Abstract

ALMA SOLIS, M; DAVIS, Donald R  and  NISHIDA, Kenji. Life history and systematics of Albusambia elaphoglossumae (Lepidoptera:Crambidae): A new genus and species of musotimine with leaf-mining biology from Costa Rica. Rev. biol. trop [online]. 2005, vol.53, n.3-4, pp.487-501. ISSN 0034-7744.

Albusambia elaphoglossumae Solis &Davis,a new genus and species,is described.It was discov- ered mining the fronds of the fern Elaphoglossum conspersum in Costa Rica (San José and Cartago Provinces, at elevations of 2300-3100 m).The type series was obtained by rearing of the immature stages in laboratory. The adult is defined by unique genital characters,and the pupa with a medial depression on the vertex and with two anterolateral horn-like structures on the prothorax.The larva is a gregarious leaf miner with its body flat- tened dorsoventrally and head prognathous; morphological adaptations to its leaf-mining habit are new to the Musotiminae.Fern-feeding musotimines are important to the discovery of new biological control agents for invasive ferns.Rev.Biol.Trop.53(3-4):487-501.Epub 2005 Oct 3.

Keywords : Elaphoglossum conspersum ; E.biolleyi ; gregarious larvae; fern; leaf miner; Neotropical; Neurophyseta; Proacrias; Undulambia.