2. Diagnose
2.1. Erstbeschreibung
2.2. Beschreibung des Synonyms N. liochalca
3. Biologie
3.1. Nahrung der Raupe
- [Cyperaceae:] Cyperus rotundus (Knolliges Zypergras)
- [Cyperaceae:] Cyperus conglomeratus ???
Die Raupe soll (bezogen auf das Synonym Nepticula liochalca) in Blättern des Knolligen Zypergrases minieren, einer in warmen Gegenden weltweit verschleppten Pflanze, wahrscheinlich auch in denen von Cyperus conglomeratus. Nieukerken (2010) schreibt: "Biology: Hostplant is Cyperus rotundus (Fletcher, 1920). The hostplant is a problematic invasive weed, native to Asia, Africa and southern Europe, but now found on most continents. In the UAE it occurs along the coast, but not inland (Jongbloed, 2003), so that in the UAE locality Wadi Maidaq S. xystodes probably feeds on another species, such as the widespread C. conglomeratus.
4. Weitere Informationen
4.1. Andere Kombinationen
- Nepticula xystodes Meyrick, 1916 [Originalkombination]
4.2. Synonyme
- Nepticula liochalca Meyrick, 1916 [synonymisiert durch Nieukerken (2010)]
- Nepticula homophaea Meyrick, 1918 [synonymisiert durch Nieukerken (2010)]
4.3. Taxonomie
Nieukerken (2010) legt fest: "Nepticula liochalca was reared by Fletcher (1920), who mentioned two specimens. However, Meyrick (1916) mentioned only one specimen, a female, which is thus the holotype, the same applies to N. homophaea. Since N. xystodes and liochalca are both described in the same paper and same page, I am acting as first reviser and give priority to xystodes over liochalca. This choice is based on the fact that males in Stigmella provide better diagnostic characters than the females, despite the fact that the liochalca holotype was reared. Also the majority of specimens both in Meyrick’s collection and elsewhere are males. The conspecifity of the males and females is concluded on the fact that many specimens with the same external features occur in the Indian localities, with only one or two males probably belonging to a different, but closely related species. Also one female taken on Gran Canaria at the same locality as many males, has clearly similar genitalia as the few Indian females."
4.4. Faunistik
Nach der Fauna Europaea (Fauna Europaea Web Service. Last update 22 December 2009. Version 2.1. Available online at [http://fauna.naturkundemuseum-berlin.de]): "New for 'Europe' (Canary Islands, (Nieukerken, E. J. van 2010)". Nieukerken (2010) führt als Beleg an: "CANARY ISLANDS: 18♂ [EJvN3746, JCK15083] 2♀ [EJvN3980], Gran Canaria, Maspalomas, 21, 22, 24, 30.x.1991, 1, 2, 4.xi.1991, 24.iii.1992, 10, 12.iii.1993, 31.v.1993, 2.xi.1993, 27.xii.1994, leg. P. Grotenfelt (Helsinki, Leiden)." Zur Gesamtverbreitung schreibt er: "Widespread in northern and western India, single localities in UAE, Palestine, Egypt, Sudan and Gran Canaria, to be expected throughout this area. New for all these countries except India."
4.5. Typenmaterial
Nieukerken (2010) legt einen Lectotypus fest und erläutert: "Nepticula xystodes was described on the basis of two males, one is here designated as lectotype". Und konkret: "Nepticula xystodes Meyrick, 1916: 6 – Lectotype ♂ [here designated], INDIA: Pusa, Bengal [now Pūsa, Bihar], 2.viii.[19]11, TB F[letcher], Genitalia slide BM24106 (London) [examined]." Der Lectotypus wird im Natural History Museum London (BMNH) aufbewahrt.
(Autor: Erwin Rennwald)
4.6. Literatur
- Fletcher, T. B. (1920): Life-histories of Indian insects, Microlepidoptera. VIII. Tineidæ and Nepticulidæ. — Memoirs of the Department of Agriculture in India. Entomological Series 6 (8): 181–196, pl. LIII–LVII.
- Erstbeschreibung und Beschreibung des Synonyms N. liochalca: Meyrick, E. (1916): Exotic Microlepidoptera 2 (17): 513-544. [London] (Taylor & Francis).
- Nieukerken, E.J. van (2010): Order Lepidoptera, family Nepticulidae. - S. 492-514. In: Harten, Av. [Edit.]: Arthropod Fauna of the United Arab Emirates, volume 3. Dar Al Ummah, Abu Dhabi, 492-514. [PDF auf repository.naturalis.nl]