Cuphodes zophopasta ( Turner, 1913 )

Cuphodes zophopasta ( Turner, 1913) View in CoL

( Fig. 66)

“ Phrixosceles zophopasta , n. sp. ”—Turner, A.J., 1913. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 38: 185. https:// www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/6407214

Cuphodes zophopasta View in CoL — Nielsen & Kumata 1996: 48; De Prins & De Prins 2005: 168.

Type locality: [ Australia], Q.[ueensland], Brisbane .

Type specimen: Holotype ♂, coll. Turner, ANIC Acc. no 31 010799, in ANIC (Canberra).

Specimens examined: Holotype ♂: without abdomen [labels verbatim] [1] Brisbane/21-9-07. [2] ANIC Database No./31 010799. [3] Cyphosticha TYPE/ zophopasta Turn. [4] HOLOTYPE / Cyphosticha / zophopasta Turn., DNA sample (one leg) NULT022755 (not successful), in ANIC (Canberra).

Morphological diagnostic characterisation: Length of the forewing ca. 1.6 mm ( Fig. 66).

Head: vertex snowy white, smooth, brushed. Antenna as long as forewing, light ochreous.

Thorax ( Fig. 66): tegula dark ochreous, with darker shading proximately. Forewing narrowly elongated, the costal and dorsal margins run parallel, slightly narrowing at apex, ground colour is white with irroration of many irregular ochreous spots of different size; the dorsal margin is richer with spots that are bigger than on the costal and sub-costal areas. Apical patch/stripe absent, apical line not perceptible. The fringe line is not defined. Fringe ochreous, matte, without shine, with the darkest shade at the tornal area, shorter at tornus, the longest at the sub-apical part of the dorsal margin and again shortening towards the base of the forewing. Hindwing narrow, elongate, sharply pointed, ground colour ochreous, fringe long, ca. 6× longer than the width of hindwing at the base, concolourous with the colour of the hindwing, the longest piliform scales hanging at the base of the dorsum. Mid legs with thick tibiae and tarsi with a brown patch at the sub-apical part of tibia, tarsus snowy white. Hind femur ochrous, rather slender, hind tibia with long erect piliform scales, tarsomere I white, tarsi white with narrow brown apical rings.

Abdomen: No data.

Male genitalia: No data.

Female genitalia: No data.

Individual variation: Known from the holotype only. BOLD data: No data.

GenBank data: No data.

Mitogenomic data: No data.

Bionomics: No data.

Distribution: Australia: Queensland ( Turner 1913: 185).

11. Diphtheroptila Vári, 1961

“ Diphtheroptila gen. nov. ”—Vári, L., 1961. Transvaal Museum Memoir 12: xix (key), 110.

Type species: Acrocercops oxyloga Meyrick, 1928a . Exotic Microlepidoptera 3: 408. By original designation.

Morphological diagnostic characterisation: Externally well recognised to the characteristic wing pattern of this genus consisting of oblique strigulae and fasciae. There is an exception: D. glochidiella sp. nov. resembles by the wing pattern of some species of Cuphodes , but it feeds on Glochidium sp. like many other Diphtheroptila species. Micromorphology reliably diagnoses closely related Diphtheroptila species. Wingspan ca. 5.8–7.0 mm; length of the forewing ca. 2.6–3.4 mm.

Head: Vertex smooth, two dark ochreous fuscous tufts of short piliform scales, directed radially or anteriorly on occiput; frons smooth. Maxillary palpus short, ca. as long as scape, erect labial palpus relatively long, ca. 2× longer than the diameter of the eye, curved and slightly erect, basal palpomeres carry an exceptionally long tuft of piliform scales. Antenna slightly longer than forewing, not ringed, pedicel short, slightly smaller than the following flagellomere; scape with a bunch of rather short light ochreous pecten of different lengths.

Thorax: Forewing narrowly elongated, equal in width along all its length, with a gently rounded apex, ground colour fuscous ochreous with ornamental pattern of dorsal stripes, strigulae or fasciae, forming a complex of typical ornamental design within the genus Diphtheroptila ; apical spot rather small distinct, apical line very thin, black, continuous. Fringe shorter at tornus, the longest at sub-apical part and again shortening towards base of forewing. Hindwing narrow, elongate, sharply pointed, fringe long, ca. 6× longer than the width of hindwing at the base. Hind tibia with a row of long erect impressive spines along tibia; median spurs long, as long as about 2/3 of tibia length, apical spurs short.

Abdomen: Margins of abdominal opening on sternum II strongly sclerotised, especially the lateral sides, ventral crossing joint is very narrowly sclerotised, corners of abdominal opening sharply angled, sternal apodemes initiating at the corners of abdominal opening are well developed, rather long, reaching almost half of segment II, terminating slightly anteriad of tergal apodemes; tergal apodemes initiate at the end of lateral sclerotised margin on tergum I. Anterior segment VII in males with androconial characters.

Male genitalia: Tegumen of medium size, gnathos well developed; valvae well developed, often with a hanging flap-like sclerotisation; transtilla usually incomplete; the posterior margin of vinculum fold often acts as juxta; vinculum broad and strongly sclerotised, consisting of two symmetrical parts that are fused; mid suture is very clearly visible; saccus well developed. Aedeagus almost as long as valva, thick; vesica usually bears a broad and strongly sclerotised cornutus.

Female genitalia: Papillae anales flattened and fused, covered with short, stout and dense setae; apophyses posteriores short, rather thick, often with hooked apices; segment VIII is short, weakly sclerotised but carries a broad basal semi-ring of apophyses anteriores. Segment VII is moderately sclerotised; sternum VII almost completely covered with lamellar sterigmatic sclerotisations often with well-developed lamella ante-vaginalis. Ductus bursae short or of medium length, broad, very often fully and strongly sclerotised; corpus bursae oval often with squamous or tuberculated wall all over the corpus bursae with one or two signa; ductus seminalis enters ductus bursae just before the joint with corpus bursae.

BOLD data: https://www.boldsystems.org/index.php/Taxbrowser_Taxonpage?taxon= Diphtheroptila &searchTax=S earch+Taxonomy

GenBank data: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nuccore/?term= Diphtheroptila

Mitogenomic data: This genus is part of a moderately well-supported clade that’s recovered in all analyses and comprises additionally Polydema , Stomphastis and Crotona gen. n. Its position within this clade differs between analyses and is never strongly supported, being either sister to Stomphastis + Crotona gen. n. or additionally Polydema . The monophyly of this well-sampled genus is maximally supported by all phylogenetic analyses, but most relationships between its species are poorly supported, in line with the short internal branches that might indicate a recent, rapid radiation ( Fig. 638). The genus is part of a moderately well supported clade that’s recovered in all analyses and comprises additionally Polydema , Stomphastis and Crotona gen. n. ( Fig. 639), but its exact position within the group is uncertain (see diagnosis above).

Bionomics: Phyllanthaceae : Breynia cernua (Poir.) Müll , new record, B. sp., new record ( D. breynella sp. nov.), Bridelia micrantha (Hochst.) Baill. ( D. brideliae Vári, 1961 ), B. sp. ( D. oxyloga ( Meyrick, 1928a)) , Fluegge virosa (Roxb. ex Willd.) Royle ( D. breynella sp. nov., D. virosae sp. nov.), new record, Glochidion ferdinandii (Müll. Arg.) F. M. Bailey ( D. ochridorsellum ( Meyrick, 1880)) , G. philippicum (Cav.) C.B. Rob , new record ( D. glochidia sp. nov.), and G. sp. ( D. cairna sp. nov., D. cornuta sp. nov., D. crotonella sp. nov., D. glochidia sp. nov., D. glochidiella sp. nov., D. virosae sp. nov.).

Distribution: Afrotropical Region: South Africa, Limpopo, Zimbabwe.

Australian Region : Australia: Queensland, new record, New South Wales, Northern Territory, new record .

Species richness: World: 13 species; Australian Region: 12 species.

Australian species

Key to the Australian Diphtheroptila species based on external morphological characters and bionomics

(1) dorsum of forewing with strigulae or oblique transverse fasciae................................................. 2

- forewing pattern with a horizontal white stripe on dorsal margin which has five background colour interruptions......... 10

(2) dorsum of forewing with strigulae only.................................................................... 3

- forewing with oblique transverse fascia.................................................................... 6

(3) dorsal strigulae short, thick brightly white, host plant Breynia sp. and occasionally on Flueggia virosa .. D. breynella sp. nov.

- dorsal strigulae obtuse, dirty white....................................................................... 4

(4) dorsal strigulae thick, well defined, a single strigula is present in mid part of dorsum.................. D. ochridorsellum

- dorsal strigulae thin, ill defined, a group of three strigulae is present in mid of dorsum............................... 5

(5) dorsum with many (~10) oblique strigulae, costal part light fuscous, with tiny dirty white/light ochreous markings............................................................................................... D. djabu sp. nov.

- dorsum with less than 10 tiny, thin oblique strigulae, costal half dark fuscous ochreous, without dirty white markings.................................................................................................. D. oxyloga

(6) basal and mid fascia with rectangular spot on costa........................................... D. cornuta sp. nov.

- regular fasciae without special markings................................................................... 7

(7) larvae feed on Flueggea virosa View in CoL ........................................................... D. virosae sp. nov.

- larvae feed on other plants.............................................................................. 8

(8) larvae feed on Croton sp. and occasionally on Glochidion sp. ................................. D. crotonella sp. nov.

- larvae feed mainly on Glochidion sp ....................................................................... 9

(9) mid fasciae extremely oblique, almost parallel to dorsal margin................................... D. cairna sp. nov.

- mid fasciae slightly oblique..................................... D. glochidia sp. nov., D. nix sp. n, D. auris sp. nov.

(10) a long horizontal white stripe with five background colour interruptions is present on the dorsal margin of forewing, larvae feed on Glochidion sp. ................................................................... D. glochidiella sp. nov.

Note: the species D. glochidia sp. nov. and D. nix sp. nov. cannot be identified from external characters only. Species identification should be performed either by internal morphological characters (genitalia preparations) or mitogenomics.

Key to the Australian Diphtheroptila species based on internal morphological characters of males

(1) cucullus area of valva narrow, significantly narrower than mid part of valvae...................................... 2 - cucullus area either flat or broadly rounded................................................................. 5 (2) sacculus area with a broad but short rectangular hanging flap, gnathos as two roundly bent hooks.............. D. oxyloga . - sacculus without hanging rectangular flap, gnathos not developed............................................... 3

(3) valva sharply narrowing towards apex, a transverse angulated sclerotisation present on sub-basal sector of valva................................................................................................ D. virosae sp. nov.

- valvae gradually and gently narrowing towards apex, transverse sclerotisation on sub-basal part absent................. 4

(4) valva with one strongly sclerotised suture following the costal margin, tegumen short, reduced, fused from two plates, aedeagus with one short dactyliform appendix on vesica.............................................. D. breynella sp. nov.

- inner surface of valva with internal circular marginal sutures following costal and ventral margins of valva, tegumen developed, lateral tegumental plates not fused, aedeagus with two short dentiform appendages on vesica......... D. glochidia sp. nov.

(5) valva almost equally wide along its length with gently rounded cucullus area, dentate sclerotisation at ventral margin, aedeagus with three dentiform appendages: two at vesica and one at sub-basal part of aedeagus.................... D. nix sp. nov.

- valvae broad, cucullus area of valva round, flattened or cut.................................................... 6

(6) valva kangaroo ear-shaped, saccus mid-sized, broad triangular..................................... D. auris sp. nov.

- cucullus area of valva flattened or cut..................................................................... 7

(7) valva broad with two short, angulated appendages on sub-basal part of costal margin, tegumen reduced to two short triangular appendages, aedeagus long, mid-sized, cylindrical with gently rounded vesica..................... D. crotonella sp. nov.

- valvae with long broad, plates at sacculus area, with sclerotised appendages on inner surface or ventral margin, aedeagus short, thick............................................................................................... 8

(8) valva with two long upturned, strongly sclerotised sinuating, horn-like appendages on mid inner surface of valvae, sacculus area with two big folds, tegumen gently rounded at apical part with two short swellings of rudimental uncus, aedeagus short with digitate apex and one lateral dactyliform appendage on vesica................................ D. cornuta sp. nov.

- inner surface of valvae with short appendages sclerotised appendages............................................ 9

(9) cucullus area of valva with flaps that are fixed by short sclerotisation, sacculus area with broad fold, tegumen gently triangular with two swellings of uncus, aedeagus short thick with one dactyliform cornutus appendage on vesica dactyliform appendage on vesica............................................................................... D. cairna sp. nov.

- valva with long broad, plate at sacculus area, with sclerotised short, thick appendages connecting ventral margin of valva and saccular fold, uncus not developed, aedeagus short, thick, with suture on vesica and tiny three teeth-shaped sclerotised protrusions............................................................................ D. ochridorsellum

Note: no data on males of D. djabu sp. nov. and D. glochidiella sp. nov. since both species descriptions are based on females only.

Key to the Australian Diphtheroptila species based on internal morphological characters of females

(1) two signa on corpus bursae.............................................................................. 2

- one signum on corpus bursae............................................................................ 3

(2) signa of equal size, shaped as narrow stripes........................................................ D. oxyloga

- signa of different size, anterior signa bigger in size, than posterior signum, both signa rhomb-shaped with triangular top.......................................................................................... D. virosae sp. nov.

(3) signum very huge rhomb-shaped, situated at the mid of corpus bursae and extending the wall of corpus. D. breynella sp. nov.

- signum small, situated at the anterior 1/3 of corpus bursae..................................................... 4

(4) lamella post-vaginalis well developed m-shaped at posterior margin............................................. 5

- lamella post-vaginalis weakly or not developed, or differently shaped............................................ 6

(5) ductus bursae of medium length, ca. ¼ longer than segment VII and about ¼ shorter than corpus bursae.................................................................................................... D. crotonella sp. nov.

- ductus bursae short, about 1/10 of length of corpus bursae........................................ D. djabu sp. nov.

(6) lamella ante-vaginalis cup or bell-shaped.................................................................. 7

- lamella ante-vaginalis differently shaped or not developed..................................................... 9

(7) sterigmatic sclerotisation bell-shaped....................................................... D. cornuta sp. nov.

- sterigmatic sclerotisation cup-shaped...................................................................... 8

(8) sterigmatic sclerotisation with a broad triangular lamella post-vaginalis with broader part on posterior margin of sternum VII, ostium bursae situated in sub-anterior sector on sternum VII, signum on corpus bursae dentate, arrow tip-shaped, sharp........................................................................................... D. cairna sp. nov.

- sterigmatic sclerotisation with a semioval lamella post-vaginalis with broader part on anterior margin of sternum VII, ostium bursae situated in central part of sternum VII, very broad, with strongly sclerotised margins of antrum, signum on corpus bursae short, horizontal stripe-shaped........................................................... D. glochidia sp. nov.

(9) apophyses anteriores present, lamella ante-vaginalis strongly developed, U-shaped with broad posterior margins, posterior margin of sterigmatic sclerotisation on sternum VII deeply and broadly indentate on both sides of ostium bursae, ductus bursae very short, ca. as long as 1/10 of corpus bursae................................................ D. ochridorsellum

- apophyses anteriores absent lamella ante-vaginalis strongly developed, reversed U-shaped with broad posterior margins, posterior margin of sterigmatic sclerotisation on sternum without indentations, ductus bursae of medium length, just slightly shorter than corpus bursae............................................................ D. glochidiella sp. nov.

Note: no data on females of D. nix sp. nov. since this species description is based on the male holotype.

Type species: Diphtheroptila oxyloga (Meyrick, 1928) View in CoL

( Figs 135, 136, 153, 154, 181, 182, 209, 210, 230, 232, 252, 262, 272, 638)

“ Acrocercops oxyloga , n. sp. ”—Meyrick, E., 1928a. Transvaal Museum Memoir 3 (13): 408. https://www.biodiversitylibrary. org/page/60297768

Diphtheroptila oxyloga View in CoL — Vári 1961: 110; Dall’Asta et al. 2001: 22; Vári et al. 2002: 25; De Prins & De Prins 2005: 175–176.

Acrocercops oxyloga — Fitzsimons et al. 1958: 1–147.

Type locality and collecting data: South Africa, Transvaal [Limpopo], Soutpansberg District, Louis Trichardt .

Type specimen: Holotype ♀: Louis Trichardt, genitalia slide G3383 ♀, wing preparation 3185, 28 January 1925, leg. A.J.T. Janse, in TMSA (Pretoria) (examined, see Vari 1961: pl. 12: Fig. 7, pl. 16: Fig. 2, pl. 32: Fig. 3, 4, pl. 58: Fig. 3, pl. 91: Fig. 3, pl. 108: Fig. 12, pl. 112: Fig. 4).

Examined specimens: Specimen 2: South Africa: Limpopo, Louis Trichardt , 23.0462°S 29.9047°E Type No 349, 313, 28 January 1925, leg. A.J.T. Janse, in TMSA (Pretoria) GoogleMaps .

KwaZulu-Natal. 3 Specimens: Margate , 30.8459° S, 30.3724° E, Ack. No. 2577, 20 January 1964, leg. L. Vári GoogleMaps , genitalia preparations 9945, 9946. 3 specimens, same locality, Ac. No. 2577, Wing preparation 3749, 16 January 1964, leg. L. Vári. GoogleMaps 3 specimens, same locality, Ac. No. 2577, 15 January 1964, leg. L. Vári GoogleMaps , in TMSA (Pretoria) .

Zimbabwe: 3 specimens: Manicaland, Mount Selinda , 20°27’ 3”S 32°42 48”E, Ac. no. 1781, wing preparations 3105, 3161, 09 April 1956, leg. L. Vári, TMSA (Pretoria). Specimen (♂): same locality data, Ac. no: 1781, genitalia slide 7446 GoogleMaps ♂, 20.iv.1956, leg. L. Vári, in TMSA (Pretoria) (see https://www.gracillariidae.net/species_by_code/ DIPHOXYL) .

Examined specimens in Australia: Queensland: Specimen 1(♂): 16.05S 145.29E, Cape Tribulation, Daintree Nat Pk [National Park], emg.[emerged] 21. January 1997, leg. T. & M. Kumata, Host 5590, DNA sample NULT024939, genitalia slide ANIC 6207 About ANIC , ANIC GoogleMaps Acc. no 31 085576. Specimen 2: head, left forewing and abdomen are missing, the exuvium of pupa present, Australia, Queensland, 16.05S 145.29E, Cape Tribulation , Daintree National Park , emerged 21 January 1997, T. & M. Kumata, Host 5590. Specimen 3: antennae and abdomen are missing, same collecting data, except the date 22 January 1997. Specimen 4: abdomen is missing, same collecting data, except the date 23 January 1997. Specimen 5(♂): same collecting data, except the date 24 January 1997. Specimen 6(♂): same collecting data, except the date 21 January 1997, and the host 5589, DNA sample NULT025053, genitalia slide ANIC 6208 About ANIC , ANIC GoogleMaps Acc. no 31 085577. Specimen 7: without abdomen, same collecting and host plant data. Specimen 8(♀): same collecting and host plant data. Specimen 9(♀): same collecting and host plant data, except the date 20 January 1997. Specimen 10(♀): same collecting and host plant data, except the date 23 January 1997, DNA sample NULT025178, genitalia slide ANIC 6209 About ANIC , 31 About ANIC 085578, in ANIC.

Morphological diagnostic characterisation: This species is externally the closest to Diphtheroptila virosae sp. nov., D. crotonella sp. nov. and D. nix sp. nov., they can easily be confused even when the specimens belonging to those four species are put together. Very slight differences can be observed in dorsal markings: they are finer, more oblique, more contrasting on dorsal part in Diphtheroptila oxyloga ; some slight differences are observed in ornamentation in apical/tornal area; in D. crotonella sp. nov. preapical fascia is semi-round, preceded by small tornal light beige round or semi-round spot, while in D. oxyloga the tornal area is marked by two narrow vertical irregular stripes preceded by small, short and narrow horizontal stripes. Two dark brown lines seen only from the frontal view are present on the scape. Bionomics might assist in species diagnosis. However, a more detailed study is still needed since the above-mentioned species are not monophagous or feed on host plants that still need to be identified. The distinguishing characters separating this group of species should be looked at in the internal micromorphology and mitogenomics. The female genitalia of D. oxyloga are strongly diagnostic: the joint of ductus and corpus bursae is marked by a heart-shaped swelling, corpus bursae bears two narrow short comma-shaped signa—unique characters for this species group. The male genitalia are also diagnostic with two horn-shaped gnathos and hanging flap-like sacculus.

Redescription: Wingspan ca. 5.8–7.0 mm; length of the forewing 2.6–3.4 mm ( Figs 135, 136).

Head ( Figs 153, 154): vertex smooth, fuscous ochreous, lightly dotted with darker irregular spots (seen at>30× magnification), two dark ochreous fuscous tufts of short piliform scales, directed radially or anteriorly on occiput. Frons light ochreous golden, a tuft of supressed, piliform, light ochreous piliform scales directed towards vertical mid line of frons, a dark brown line is continuing from antenna to scape, two dark brown lines, seen only from the frontal view of head, are present on scape; two dark ochreous lateral tufts of supressed piliform scales directed from lateral sides to the mid of frons situated below antennae next to eyes. Maxillary palpus short, ca. as long as scape, erect, dark ochreous at basal and white at apical halves. Labial palpus relatively long, ca. 2× longer than the diameter of the eye, curved and slightly erect, basal palpomeres carry an exceptionally long tuft of ochreous, golden, fuscous and dirty white of piliform scales of different lengths with longest situated at the basal part of palpomere II, apical palpomere covered with rather loose but short, thin, dirty white with some grey shading scales; proboscis light yellow. Antenna slightly longer than forewing, fuscous brown, with very narrow shining golden apices, not ringed, ventrally ochreous brown with narrow longitudinal stripes on each flagellomere, pedicel short, slightly smaller than the following flagellomere, concolourous with flagellum, scape light ochreous golden posteriorly, light ochreous anteriorly; scape with a bunch of rather short light ochreous pecten of different lengths.

Thorax ( Figs 135, 136, 181, 182): thorax and tegula dark ochreous with golden shine. Forewing narrowly elongated, equal in width along all its length, with a gently rounded apex, ground colour fuscous ochreous with indistinct ornamental pattern on costal half and clearly defined, but not contrasted ornamental pattern on dorsal half. First dorsal stripe indistinct at base of forewing, followed by a group of three stripes at sub-base, the last stripe is continued by mirror costal stripe forming a fascia with distinct dorsal part and indistinct costal part; the same pattern is repeated with the following group of stripes situated at the mid of forewing, in this group two apical stripes are met by the mirroring costal ornamentation forming a mid-fascia, with indistinct costal and distinct dorsal parts, the third group of stripes situated at sub-apical part of the forewing, they are met by a very thin costal angulated stripe, forming an angulated sub-apical fascia; the last group of small spots/stripes at tornal area, finishing the complex forewing pattern which generally follows the typical ornamental design of forewing within the genus Diphtheroptila ; apical spot rather small distinct, surrounded by dark ochreous with golden shine background, apical line very thin, black, continuous. The fringe line is tripled, consisting of dirty white prolonged scales of different length with dark bases, black sub-apices and fuscous apices. Fringe shining grey shorter at tornus the longest at sub-apical part and again shortening towards base of forewing. Hindwing narrow, elongate, sharply pointed, ground colour grey with golden shine, fringe long, ca. 6× longer than the width of hindwing at the base, with the longest piliform scales hanging at the base of the dorsum. Forefemur is white with dark brown, oblique sub-basal stripe, foretibia fuscous, carrying dark ochreous epiphysis, tarsomere I is concolourous with tibia, while the rest of tarsomeres are concolourous with femur; mid femur fuscous at base and light fuscous ochreous at apical half, mid tibia light ochreous fuscous at base, mid tarsomeres grey fuscous with light ochreous apices, tibial spurs short, slightly shorter than tarsomere I, fuscous with grey apex; hind femur grey, hind tibia fuscous with a row of long erect impressive spines along tibia; median spurs long, as long as about 2/3 of tibia length, grey, apical spurs short, grey, tarsomeres fuscous with golden ochreous apices, tip of hind tarsus dark grey.

Abdomen ( Figs 181, 182, 252, 262): fuscous dorsally, tergites I–III with lighter grey shading, sternites ventrally dirty white, four oblique dark brown stripes are present on lateral side of abdomen, genital segments are dirty grey. Margins of abdominal opening on sternum II strongly sclerotised, especially lateral sides, ventral crossing joint is very narrowly sclerotised, corners of abdominal opening sharply angled, sternal apodemes initiating at the corners of abdominal opening are well developed, rather long, reaching almost half of segment II, terminating slightly anteriad than tergal apodemes; tergal apodemes initiate at the end of lateral sclerotised margin on tergum I; each tergal apodeme with two thin sharp-ending appendages: one short one and the other twice longer than the first one tergal apodemes very lightly bent at sub-apical part, enter the mid of segment II; apical part of tergal apodemes sharp and hooked. Anterior segment VII in males with two narrow, sclerotised semi-rings which are the androconial characters. Anterior margins of segments III–VI in females and III–VII in males narrowly and finely sclerotised. Posterior margin of segment VI in females also finely sclerotised.

Male genitalia ( Figs 209, 210): Tegumen of medium size, slightly shorter than valva, with lateral sides running parallel until sub-apical part, apex strongly triangular, gnathos well developed an strongly sclerotised with two gently bent but sharp ending horns; anal tube strongly protruding beyond the apex of tegumen; valvae very broad at basal part and sharply narrowing from mid part of valva to cucullus; costal margin of valva almost straight, with very few seldom planted setae, followed by strongly sclerotised suture on the internal surface of valvae; ventral margin with hanging flap-like sacculus, setae free except one tuft at base which consists of long, thin, laterally oriented setae; mid ventral margin and apical part of valvae densely setose; ventral valval suture extends till the end of saccular flap; transtilla incomplete; vinculum broad and strongly sclerotised, consisting of two symmetrical parts that are fused with broader parts and with two lateral folded parts; mid suture is very clearly visible; saccus short but well developed V-shaped, crossed by mid-suture with an extended narrow pointed anterior part. Aedeagus is ca. as long as valva, thick, well developed, with slightly narrowing vesica that ends with a digitiform appendix; vesica bears broad and strongly sclerotised spinulose area; coecum narrow, cylindrical.

Female genitalia ( Figs 230, 232): Papillae anales flattened and fused, covered with short, stout and dense setae; apophyses posteriores short, rather thick with hooked apices; segment VIII is short, weakly sclerotised but carries a broad basal semi-ring of apophyses anteriores; the apical narrow part of apophyses anteriores is short, ca. as long as of apophyses posteriores, with sharp apices terminating in the posterior margin of segment VII. Segment VII is moderately sclerotised; posterior part of tergum VII is very strongly sclerotised; sternum VII almost completely covered with lamellar sterigmatic plate with enlarged midden part; ostium bursae opens at sub-anterior margin of sternum VII; lamella ante-vaginalis is funnel-shaped with gently rounded cup-shaped anterior part, while two lateral broad strongly sclerotised irregular margins with short appendices form the posterior part of sterigmatic structure. Ductus bursae of medium length, broad, fully and strongly sclerotised, with enlarged heart-shaped anterior part; corpus bursae oval with tuberculated wall all over the corpus bursae; two narrow, comma shaped signa of equal length are present; one at sub-anterior part of corpus bursae and the second at sub-posterior part bulla seminalis ca. 4x smaller than corpus bursae, sac-shaped, melanised especially anterior part; ductus seminalis sclerotised, enters ductus bursae just before the joint with ductus bursae.

Individual variation: there is a slight individual variation in the shape and obliqueness of forewing ornaments.

BOLD data: No data.

GenBank data: No data.

Mitogenomic data: D. oxyloga is robustly supported as sister to D. virosae sp. nov. + ( D. nix sp. nov. + D. crotonella sp. nov.) ( Fig. 638).

Bionomics: Phyllanthaceae : Bridelia sp. ( Vári 1961: 112).

Bionomics in Australia ( Fig. 272): Two recorded host plants of this species remain unidentified. Following the rearing data present in the ANIC collection, D. oxyloga is not monophagous, but from the general observation pattern, we conclude that it probably feeds on host plants belonging to the same genus of the family Phyllanthaceae . Mining period about mid of January. Adults are active in the last decade of January.

Pupa: length including the body and antennae ca. 4.2 mm; pupal body length ca. 2.8 mm, length of metathoracic leg appendages 3.7 mm. Pupa shining light bronze, cocoon cutter is triangular with sharp standing appendage, galea, antenna, meso- and metathoracic legs and fore wing appendages with strong bronze shine, the appendages for future antennae, posterior legs and wings are free, not attached to the pupal case, end of abdomen moves freely; appendages for future maxillary palpus, labial palpus, proboscis, fore and mid legs attached to each other but not fused in a pupal case. Cocoon is transparent, oval, smooth at the posterior part and with tiny lateral wrinkles at the anterior part.

Distribution: Afrotropical Region: South Africa: Limpopo ( Meyrick 1928a: 408), KwaZulu-Natal, new record, Zimbabwe ( Vári 1961: 112).

Australian Region, new record: Australia, Queensland, Cape Tribulation.

Note. The species was collected in Cape Tribulation in Queensland, Australia. Captain Cook named the area ‘Cape Tribulation,’ as this area “began all our troubles.” Undoubtedly there were ship travels and possible unintentional introduction of leaf-mining moths between Africa and Australia in the mid of the 18 th century. Cape Tribulation is in the oldest rainforest in the world, the Daintree. While described from South Africa, Diphtheroptila oxyloga is part of a rapid radiation of species in the rainforests of northern Queensland showing very short internal branches, morphologically hard to distinguish. It is very likely that D. oxyloga is native to Australia and was introduced to South Africa.