Review of the subgenus Trifurcula (Levarchama), with two new species (Lepidoptera: Nepticulidae)

The subgenus Trifurcula (Levarchama) is reviewed. It comprises seven species, two of which are described as new: Trifurcula (Levarchama) peloponnesica VAN NIEUKERKEN sp. n., found in Greece: Peloponnesus and feeding on Anthyllis hermanniae, and Trifurcula (Levarchama) manygoza VAN NIEUKERKEN, A. LAŠTŮVKA et Z. LAŠTŮVKA sp. n., from Croatia and northern Greece, feeding on Lotus corniculatus. The subgenus occurs throughout Europe and the Mediterranean, and all species make leafmines on Fabaceae: Loteae. All species are diagnosed and biology and distribution are discussed, including new hostplant and distributional records. The phylogeny is discussed on the basis of morphological characters and hostplant relationships are discussed. The Macaronesian T. ridiculosa WALSINGHAM is sister to a clade comprising the remaining species. Lotus is most likely the plesiomorphic hostplant choice, with two host shifts to respectively Anthyllis and Coronilla.