Exotic-looking Neotropical Tischeriidae (Lepidoptera) and their host plants

Abstract Seven new species of Tischeriidae are described from the Neotropics: Astrotischeria jociui Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov. (feeding on Wissadula excelsior (Cav.) C. Presl., Malvaceae), A. atlantica Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov. (feeding on Baccharis spicata (Lam.) Baill., Asteraceae), A. cornuata Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov. (host plant unknown), Paratischeria guarani Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov. (feeding on Elephantopus mollis Kunth, Asteraceae), P. mesoamericana Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov. (feeding on Montanoa hibiscifolia Benth., Asteraceae), P. suprafasciata Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov. (feeding on Allophyllus edulis (A. St.-Hil., A. Juss. & Cambess.) Hieron. ex Niederl., Sapindaceae), and P. braziliensis Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov. (host plant unknown). Additionally, an updated distribution map of Paratischeria neotropicana (Diškus & Stonis, 2015), which currently has the broadest distribution range among the Neotropical Tischeriidae is provided along with new host-plant data, a list of all recorded host plants in the Neotropics, and a brief discussion on trophic relationships of Tischeriidae. It is hypothesized that host-plant distribution ranges can provide clues to potential distribution ranges of these specialized, monophagous or oligophagous, leaf miners. All new taxa are illustrated with photographs of the adults, their genitalia, and, if available, leaf mines.


Introduction
Biodiversity inventories provide knowledge about nature and are of utmost importance to understand the complicated mechanisms of the global biota. It is also essential for providing tools for prompt measures in the preservation of biodiversity in the face of a biodiversity crisis and climate change. Along with other organisms, trumpet moths (Tischerioidea: Tischeriidae) can provide data in support of hypotheses about the earlier genesis of the Earth's biota. They also been used as an express tool for monitoring biodiversity, rapid assessment of biodiversity plots of critical value, and determining priority areas from the environmental point of view in the tropical America (Stonis, unpublished). However, tischeriids are not well-known or very common in museum holdings worldwide and are probably among the least studied lepidopteran groups in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide, including the Neotropics (Stonis et al. 2019b(Stonis et al. , 2020b. Nevertheless, they are a distinct family from the oldest (monotrysian) lineages of extant Lepidoptera (see Regier 2015 for a phylogenetic discussion) and very peculiar morphologically (Stonis et al. 2020b). Larvae of Tischeriidae are leaf miners of wild and cultivated plants; they mine inside green tissues during all instars and produce irregular, usually blotch-like leaf mines (11)(12)(13)(14)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(35)(36)(37), but sometimes these are slender and sinuous or have another shape. Pupation occurs inside the leaf mine, often in a round, silken-lined nidus (Figs 31,131,137). Adults of trumpet moths ) are very small, 5-10 mm in wingspan, with the 3 rd antennal segment greatly enlarged (see Stonis et al. 2017: Fig. 67). Males possess long antennal sensillae trichodea, which usually exceed the width of the flagellum by more than 4.5-10 times and have strongly recurved, sometimes thickened bases (see Stonis et al. 2017: Fig. 67). In the male genitalia, the phallus is strongly narrowed and usually bifurcated or with spines at its apex. In the female genitalia, the ovipositor lobes are covered with short, dark, thickened peg-like setae; along the stout anterior and posterior apophyses, there are three additional pairs of unique, rod-like or platelike projections collectively referred as prela. For detailed morphological and biological characterization of this group of tiny leaf miners, we refer to Braun (1972), Puplesis and Diškus (2003), Stonis et al. (2018a); and for generic diagnostics we recommend Puplesis and Diškus (2003), Stonis et al. (2017Stonis et al. ( , 2018a, and Xu et al. (2017). The phylogenetic position of Tischeriidae was discussed by Regier et al. (2015).
The study of the Tischeriidae fauna in the Neotropics began with descriptions of two species from the Caribbean (Walsingham 1897), one from southwestern Mexico (Walsingham 1914), one species from Guyana, and three species from Ecuador and Peru (Meyrick 1915c). After a long break, Bourquin (1962) added one more species from Argentina. The study of Neotropical Tischeriidae has become more resolute and dynamic with targeted, additional fieldwork during the last two decades (Puplesis and Diškus 2003;Landry and Roque-Albelo 2004;Diškus 2007, 2008;Stonis et al. , 2016Stonis et al. , 2017Stonis et al. , 2018aStonis et al. , 2019bStonis et al. , 2019cStonis et al. , 2019dStonis et al. , 2020aStonis et al. , 2020bNavickaitė et al. 2011;Diškus et al. 2014;Diškus and Stonis 2015).
In this current study, the expertise and specific interest in the documentation of leaf-mining Tischerioidea and Nepticuloidea of AD, JRS, AR, and MAS's interest in large-scale Microlepidoptera taxonomy of the Americas and global faunas, and LK's botanical expertise, particularly of Asteraceae taxonomy were combined.
The main goal of this publication is to describe seven new species of trumpet moths, possessing unusual genitalic characters, in order to have their names and biological data available for further analysis. We also identified previously unidentified Neotropical material from the collection holdings of the National Museum of Natural History (USNM). Further, we discovered that Paratischeria neotropicana (Diškus and Stonis 2015), which was already known to possess the broadest distribution among the Neotropical Tischeriidae, has an even broader distribution in Central and South America. We provide new host-plant data for Neotropical Tischeriidae, as well as a record of Sapindaceae, a new host-plant family for Tischeriidae worldwide, and, for the first time, a full list of host plants of the Neotropical Tischeriidae. We hypothesize that host-plant ranges predict a much broader distribution for hostspecific leaf miners treated here through their host-plant distribution. Finally, we provide a short review on the history of Tischeriidae species descriptions in the Neotropics. We hope that this publication will stimulate further studies in Neotropical Tischeriidae and will contribute to a more detailed account of the diversity of the Neotropical leaf-mining insects.

Materials and methods
The description of Paratischeria brazilensis sp. nov. is based on material deposited in the collection of the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), formerly the U.S. National Museum of Natural History, Washington D.C., U.S.A. (USNM). The type series of six new species will be deposited at the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia (ZIN). New distribution data of Paratischeria neotropicana are based on the material from the collections of USNM, ZIN, the Zoological Museum, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen (ZMUC), and the Natural History Museum, London, U.K. (NHMUK).
Detailed techniques of rearing adults from mining larvae are provided by Diškus and Stonis (2012) and Stonis et al. (2018a). Protocols for species identification and description were outlined in Puplesis and Diškus (2003) and Stonis et al. (2014Stonis et al. ( , 2018a. Permanent mounts on microscope slides were photographed and studied using a Leica DM2500 microscope and Leica DFC420 digital camera. Adults were photographed using a Leica S6D stereoscopic microscope with attached Leica DFC290 digital camera. The descriptive terminology of morphological structures follows Puplesis and Diškus (2003), except for the term "aedeagus", which is referred to here as "phallus", and the term "cilia", which is referred to here as "fringe". Diagnosis. Externally, this new species can be confused with some other speckled Astrotischeria species, including the species described below. In the male genitalia, the unique shape of the bifid dorsal processes of valva (Figs 51,56,57) and the unusually complex, angular apex of phallus with ventral spines (Figs 52-55, 59) distinguishes A. jociui sp. nov. from all known congeneric species. In the female genitalia, the combination of wide processes of the prela (Figs 61, 63) and proximally very long and slender corpus bursae differentiate the new species from other Astrotischeria taxa. This species is also distinctive because no other species in this genus is known to feed on Wissadula Medik. (Malvaceae), except for the South American Astrotischeria ochrimaculosa Diškus, Stonis & Vargas, which possesses very different male genitalia (see Stonis et al. 2019b).

Astrotischeria jociui
Description. Male (Fig. 38). Forewing length 3.5-3.8 mm; wingspan 7.7-8.1 mm (n = 2). Head: frons and pecten ochre; frontal tuft and collar comprised of ochre and grey, ochre-tipped scales; antenna longer than one half the length of forewing; flagellum ochre, annulated with grey scales in proximal quarter, but grey distally. Tegula and thorax covered with ochre and grey, ochre-tipped scales. Forewing ochre to pale ochre, apically speckled with grey, ochre-tipped scales; fringe grey; forewing underside dark brown-grey, without spots or androconia. Hindwing and fringe grey on upper side and underside, without androconia. Legs dark brownish grey, with some ochre scales, especially numerous on underside and tarsi. Abdomen grey with some green and purple iridescence on upper side, brownish grey, with some pale ochre scales on underside; genital plates pale grey; anal tufts long, dark grey.
Female (Fig. 39). Forewing length 2.8-3.1 mm; wingspan 6.2-6.8 mm (n = 2). Head similar to male, but frons and palpus pale ochre. Thorax similar to male, but thorax and forewing tend to be slightly darker and dark scales less contrast to main color of forewing. Abdomen similar to male, but without anal tufts, and with a protruding slender ovipositor.
Distribution. This species is known from a single locality in Peru, Urubamba Province, near Machu Picchu, at the elevation 2000-2200 m (Fig. 16), but the host plants have a much wider distribution (see Discussion).
Etymology. The species is named in honor of Mr. Modestas Jocius (Vilnius, Lithuania), recognizing his understanding, continued support, and enthusiasm for biodiversity inventories in tropical countries.
Other material examined. 4 ♂, 4 ♀, paratypes: Peru, Urubamba Province, near Machu Picchu, 13°9'48"S, 72°32'10"W, elevation 2160 m, mining larvae on Wissadula sp. (Malvaceae), 19 Oct 2008, field card no. 4945, A. Diškus, genitalia slide nos AD922♂ (from adult in pupal skin, no moths preserved), AD976♂ (from adult in pupal skin, no moths preserved), AD997♀ (from adult in pupal skin, no moths preserved), AD977♂ (from adult in pupal skin, no moths preserved), AD978♀ (ZIN). Diagnosis. Externally, this new species can be confused with some other speckled Astrotischeria species, including the species described in this paper. Astrotischeria atlantica sp. nov. can be distinguished from similar A. jociui sp. nov. (see described above) by the significantly paler color of forewing: in A. atlantica forewing is cream to pale yellowish ochre, in A. jociui is ochre. In the male genitalia, the shape of dorsal processes of the valva with unique folds (Fig. 75) and the presence of additional lobes on the uncus (Figs 68, 69) distinguish A. atlantica sp. nov. from all known congeneric species. In the female genitalia, the presence of a highly modified ovipositor (Fig. 78) differentiates this new species from other Astrotischeria taxa. This species is also distinctive because no other species in this genus is known to feed on Baccharis spicata (Lam.) Baill. (Asteraceae).

Astrotischeria atlantica
Description. Male (Fig. 40). Forewing length 3.6-4.2 mm; wingspan 7.7-9.3 mm (n = 2). Head: frons and pecten golden cream; frontal tuft glossy cream distally, ochregrey proximally; collar ochre-grey; antenna slightly longer than one half the length of forewing; flagellum yellowish cream proximally, pale yellowish grey distally. Tegula yellowish grey, distally cream; thorax yellowish cream. Forewing cream to pale yellowish ochre, irregularly speckled with grey and pale grey scales, apically also with some black scales; fringe pale grey, with fringe line comprised of black scales; forewing underside pale ochre-grey to brownish cream, without spots or androconia. Hindwing glossy greyish cream to cream on upper side, pale grey on underside, without androconia, but some-times with a dark line of grey scales along one third of the fold; fringe cream. Foreleg pale grey or blackish grey on upper side, midleg and hindleg ochre cream to cream, with some pale grey scales on upper side and spurs. Abdomen yellow cream, distally pale grey on upper side, pale ochre with some grey scales on underside; genital plates large, covered with long, yellow cream scales; anal tufts long, merged into one, cream.
Distribution. This species is known from a single locality on the Atlantic coast in Uruguay, Rocha Department, La Paloma ( Fig. 1), at sea level, but the host plant has a much wider distribution (see Discussion).
Etymology. The species is named after the Atlantic Ocean, in reference to its occurrence on the Atlantic coast of Uruguay.
Distribution. This species is known from a single locality in Honduras, Copán Department, Copán, at the elevation of 620 m.
Etymology. The species name is derived from Latin cornuatus (horned), in reference to the large, horn-like lobes of the uncus and valva in the male genitalia.   Stonis et al. 2019). However, these externally similar Astrotischeria species possess a welldeveloped dorsal lobe of valva, but all Paratischeria species have no dorsal lobe. In the male genitalia, the combination of very long and slender uncus and a laterally strongly thickened anellus distinguish Paratischeria guarani sp. nov. from all known congeneric species. The characters of the female genitalia are not informative, and, therefore, are of very limited use for species differentiation. This species is also distinctive because no other tischeriid species is known to feed on Elephantopus mollis Kunth, Asteraceae.
Description. Male (Fig. 44). Forewing length 2.8-3.1 mm; wingspan 6.1-6.8 mm (n = 4). Head: frons ochre-grey, pecten pale ochre; frontal tuft glossy grey proximally, pale ochre distally; collar ochre-grey; antenna slightly longer than one half length of forewing; flagellum greyish cream, irregularly annulated with dark grey scales. Tegula and thorax grey-ochre. Forewing variable, pale ochre irregularly speckled with dark grey, apically with black scales; fringe dark grey, with fringe indistinctive or absent; forewing underside brown-black, without spots or androconia. Hindwing grey on upper side and underside, without androconia; fringe grey. Legs grey on upper side, ochre cream on underside. Abdomen black on upper side, glossy ochre with some dark brown scales on underside; genital plates pale ochre to pale grey; anal tufts grey-ochre.
Bionomics . Host plant is Elephantopus mollis Kunth, Asteraceae (Figs 23-27). Larvae mine leaves in February. Larva greenish white, with dark green intestine and brown head. The blotch-like mine (Figs 28-31) is irregular, but often elongated, pale brown or pale green, without frass. Pupation in a round nidus. Adults occur in March.
Distribution. This species is known from a single locality in Paraguay, Departamento de Itapúa, Hohenau (Fig. 22), at the elevation of 115 m, but the host plant has a much wider distribution (see Discussion).
Etymology. This species is named after the Guaraní, indigenous people of South America, living in present-day Paraguay between the Uruguay River and lower Paraguay River.
Other material examined.  Stonis et al. 2019). However, all these externally similar species belong to another genus, Astrotischeria, and possess principally different male genitalia with dorsal lobe(s) on the valva. In the male genitalia, the combination of a unique, distally pointed, fourlobed phallus (Fig. 99), medially constricted anellus (Fig. 98), and the presence of bifid cheatae on the valva (Fig. 101) distinguish P. mesoamericana sp. nov. from all known congeneric species. This species is also distinctive because no other species in this genus is known to feed on Montanoa hibiscifolia Benth., Asteraceae.
Description. Male (Fig. 46). Forewing length 2.6-3.8 mm; wingspan 5.7-8.6 mm (n = 10). Head: frons and pecten ochreous cream; frontal tuft ochre cream, distally whitish cream; collar ochre cream; antenna longer than one half the length of forewing; flagellum glossy cream, usually annulated with dark brown or pale brown scales. Tegula ochre cream, densely irrorated with grey-brown scales; thorax ochre cream. Forewing yellow-ochre with irregular patches of dark scales: most of these scales are cream but black-tipped, others are plain brown; fringe grey, apically ochre; fringe line present, sometimes ill-defined, comprised of brown and black-tipped cream scales; forewing underside ochre-brown, apically sometimes brownish cream, without spots or androconia. Hind-wing glossy, pale grey on upper side and underside, at base cream; fringe pale grey. Legs covered with grey-brown scales on upper side, ochreous cream on underside. Abdomen glossy, pale grey to grey-brown depending on angle of view, with some purple iridescence  on upper side, ochre cream, densely speckled with grey-brown or ochre-brown scales on underside; genital plates ochre cream; anal tufts long, dorsally paired, cream.
Female (Fig. 43). Forewing length 3.2-4.0 mm; wingspan 7.0-8.7 mm (n = 8). Scaling similar to male, but sometimes can be darker; frontal tuft ochre cream to ochre-brown. Thorax ochre cream to ochre-brown. Forewing sometimes darker than in males. Abdomen ochre-brown to brown, with some purple iridescence on upper side, ochre cream densely covered with brown or dark brown scales on underside. Ovipositor protruding.
Distribution. This species is known from a single locality in Guatemala: Antigua Guatemala, San Juan del Obispo, at the elevation 1680 m, but the host plant has a much wider distribution (see Discussion).
Etymology. The species named after Mesoamerica, a historical region of North America.

Paratischeria suprafasciata
Description. Male. Unknown. Female (Fig. 47). Forewing length 3.2 mm; wingspan 6.9 mm (n = 1). Head: frons and pecten ochre cream to pale ochre; golden cream; collar glossy ochre-grey; antenna slightly longer than one half the length of forewing; flagellum dark grey on upper side, pale grey on underside. Tegula and thorax glossy ochre-grey. Forewing slender, glossy greyochre in basal half, with bright ochre, oblique postmedian fascia and bright ochre subapical spot widely surrounded by black and cream-tipped scales with purple iridescence; fringe black-grey, without fringe line. Hindwing and fringe grey on upper side and underside, without androconia. Legs grey to blackish grey on upper side, ochre cream on underside. Abdomen blackish grey on upper side, glossy pale ochre with some grey scales (especially prominent proximally) on underside; anal tufts absent; ovipositor slightly protruding.
Distribution. This species is known from a single locality in northern Argentina, Misiones Province, Puerto Iguazú, at the elevation ca. 160 m, but the host plant has a much wider distribution (see Discussion).
Etymology. The species name is derived from Latin fasciatus (banded, with a fascia) with the prefix supra, in reference to the unusual (in Tischeriidae), forewing pattern with a distinctive postmedian facia. Description. Male (Fig. 38). Forewing length 3.9 mm; wingspan 8.4 mm (n = 1). Head: frons and pecten glossy whitish cream; frontal tuft ochre cream, but distally glossy whitish over the frons, laterally with some brown-tipped scales; collar ochre cream; antenna only longer than one half the length of forewing; flagellum glossy yellow cream. Tegula pale ochre-yellow; thorax ochre cream. Forewing pale ochre yellow, with irregularly scattered ochre-brown scales; fringe indistinct or absent; forewing underside pale ochre-brown. Hindwing and fringe yellow-ochre. Legs pale yellow ochre, with some ochre-brown scales on upper side. Abdomen ochre cream on upper side and underside; genital plates cream; anal tufts long, cream.
Female. Unknown. Bionomics. Adults fly in October. Otherwise, biology is unknown. Distribution. This species is known from a single locality in southeastern Brazil, Santa Catarina: Nova Teutônia.
Etymology. The species is named after Brazil, the country where it was found.

Discussion
The word "exotic" in this article's title was borrowed from Edward Meyrick (1854Meyrick ( -1938, who discovered and described the record number of the new Microlepidoptera taxa and laid the foundations of the modern systematics of the smallest Lepidoptera, or the so-called Microlepidoptera (Hill 1939, Clarke 1955, Robinson 1986. Obviously, there is no professional in the field of Microlepidoptera taxonomy who would not know the volumes "Exotic Microlepidoptera" by Edward Meyrick (Meyrick 1915a(Meyrick , 1915b(Meyrick , 1921(Meyrick , 1934(Meyrick , 1936; some of these volumes also include descriptions of new Tischeriidae (Meyrick 1915b(Meyrick , 1934(Meyrick , 1936.
Our article deals with distinctive new species exhibiting unusual, "exotic" morphology and provides new host plants not known outside of the Neotropics. The smallest Lepidoptera in the tropics and subtropics are still wrapped in mystery: they have been poorly investigated, are not well known, and the variety of their morphological and ecological adaptations is surprising.

Novel, atypical morphological characters
Usually, in male genitalia of Tisheriidae, the valva is covered with simple, slender chaetae, only occasionally it bears a pectinifer (Stonis et al. 2020a). In Paratischeria mesoamericana sp. nov. we found that the valva is covered with unique, thickened and distally bifid chaetae (Fig. 101).
The female ovipositor of Tischeriidae is not of the piercing type. Females are characterized by two distinct, rounded ovipositor lobes, and only in a few Malvaceae-feeding Astrotischeria species these ovipositor lobes are greatly or fully reduced (Stonis et al. 2019b(Stonis et al. , 2020a. In the course of our study, we found that in A. atlantica sp. nov. the ovipositor lobes are modified into an extended, plate-like process, which slightly resembles a piercing ovipositor of some other moth families (Fig. 78). Such a specialized ovipositor or distally bifid chaetae in the male genitalia were not previously known in the Tischeriidae. Moreover, females of A. atlantica possess no peg-like setae, but these modified setae are among the most distinct apomorphies and diagnostic characters of the family. Males of Astrotischeria species usually possess two pairs of uncus lobes. In A. atlantica, the ventral lobe of the uncus has a small additional spine-like lobe; such a derived uncus was discovered in Tischeriidae for the first time. Moreover, usually in Astrotischeria dorsal lobes are long and slender, while ventral lobes are short and rounded. In A. atlantica it is an opposite case: ventral lobe greatly developed, while the dorsal lobe, in contrast to other congeneric species, is small and triangular (see Fig. 76). Xu et al. (2017) postulated that many large coils of ductus spermathecae in the female genitalia are characteristic exclusively for Paratischeria Diškus & Stonis, and it was expected that species of Astrotischeria Puplesis & Diškus would possess only a few, small coils. During our study we discovered that, in contrast to other Astrotischeria, A. jociui sp. nov. possesses many large coils in the ductus spermathecae (Fig. 66). On the other hand, we discovered that females of A. cornuata sp. nov. possess a sinuous ductus spermathecae (Fig. 89), but have no distinct coils at all. It is the first species of Astrotischeria to be discovered without coils in the ductus spermathecae. Moreover, a strong reduction of the ovipositor lobes is among the most distinct apomorphies and diagnostic characters of the genus; however, we found that in females of A. cornuata, the ovipositor lobes are greatly developed, i.e., very large and rounded (Fig. 90).
Previously, within Tischeriidae only species of Coptotriche Walsingham were known to possess a transtilla in the male genitalia. The transverse bar that we discovered between the valvae in A. cornuata sp. nov. does not seem to be homologous to the transtilla in Coptotriche, because in A. cornuata it is not attached to the base of the basal process of the valva, and it represents a novel character for Astrotischeria; we propose to use the term pseudotranstilla for this structure (Fig. 87).
Usually Tischeriidae species can hardly be differentiated externally from each other because of their simple and very similar forewing pattern. However, the discovered Paratischeria suprafasciata sp. nov. possesses a unique, very distinctive forewing pattern (see Fig. 47).
Paratischeria braziliensis sp. nov. represents the most bizarre species in the genus: so far there is no known species with a greatly extended, rod-like vinculum and spiny phallus. These characters are novel to Paratischeria, and they resemble, but are probably not homologous, to the characters in Coptotriche. Moreover, P. braziliensis does not have a transtilla that is so characteristic for Coptotriche.
It is not known why Tischeriidae have been so successful utilizing Asteraceae in the Americas. However, the estimation of Asteraceae richness and taxonomic diversity by Katinas et al. (2007) indicates that Central and South America are characterized by the globally highest number of genera. It should be also mentioned that the earliest fossils confidently assigned to Asteraceae suggest a South American-Antarctica origin (Barreda et al. 2010(Barreda et al. , 2012. Recent studies showed that Asteraceae is also an important host for some other leaf-mining families in South America, notably the Nepticulidae (Stonis et al. 2018b) and Bucculatricidae (Vargas et al. 2012). It is interesting to note, that no Asteraceae-feeding Tischeriidae are known outside the Americas. Similar situation was observed with the Asteraceae-feeding Nepticulidae (for a review see Stonis et al. 2018b). Outside of the Americas, Asteraceae-feeding Nepticulidae were found only in North Africa (a single species) and New Zealand where Nepticulidae fauna is dominated by Asteraceae-feeders and the proportion of Asteraceae miners is at least 54% or higher (R. Hoare, pers. comm.).
Below, for the first time, we provide a full list of Tischeriidae host plants from the Neotropics (Table 1).

Predicting distribution through host-plant distribution of the host-specific Tischeriidae
Currently, only three Tischeriidae species have been recorded over a broad range in the Neotropics: Paratischeria neotropicana (Diškus & Stonis), occurring from Mexico to Bolivia (Fig. 129), Astrotischeria selvica Diškus, Carvalho-Filho & Stonis, occurring from Central America to the Atlantic coast of equatorial Brazil (Stonis et al. 2018a), and A. ochrimaculosa distributed from Colombia to Peru (Stonis et al. 2019b). All remaining Neotropical species are known from a single locality, or restricted area, which suggests that they are poorly sampled. On the other hand, leaf-mining larvae of Tischeriidae show a great selectivity in their food choice: they are stenophagous (monophagous or oligophagous). Therefore, despite the fact that insect distribution may depend on many more factors than host plant alone, recently we hypothesized that the distribution of the host plants can suggest much broader ranges for these host-specific leaf miners (Stonis et al. 2019c). We discuss potential distribution ranges of the species described in this paper.
Astrotischeria jociui sp. nov. is currently known only from a single locality in Peru, and feeds on Wissadula Medik., Malvaceae. It is currently estimated that Wissadula consists of approximately 32 species. The largest number of species occurs in the Neotropics, with the highest concentration in southeastern Paraguay, northern Argentina, and midwestern Brazil (Fig. 138), and with a few species in North America, Asia, and Africa (Bovini and Baumgratz 2016). We expect this tischeriid species may also occur in other countries in South America and possibly in Central America, and in sunny areas with disturbed vegetation, rarely in forests.
Astrotischeria atlantica sp. nov. is currently known only from a single locality in Uruguay, Rocha Department, La Paloma, and feeds on Baccharis spicata (Lam.) Baill., Asteraceae. Baccharis spicata, "chilca blanca" or "chilca amarga", is a dioecious, rhizomatous shrub or subshrub native to Bolivia, Paraguay, southern Brazil, Uruguay, and central and northeastern Argentina (Fig. 139); recently it has been reported as an invasive in Europe (Verloove et al. 2017). We expect that this species also occurs in other South American countries, and mainly in grasslands and roadsides.
Paratischeria guarani sp. nov. is currently known only from a single locality in Paraguay, Departamento de Itapúa, Hohenau and feeds on Elephantopus mollis Kunth, Asteraceae. E. mollis, or "elephant's foot", is an herbaceous perennial plant with compound flower heads, native to the American tropics and subtropics (Dematteis 2014). It is an invasive weed and it has been widely introduced elsewhere (e.g., Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Pacific) (CABI 2020). In the Americas, we expect this tischeriid species may occur from Mexico and the Caribbean to Argentina (Fig. 140), in high rainfall areas with fertile tropical conditions, especially in open areas, pastures, plantations, forest edges, roadsides, and disturbed or marshy areas.
Paratischeria mesoamericana sp. nov. is currently known only from a single locality in Guatemala, Antigua Guatemala, San Juan del Obispo, and feeds on Montanoa hibiscifolia Benth., Asteraceae. M. hibiscifolia, known in Guatemala as "cajete", "cana rancho", "quil", "toquillo", "vara de jaula", "xixil" (Tropicos 2020), is a southern North American and Central American shrub with 3-5-lobed leaves and  Figures 142-144. Overview on the Neotropical Tischeriidae fauna and history of the description of species. 142 currently described diversity of Tischeriidae per country (Note that some species occur in more than one country, therefore, there is some overlap so the total in the graph does not agree with the total 49 species known from the Neotropics) 143 description history of the Tischeriidae from the Neotropics 144 authorship of all currently known Tischeriidae species of the fauna of the Neotropics. prominent petiolar auricles (Funk 1982). We expect this tischeriid species to also occur in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Belize, and north to Chiapas in Mexico, in pine-oak forests, on hillsides and along streams, lakes and roads from 350 to 2500 m.

Summary on species description of the Neotropical Tischeriidae
The study of the Tischeriidae fauna in the Neotropics began in the late nineteenth to early twentieth centuries, but only during the last decade the inventory and especially collecting of the Neotropical Tischeriidae has become more purposeful and active (Fig. 143). The overall impression is that the Neotropical fauna is an isolated entity: there is no overlap at the species level between the fauna of the Neotropics and that of the rest of world, including the adjacent Nearctic region. The total number of Tischeriidae of the Neotropics now numbers 49 described species including the seven new species described in this paper and six new species by Stonis et al. 2020a. Additionally, some other new species have already been recognized, dissected, and are under preparation for publication by us (see Fig. 142). The number of described Tischeriidae species by country is unequal, mostly due to different research effort (Fig. 142). Some species occur in more than one country, therefore, there is some overlap, and the total (57) does not agree with the total of 49 species known from the Neotropics.
In total, the world fauna of Tischeriidae now numbers 158 described species, but only 153 species are named. Five South African species were documented and published but were left unnamed because of lack of males (Puplesis andDiškus 2003, Stonis et al. 2019a). Thus, the Neotropical fauna forms one third of the currently known global fauna. The history of species description is given in Fig. 143, the authorship in Fig. 144. In total, eight researchers were involved in species descriptions from the Neotropics, some of them described at least one or two species of Tischeriidae, others are responsible for the bulk, Notably Arūnas Diškus who, in the last two decades, is responsible for the discovery and descriptions (all with co-authors) of 36 species. thankful to the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET),