A new species of Phyllocnistis Zeller (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) from southern Brazil, with life-history description and genetic comparison to congeneric species

Male, female and immature stages of Phyllocnistis tethys Moreira & Vargas sp. nov. (Lepidoptera; Gracillariidae) from the Atlantic Rain Forest, coastal mountains of southern Brazil, are described and illustrated, using both optical and scan-ning electron microscopy. A preliminary analysis of mitochondrial (COI) DNA sequences including putative members of congeneric species is also provided. The immature stages are associated with the passion vine Passiflora organensis (Pas-sifloraceae). The hypermetamorphic, endophyllous larva has four instars; the first, second and third instars are sap-feeders, associated primarily with the spongy parenchyma, and construct a blotch mine in the lower surface of the lamina; the fourth, non-feeding (spinning) instar constructs a flimsy endophyllous cocoon at the end of the mine, where pupation oc-curs. This is the first species of Phyllocnistis Zeller described from Brazil, and the first leaf-mining gracillariid associated with Passifloraceae.