Descriptions of new species of Issikiomartyria (Lepidoptera, Micropterigidae) and a new genus Melinopteryx gen. n. with two new species from Japan

Abstract

Micropterigidae is considered to be the sister group of all other extant Lepidoptera. In Japan, 17 species of five genera have been recorded including three endemic genera, Issikiomartyria Hashimoto, 2006, Kurokopteryx Hashimoto, 2006 and Neomicropteryx Issiki, 1931, all of which are associated with the liverwort genus Conocephalum Hill. We discovered four new species of Issikiomartyria from snowy regions in Northeastern Japan, and two new species of a new genus Melinopteryx gen. n. from the subalpine zone of the Akaishi Mountain Range. All these new taxa, I. hyperborea sp. n., I. leptobelos sp. n., I. catapasta sp. n., I. trochos sp. n., M. coruscans sp. n. and M. bilobata sp. n. are also associated with Conocephalum liverworts. Furthermore, females of I. akemiae Hashimoto, 2006 and I. plicata Hashimoto, 2006 are described here for the first time. Our extensive surveys revealed that the fine-scale endemism of Issikiomartyria restricted to the fragmented area facing the Japan Sea. Keys to Issikiomartyria species based on the adult morphology are provided.