''Herlinda'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

of cosmet moths (

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Cosmopterigidae). These moths were only discovered in 1968 and the genus was not described until 1986; its affiliations within the family are presently unknown (but see below). This genus, as far as is known, is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...

to the

Marquesas Islands The Marquesas Islands (; french: Îles Marquises or ' or '; Marquesan: ' ( North Marquesan) and ' ( South Marquesan), both meaning "the land of men") are a group of volcanic islands in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in ...

Polynesia Polynesia () "many" and νῆσος () "island"), to, Polinisia; mi, Porinihia; haw, Polenekia; fj, Polinisia; sm, Polenisia; rar, Porinetia; ty, Pōrīnetia; tvl, Polenisia; tkl, Polenihia (, ) is a subregion of Oceania, made up of ...

, with each species confined to a single island.Clarke (1986) They are small moths and resemble '' Microzestis'', a possible close relative. However, the forewing vein 1b of ''Herlinda'' is not forked like in ''Microzestis'', and the forewing 1c is missing in ''Herlinda''. They also resemble ''

Iressa Gefitinib, sold under the brand name Iressa, is a medication used for certain breast, lung and other cancers. Gefitinib is an EGFR inhibitor, like erlotinib, which interrupts signaling through the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in targe ...

'' of subfamily Cosmopteriginae in some anatomical details, but unlike in that genus, the forewing veins 2 and 3 are united in ''Herlinda''. The

genital A sex organ (or reproductive organ) is any part of an animal or plant that is involved in sexual reproduction. The reproductive organs together constitute the reproductive system. In animals, the testis in the male, and the ovary in the female, a ...

s are convergent in structure with those of the Agonoxenidae genus '' Asymphorodes'', which was mistakenly placed in the Cosmopterigidae.

Description and ecology

The head is covered with a smooth layer of scales; the antennae are about 80% of the forewing length and serrated in males but smooth in females; the scape is combed. The labial

palp Pedipalps (commonly shortened to palps or palpi) are the second pair of appendages of chelicerates – a group of arthropods including spiders, scorpions, horseshoe crabs, and sea spiders. The pedipalps are lateral to the chelicerae ("jaws") ...

s are upturned and diverge, but do not reach the

vertex Vertex, vertices or vertexes may refer to: Science and technology Mathematics and computer science *Vertex (geometry), a point where two or more curves, lines, or edges meet * Vertex (computer graphics), a data structure that describes the positio ...

; their second and third segments are of roughly equal length, the former being somewhat rough at the distal end and the latter pointed. They lack

ocelli A simple eye (sometimes called a pigment pit) refers to a form of eye or an optical arrangement composed of a single lens and without an elaborate retina such as occurs in most vertebrates. In this sense "simple eye" is distinct from a multi-l ...

. The

thorax The thorax or chest is a part of the anatomy of humans, mammals, and other tetrapod animals located between the neck and the abdomen. In insects, crustaceans, and the extinct trilobites, the thorax is one of the three main divisions of the cre ...

is smooth, while the hindleg tibia has a rough surface formed by hair-like scales. The

s of the males are asymmetric, in those of the females the signum is missing. The forewing is likewise smooth; it has 11 veins, with veins 1c and 5 missing (the latter is sometimes present, but almost invisible) and 2 and 3 united. Vein 1b is not forked, and vein 4 not connected to 2/3; veins 6/7 arise from vein 8 with a stalk, the seventh reaching the leading edge of the wing slightly before the wingtip. Vein 8 either approaches vein 9 at the base or tapers out. Vein 10 originates significantly before 9, and vein 11 starts at the middle of the wing cell. The hindwings have 8 veins, but 2-5 are very weak. Hindwing veins 6/7 are stalked, and the latter reaches the leading edge. On the underside of the males' hindwings, there is a brush of elongated hairs, which fits into a fold along the wing cell. The

ecology Ecology () is the study of the relationships between living organisms, including humans, and their physical environment. Ecology considers organisms at the individual, population, community, ecosystem, and biosphere level. Ecology overl ...

of these moths remains almost completely unknown. They seem to be primarily found in the lowlands, where the

vegetation Vegetation is an assemblage of plant species and the ground cover they provide. It is a general term, without specific reference to particular taxa, life forms, structure, spatial extent, or any other specific botanical or geographic characte ...

is heavily influenced by human activity. Notable plants from these moths'

habitat In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...

include ''

Artocarpus ''Artocarpus'' is a genus of approximately 60 trees and shrubs of Southeast Asian and Pacific origin, belonging to the mulberry family, Moraceae. Most species of ''Artocarpus'' are restricted to Southeast Asia; a few cultivated species are more w ...

'' species, Papaya (''Carica papaya''), Coconut (''Cocos nucifera''), Sea Hibiscus (''Hibiscus tiliaceus''), Indian Mango (''Mangifera indica''), ''

Musa Musa may refer to: Places * Mūša, a river in Lithuania and Latvia * Musa, Azerbaijan, a village in Yardymli Rayon * Musa, Iran, a village in Ilam Province * Musa, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Iran *Musa, Kerman, Iran * Musa, Bukan, West Azerbaija ...

'' (bananas), Thatch Screwpine (''Pandanus tectorius''), the

paspalum ''Paspalum'' is a genus of plants in the grass family. The group is widespread across much of Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Americas. Commonly known as paspalum, bahiagrasses, crowngrasses or dallis grasses, many of the species are tall pere ...

grass '' Paspalum paniculatum'', Apple Guava (''Psidium guajava''),

Tamarind Tamarind (''Tamarindus indica'') is a leguminous tree bearing edible fruit that is probably indigenous to tropical Africa. The genus ''Tamarindus'' is monotypic, meaning that it contains only this species. It belongs to the family Fabaceae ...

(''Tamarindus indica''),

Portia Tree ''Thespesia populnea'', commonly known as the portia tree (), Pacific rosewood, Indian tulip tree, or milo, among other names, is a species of flowering plant belonging to the mallow family, Malvaceae. It is a tree found commonly on coasts ar ...

(''Thespesia populnea''), as well as Cyperaceae sedges, lichens and mosses. It is unlikely, however, that these moths use the non-native species as foodplants.

Species

This genus contains only 4 known

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

: * '' Herlinda fasciola'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986 * '' Herlinda iota'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986 * '' Herlinda oligoria'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986 * '' Herlinda phaeoxantha'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986

Footnotes

References

* (1986): Pyralidae and Microlepidoptera of the Marquesas Archipelago. ''Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology'' 416: 1–485
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