Gracillariidae is one of the richest families of leaf mining moths, known by its ornamental and orchard plant pests expanding their primary ranges. We here provide a revised checklist of ...Gracillariidae (Lepidoptera) of Slovenia that presently accounts for 123 species. Among them, four species, Dialectica imperialella (Zeller, 1847), Phyllonorycter abrasella (Duponchel, 1843), Ph. trifoliella (Gerasimov, 1933), and Phyllocnistis valentinensis M. Hering, 1936, are new records for the country. The distribution of the other three species in Slovenia, Caloptilia honoratella (Rebel, 1914), Dialectica scalariella (Zeller, 1850), and Ph. messaniella (Zeller, 1846), is clarified. For the above seven species, short synopses of the bionomics, a current range, and images of biotopes, adult moths and their genitalia are provided. For P. valentinensis sampled at a larval stage, the DNA barcode was obtained to confirm the species identification. Given the known distribution of some of the newly recorded moths in Europe, we believe that these species do not represent a new invasion but rather are discoveries of native species, except for the newly documented Ph. trifoliella in Slovenia, which is likely to be an alien species for the country.
Arboreta serve as effective tools for identifying alien insect pests and novel trophic associations. In this study, we used an arboretum in Slovenia to survey woody plants and identify both alien and ...native leaf miners. The leaves and twigs of 50 woody plant species and their cultivars were examined for characteristic damage. We used an integrative approach that combined identification based on leaf mines and DNA barcoding of the larvae and pupae found in the mines. In total, 62 leaf-mining species were identified, including eight alien species, of which the heliozelid Coptodisca lucifluella (Clemens, 1860) and the agromyzid Cerodontha unisetiorbita Zlobin, 1992 were documented for Slovenia for the first time. Additionally, three presumably native Gracillariidae moths Phyllocnistis labyrinthella (Bjerkander, 1790), P. ramulicola Langmaid & Corley, 2007 and P. saligna (Zeller, 1839) represented the first record for Slovenia. Furthermore, we documented 23 novel-to-science trophic associations, 20 of which involved native insects and alien woody plants, primarily from Asia. This study highlights the importance of arboreta and botanical gardens for the interception of invasive alien insects and the early detection of trophic shifts of native insects to alien plants, which can aid in predicting their potential spread.
Here, we report the first detection of the North American leaf-mining moth
(Fitch, 1859) (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) on North American black locust
(Fabaceae) in Primorsky Krai (the Russian Far ...East) in July 2022. Overall, six moths were reared from the leaf mines and identified based on adult morphology (forewing pattern and male genitalia) and three of them were DNA barcoding. Description of the leaf mines that allowed us to distinguish the damage of
from other gracillariids associated with
is provided. The phylogeographic analysis comparing the DNA barcodes from Russia with those from other invaded countries in Europe (Italy) and East Asia (South Korea and Japan) and from the native range (North America) was performed. Intraspecific genetic diversity reached 3.29%. Altogether, 10 haplotypes were revealed among 21 studied specimens in the Holarctic. The detection of one haplotype common for Japan and the USA (North Carolina) suggests that the invasion to East Asia could have happened from the USA directly, rather than through Europe. A shared haplotype defined for Japan and the Russian Far East points at a possible moth species' spread to Primorsky Krai from earlier invaded Hokkaido. Further distribution of
in East Asia and Europe is expected, bearing in mind the wide planting of
in these continents. Furthermore, an accidental introduction of the moth to the Southern Hemisphere, where black locust was introduced, is not ruled out.
Gracillariidae is the most species-rich leaf-mining moth family with over 2,000 described species worldwide. In Europe, there are 263 valid named species recognized, many of which are difficult to ...identify using morphology only. Here we explore the use of DNA barcodes as a tool for identification and species discovery in European gracillariids. We present a barcode library including 6,791 COI sequences representing 242 of the 263 (92%) resident species. Our results indicate high congruence between morphology and barcodes with 91.3% (221/242) of European species forming monophyletic clades that can be identified accurately using barcodes alone. The remaining 8.7% represent cases of non-monophyly making their identification uncertain using barcodes. Species discrimination based on the Barcode Index Number system (BIN) was successful for 93% of species with 7% of species sharing BINs. We discovered as many as 21 undescribed candidate species, of which six were confirmed from an integrative approach; the other 15 require additional material and study to confirm preliminary evidence. Most of these new candidate species are found in mountainous regions of Mediterranean countries, the South-Eastern Alps and the Balkans, with nine candidate species found only on islands. In addition, 13 species were classified as deep conspecific lineages, comprising a total of 27 BINs with no intraspecific morphological differences found, and no known ecological differentiation. Double-digest restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD) analysis showed strong mitonuclear discrepancy in four out of five species studied. This discordance is not explained by
Wolbachia
-mediated genetic sweeps. Finally, 26 species were classified as “unassessed species splits” containing 71 BINs and some involving geographical isolation or ecological specialization that will require further study to test whether they represent new cryptic species.
The leaf-mining moth Chrysaster ostensackenella (Fitch, 1859) (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) is the North American species that damages the leaves of Robinia spp. (Fabaceae). Recently, it was detected ...on the introduced North American black locust Robinia pseudoacacia (Fabaceae) in East Asia (China, South Korea, Japan) and Europe (Italy). In July 2022, Ch. ostensackenella was for the first time found on the territory of Russia, in Primorsky Krai. We studied the bionomics of this invasive moth and highlighted the characteristics of leaf damage by which the presence of Ch. ostensackenella can be detected early. Furthermore, we DNA barcoded three moth specimens from Primorsky Krai and analyzed them against DNA barcodes of Ch. ostensackenella from invaded countries in Europe (Italy) and East Asia (South Korea and Japan) and the native range (North America). Overall, our findings suggest that Ch. ostensackenella distributed to East Asia from the USA directly, not through Europe, whereas to the Russian Far East, this invasive moth spread from early invaded East Asian countries, in particularly Japan. Here, we report the first detection of the North American leaf-mining moth Chrysaster ostensackenella (Fitch, 1859) (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) on North American black locust Robinia pseudoacacia (Fabaceae) in Primorsky Krai (the Russian Far East) in July 2022. Overall, six moths were reared from the leaf mines and identified based on adult morphology (forewing pattern and male genitalia) and three of them were DNA barcoding. Description of the leaf mines that allowed us to distinguish the damage of Ch. ostensackenella from other gracillariids associated with R. pseudoacacia is provided. The phylogeographic analysis comparing the DNA barcodes from Russia with those from other invaded countries in Europe (Italy) and East Asia (South Korea and Japan) and from the native range (North America) was performed. Intraspecific genetic diversity reached 3.29%. Altogether, 10 haplotypes were revealed among 21 studied specimens in the Holarctic. The detection of one haplotype common for Japan and the USA (North Carolina) suggests that the invasion to East Asia could have happened from the USA directly, rather than through Europe. A shared haplotype defined for Japan and the Russian Far East points at a possible moth species’ spread to Primorsky Krai from earlier invaded Hokkaido. Further distribution of Ch. ostensackenella in East Asia and Europe is expected, bearing in mind the wide planting of R. pseudoacacia in these continents. Furthermore, an accidental introduction of the moth to the Southern Hemisphere, where black locust was introduced, is not ruled out.
A new genus of the tribe Ephippigerini, Dinarippiger Skejo, Kasalo, Fontana et Tvrtković gen. nov., is described based on the characters of occiput coloration, tegmina coloration, cerci and pronotum ...shape. The new genus is morphologically intermediate between the genera Ephippiger Berthold, 1827 and Uromenus Bolívar, 1878, and presently includes only Dalmatian Saddle Bush Cricket, Dinarippiger discoidalis (Fieber, 1853) comb. nov., hitherto known as Ephippiger discoidalis Fieber, 1853. The species inhabits NE Italy (mainly Carso Triestino), SW Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Montenegro, i.e., islands and karst habitats along the eastern Adriatic coast, with isolated findings in Albania and Italy. Its prominent variation in size and coloration has already produced many synonyms (= limbata Fischer, 1853, = limbata var. major Krauss, 1879, = limbata var. minor Krauss, 1879, = selenophora Fieber, 1853, = sphacophila Krauss, 1879), which may suggest that what is currently regarded as a single species could represent a complex of distinct species with restricted distributions. This study also presents an annotated distribution map and a bioacoustic analysis of D. discoidalis comb. nov. Further research, especially adopting molecular methods, is necessary to assess possible cryptic diversity within the genus Dinarippiger gen. nov. and elucidate its evolutionary history.
A sequence analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit II (COII) gene in Russian and Turkish maize-associated populations of Ostrinia nubilalis and a Slovenian population of O. nubilalis ...probably infesting maize revealed little diversity. This lack of diversity may have resulted from bottleneck event(s) when the maize-associated population of O. nubilalis expanded from small population(s) in association with the cultivation of maize in Europe ca. 500 years ago. In the genealogy of COII genes obtained in the present and previous studies, Eurasian samples were substantially differentiated from North American samples. Since the North American population of O. nubilalis came from Europe, our finding suggests that there is geographical differentiation in European maize-associated O. nubilalis, and that maize-associated populations of O. nubilalis expanded multiple times in Europe. Finally, a phylogenetic analysis of the COII gene did not support that O. nubilalis and O. furnacalis are the closest relatives within the O. furnacalis species group.
In this paper we deal with a not well known orthopteran species described from Croatia--Krauss' bush-cricket, Platycleis kraussi Padewieth, 1900 with unknown type series. After systematic field ...studies the species was found only three kilometres from Padewieth's locus typicus, in Francikovac near Senj (Croatia). It was found to be the same as Bicolorana kuntzeni (Ramme, 1931), thus B. kuntzeni (Ramme, 1931) syn. nov. became a synonym of Bicolorana kraussi (Padewieth, 1900) comb. nov. which is moved into genus Bicolorana Zeuner, 1941. Since the type was lost a neotype of B. kraussi is designated and deposited in the Naturalis Biodiversity Center (Leiden, the Netherlands). Historical review of this species' taxonomy is given. An improved description is presented showing some variability of certain morphological characters. The morphology, morphometrics and bioacoustic data of the species are compared with those of the closely related B. bicolor (Philippi, 1830) and Modestana modesta (Fieber, 1853). Vichetia helleri syn. nov. is regarded a synonym of Bicolorana bicolor. The literature and new distribution data are gathered and presented.
V prispevku predstavljamo 113 novih, naključno zbranih podatkov o razširjenosti hromega volnoritca Eriogaster catax (Linnaeus, 1758) v Sloveniji na 78 različnih lokacijah. Poznavanje razširjenosti ...vrste smo s 44 povečali na 56 UTM kvadratov. Največ podatkov je s Primorske. Nova nahajališča vrste so predvsem iz severovzhodne Slovenije: ob reki Ledavi, Muri in Dravi; v vzhodni Sloveniji na Kozjanskem in ob spodnjem toku reke Save. Vrsta je prvič najdena tudi v Beli krajini. Izboljšali smo poznavanje razširjenosti vrste na Notranjskem (Cerkniško jezero in Pivška jezera), na obronkih Nanosa in v dolini Dragonje. Za analizo fenologije in vertikalne razširjenosti vrste smo uporabili vse podatke. Gosenice smo opazovali od konca marca do sredine junija, odrasle osebke pa od sredine septembra do začetka novembra. Po doslej znanih podatkih se hromi volnoritec v Sloveniji pojavlja med 0 in 960 m nadmorske višine. Mediana višinske razporeditve podatkov je pri 258 m n. m., polovica vseh podatkov pa je razporejena v pasu od 166 do 420 m n. m. Ocenjujemo, da je poznavanje razširjenosti vrste v Sloveniji še zmeraj nezadovoljivo.
PDF
