Elachistine Moths of Australia: (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Elachistidae)Elachistine moths are the World’s most species-rich group of Lepidoptera that specialise on monocotyledon plants, especially grasses and sedges. This volume is the first reference to describe the so-far unknown diversity of these leaf-mining moths in Australia. It provides a new generic classification for the group on a worldwide basis, and describes in detail the genera and species that occur in Australia. Keys to genera and species, as well as generic, subgeneric and species group descriptions are given, richly supplied with illustrations of larvae, pupae and adult moths. In addition, the external appearance and the male and female genitalia of all species are described. The volume contains redescriptions of all 11 previously named valid species, and descriptions of no less than 137 species new to science, of which 128 are formally named, increasing the known species richness of Australian Elachistinae by more than an order of magnitude. The diverse Australian Elachisine fauna is nearly entirely endemic, and concentrates on the more humid coastal and montane regions. Given the wealth of biological information, the book provides a basis for conservation consideration of Elachistinae, many of which are dependent on diminishing fragments of suitable habitat. |
Contents
Material and methods | 3 |
1 Phylogeny subfamily definition and generic classification | 7 |
2 Morphology | 23 |
3 Biology | 37 |
4 Diversity distribution
and conservation biology | 41 |
5 Australian species of Elachistinae | 45 |
Common terms and phrases
abdomen angle ANIC antrum apex apophyses anteriores Australia basal base bluish grey bluish white blunt broad brown caudal cephalic concave corpus bursae costa cucullus dark grey delimited digitate process directed distal margin distally pale dorsal dorsolateral ductus bursae Elachista elongate extended female Female genitalia fold forming fringe scales concolorous genitalia Fig genitalia of Elachista Head holotype image of genitalia joining juxta juxta and digitate Juxta lobe Kaila leg Kaila sp larva lateral lateral margin Left length of valva LK prep long as wide Male genitalia median middle narrow ostium bursae pale grey paler paratype phallus phallus as enlarged posterior powdered present Pupa reared ridge Right Right bottom Right top rounded sclerotised segment separate setae short shorter side species spines sternum straight tapered tarsomeres thorax tibia triangular Type Uncus lobes underside ventral ventral surface Vinculum width wing length