Distribution of two pine processionary moth species inTurkey evidences a contact zone

Kahraman İpekdal,Christian Burban,Selim Süalp Çağlar,Carole Kerdelhué

doi:10.3906/zoo-1407-11

Kahraman İpekdal, Christian Burban + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3906/zoo-1407-11

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Abstract

The pine processionary moths Thaumetopoea pityocampa and T. Wilkinsoni are among the most important Mediterranean pine defoliators. Although recent studies suggest that the two species may coexist in Turkey, the relevant literature lacks precise information on the occurrence and exact distribution of the two species in this country. In particular, whether the two sister taxa form a contact zone is still unknown. In this study, we aimed to reveal the limits of the ranges of the two species in Turkey by using nuclear (ITS-1, photolyase) and mitochondrial markers (COI). Multilocus molecular characterization of the two species showed for the first time that the two species co-occur in some of the sampling sites. In addition, we determined clear signatures of mitochondrial introgression between the two species, and therefore the existence of a possible hybrid zone within Turkey. These results bring up interesting questions relating to the evolution of the identified hybrid zone.

Highlights

The pine processionary moth (Lepidoptera, Notodontidae), hereafter PPM, is an economically important pine pest in the Mediterranean forests (Masutti and Battisti, 1990), as its larvae feed on needles of pines, and its urticating larval setae cause severe allergy, especially in mammals (Vega et al, 1997; Rodríguez-Mahillo et al, 2012)
The total number of COI haplotypes was 21 in T. wilkinsoni (w), while only a single haplotype was found in T. pityocampa (p)
Within T. wilkinsoni’s range, haplotype diversity seems to be higher in the southern regions (18/22) and decreases towards western and northern Turkey (4/22) (Figure 2a)

Summary

Introduction

The pine processionary moth (Lepidoptera, Notodontidae), hereafter PPM, is an economically important pine pest in the Mediterranean forests (Masutti and Battisti, 1990), as its larvae feed on needles of pines, and its urticating larval setae cause severe allergy, especially in mammals (Vega et al, 1997; Rodríguez-Mahillo et al, 2012). PPM larval development generally occurs through the winter. The gregarious larvae, if not feeding, rest in silken nests that they build on the tips of pine branches in winter and pupate underground in summer. Adults emerge at the end of summer, live a few days, and die after mating and laying eggs on pine needles (Démolin, 1969). The oldest record belongs to Albert Kindermann, a German lepidopterist, who made an expedition in northern Turkey between 1848 and 1850 (Lederer, 1885). We are confident that PPM has been present for at least 165 years in northern Anatolia

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