The first record of Baccharis L. (Asteraceae) as a host-plant genus for Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera), with description of new Stigmella species from South America

Abstract

Copyright © 2016 Magnolia Press.We record the first Nepticulidae species found to feed on Baccharis L. (Asteraceae). Despite the high species richness of Baccharis in the Western Hemisphere, no nepticulid has ever been recorded feeding on Baccharis. In this paper we de-scribe six new Stigmella Schrank species feeding on Baccharis: S. emarginatae Di�kus & Stonis, sp. nov., S. bipartita Di�kus & Stonis, sp. nov., S. tripartita Di�kus & Stonis, sp. nov., S. latifoliae Remeikis, Di�kus & Stonis, sp. nov., S. baccharicola Di�kus & Stonis, sp. nov., and S. confertae Di�kus & Stonis, sp. nov. The remaining two taxa are left un-named. All taxa are illustrated with photographs of adults, their genitalia, and their leaf-mines. Additionally, leaf-mines on Baccharis salicifolia are documented.