Abstract

A fern spore-feeding stathmopodid species, Calicotis latebrifica Terada, 2016 is reported for the first time from Korea on the basis of one male and three females from Island Chujado, Jeju Province. This record represents the third example of the Korean Lepidoptera associated with fern spores for larval food items. The species is similar to Cuprina fuscella Sinev, 1988 in feeding on fern spores but differs from the latter in the body color and the presence of cilia on the ventral side of antennal flagellum. The genus Calicotis is introduced for the first time to the Korean fauna. Calicotis latebrifica has been known exclusively from Japan before this study. Larval habits for feeding and shelter construction were demonstrated from field observation and rearing in captivity. A new host plant of C. latebrifica, Dryopteris nipponensis Koidz. is recorded. The habitus and genitalia of both sexes are briefly described for C. latebrifica with photographs.