The Autosticha established by Meyrick in 1886, by replacing the name of the genus Automola Meyrick, 1883, is one of the largest genera of a superfamily Gelechioidea. So far, 116 species of the Autosticha have been recorded and majority from Oriental regions (Table 1): 85 species from only Oriental regions; 6 species from Palaeartic; 10 species from Oriental and Palaeartic regions together; 8 species from Pacific; 4 species from Afrotropical; 2 species from Australasian; 1 species from Afrotropical and Palaeartic regions. They are superficially distinguished by the inconspicuous coloration (Ueda, 1997), having pale brown, yellowish brown to pale grayish brown with stigmata and series of fuscous dots on forewing (Fig. 1B).

Although there’s no disagreement among scholars that the Autosticha belongs to the Gelechioidea, its subfamily and family levels have often been changed: originally placed in Gelechidae sensuMeyrick, 1886; in Oecophoridae sensuHodges, 1978; changed to Autostichinae of the Autostichidae sensuHodges, 1998. Recently, their high constituents at subfamily and family levels have been recognized as Autostichinae and Autostichidae, and the Autosticha is phylogenetically close to genera Deroxana, Anaptilora and Apethistis in the molecular phylogenetic works (Heikkilä et al., 2014;Wang and Li, 2020).

Larvae of few Autosticha species have been known as detritivore feeders: A. modicella feed on dead leaves; larvae of A. kyotensis in spun dead leaves of Cedrus deodora and fed on the bark of Prunus mume; A. truncicola is associated with Sophora japonica, Robinia pseudoacacia and Prunus mume (Ueda, 1997).

So far, seven Korean species of the Autosticha have been reported to date (Park, 1991;Park and Wu, 2003;Sohn, 2007): A. dimochla, A. modicella, A. opaca, A. suwonensis, A. truncicola, A. pachysticta, and A. pyungyangensis. In this study, we found and added a newly recorded species, A. kyotensis (Matsumura, 1931), to Korea fauna. This species has been reported only in Japan. Illustrations of adult and male genitalia of the species are provided. Additionally, a world checklist of the Autosticha is also provided including distributional information.

Material and Methods

Materials in this study were based on the private collection of the third author, KT Park. All specimens were collected by using light trap with mercury vapor lamp. For species identification, we examined all specimens under a microscope (Leica Z16AP) and made slide genitalia vouchers. Photographs of adult and genitalia were taken using the software, Image Lab version 2.2.4.0 by MCM Design. Morphological terminology on the Autosticha follows Ueda (1977).

Systematics

Family Autostichiidae Le Marchand, 1947

Subfamily Autostichiinae Le Marchand, 1947

Genus AutostichaMeyrick, 1886

AutostichaMeyrick, 1886; Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1886 (3): 281; Type species. Automola pelodes Meyrick

Autosticha kyotensis (Matsumura, 1931) 교토점원뿔나방 (신칭) (Fig. 1)

Depressaria kyotensisMatsumura, 1931: 1090. Type Locality. Japan.

Brachmia deodoraClarke, 1962: 98.

Brachmia kyotensisRidout, 1981: 35.

Autosticha kyotensisUeda, 1997: 120.

Diagnosis. This species is superficially similar to Autosticha truncicola in the wing pattern and coloration, but it can be easily differentiated from the latter by the genitalic characters. The male genitalia of A. kyotensis is recognized by the digitate uncus, short and broad tegumen and the shorter in length and the broader in width of the valva.

Description. Adults (Fig. 1A, 1B). Head: Frons and vertex grayish pale brown tinged with pale yellow laterally. Scape of antenna grayish pale brown, shorter than diameter of eye; flagellum pale yellow mixed with grayish brown after 2/3 to apex, dorsally. Labial palpus pale yellow mixed fuscous scales at 2^nd segment entirely, basal part of 3^rd segment outterly. Thorax: thorax grayish pale brown; tegula grayish brown. Wing expanse 14.5-16.5 mm. Forewing ground color grayish pale brown; two distinct stigmata: antemedial stigma at 2/5, postmedian stigma at 3/5; antemedial pale stigma (=plical stigma) under antemedial former one; series of fuscous dots on costa near apex and other followed by termen. Hindwing pale brown.

Male genitalia (Fig. 1C, 1D). Uncus digitate, a thumb-shaped, sclerotized outerly. Gnathos rather tougue-shaped, curved, sclerotized apically, as same length as uncus. Tegumen short. Valva broad, enlongate with round apex, slightly concave costal margin. Sacculus rather triangular basally. Sclerotized processus of saccular inner margin slightly curved ventrally. Saccus moderate. Aedeagus short, bearing cornutus sub-apically.

Material examined. South Korea: 1♂, Seoguipo, Andeok, Changcheon, Jeju island, 26 vii 2012, light trap, gen. Prep. No. JBNU IPE-9517/ S. Kim; 1♂, Seoguipo, Andeok, Gamsan, 26 vii 2012, light trap, gen. Prep. No. JBNU IPE-9516/ S. Kim; 1 ♂, Seoguipo, Andeok, Gamsan, 24 vii 2014, light trap, gen. Prep. No. JBNU IPE-9515/ S. Kim.

Distribution. Korea (new record; this study), Japan.

Host plant.Cedrus deodoraa, Prunus mume (Ueda, 1997).

Remark. In comparison with previous references, Korean specimens of this species are rather smaller than the Japanese individuals. Only male of A. kyotensis are recognized from Korea.