Relict populations of Lyonetia ledi Wocke, 1859 (Lepidoptera, Lyonetiidae) from the Alps indicate postglacial host-plant shift to the famous Alpenrose (Rhododendron ferrugineum L.)

By

Huemer, Peter
Schmid, Jürg

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2021-11-22

Original Publication

Metabarcoding and metagenomics

Volume

5

Pages

101--106

Subjects

boreo-montane , circumpolar , DNA barcoding , Faunistics , Lyonetia ledi , new host-plant , new record , Switzerland

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers 2017-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/alpento.5.76930

 

Abstract

Lyonetia lediWocke, 1859 (Lyonetiidae), was hitherto considered as a boreal species with a circumpolar distribution pattern and relict populations in isolated peat bogs north-east of the Alps (Austria, Czech Republic, Germany). In Europe it is known as a leaf-miner onRhododendron tomentosumStokes ex Harmaja (Ericaceae) as the primary host-plant and alsoMyrica galeL. (Myricaceae). The first record ofL. ledifrom the Swiss Alps onRhododendron ferrugineumL., the famous Alpenrose, indicates an ancient host-plant switch during postglacial periods whenR. tomentosumandR. ferrugineumshared habitat in the prealps. Conspecificity with northern populations is supported by the adult morphology and supplementing DNA barcodes (mtDNA COI gene).L. lediis the first obligatory leaf-mining species onR. ferrugineum. Details of the life-history and habitat are described and figured. The record finally substantiates the probability of an autochthonous population in Carinthia (Austria), from where the species was recently published as new to the Alps.