Chrysorthenchesnew genus, conifer‐associated plutellid moths (Yponomeutoidea, Lepidoptera) in New Zealand and Australia

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Chrysorthenches new genus is erected for 10 species (8 New Zealand, 2 Australian from Tasmania) with host plants in the conifer families Podocarpaceae and Cupressaceae. Chrysorthenches differs in 12 characters—most notably its lack of socii and gnathos, the form of the sternum 9 lobe, and in cocoon structure—from Orthenches Meyrick, in which previously described species were placed. The two Tasmanian species have 1‐segmented maxillary palpi, a specialised condition contrasting with the 4‐segmented, scaled condition in New Zealand species. The genus is presumed to predate spreading of the Tasman Sea floor. The genus is assigned to Plutellidae of authors within the Yponomeutoidea. Included species are Orthenches porphyritis Meyrick, 1886 (type species, New Zealand), O. drosochalca Meyrick, 1905 (New Zealand), O. glypharcha Meyrick, 1919 (New Zealand), O. polita Philpott, 1918 (New Zealand), O. virgata Philpott, 1920 (New Zealand) (5 new combinations); and C. argentea Dugdale (New Zealand), C. halocarpi Dugdale (New Zealand), C. phyllocladi Dugdale (New Zealand), C. lagarostrobi Dugdale (Australia), C. microstrobi Dugdale (Australia) (5 new species). All but two Chrysorthenches species are genus or species‐specific on Halocarpus, Lagarostrobos, Manoao, Microstrobos, Podo‐carpus, Prumnopitys ferrugineus (Podocarpaceae), or Phyllocladus alpinus (Phyllocladaceae), with one Podocarpus‐feeding species occasionally on Phyllocladus. One species is oligophagous on Cupressaceae. Adults or early instar larvae overwinter; larvae are either endophytic throughout their life or may feed ectophytically in later instars. Feeding damage can be conspicuous. Evolution of the group is regarded as sequential to host evolution, with one host genus (Podocarpus) supporting two lineages. The podocarp genera Dacrydium, Dacrycarpus, and Lepidothamnus and the species Prumnopitys taxifolia are not known to be attacked.