The morphology of the preimaginal stages of Choreutis muhabbet Koçak, 2008 (Choreutidae, Lepidoptera)

Abstract

This work presents the first description of the last instar larval and pupal morphology of the metalmark moth species Choreutis muhabbet Koçak, 2008. All diagnostic morphological features are described in detail, and illustrated with photographs and line drawings. Diagnostic features for the genus Choreutis (Hübner) based on the described last instar larvae and pupae, are proposed and discussed. We compare the description of larval and pupal morphology of C. muhabbet to known morphological features of the preimaginal stages of other Choreutis species, especially with Choreutis pariana (Clerck).