Systematics and evolutionary dynamics of insect-fern interactions in the specialized fern-spore feeding Cuprininae (Lepidoptera, Stathmopodidae)

Fern-spore-feeding (FSF) is rare and found in only four families of Lepidoptera. Stathmopodidae is the most speciose family that contains FSF species, and its subfamily Cuprininae exclusively specializes on FSF. However, three species of Stathmopodinae also specialize on FSF. To better understand the evolutionary history of FSF and, more generally, the significance of specialization on a peculiar host, a phylogenetic and taxonomic revision for this group is necessary. We reconstructed the most comprehensive molecular phylogeny, including one mitochondrial and four nuclear genes, of Stathmopodidae to date, including 137 samples representing 62 species, with a particular focus on the FSF subfamily, Cuprininae, including 33 species (41% of named species) from 6 of the 7 Cuprininae genera. Species from two other subfamilies, Stathmopodinae and Atkinsoniinae, were also included. We found that FSF evolved only once in Stathmopodidae and that the previous hypothesis of multiple origins of FSF was misled by inadequate taxonomy. Moreover, we showed that (1) speciation/extinction rates do not differ significantly between FSF and non-FSF groups and that (2) oligophage is the ancestral character state in Cuprininae. We further revealed that a faster rate of accumulating specialists over time, and thus a higher number of specialists, was achieved by a higher transition rate from oligophagages to specialists compared to the transition rate in the opposite direction. We finish by describing three new genera, Trigonodagen. nov., Petalagen. nov., and Pediformisgen. nov., and revalidating five genera: Cuprina, Calicotis, Thylacosceles, Actinoscelis, Thylacosceloides in Cuprininae, and we provide an updated taxonomic key to genera and a revised global checklist of Cuprininae.

Wing pattern variation and DNA barcodes defy taxonomic splitting in the New Zealand Pimelea Looper Notoreas perornata (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Larentiinae): the importance of populations as conservation units

The endemic Notoreas perornata (Walker, 1863) complex (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Larentiinae) from the North Island and northern South Island of New Zealand is reviewed. Larvae feed on Pimelea spp. (Thymelaeaceae), frequently in highly fragmented and threatened shrubland habitats. Allopatric populations tend to differ in size and wing pattern characteristics, but not in genitalia; moreover extensive variation renders recognition of subspecies / allopatric species based on any species concept problematic. A mitochondrial DNA gene tree is not congruent with morphology and indicates rapid recent divergence that has not settled into diagnosable lineages. Based on our results, we synonymise Notoreas simplex Hudson, 1898 with N. perornata (Walker, 1863), and retain N. perornata as a single, highly diverse but monotypic species. All known populations are illustrated to display variation. For conservation purposes, we recommend the continued recognition within the species of 10 populations or groups of populations that appear to be on the way to diverging at subspecific level based on morphological and/or DNA data. The conservation status of all these populations is reviewed. One conservation unit, comprising the populations from Westland, has not been seen since 1998 and is feared possibly extinct.

Revised classification and catalogue of global Nepticulidae and Opostegidae (Lepidoptera, Nepticuloidea)

A catalogue of all named Nepticulidae and Opostegidae is presented, including fossil species. The catalogue is simultaneously published online in the scratchpad http://nepticuloidea.info/ and in Catalogue of Life (http://www.catalogueoflife.org/col/details/database/id/172). We provide a historical overview of taxonomic research on Nepticuloidea and a brief ‘state of the art’. A DNA barcode dataset with 3205 barcodes is made public at the same time, providing DNA barcodes of ca. 779 species, of which 2563 are identified as belonging to 444 validly published species. We recognise 862 extant and 18 fossil species of Nepticulidae in 22 extant genera and the fossil form genus Stigmellites. We count 192 valid Opostegidae species in 7 genera, without fossils. We also list seven dubious Nepticulidae names that cannot be placed due to absent type material and poor descriptions, 18 unavailable names in Nepticulidae that cannot be placed and we also list the 33 names (including four fossils) that once were placed as Nepticulidae or Opostegidae but are now excluded. All synonyms and previous combinations are listed. The generic classification follows the Molecular phylogeny that is published almost simultaneously. Subfamilies and tribes are not recognised, Trifurculinae Scoble, 1983 is synonymised with Nepticulidae Stainton, 1854 and Opostegoidinae Kozlov, 1987 is synonymised with Opostegidae Meyrick, 1893. The status of Casanovula Hoare, 2013, Etainia Beirne, 1945, Fomoria Beirne, 1945, Glaucolepis Braun, 1917, Menurella Hoare, 2013, Muhabbetana Koçak & Kemal, 2007 and Zimmermannia Hering, 1940 is changed from subgenus to full genus, whereas two genera are considered synonyms again: Manoneura Davis, 1979, a synonym of Enteucha Meyrick, 1915 and Levarchama Beirne, 1945, a synonym of Trifurcula Zeller, 1848. We propose 87 new combinations in Nepticulidae and 10 in Opostegidae, largely due to the new classification, and re-examination of some species. We propose the following 37 new synonymies for species (35 in Nepticulidae, 2 in Opostegidae):

Stigmellaacerifoliella Dovnar-Zapolski, 1969 (unavailable, = Stigmellaacerna Puplesis, 1988), Stigmellanakamurai Kemperman & Wilkinson, 1985 (= Stigmellapalionisi Puplesis, 1984), Nepticulaamseli Skala, 1941 (unavailable = Stigmellabirgittae Gustafsson, 1985), Stigmellacathepostis Kemperman & Wilkinson, 1985 (= Stigmellamicrotheriella (Stainton, 1854)), Stigmellapopulnea Kemperman & Wilkinson, 1985 (= Stigmellanivenburgensis (Preissecker, 1942)), Nepticulaobscurella Braun, 1912 (revised synonymy, = Stigmellamyricafoliella (Busck, 1900)), Nepticulamandingella Gustafsson, 1972 (= Stigmellawollofella (Gustafsson, 1972)), Stigmellarosaefoliellapectocatena Wilkinson & Scoble, 1979 (= Stigmellacentifoliella (Zeller, 1848)), Micropteryxpomivorella Packard, 1870 (= Stigmellaoxyacanthella (Stainton, 1854)), Stigmellacrataegivora Puplesis, 1985 (= Stigmellamicromelis Puplesis, 1985), Stigmellascinanella Wilkinson & Scoble, 1979 (= Stigmellapurpuratella (Braun, 1917)), Stigmellapalmatae Puplesis, 1984 (= Stigmellafilipendulae (Wocke, 1871)), Stigmellasesplicata Kemperman & Wilkinson, 1985 (= Stigmellalediella (Schleich, 1867)), Stigmellarhododendrifolia Dovnar-Zapolski & Tomilova, 1978 (unavailable, = Stigmellalediella (Schleich, 1867)), Stigmellaoa Kemperman & Wilkinson, 1985 (= Stigmellaspiculifera Kemperman & Wilkinson, 1985), Stigmellagracilipae Hirano, 2014 (= Stigmellamonticulella Puplesis, 1984), Nepticulachaoniella Herrich-Schäffer, 1863 (= Stigmellasamiatella (Zeller, 1839)), Bohemanniapiotra Puplesis, 1984 (= Bohemanniapulverosella (Stainton, 1849)), Bohemannianipponicella Hirano, 2010 (= Bohemanniamanschurella Puplesis, 1984), Sinopticulasinica Yang, 1989 (= Glaucolepisoishiella (Matsumura, 1931)), Trifurculacollinella Nel, 2012 (= Glaucolepismagna (A. Laštuvka & Z. Laštuvka, 1997)), Obrussatigrinella Puplesis, 1985 (= Etainiatrifasciata (Matsumura, 1931)), Microcalyptrisvittatus Puplesis, 1984 and Microcalyptrisarenosus Falkovitsh, 1986 (both = Acalyptrisfalkovitshi (Puplesis, 1984)), Ectoedemiacastaneae Busck, 1913, Ectoedemiaheinrichi Busck, 1914 and Ectoedemiahelenella Wilkinson, 1981 (all three = Zimmermanniabosquella (Chambers, 1878)), Ectoedemiachloranthis Meyrick, 1928 and Ectoedemiaacanthella Wilkinson & Newton, 1981 (both = Zimmermanniagrandisella (Chambers, 1880)), Ectoedemiacoruscella Wilkinson, 1981 (= Zimmermanniamesoloba (Davis, 1978)), Ectoedemiapiperella Wilkinson & Newton, 1981 and Ectoedemiareneella Wilkinson, 1981 (both = Zimmermanniaobrutella (Zeller, 1873)), Ectoedemiasimiligena Puplesis, 1994 (= Ectoedemiaturbidella (Zeller, 1848)), Ectoedemiaandrella Wilkinson, 1981 (= Ectoedemiaulmella (Braun, 1912)), Nepticulacanadensis Braun, 1917 (= Ectoedemiaminimella (Zetterstedt, 1839)), Opostegarezniki Kozlov, 1985 (= Opostegacretatella Chrétien, 1915), Pseudopostegacyrneochalcopepla Nel & Varenne, 2012 (= Pseudopostegachalcopepla (Walsingham, 1908)). Stigmellacaryaefoliella (Clemens, 1861) and Zimmermanniabosquella (Chambers, 1878) are taken out of synonymy and re-instated as full species. Lectotypes are designated for Trifurculaobrutella Zeller, 1873 and Nepticulagrandisella Chambers, 1880.

Description of the New Zealand incurvarioid Xanadoses nielseni, gen. nov., sp. nov. and placement in Cecidosidae (Lepidoptera)

Xanadoses nielseni, gen. nov., sp. nov. is described from New Zealand, where it is the only native member of the superfamily Incurvarioidea. The larva is a bark-miner, making long tortuous galleries on the trunks of various species of smooth-barked tree and pupating under a raised silk-lined 'cap' of bark. The moth is assigned to the Cecidosidae on the basis of five apomorphies shared with this family, but is considered to represent the basal lineage within the family as it lacks at least four apomorphies shared by all other genera. The distribution of this concept of Cecidosidae (South America, South Africa and New Zealand) confirms it is an ancient group that originated before the break-up of Gondwana in the late Cretaceous. A checklist of cecidosid taxa is provided.