Two New Species of Wockia Heinemann (Lepidoptera: Urodidae) from Coastal Dry-Forests in Western Mexico

Authors

David Adamski, Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 168, Washington, D.C., 20013- 7012, U.S.A.Follow
Karina Boege, Instituto de Ecologıa, Universidad Nacional Auto´noma de Mexico, Apartado Postal 70275, Ciudad Universitaria, UNAM 04510, Mexico, D.F.Follow
Jean-Francois Landry, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Neatby Building, C.E.F., 960 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0C6, CanadaFollow
Jae-Cheon Sohn, Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, U.S.AFollow

Date of this Version

2009

Comments

Published in PROC. ENTOMOL. SOC. WASH. 111(1), 2009, pp. 166–182.

Abstract

Two new species of Wockia Heinemann, 1870 (Lepidoptera: Urodidae), W. chewbacca and W. mexicana, are described from primary dry-forests in western Mexico. A new host record is reported for the genus from larvae of W. chewbacca feeding on leaves of Casearia nitida (L.) Jacq. (Salicaceae). Several shared genitalic features and DNA barcode similarities suggest a congeneric relationship between the two Mexican species but uncertain generic placement within Urodidae. Scanning electron micrographs of the larva and illustrations of the larva and pupa of Wockia chewbacca are provided, along with illustrations of male and female genitalia of both Mexican species. Three unusual features found in the larval stage are documented for W. chewbacca include; a multi-lobed integument, recurved D2 seta on the shield of T1, and a ‘‘hydroid bush’’ consisting of multiple sensilla trichoidea on the apical turret of the antenna. Locality data indicate the existence of Neotropical elements of Wockia and an expanded distributional range for the genus.