New leaf-mining Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera): potential pests of aromatic Lamiaceae plants from equatorial Andes

Abstract

Members of the Lamiaceae, or mint family, are used worldwide for medicinal, culinary and/or magical-religious purposes, as well as in pesticides and as ornamental plants. Very little is known about nepticulids, or pygmy moths, as leaf miners of Lamiaceae, but they may be an important component of South American diversity and potential pests of economically-important species of the mint family. In this paper, four new species of leaf-mining Nepticulidae are described from the equatorial Andes of Ecuador: S. mentholica Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov., Stigmella aromatica Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov., S. odora Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov., feeding on Minthostachys mollis (Benth.) Griseb., and S. tomentosella Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov., feeding on Clinopodium tomentosum (Kunth) Govaerts. It is hypothesized that host-plant distribution ranges can provide clues to potential distribution ranges of these newly discovered, trophically specialized leaf miners. The leaf mines, adults, and the genitalia of the new species are illustrated with photographs.

Revealing a Novel Potential Pest of Plum Trees in the Caucasus: A Species Resembling the European Leaf-Mining Stigmella plagicolella, Nepticulidae

“…However, viewed from a consumer’s perspective rather than an ecological standpoint, Nepticulidae are often considered as plant pests or potential pests. Nepticulidae species have been listed as pests of cultivated plants [ 21 ], and as insects of concern in other surveys addressing pests [ 22 , 23 ]. While Nepticulidae leaf mines are typically not abundant, a significant population increase can lead to severe damage to the host plant.…”

Global Nepticulidae, Opostegidae, and Tischeriidae (Lepidoptera): temporal dynamics of species descriptions and their authors

“…Data about these tiny lepidopterans, along with other organisms, are tools for prompt action on measures to preserve biodiversity and provide support for hypotheses about the early genesis of the Earth's biota (Stonis et al 2020b). On the other hand, data about larvae of the leaf-mining Lepidoptera can also be useful during the Anthropocene because they are pests or potential pests of wild and cultivated plants (Kuznetzov & Puplesis 1994;Stonis et al 2019cStonis et al , 2021a.…”

“…Although adults of these leaf miners are often very small or extremely small, a leaf mine produced by a tiny larva can be relatively large on a leaf and cause damage because the larva consumes much of the photosynthetic tissue. Upon significant population increase or explosion, damage to the host plant may be significant or even severe (Puplesis 1994;Puplesis & Diškus 2003;Stonis et al 2021a). Except for a few species, pupation usually takes place outside the leaf mine, often in detritus, where the larvae spin a silk, oval-shaped cocoon.…”

Actividad antioxidante y composición química del aceite esencial de Minthostachys mollis (Benth.) Griseb de Ecuador

“…It does not only find use, as a condiment or tea, in the traditional cuisine of the Andes, but is one of the most important plants in the folk medicine of the area. On the basis of this observation, it receives growing attention from modern pharmacology and medicine, as plant decoctions and extracted essential oils are tested for pharmacological effects [1][2][3].…”