Integrative revision of the Caryocolum schleichi species group – a striking example of a temporally changing species concept (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae)

By

Huemer, Peter

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2020-4-23

Original Publication

Metabarcoding and metagenomics

Volume

4

Pages

39--63

Subjects

Alps , Cryptic Diversity , DNA barcode , integrative taxonomy , Morphology , new species

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers 2017-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/alpento.4.50703

 

Abstract

The taxonomy of the PalaearcticCaryocolum schleichispecies group is revised, leading to a largely new species concept. Initially described as four different species (C. schleichi,C. arenariella,C. dianthella,C. improvisella), these taxa were later considered as subspecies. Recently the taxonC. arenariellawas re-instated to species level without, however, revision of the remaining three subspecies. Analysis of DNA barcodes of the mtCOI (Cytochrome c Oxidase 1) gene of all four validly described taxa showed an unexpected pattern of genetic diversity. Careful re-examination of morphological traits, particularly male and female genitalia, fully supported this pattern, leading to the re-instatement ofC. dianthellasp. rev.andC. improvisellasp. rev.as valid species and the description of three new species, all of them occurring in the Alps:C. messnerisp. nov.(Italy, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Greece),C. lamaisp. nov.(Italy, France) andC. habelerisp. nov.(France, Switzerland, Germany). All species are described in detail and the adults and genitalia of both sexes are illustrated.