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ISSN : 1225-0171(Print)
ISSN : 2287-545X(Online)
Korean Journal of Applied Entomology Vol.65 No.2 pp.145-149
DOI : https://doi.org/10.5656/KSAE.2026.02.1.049

A Little Known Monotrysian, Antispila hikosana
(Lepidoptera: Heliozelidae) from Korea

Dae-Kyeong Ra1,2, Bong-Woo Lee3, Sora Kim1,2*
1Lab. of Insect Phylogenetics and Evolution, Department of Bioenvironmental Chemistry, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Korea
2Department of Agricultural Convergence Technology, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Korea
3DMZ Forest Biological Resources Research Division, Korea National Arboretum, Yanggu 24564, Korea
*Corresponding author:skim01@jbnu.ac.kr
September 24, 2025 February 26, 2026 May 22, 2026

Abstract


In this study, Antispila hikosana Kuroko, 1961 of the family Heliozelidae which
are a little known monotrysian moths was reported for the first time in Korea. A
diagnosis and description of adult and male genitalia of the species are
provided.


New record , Heliozelidae , Antispila , Taxonomy , Korea

잘 알려지지 않았던 단문군, Antispila hikosana (나비목: 빛날개나방과)의 한국
최초 보고

라대경1,2, 이봉우3, 김소라1,2*
1전북대학교 생물환경화학과 곤충계통진화연구실
2전북대학교 농축산식품융합학과
3국립수목원

초록


본 연구를 통해 한국산 Heliozelidae (빛날개나방과)의 Antispila hikosana Kuroko, 1961(자개빛날개나방,
신칭)을 처음으로 기록하였다. 이 종은 한국 중남부 지역인 완주에서, 그 분포가 확인되었으며, 분류학적 기재를 성충과 생식기 도해사진과 함께
제시하였다.


신규기록 , Heliozelidae (빛날개나방과) , Antispila (빛날개나방속) , 분류 , 한국

    Heliozelidae are small monotrysian moths with a near global distribution, currently comprising fewer than 150 described species in 13 genera, most of which are concentrated in North America and Australia (van Nieukerken et al., 2012;Liu and Wang, 2017;Milla et al., 2018;Hilton et al., 2025).

    As their name suggests, heliozelid moths are primarily diurnal and recent molecular phylogenetic studies continue to provide new insights into the group. Notably, recent analyses have suggested that the origin and major radiation of the family occurred in Australia, and several genera previously synonymised have been resurrected based on morphological and molecular evidence (Milla et al., 2018;Hilton et al., 2025).

    The larvae are generally considered leaf miners, cutting an elliptical case from the host plant’s leaf in which they pupate. This characteristic has earned them the common name “shield-bearing moths”; however, not all heliozelid species exhibit this leaf-mining lifestyle. Also, some species of the genera Holocacista Walsingham & Durrant, 1909, Heliozela Herrich-Schäffer, 1853, and Antispila Hübner, 1825 are known as leaf miners of grapevines (van Nieukerken and Geertsema, 2015).

    Comparative morphology of Heliozelidae has been treated in detail by van Nieukerken and Eiseman (2020) and is briefly summarized below. In Heliozelidae, head is smooth and covered with appressed, lamellar scales, a condition regarded as a diag- nostic apomorphy of the family. All flagellomeres have two rings of scales. Antennal flagellomeres number 15–25 in Heliozela and approximately 23 in Antispila. Maxillary palpi are progressively reduced, comprising four segments in Heliozela and three in Antispila. Forewings of Heliozelidae are generally metallic. In Antispila, typical pattern consists of a transverse fascia near basal third of wing and a paired set of opposite spots at two-thirds of wing length. Male genitalia relatively homogeneous within Heliozelidae. Vinculum elongate, narrow. Uncus bilobed or truncate. Valvae triangular to elongate, each with a single pectinifer bearing 8–30 blunt sensilla, often asymmetrical in number. Juxta spear-shaped. Aedeagus elongate, slender, with anellar spines and frequently with prominent projections near the phallotrema (van Nieukerken and Eiseman, 2020).

    In East Asia, research has been relatively active in Japan, where approximately twenty species in three genera, TyriozelaMeyrick, 1931, Heliozela Herrich-Schäffer, 1853 and Antispila Hübner, 1825, have been recorded to date (Meyrick, 1931;Kuroko, 1961, 1982, 1987;Lee et al., 2006a, 2006b, 2006c;Kim et al., 2023). In China, Heliozelidae were first reported by Liu and Wang (2017), who described Antispila sinensis Liu & Wang, 2017 as new to science (Liu and Wang, 2017). Subsequently, three additional new species and one newly recorded species were documented in 2018 and 2019, bringing the total number of recorded species in China to five, all belonging to a single genus (Wang et al., 2018;Liao et al., 2019).

    In Korea, only a single record of Antispila sp. has previously been reported (Park et al., 2012), and its specific identity remained undetermined. We recently collected a male specimen of A. hikosanaKuroko, 1961 in Wanju. This study provides the first confirmed species-level identification of Antispila in Korea and includes a redescription of the adult and male genitalia with detailed illustrations.

    Materials and Methods

    Specimens were collected using light traps equipped with a mercury vapor lamp (220/400 W) and a LepiLED Mini lamp (Dr. Gunnar Brehm, Germany). All materials, including slide voucher is deposited in a single institution for preservation: Lab. of Insect Phylogenetics & Evolution. Jeonbuk National University, Republic of Korea.

    Genitalia of voucher specimens were prepared following a modified method based on Robinson (1976) to identify the unrecorded species. Both genitalia and adult habitus were observed and photographed using a Leica Z16 APO stereomicroscope equipped with a Tucsen Dhyana 400DC digital camera (Tucsen Photonics, China) and a Leica LED 5000HDI dome illuminator (Leica Microsystems, Germany). Multifocus image stacking was applied to both genitalia and adult photographs using Tucsen Mosaic 2.4 software (Tucsen Photonics, China).

    Results

    Taxonomic accounts

    Family Heliozelidae Herrich-Schäffer, 1853 (빛날개나방과)

    Type genus: Heliozela Herrich-Schäffer, 1853:26

    Genus Antispila Hübner, 1825

    Antispila Hübner, Verz. Bekannt. Schmett, (27), 1825: 419

    Type species: Antispila stadtmuellerella Hübner [1825], designated by ICZN Opinion 1479, 1988

    Antispila hikosanaKuroko, 1961 (신칭: 자개빛날개나방)

    Antispila hikosanaKuroko, 1961: 19. Type locality. Japan: MT. Hikosan, North Kyushu

    Redescription. Adult (Fig. 1). Wingspan 9.0 mm. Head: frons and vertex glossy bronzy fuscous with metallic sheen. Scape of antenna bronzy with a greenish tinge; flagellum glossy bronzy fuscous. Labial palpus glossy bronzy fuscous, apically pointed. Thorax: thorax covered with vertex glossy bronzy fuscous scales with reddish reflection, tegula greenish brown to darkish brown. Legs darkish fuscous. Ground color of forewing darkish fuscous with a metallic reflection; basal 1/5 with purple reflection, mixed with greenish brown and coppery reflections; oblique, moderately narrow transverse fascia, distinctly constricted at fold, gradually widened towards dorsum; rarely interrupted at disc; postmedio-dorsal triangular spot white, not extending beyond midline; noticeably larger, slightly anterior to costal spot, reaching to midline. Apical area with distinct purple reflection, fringe pale fuscous. Ground color of hindwing darkish brown, fringe darkish brown. Abdomen darkish brown.

    Male genitalia. (Fig. 2). Tuba analis present. Tegumen weakly sclerotized. Uncus bar-shaped, posterior margin rounded medially. Vinculum approximately 5/6 length of aedeagus, anterior margin rounded. Saccus large, deep, U-shaped. Valva with two pointed protuberances at posterior margin, comb of teeth situated basally below ampulla, ampulla process short and slender; transtilla with relatively blunt and curved sublateral processes. Juxta present. Aedeagus long and straight, apex bifurcated; phallobase anchor-shaped; anellus spined.

    Material examined. 1 ♂, Korea, Jeollabuk-do, Wanju-gun, Gui-myeon, Baekyeo-ri, 22. IV. 2024 (Dae-Kyeong Ra), gen slide no. 16011/DK RA.

    Host plants.Cornus controversa Hemley, C. brachypoda C.A. Mey (Cornaceae) (Kuroko, 1961).

    Distribution. Korea (this study), Japan (Kyushu) (Kuroko, 1961).

    Remarks. Among the known host plants of Antispila hikosana, Cornus controversa Hemley and C. brachypoda C.A. Mey (Cornaceae), C. controversa is widely distributed in mountainous areas throughout Korea, including Ulleungdo and Jejudo, particularly along valleys and lower mountain slopes (Moon and Heo, 2008). The collection locality in Wanju is characterized by temperate deciduous broadleaf forest vegetation, which is consistent with the known habitat of the host plants. Considering the distribution of its host plants, A. hikosana is likely to occur more widely in forested regions of Korea beyond the currently known locality in Jeollabuk-do. The unidentified Antispila sp. reported by Park et al. (2012) may also represent this species, although examination of additional specimens, including genitalia, is required for confirmation.

    Acknowledgements

    This work was supported by a grant from the Honam National Institute of Biological Resources (HNIBR), funded by the Ministry of Environment (MOE) of the Republic of Korea (HNIBR202501211), and the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korean government (MSIT) (No. RS-2024-00345586).

    Statements for Authorship Position & Contribution

    • Ra, D-K.: Jeonbuk National University, Graduate Student; Wrote the manuscript, morphological identifications, prepared genitalia vouchers and figures.

    • Lee, B-W.: Korea National Arboretum, Senior Researcher; Editing, revising.

    • Kim, S.: Jeonbuk National University, Professor; Designed the research, editing, revising, finance support.

    All authors read and approved the manuscript.

    Figure

    KJAE-65-2-145_F1.jpg

    Male adult of Antispila hikosanaKuroko, 1961: A-B; A, dorsal view of whole specimen; B, lateral view of head. Scale bar: 1.0 mm.

    KJAE-65-2-145_F2.jpg

    Male genitalia of A. hikosana: A-B; A, genital capsule; B, aedeagus. Scale bar: 0.1 mm

    Table

    Reference

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    Vol. 40 No. 4 (2022.12)

    Journal Abbreviation Korean J. Appl. Entomol.
    Frequency Quarterly
    Doi Prefix 10.5656/KSAE
    Year of Launching 1962
    Publisher Korean Society of Applied Entomology
    Indexed/Tracked/Covered By