Ithome lassula Hodges (Lepidoptera: Cosmopterigidae), una nueva especie para Cuba asociada a Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit.

The new report for Cuba of Ithome lassula Hodges (Lepidoptera: Cosmopterigidae), species associated to the forage plant Leucaena leucocephala, was confirmed with the identification of the adults, using a key based on the maculation of the scales in the zone of the insect's head. The adults emerged in the laboratory, from the larvae collected on the inflorescences; they came from the different livestock production systems that were sampled in the Matanzas and Mayabeque provinces, which were integrated by the four commercial varieties of the legume and by pasture grasses. On the other hand, the detection of the lesions caused by the larvae of this cosmet moth in the inflorescences, and their repercussion on the production of leucaena seeds, constituted the most important element that should be considered to evaluate its potential as pest and when estimating the possible losses in the evaluated livestock production systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]