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Nepticuloidea
Trifurcula ridiculosa (Walsingham, 1908)
Trifurcula ridiculosa
Diagnostic description:Diagnosis. Trifurcula ridiculosa is a pale species, smaller than the next two species. It differs from the remaining Levarchama species by the absence of a hairpencil on hindwing. The only other Trifurcula with which it may be confused on the Canary islands is T. (Glaucolepis) sanctaecrucis (Walsingham, 1908); it is the only known Trifurcula on Madeira. Male genitalia are very characteristic by the medial lobe of the valva, the absence of the globose group of cornuti and the presence of a long spiny juxta and dorsal lobe of aedeagus, both resembling cornuti. Female genitalia differ from other Levarchama by few coils in ductus spermathecae and absence of group of pectinations in vestibulum.
Morphology:Description. Male. Forewing length 1.95-2.1 mm, wingspan ca. 4.1-4.5 mm. Head: frontal tuft mixed white and grey-brown, collar white, comprising piliform scales; scape white, mixed with grey-brown tipped scales. Antennae grey-brown, with 33-35 segments. Thorax and forewings cream white, irrorate with grey-brown tipped scales, cilia line distinct; underside grey-brown. Hindwings white to grey-white, underside with velvet patch of raised scales, without hairpencil. Abdomen grey-brown, anal tufts white.
Female. Forewing length 1.55-1.8 mm, wingspan ca. 3.8-4.1 mm. Antennae with 25-28 segments. Hindwing without velvet patch, abdomen without tufts; otherwise as male.
Male genitalia. Capsule slightly longer than wide. Vinculum rounded anteriorly. Tegumen produced into pointed pseuduncus. Uncus split lengthwise, pointed. Gnathos with asymmetrical central element, with longitudinal keel. Valva relatively narrow, with prominent inner process in middle on ventral surface, outer margin rather straight in ventral view; sublateral process rather short, transverse bar of transtilla almost twice as long as sublateral process. Aedeagus: vesica with group of long needle like cornuti at anterior right hand side; two large slightly curved cornuti, also some minute cornuti; aedeagus with two very long posterior prongs, slightly resembling cornuti in ventral view; one is the ventral carina or juxta process, the other the sclerotization of the dorsal lobe, at the left hand side.
Female genitalia. Abdominal tip broadly rounded. T8 wide, broadly truncate posteriorly, with ca. 12 setae on each half. T9 forming distinct anal papillae, with ca. 14 setae each. Posterior apophyses slightly shorter than anterior. Bursa total length ca. 870 μm. Vestibulum without sclerotizations. Corpus bursae elongate, suddenly narrowed anteriorly; signa different in length, ca. 275 μm and 350 μm respectively; 2-3 cells wide, outer margin with spiny margins. Ductus spermathecae convoluted almost from start, ca. 3 convolutions.Associations:Hostplants: Lotus species, both endemic and widespread introduced species. Egg deposited on either side of a leaflet. Leafmine usually starting as a narrow, gallery with thin broken frass, later gallery suddenly enlarging into elongate blotch; on Lotus with small leaflets eating out leaflet completely. Larval exit hole on leaf underside. There is a remarkable difference between mines from Madeira and from the Canary islands (KLIMESCH 1975; KLIMESCH 1977): the early gallery in Madeiran mines is usually very much contorted, whereas the Canarian mines show a rather straight course. Larva yellow [from literature data, not examined].
Distribution:Distribution. Only known from Canary islands: Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera and Madeira, including Porto Santo island.
Life cycle:Life history. Probably breeding continuously: larvae have been found in February, April, September, October and December, adults always emerged within 3-6 weeks after collecting.
Citation:This taxonomic description is based on Van Nieukerken (2007)
EOL Text
Statistics of barcoding coverage: Trifurcula ridiculosa:
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Specimens with Barcodes: 1
Species With Barcodes: 1
Trifurcula ridiculosa:
Trifurcula ridiculosa is a moth of the Nepticulidae family. It is only known from the Canary Islands: Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro and Madeira, including Porto Santo island.
The wingspan is 4.1–4.5 mm for males and 3.8–4.1 mm for females. It probably breeds continuously. Larvae have been found in February, April, September, October and December. Adults emerged within three to six weeks after collecting.
The larvae feed on Lotus arabicus, Lotus campylocladus, Lotus glaucus, Lotus glinoides, Lotus pedunculatus and Lotus sessilifolius. The mine the leaves of their host plant. The mine consists of a long and very narrow corridor, following the leaf margin, suddenly widening into an elongated blotch. Small leaflets are almost entirely mined out. Pupation takes place outside of the mine.
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Statistics of barcoding coverage: Trifurcula ridiculosa:
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Specimens with Barcodes: 1
Species With Barcodes: 1