The Male Genitalia of the New Zealand Oecophoridae.

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 58, 1928, Page 102

The Male Genitalia of the New Zealand Oecophoridae. By Alfred Philpott, Hon. Research Student in Lepidoptera, Cawthron Institute, Nelson. [Read before the Nelson Philosophical Society, 30th June, 1926; received by Editor, 2nd July, 1926; issued separately, 10th August, 1927.] The family Oecophoridae is numerically a very important one among New Zealand micro-lepidoptera, its members comprising about one-third of the whole of the Tineoidea. This predominence is chiefly due to the large genus Borkhausenia which, in turn, accounts for nearly forty per cent. of the Oecophoridae. Other fairly large genera are Gymnobathra (14 species) and Izatha (18 species), both of which are endemic, and Trachypepla (19 species), which has several representatives in Australia. The remaining forms are divided among about twenty genera and constitute either small endemic groups or are outliers of genera more common elsewhere. At least two species, Endrosis lacteella Schiff. and Borkhausenia pseudospretella Stt., are semi-domestic in habits and have undoubtedly been accidentally introduced by man. Other Publications dealing with the Genitalia of the Family. The male genitalia of the family have been dealt with, in part, in previous publications. These are as follows:— “List of New Zealand Species of Borkhausenia (Oecophoridae: Lepidoptera), including New Species.” Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. 56, p. 399. This article figures the male genitalia of 47 species of the genus. “New Zealand Lepidoptera: Notes and Descriptions.” Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. 56, p. 387. Gives figures of the male genitaia of Borkhausenia affinis Philp., B. terrena Philp., Euchersadaula tristis Philp., E. lathriopa (Meyr.), Leptocroca scholaea (Meyr.), L. asphaltis (Meyr.), L. variabilis Philp., L. vacua Philp. and Barea ambigua Philp. “The Genitalia of the Genus Gymnobathra.” Trans. N.Z. Inst. vol. 57, p. 716. Figures the male genitalia of all species except G. philadelpha Meyr., G. thetodes Meyr. and G. sarcoxantha Meyr. “New Zealand Lepidoptera: Notes and Descriptions.” Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. 57, p. 703. Figures the male genitalia of Borkhausenia marcida Philp. and B. paula Philp. General Description of the Male Genitalia. A general description of the male genitalia in each genus follows, with keys to the species in the larger groups. These keys, with

the figures, will probably be found sufficient for species determination without detailed descriptions. From want of material the genera Aochleta (one species) and Philobota (two species) have had to be omitted. Schiffermuelleria Huebn. (Fig. 1). Only a single straggler, S. orthophanes Meyr., is found in New Zealand. The male genitalia are of fairly normal Oecophorid type, the chief modification being the long narrow basally-projecting process (saccus) of the vinculum. The uncus is of moderate length and is opposed by a normal gnathos, the apical projection of which is directed caudally. The harpes are irregularly oblong and divided into a cucullus and sacculus, the latter being the more strongly chitinised and having its apex overlapping the former. Endrosis Hübn. (Fig. 2). The world-wide house-frequenting species, S. lacteella Schiff. is the only form found in New Zealand. The tegumen, with its uncus and gnathos, resembles that of the preceding species. The harpes are of simple leaf-like type, with the ventral margin forming apically a free curved lobe. It is doubtful if such a lobe, which occurs frequently among the Oecophoridae, can be regarded as the homologue of the sacculus, a part which rather seems to be the result of an apical splitting of the harpe. As in the preceding species, the vinculum is produced in a cephalic direction, but is here very broad and scoop-like. The juxta consists of two long tapering lobes springing from the basal plate. The unusual development of the vinculum and juxta is probably related to the corresponding development of the aedeagus, which is both stout and long, reaching almost from the base of the vinculum to the apex of the harpe. Chersadaula Meyr. (Fig. 51). Monotypic and endemic. The ♂ genitalia show affinity with the chloradelpha group of Borkhausenia, the chief difference being that in C. ochrogastra Meyr. the harpes are clothed outwardly with long hair-scales. Thamnosara Meyr. (Fig. 3). Montotypic and endemic. The genitalia resemble those of some species of Gymnobathra; Barea dinocosma Meyr. and B. ambigua Philp. also exhibit the same type. The uncus is apically dilated and bears some spiny areas near its abruptly truncate apex. Izatha Walk. (Figs. 4 to 18). The genus is characterised by the feeble development of the tegumen and uncus, the anal tube frequently projecting beyond the apex of the latter. The gnathos is absent. The harpes, in a few instances, are divided into sacculus and cucullus, but in outline do not depart much from the Oecophorid type. On the inner side near the base is a process which takes a variety of forms in the different species. It is probably a development of the editum, which in Borkhausenia and other related genera consists only of a slight fold

(Lettering: a, male genitalia, lateral view; b, harpe—inner view; c, aedeagus—in some instances the juxta is included; d, juxta, ventral view; e, vinculum; f, uncus, in some instances showing the gnathos also; g, tegumen, dorsal view; h, transtilla; I, apex of gnathos.) Fig. 1.—Schiffermuelleria orthophanes Meyr. Fig. 2.—Endrosis lacteella Schiff. Fig. 3.—Thamnosara sublitella Walk. Fig. 4.—Izatha amorbas Meyr. Fig. 5.—Izatha convulsella Walk. Fig. 6.—Izatha mira Philp. Fig. 7.—Izatha metadelta Meyr. Fig. 8.—Izatha peroneanella Walk. Fig. 9.—Izatha epiphanes Meyr. Fig. 10.—Izathat atactella Walk. Fig. 11.—Izatha prasophyta Meyr.

clothed with a few short hairs. The juxta invariably mainly consists of a pair of processes, which may range from a blunt protuberance, as in I. epiphanes Meyr. to a long and irregular cone, as in I. peroneanella Walk. The aedeagus, in most instances, has an elaborate armature of spines, which may be short or long, single or arranged in rows or groups. In view of the specialisation of the other parts the absence of the gnathos and the weakness of the uncus may be considered to be also the result of specialisation. Key to the Species of Izatha. 1. Harpes with apical fissure or lobe 2 Harpes without apical fissure or lobe 5 2. Vinculum very long amorbas Meyr. Vinculum not long 3 3. Juxta with lobes short and broad convulsella Walk. Juxta with lobes short and narrow 4 4. Juxta with lobes clavate mira Philp. Juxta with lobes pointed metadelta Meyr. 5. Harpes with apex narrowed 6 Harpes with apex not narrowed 14 6. Juxta with apex of lobes bifid peroneanella Walk. Juxta with apex of lobes not bifid 7 7. Apex of harpes acute epiphanes Meyr. Apex of harpes not acute 8 8. Apex of harpes broadly rounded 9 Apex of harpes not broadly rounded 11 9. Apex of harpes dilated atactella Walk. Apex of harpes not dilated 10 10. Apex of aedeagus long-pointed prasophyta Meyr. Apex of aedeagus blunt, more or less truncate austera Meyr. 11. Vinculum short 12 Vinculum long 13 12. Lobes of juxta with apex pointed huttoni Butl. Lobes of juxta with apex truncate phaeoptila Meyr. 13. Harpes with indentation on ventral margin at ¾ picarella Walk. Harpes without indentation on ventral margin apodoxa Meyr. 14. Harpes with apical margin rounded caustopa Meyr. Harpes with apical margin nearly straight balanophora Meyr. The male genitalia of I. acmonias Philp. differ little, if at all, from those of I. picarella Walk. and the former species may be only a large race of the latter. I have not found, however, any intermediate

Fig. 12.—Izatha austera Meyr. Fig. 13.—Izatha huttonii Butl. Fig. 14.—Izatha phaeoptila Meyr. Fig. 15.—Izatha picarella Walk. Fig. 16.—Izatha apodoxa Meyr. Fig. 17.—Izatha caustopa Meyr. Fig. 18.—Izatha balanophora Meyr. Fig. 19.—Locheutis vagata Meyr. i, seventh segment, showing pouch containing brush of long hair-scales; j, dorsal view of paired pouches on seventh segment; k, a pouch everted, forming a finger-like process carrying a brush of radiating hairs. Fig. 20.—Trachypepla hieropsis Meyr. Fig. 21.—Trachypepla anastrella Meyr. Fig. 22.—Trachypepla euryleucota Meyr. Fig. 23.—Trachypepla conspicuella Walk. Fig. 24.—Trachypepla aspidephora Meyr. Fig. 25.—Trachypepla ingenua Meyr.

individuals and it is advisable, for the present, to recognise the two species. Of I. manubriata Meyr., I. planetella Huds. and I. copiosella Walk. I have not been able to obtain material for dissection. Locheutis Meyr. (Fig. 19). The single New Zealand representative (L. vagata Meyr.) of this genus is remarkable for the reduction of the tegumen, which is very small in comparison with the normal sized harpes. The gnathos is present, but is very weakly chitinised. A ⊥-shaped transtilla connects the upper basal angles of the harpes, an organ not usually present in the family. A structure on the seventh tergite probably has relation to the genitalia. It is a paired organ, situated caudally on the dorso-lateral region, and is in the form of a pouch filled with long hair-scales. This pouch can be everted, when it becomes a truncate finger-like process with the long hairs standing out in all directions, though most numerous round the apex. The eighth segment is largely membranous, there being only a narrow chitinised strip in a median position on the sternite. Trachypepla Meyr. (Figs. 20 to 31). This genus closely approaches Borkhausenia in genitalia characters. The gnathos is strongly developed, the uncus finger-like from a lateral view and the harpes with both cucullus and sacculus, or cucullus only. The aedeagus is a simple tubular organ, enclosing a slender spine-like penis and supported beneath by a small shield-shaped or rounded concave juxta. Key to the New Zealand Species of Trachypepla. 1. Harpes with both cucullus and sacculus 2 Harpes with cucullus only 5 2. Sacculus at least half as long as cucullus 3 Sacculus less than half as long as cucullus hieropis Meyr. 3. Costa of harpes deeply sinuate anastrella Meyr. Costa of harpes not deeply sinuate 4 4. Lower angle of juxta rounded euryleucota Meyr. Lower angle of juxta rectangular conspicuella Walk. 5. Gnathos curved downward 6 Gnathos curved upward 11 6. Frontal plate of gnathos produced upward aspidephora Meyr. Frontal plate of gnathos not produced upward 7 7. Cucullus about as long as, or longer than, main portion of harpe 8 Cucullus shorter than main portion of harpe 10 8. Cucullus considerably longer than main portion of harpe ingenua Meyr. Cucullus about as long as main portion of harpe 9 9. Ventral angle of harpes rectangular protochlora Meyr. Ventral angle of harpes rounded galaxias Meyr. 10. Cucculus broad and strongly curved leucoplanetis Meyr. Cucullus narrow and gently curved contritella Walk. 11. Cucullus long and narrow lichenodes Meyr. Cucullus short and broad semilauta Philp.

Fig. 26.—Trachypepla protochlora Meyr. Fig. 27.—Trachypepla galaxias Meyr. Fig. 28.—Trachypepla leucoplanetis Meyr. Fig. 29.—Trachypepla contritella Walk. Fig. 30.—Trachypepla lichenodes Meyr. Fig. 31.—Trachypepla semilauta Philp. Fig. 32.—Euthictis chloratma Meyr. Fig. 33.—Atomotricha versuta Meyr. Fig. 34.—Atomotricha exsomnis Meyr. Fig. 35.—Atomotricha isogama Meyr. Fig. 36.—Barea dinocosma Meyr. Fig. 37.—Barea confusella Walk. Fig. 38.—Atomotricha ommatias Meyr. Fig. 39.—Eulechria zophoessa Meyr. Fig. 40.—Oxythecta austrina Meyr. Fig. 41.—Nymphostola galactina Feld.

Six of the eighteen species have not been available for dissection and T. phaeoptila Meyr. proves, on examination, to belong to Izatha. Euthictis Meyr. (Fig. 32). Only one species, E. chloratma Meyr., of this small Australian genus is known from New Zealand. The genitalia of the male approach those of Trachypepla. Atomotricha Meyr. (Figs. 33, 34, 35 and 38). The male genitalia in Atomotricha display, in some cases, very striking specific differences. In others, however, the differences are not of sufficient importance to warrant specific distinction. It is possible that A. versuta Meyr., A. chloronota Meyr. and A. sordida Butl. may be only forms of one widely spread species; they cannot be separated by definite genitalia characters. A. exsomnis, Meyr., though nearer than any of the other species examined to this group, is at once distinguished by the broad uncus and altogether differently shaped gnathos. So far there is no departure from the more simple Oecophorid types, but the remaining two forms, which are all I have been able to examine, are extremely specialised. In A. isogama Meyr. the uncus is divided into two elongate paddle-shaped blades, from near the base of each of which a long process projects above the gnathos. The gnathos is strongly developed and the front of the ring is curved prominently upward. The harpes are much narrowed apically where they are cleft into two portions. A. ommatias Meyr. is somewhat of the same type, but the uncus is divided into two depressed rounded flat oblique plates, the lateral arms being

Fig. 42.—Proteodes profunda Meyr. Fig. 43.—Proteodes carnifex Butl. Fig. 44.—Compsistis bifasciella Walk. Fig. 45.—Eutorna caryochroa Meyr. Fig. 46.—Cryptolechia semnodes Meyr. Fig. 47.—Cryptolechia compsotypa Meyr. Fig. 48.—Cryptolechia apocrypta Meyr. Fig. 49.—Cryptolechia liochroa Meyr. Fig. 50.—Lathicrossa leucocentra Meyr. Fig. 51.—Chersadaula ochrogastra Meyr. Fig. 52.—Parocystola acroxantha Meyr. Fig. 53.—Eutorna symmorpha Meyr.

smaller and nearer the gnathos than in A. isogama; the frontal process of the gnathos is also much shorter. The apical fissure of the harpes in A. isogama is here represented by a wide indentation. There being considerable doubt as to the validity of several of the species, no key is at present attempted. Barea Walk. (Figs. 36 and 37). Of the three New Zealand species of this genus, two, B. dinocosma Meyr. and B. ambigua Philp., have genitalia of the Gymnobathra type; the remaining species, B. confusella Walk., approaches more nearly to some forms of Borkhausenia. The harpes, however, exhibit a character not found in the latter genus, the ventral fold being free at its apex and developing into a pointed process. There is also a somewhat similar process beyond, arising from the dorsal area and projecting slightly over the ventral margin. Key to the New Zealand Species of Barea. 1. Gnathos depressed; hook-shaped 2 Gnathos not depressed; without hook confusella Walk. 2. Ventral lobe of harpes with median projection dinocosma Meyr. Ventral lobe of harpes without median projection ambigua Philp. Eulechria Meyr. (Fig. 39). The single New Zealand species, E. zophoessa Meyr., of this extensive genus shows the normal characters of the family, with the exception that a fairly well-developed A-shaped transtilla is present. Oxythecta Meyr. (Fig. 40). This Australian genus has one representative, O. austrina Meyr. in New Zealand. The uncus and gnathos are of normal type, but the harpes exhibit some unusual features. The ventral margin is very strongly chitinised and the fold within, in addition to a free apical lobe, has a pointed process at about ⅓ from base. The aedeagus is dilated at its apex and obliquely truncate; basally it passes imperceptibly into the ductus ejaculatorius. Parocystola Turner. (Fig. 52). The only New Zealand representative of this large Australian genus is P. acroxantha Meyr., a comparatively recent addition to our lepidopterous fauna. The male genitalia of this species do not differ greatly from those of Gymnobathra as far as the vinculum, tegumen and harpes go, but the rounded gnathos and peculiar juxta are distinctive.

Nymphostola Meyr. (Fig. 41). A monotypic and endemic genus. The uncus has almost disappeared and consists only of a rounded prominence behind the base of the gnathos. The gnathos itself is highly specialised, the frontal plate taking the form of a scoop-like expansion, outwardly thickly covered with backwardly directed short spines. The harpes are broad, apically truncate, and with a small thumb-like projection beyond the middle of the ventral margin. The aedeagus is rather short and stout. Proteodes Meyr. (Figs. 42 and 43). A small endemic genus containing three species. The uncus and gnathos are of the same type as those of the preceding genus, but the harpes are more normal in shape. Reference to the figures will show the very distinctive characters of the aedeagus and juxta. No difficulty will be found in separating P. profunda Meyr. and P. carnifex Butl., but a male of P. clarkei Philp. has not been available for dissection. Compsistis Meyr. (Fig. 44). The single New Zealand species, C. bifasciella Walk., of this South American genus is characterised by the peculiar bifid and laterally expanded uncus. The gnathos is rather weak with the frontal plate upcurved; the harpes are of simple leaf-like type. Eutorna Meyr. (Figs. 45 and 53). The outstanding feature of the male genitalia of the two New Zealand species of this genus is the complete absence of the uncus, the long anal tube being protected by a tuft of hair springing from the dorsal surface of the tegumen. The gnathos is very highly specialised. From near the apex of each lateral arm arises a racket-shaped organ of the same nature as the single structure of Proteodes. The harpes are simple in type and the cephalic margin of the vinculum is deeply and widely excised. Key to the New Zealand Species of Eutorna. Gnathos with frontal plate; vinculum small symmorpha Meyr. Gnathos without frontal plate; vinculum large caryochroa Meyr. Cryptolechia Z. (Figs. 46 to 49). Of the six New Zealand species of Cryptolechia two have not been available for examination. Of the remaining four, three, C. apocrypta Meyr., C. compsotypa Meyr. and C. liochroa Meyr. form a related group, but the fourth, C. semnodes Meyr. differs very considerably. The group just referred to is characterised by the absence of the gnathos, the development of processes on the inner surface of the harpes, the reduction of the vinculum to a narrow band and the strongly curved aedeagus. In C. liochroa the curving of the aedeagus is carried so far that the base and apex almost meet.

In C. semnodes the harpes are simple, but the gnathos is present; it consists of a pair of thin lateral arms and a broad flat frontal plate covered with minute spines. Key to the New Zealand Species of Cryptolechia. 1. Gnathos present 2 Gnathos absent compsotypa Meyr. 2. Tegumen with paired lateral projections 3 Tegumen without paired lateral projections apocrypta Meyr. 3. Uncus broadly expanded laterally liochroa Meyr. Uncus not expanded laterally semnodes Meyr. Lathicrossa Meyr. (Fig. 50). Monotypic and endemic. The genitalia of L. leucocentra Meyr. approach nearer to the type of Barea dinocosma Meyr. than to any of the New Zealand representative of the Oecophoridae.