American Asteraceae-feeding Astrotischeria species with a highly modified, three-lobed valva in the male genitalia (Lepidoptera, Tischeriida)

We review eleven Astrotischeria Puplesis & Diskus (Lepidoptera: Tischeriidae) species which possess a novel character for the Tischeriidae family: a highly modified valva of the male genitalia with one ventral and two dorsal lobes (or processes). The species are distributed in the Americas, including the USA, Caribbean (St. Thomas), Central America (Belize, Guatemala and Honduras), and South America (Ecuador, Bolivia, and Brazil). Species for which the biology has been studied are associated with host plants from Asteroidea of the Asteraceae family. The following seven species are described as new: Astrotischeria trilobata Diskus & Stonis, sp. nov., A. amazonica Diskus & Stonis, sp. nov., A. maya Diskus & Stonis, sp. nov., A. selvica Diskus, Carvalho-Filho & Stonis, sp. nov., A. casila Diskus & Stonis, sp. nov., A. onae Diskus & Stonis, sp. nov., and A. furcata Stonis & Diskus, sp. nov. A new informal species unit, the A. trilobata group, is designated for diagnostic purposes despite some doubts about monophyly of the group. Astrotischeria longeciliata (Frey & Boll) is synonymized here with the North American A. helianthi (Frey & Boll), a species not belonging to the A. trilobata group, syn. nov. For the first time, a method of rearing of adults from mining larvae, specifically adopted for Tischeriidae, is detailed. All species treated in the paper are illustrated with photographs or drawings of the adults, male genitalia, and, if available, the female genitalia, leaf mines and habitats. A distribution map for the species of the A. trilobata group and a scheme of the trophic relationships of the global Tischeriidae fauna are also provided.