis Sruoga & Kaila sp. nov. and E. siamensis Sruoga & Kaila sp. nov. The new species are diagnosed and illustrated with photographs of the adults and genitalia. One species remains unidentified to species level.

Agonopterix ferocella (Chrétien, 1910) (Depressariidae), Anarsia innoxiella Gregersen et Karsholt, 2017 (Gelechiidae), Depressaria sordidatella Tengström, 1848 (Depressariidae), Elachista eleochariella Stainton, 1851 (Elachistidae) and Epiblema fuchsianum (Rössler, 1877) (Tortricidae) are recorded from Hungary for the fi rst time. Additional records of Coptodisca lucifluella Clemens, 1860 (Heliozelidae) from Hungary are given. With 7 fi gures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of SHILAP Revista de Lepidopterologia is the property of Sociedad Hispano-Luso-Americana de Lepidopterologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Native varieties of avocado ( Persea americana Mill) called 'Criollo' grow in Mexico, but little is known of their association with the seed borer moth, Stenoma catenifer (Walsingham). S. catenifer is the best-known pest of 'Hass' avocado fruit. The S. catenifer sex pheromone was used to capture male S. catenifer in Criollo avocado orchards at different elevations at Chiapas, Mexico from September 2012 to August 2013. Polynomial regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between numbers of moths caught and weather factors (precipitation and temperature). We thought temperature and precipitation might affect the moths captured. Initial S. catenifer captures coincided with crop flowering and presence of avocado fruit, independently of the altitude at the site. S. catenifer was caught frequently at the low-altitude site from December to January, while captures increased from February to May at higher altitude. Moths captured and precipitation were positively correlated at the low-altitude site; moths captured were correlated with temperature but not with rainfall at the high-altitude site. As expected, S. catenifer pheromone also attracted Antaeotricha nictitans (Zeller) in the avocado crop. Interestingly, A. nictitans was captured in all seasons, even in larger numbers than S. catenifer. A new unidentified moth species in the Elachistidae family was present from late May to 10 July and was more abundant at Site 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The previously unknown female of Ethmia cribravia Wang & Li, a species known from Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated with colour photographs of the habitus, as well as images of genitalia mounted on slides. The species is sexually dimorphic, with the male having prominent androconial scales on the hindwing.

Com o objetivo de descrever a composição, ocorrência temporal e aspectos ecológicos das espécies de larvas de Lepidoptera associadas a cinco espécies de plantas: Erythroxylum ovalifolium e E. subsessile (Erythroxylaceae), Manilkara subsericea (Sapotaceae), Protium icicariba e P. heptaphyllum (Burseraceae), 1.455 plantas foram vistoriadas durante o período de Julho de 2003 a Agosto de 2005 no Parque Nacional da Restinga de Jurubatiba (PNRJ). Foram encontradas 32 espécies de Lepidoptera associadas a essas cinco espécies de plantas hospedeiras, sendo que as quatro espécies mais abundantes pertenciam à família Elachistidae. Manilkara subsericea apresentou o maior número de espécies de Lepidoptera associadas, 14 espécies, seguida por E. ovalifolium, com 10 espécies, P. icicariba, com sete, E. subsessile com seis e P. heptaphyllum com duas espécies de Lepidoptera associadas. Apenas uma das 32 espécies de Lepidoptera criadas apresentava hábito gregário e 56% utilizavam algum tipo de abrigo para alimentação e/ou defesa. Seis espécies de Lepidoptera identificadas (27%) eram polífagas, três (14%) oligófagas e 13 (59%) tiveram apenas uma única espécie de planta hospedeira registrada. As espécies mais abundantes de mariposas apresentaram dois períodos reprodutivos no ano, predominantemente, no inverno e outono. Fatores abióticos, como a forte insolação na primavera e verão na formação aberta de restinga, podem ser importantes determinando esse padrão temporal de reprodução dos insetos, mas não podemos descartar também fatores bióticos como a pressão de inimigos naturais.In order to describe the species composition, temporal occurrence and ecological aspects of larvae associated with five plant species: Erythroxylum ovalifolium and E. subsessile (Erythroxylaceae), Manilkara subsericea (Sapotaceae), Protium icicariba and P. heptaphyllum (Burseraceae), 1.680 plants were bimonthly surveyed from July of 2003 to August of 2005 in the Parque Nacional da Restinga de Jurubatiba (PNRJ). Thirty two species of Lepidoptera were reared from these five host plants, and the most abundant four species belonged to the Elachistidae. Manilkara subsericea showed the greatest number of Lepidoptera species associated, 14 species, followed by E. ovalifolium (10 species), P. icicariba (seven species), E. subsessile (six species) and P. heptaphyllum (two species). Only one out of the 32 species of Lepidoptera was gregarious and 56% used any kind of shelter to get food or for defence. Six Lepidoptera species (27%) were polyphagous, three (14%) oligophagous and 13 (59%) had just only one host plant species recorded. The most abundant species of moths exhibitted two reproductives periods in the year, predominantly in winter and autumn. Abiotic factors, such as strong insolation during spring and summer in the open scrub vegetation of restinga, may be very important in producing this temporal pattern of insect reproduction, but we cannot neglect biotic factors like natural enemies.

Chrysoclista germanica sp. nov. is described from Germany (Thuringia, Bad Blankenburg). Chrysoclista gabretica Šumpich, 2012 stat. nov., originally described as subspecies of C. abchasica Sinev, 1986, is elevated to species level. Both taxonomic acts are based on the study of morphological characters of the adults (males). Photographs of voucher specimens including genitalia structures are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of SHILAP Revista de Lepidopterologia is the property of Sociedad Hispano-Luso-Americana de Lepidopterologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a biologia de Stenoma catenifer em diferentes temperaturas, determinar suas exigências térmicas, estimar o número de gerações para o Município de São Tomás de Aquino, MG e comprovar o modelo em campo. Para a determinação da duração, viabilidade, fecundidade, longevidade e exigências térmicas, criaram-se insetos em sementes de abacate cultivar Breda, em diferentes temperaturas, umidade relativa de 70±10% e fotófase de 14 horas. A duração das fases de desenvolvimento e do ciclo biológico (ovo-adulto) foi afetada pela temperatura, tendo sido maior nas temperaturas mais baixas; a viabilidade foi maior na faixa térmica de 18ºC a 28ºC. O limiar térmico inferior de desenvolvimento (Tb) e a constante térmica (K) para as fases de ovo, lagarta, pupa e período ovo-adulto foram de 9,1ºC e 82,3 GD; 8,3ºC e 398,4 GD; 10,1ºC e 164,7 GD e 8,9ºC e 644,5 GD, respectivamente. A temperatura influenciou a capacidade de postura e a longevidade de machos e fêmeas. Com base nas normais térmicas, os números de gerações anuais e por ciclo de produção de abacate foram de 7,8 e 5,1, respectivamente. A flutuação populacional de S. catenifer pode ser utilizada como um indicativo do número de gerações, baseada nas exigências térmicas da praga.The objective of this work was to study the biology of Stenoma catenifer under different temperatures, determine its temperature requirements, estimate the number of generations for the city of São Tomás de Aquino, MG, and verify the model in the field. In order to determine duration, viability, fecundity, longevity, and temperature requirements, the insects were reared on cultivar Breda avocado seeds at different temperatures, under 70±10% relative humidity and a 14-hour photophase. Developmental stages and biological cycle (egg-adult) durations were affected by temperature, with higher values at lower temperatures, while viability was highest at temperature ranging from 18ºC to 28ºC. The lowest temperature development threshold (Tb), and thermal constant (K) for the egg, caterpillar, and pupal stages, and for the egg-adult period were 9.1ºC and 82.3 GD, 8.3ºC and 398.4 GD, 10.1ºC and 164.7 GD, and 8.9ºC and 644.5 GD, respectively. Temperature influenced the egg-laying capacity and longevity of females and males. Based on the normal values of temperature, the numbers of generations per year and per production cycle were 7.8 and 5.1, respectively. The population fluctuation of S. catenifer can be used as an indicator of the number of generations, based on temperature requirements of the pest.

Copyright of SHILAP Revista de Lepidopterologia is the property of Sociedad Hispano-Luso-Americana de Lepidopterologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of SHILAP Revista de Lepidopterologia is the property of Sociedad Hispano-Luso-Americana de Lepidopterologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of SHILAP Revista de Lepidopterologia is the property of Sociedad Hispano-Luso-Americana de Lepidopterologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of SHILAP Revista de Lepidopterologia is the property of Sociedad Hispano-Luso-Americana de Lepidopterologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Several species of leaf-mining moths have become invasive in many parts of the world. Their success seems to be related, at least in part, to their small body size, short life cycles, high dispersal capabilities and relatively plastic host-plant associations. Here, we provide the first report of established populations of the elachistid moth, Elachista synethes, in South America (specifically the Azapa Valley, northern Chilean Atacama Desert). E. synethes is a widespread polyphagous species native to Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand. The immatures in the Azapa Valley were found associated with the South American native rescue grass, Bromus catharticus. Interestingly E. synethes is known to use B. catharticus as a host plant in the Australian region (i.e. where the plant is introduced but the moth native). In addition to comparing the morphology of immature and adult moths, we sequenced a partial region of the cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene from putative specimens from the Azapa Valley, and reconstructed a Bayesian phylogeny using representative species from different groups of Elachista as terminals. The specimens from Chile fell within the lineage of E. synethes, with 0% of genetic divergence. Thus, we hypothesize that this leaf-miner species was accidentally introduced into northern Chile, and has established there due to the existence of suitable host plants in that area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We discuss 45 Costa Rican species of Ethmia Hübner, 1819, including 23 previously described: E. delliella (Fernald), E. bittenella (Busck), E. festiva Busck, E. scythropa Walsingham, E. perpulchra Walsingham, E. terpnota Walsingham, E. elutella Busck, E. janzeni Powell, E. ungulatella Busck, E. exornata (Zeller), E. phylacis Walsingham, E. mnesicosma Meyrick, E. chemsaki Powell, E. baliostola Walsingham, E. duckworthi Powell, E. sandra Powell, E. nigritaenia Powell, E. catapeltica Meyrick, E. lichyi Powell, E. transversella Busck, E. similatella Busck, E. hammella Busck, E. linda Busck, and 22 new species: E. blaineorum, E. millerorum, E. dianemillerae, E. adrianforsythi, E. stephenrumseyi, E. berndkerni, E. dimauraorum, E. billalleni, E. ehakernae, E. helenmillerae, E. johnpringlei, E. laphamorum, E. petersterlingi, E. lesliesaulae, E. turnerorum, E. normgershenzi, E. nicholsonorum, E. hendersonorum, E. randyjonesi, E. randycurtisi, E. miriamschulmanae and E. tilneyorum. We illustrate all species and their male and female genitalia, along with distribution maps of Costa Rican localities. Immature stages are illustrated for 11 species, and food plants are listed when known. Gesneriaceae is added as a new food plant family record for Ethmia. CO1 nucleotide sequences ("DNA barcodes") were obtained for 41 of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of SHILAP Revista de Lepidopterologia is the property of Sociedad Hispano-Luso-Americana de Lepidopterologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Microgastrinae genus Prasmodon is revised and the following 16 new species are described: erenadupontae and verhoogdenokus (authored by Braet and Fernández-Triana), and almasolisae, aureus, bobpoolei, bobrobbinsi, dondavisi, johnbrowni, masoni, mikepoguei, nixoni, paulgoldsteini, scottmilleri, silvatlanticus, subfuscus, and tijucaensis (authored by Fernández-Triana and Whitfield). The greatest species richness is found in the Amazon basin, but the genus extends throughout the rain forests of Central and South America. Leaf-rolling and webbing caterpillars of Crambidae and Elachistidae are the only known hosts for these parasitoids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ctenanthe kummeriana (E. Morren) Eichler (Marantaceae) is a cosmopolitan ornamental plant with esthetically appealing color and leaf shape. Pseudautomeris brasiliensis Walker (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) and a nondescribed species of Stenoma (Lepidoptera: Elachistidae) defoliated this plant in the campus of the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV), Viçosa, Minas Gérais State, Brazil, inspiring the study of the association that prevails among these organisms. This could be a rare event, as the association of Lepidoptera with Marantaceae is scarce, with only two previous reports. The aim of this study was to monitor the caterpillars on the two crops of C. kummeriana, one in the "Horto Botânico" (HB) and another in the "Recanto da Cigarra" (RC) for a period of 1 yr, with particular attention to the shelters and damage caused; to assess the gregarious nature and the emergence of parasitoid and lepidopterans; and to provide an accurate morphologic diagnosis of a parasitoid. P. brasiliensis and Stenoma sp. were recorded after the rainy season, exhibiting similar distribution between HB and RC. Enicospilus tenuigena Kriechbaumer, 1901 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) emerged from 76.25% of the P. brasiliensis pupae. P. brasiliensis and Stenoma sp. defoliated the C. kummeriana plants between March and June in the UFV campus, whereas the parasitoid E. tenuigena reduced the populations of the first species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid development of broad regional and international DNA barcode libraries have brought new insights into the species diversity of many areas and groups. Many new species, even within well-investigated species groups, have been discovered based initially on differences in DNA barcodes. We barcoded 437 collection specimens belonging to 40 pre-identified Palearctic species of the Elachista bifasciella group of moths (Lepidoptera, Elachistidae). Although the study group has been a subject of several careful morphological taxonomic examinations, an unexpectedly high number of previously undetected putative species is revealed, resulting in a 34% rise in species number in the study area. The validity of putative new species was subsequently supported with diagnostic morphological traits. We show that DNA barcodes provide a powerful method of detecting potential new species even in taxonomic groups and geographic areas that have previously been under considerable morphological taxonomic scrutiny. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species, Antaeotricha baboquivariensis and Antaeotricha duckworthi, are described from southeastern Arizona. Photographs are included of the type imagoes and their associated genitalia. Habitat images and a distribution map for the two new taxa are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moth species trapped using the sex pheromone of Stenoma catenifer (LaSalle) as a lure, were registered at 2 commercial avocado orchards (one consisting of "Hass" and other of "Criollo") and in wild "Criollo" avocado trees in southern Mexico. Traps were maintained for 1 mo in two seasons (dry and wet) on avocado trees under these 3 production conditions, changing the baits each season. Weekly observations registered no moths in the traps placed in the commercial "Hass" avocado orchard, in contrast to the other 2 sites, where Stenoma catenifer and Antaeotricha nictitans males were captured. Stenoma catenifer adults were always observed at the commercial "Criollo" orchard and wild "Criollo" avocado trees during the dry season (fructification period), but never in the wet season (non fruiting period). Under wild conditions A. nictitans was captured during both dry and wet seasons; however, it was never captured during the dry season at the commercial "Criollo" orchard. Populations of both moth species were similar -S. catenifer: 0.3 (wild trees) to 0.7 (orchard); and A. nictitans: 0.6 (wild trees) moth/trap/wk- during the dry season, and no differences were observed per species at each locality. The total number of captures per site during the fruiting season decreased significantly -0.9 (1st wk) to 0.2(4th wk) moth/trap/wk- during the observation period. S. catenifer was found infesting dropped fruit in the commercial "Criollo" orchard and at the wild site, whereas A. nictitans larvae were not detected infesting fruit. Captured S. catenifer males were always associated with the presence of avocado fruit in the field. The host of A. nictitans remains unknown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of SHILAP Revista de Lepidopterologia is the property of Sociedad Hispano-Luso-Americana de Lepidopterologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Despite the great biodiversity of lepidopterans, there are few studies focusing on caterpillars and the effects of fire on their community structure in the Cerrado. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of frequent fires every 2 years for 16 years, on the Lepidoptera larval community hosted on Byrsonima coccolobifolia (Malpighiaceae). The study was carried out in the Cerrado sensu stricto in the Reserva Ecológica of the Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE-RECOR) (15°55′-15°58′S, 47°52′-47°55′W), in Distrito Federal, Brazil, from December 2005 to August 2006. We selected two burned parcels, one of which was burned during the mid-dry season (FM) and the other of which burned in the late dry season (FL), in addition to a preserved, unburned parcel (FA). In each parcel, 900 plants of B. coccolobifolia were inspected for caterpillars, which were then collected and reared in a laboratory of the University of Brasilia. We found 480 caterpillars from 49 species distributed in 16 Lepidoptera families. The frequency of plants with larvae, the number of caterpillars and species composition varied among parcels. In the unburned parcel the frequency of plants with caterpillars was 2.4 and 5.2 times higher than in burned parcels (FM and FL), respectively. The species richness did not differ among parcels, and an asymptotic curve was nearly reached in only the unburned parcel. The dominant species in the preserved parcel was Cerconota achatina (Elachistidae). In the FM, the dominant species was Concana mundissima (Noctuidae) and in the FL, the dominant species was Stenoma salome (Elachistidae). The dissimilarity between unburned and burned parcels was 64%. Results indicated that fire events have a strong negative impact on caterpillar abundance and species composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sex pheromone of Stenoma catenifer was evaluated in commercial avocado orchards in Guatemala to determine operational parameters, such as optimal lure type, trap height, trap density and estimates of the distances that male moths fly. Of four pheromone dispensers tested, gray and white rubber septa were of equal efficacy, whereas 1-ml low-density polyethylene vials and 2×3-cm polyethylene ziplock bags were least efficacious. The height at which wing traps were hung did not significantly affect the number of adult male S. catenifer captured. For monitoring S. catenifer, these data suggest that the pheromone should be dispensed from gray rubber septa in wing traps hung inside the tree canopy at 1.75 m, a height convenient for trap placement and monitoring. Mark-recapture studies of male S. catenifer indicated that, on average, males flew 67 m in one night. However, it is likely that this is an underestimate of the distance that male moths are capable of flying in a single night. Probabilistic modeling of S. catenifer capture data from different numbers of pheromone traps deployed in seven commercial avocado orchards of varying sizes and infestation levels suggested that 10–13 randomly deployed traps per orchard for a 7-day period are needed to detect at least one male S. catenifer with 90% confidence. These data provide sufficient information to develop effective protocols for using the S. catenifer pheromone to detect and monitor this pest in countries with endemic populations that are exporting fresh avocados, and for quarantine detection and incursion monitoring in countries receiving avocado imports from high risk areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new species Antaeotricha arizonensis is described from southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. Adults and genitalia are illustrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The morphology of preimaginal stages (last instar larva and pupa) as well as the life history of the micro-moth Elachista irenae Buszko, 1989 are described and illustrated for the first time. The description of larval morphology includes detailed chaetotaxy. Some larval characters of potential phylogenetic importance are also discussed briefly. The monophagous larva of Elachista irenae mines leaves of narrow-leaved, mountainous grass Festuca versicolor Tausch. The larva mines downwards, and starts mining usually near the leaf tip. Pupation takes place on the ground or on a leaf of the food plant. The moth occurs in one generation, and the adult flight season extends from the second half of June to end of July. In the field, the mature larvae were encountered from the end of May to the second half of June. The species is xerophilous, and hibernates as young larva. Elachista irenae is known only from Poland and Slovakia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field trials of the sex pheromone of an important and potentially invasive pest of avocados, Persea americana Miller (Lauraceae), Stenoma catenifer Walsingham (Lepidoptera: Elachistidae),were carried out in commercial avocado orchards in Guatemala. The results indicated that the pheromone consists of a single component, (9Z)-9,13-tetradecadien-11-ynal; blends of this compound with a range of ratios of the corresponding alcohol and acetate, or with (6Z,9Z) -tricosadiene, which was present in pheromone gland extracts, were equally or less attractive to male moths than the single component. A range of doses from 10 μg to 1 mg were equally attractive, and lures remained attractive for periods of several weeks. Male moth flight activity peaked between 0230 and 0430 hours. Overall, trap catches were relatively low, similar to what was reported for the congeneric Stenoma cecropia Meyrick, suggesting that this species may use other signals in addition to pheromones during mate location. Nevertheless, the pheromone will be useful for detection of S. catenifer, particularly in areas where there is a risk of the moth invading and establishing due to increased commerce in fresh avocados, and for certifying export orchards as being free of S. catenifer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of chemical and physical stimuli on the diel patterns of oviposition behavior of the borer Stenoma catenifer Walsingham (Lepidoptera: Elachistidae) were investigated. All experiments were conducted in the laboratory (25 ± 2°C, 60 ± 20% RH, photoperiod of 14:10 [L:D] h) by using five pairs per cage (n = 5). To evaluate response to chemical stimulation, the cages were lined internally with a paper towel containing different treatments: 1 and 2) avocado fruit of 'Margarida' and 'Breda', 3) artificial fruit, and 4) no fruit (natural or artificial). Quilted paper towel, nonquilted paper towel, and a smooth sheet of paper were used to evaluate response to the substrate. The numbers of eggs in all treatments that included avocado fruit were statistically higher than the others. Likewise, the numbers of eggs on quilted paper towel were statistically higher than on nonquilted paper towel or on smooth paper. The peak egg-laying time in the laboratory occurred from 2000 to 2400 hours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phylogenetic relationships within the megadiverse lepidopteran superfamily Gelechioidea have been poorly understood and consequently the family level classification has been problematic. An analysis of phylogeny using 193 characters, including 241 informative character states, derived from larval, pupal and adult morphology and larval ecology, was performed to resolve the phylogeny of the Gelechioidea. 143 species representing the diversity of the putative Gelechioidea were included, supplemented with 13 species representing 11 other Ditrysian families. The monophyly of the Gelechioidea was supported, although only with homoplastic characters. The putative position of the Gelechioidea as the sister group of the Apoditrysia was not supported, since the Gelechioidea was nested within this clade. The Gelechioidea was divided into two main lineages: (1) the gelechiid lineage constituting Deoclonidae, Syringopainae, a re-composed Coleophoridae (including Coelopoetinae and Batrachedrinae as paraphyletic with Stathmopodinae, and Coleophorinae nested within it), Momphidae, Pterolonchidae, Scythrididae, Cosmopterigidae, and Gelechiidae, and (2) the oecophorid lineage constituting the“autostichid” family assemblage (including taxa formerly assigned to Autostichinae, Holcopogoninae, Symmocinae, Glyphidoceridae and Lecithoceridae), Xyloryctidaes.l.(including a paraphyletic Xyloryctidae of authors, some oecophorids of authors, Deuterogoniinae and Blastobasinae), Oecophoridaes.s., Amphisbatidaes.s., Carcinidae, Stenomati[n/d]ae, Chimabachidae and Elachistidae (including Depressariinaes.s.,Telechrysis, Ethmiinae, Hypertrophinaes.l., miscellaneous“amphisbatids” sensuauthors, Aeolanthinae, Parametriotinae, Agonoxeninae and Elachistinae). Detritivory/fungivory may have evolved only twice within Gelechioidea, though the evolution of larval food substrate use frequently reverses. To avoid an unnecessary further proliferation of names, it is recommended that no further family group names are introduced within the Gelechioidea, unless based on a rigorous analysis of inter-relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stephensia armata sp. n., a remarkable species is described from Belize (Central America), The external features and genitalia of the male are figured and described in detail. A distribution map for all six Elachistidae species, currently recorded from tropical America, is given: Perittia smaragdophanes (Meyrick), P.punatensis Kaila. Elachista albisquamella Zeller, E. saccharella (Busck), E. vasrana Kaila and Stephensia armata Sruoga, sp. n. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract.The classification of the gelechioid family Elachistidae (Lepidoptera) is revised on the basis of a phylogenetic analysis. Pee-Wee analysis of 131 characters of adult and pupal morphology and larval mode of life, coded for seventy elachistid species, results in a classification with three recognized genera: Perittia, Stephensia and Elachista. Elachista is further divided into four subgenera. The phylogenetic relationships of the genera and subgenera are (Perittia (Stephensia ((E. sg. Dibrachia (E. sg. Hemiprosopa, E. sg. Aphelosetia)) (E. sg. Elachista)))). Twenty-four new generic synonyms and thirty-eight new generic combinations of species are proposed. A checklist is given for the species of Elachistidae in their revised generic combinations, including nine new synonymies. Due to secondary homonymy, Elachista dasycara nom. n. is proposed as a new name for Eurynome albella Chambers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]