Description of the New Zealand incurvarioid Xanadoses nielseni, gen. nov., sp. nov. and placement in Cecidosidae (Lepidoptera)

Abstract

Xanadoses nielseni, gen. nov., sp. nov. is described from New Zealand, where it is the only native member of the superfamily Incurvarioidea. The larva is a bark-miner, making long tortuous galleries on the trunks of various species of smooth-barked tree and pupating under a raised silk-lined 'cap' of bark. The moth is assigned to the Cecidosidae on the basis of five apomorphies shared with this family, but is considered to represent the basal lineage within the family as it lacks at least four apomorphies shared by all other genera. The distribution of this concept of Cecidosidae (South America, South Africa and New Zealand) confirms it is an ancient group that originated before the break-up of Gondwana in the late Cretaceous. A checklist of cecidosid taxa is provided.