March 3, 2026

First documentation of Nepticulidae feeding on Gondwanan relict Nothofagus from Andean Patagonia and the unexpected discovery of morphologically similar pygmy moth species from distant Central America

Key Points

The study provides evidence of Nepticulidae species as leaf miners of Nothofagus, establishing a clear trophic association.
Analysis of male genital structure reveals crucial traits shared between Stigmella purpurimaculae and newly identified species.
Field observations and morphological comparisons highlight potential evolutionary connections despite geographic distance.
These findings may indicate previously unrecognized ecological and evolutionary relationships among moth species.

Abstract

The trophic association of Nepticulidae with Nothofagus in Andean Patagonia has been speculated about but never conclusively demonstrated. This study provides the first definitive evidence that the species of the Stigmella purpurimaculae group are leaf miners of Nothofagus spp., with documented mines and male genital structure analysis of two species reared from Nothofagus. Additionally, we describe three new Stigmella species from Honduras, which, despite the geographic distance from Andean Patagonia, share key genital traits with the S. purpurimaculae group. While these species exhibit some external differences, their morphological similarities raise intriguing questions about potential evolutionary connections.

First documentation of Nepticulidae feeding on Gondwanan relict Nothofagus from Andean Patagonia and the unexpected discovery of morphologically similar pygmy moth species from distant Central America

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Abstract

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