﻿Integrative taxonomy reveals overlooked cryptic diversity in the conifer feeding Batrachedra pinicolella (Zeller, 1839) (Lepidoptera, Batrachedridae)

Kai Berggren,Leif Aarvik,Peter Huemer,Marko Mutanen,Kyung Min Lee

doi:10.3897/zookeys.1085.76853

Abstract

During efforts to generate DNA barcodes for all European Lepidoptera, Batrachedrapinicolella (Zeller, 1839) was found to comprise two genetically distinct clusters. Morphological investigation and results from two nuclear markers and ddRAD sequencing furthermore support the existence of two distinct taxa which we treat as two separate species, B.pinicolella and B.confusellasp. nov. A lectotype for B.pinicolella is designated. Available data indicate that the biology of both species also differs, with Piceaabies (L.) Karsten as a proved host-plant for B.pinicolella and Pinussylvestris L. for B.confusellasp. nov. Both species are mainly distributed on the European continent with B.pinicolella occurring in boreal parts of North and Central Europe and introduced to Canada, reflecting a boreo-montane distribution pattern. Batrachedraconfusellasp. nov. is more widely distributed in temperate Northern and Central Europe.

Highlights

During the last two decades, aided by DNA barcoding, several cryptic species have been discovered among European Lepidoptera (Huemer and Hebert 2011; Mutanen et al 2012a, 2012b, 2020; Hernández-Roldán et al 2016; Zlatkov and Huemer 2017, 2019; Huemer and Karsholt 2018; Huemer 2020; Wikström et al 2020)
Legs from 49 specimens of the involved species pair were prepared according to the prescribed standards and successfully processed at the Canadian Centre for DNA Barcoding (CCDB, Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, University of Guelph) to obtain DNA barcodes and using the standard high-throughput protocol described in deWaard et al (2008)
All sequences were submitted to GenBank, and further details including complete voucher data and images can be accessed in the public dataset “Batrachedra pinicolella species group [DS-BATRAPIN]” in the Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD; Ratnasingham and Hebert 2007)

Summary

Introduction

During the last two decades, aided by DNA barcoding, several cryptic species have been discovered among European Lepidoptera (Huemer and Hebert 2011; Mutanen et al 2012a, 2012b, 2020; Hernández-Roldán et al 2016; Zlatkov and Huemer 2017, 2019; Huemer and Karsholt 2018; Huemer 2020; Wikström et al 2020). The first suspicion that the widespread European pine feeding moth Batrachedra pinicolella (Zeller, 1839) consists of more than one species arose after the publication of the monograph of the European Momphidae s.l. Within the framework of national barcoding initiatives in Norway and Finland as well as a supranational barcoding campaign in the Alps, we found striking genetic diversity in B. pinicolella indicating potential cryptic diversity (Huemer and Hebert 2016). Following this discovery, examination of morphological characters of representatives of the two clusters was made and additional molecular markers studied. Results confirm the presence in Europe of two separate species confused under the name Batrachedra pinicolella, one feeding on Pinus and the other on Picea

Methods

Results

Conclusion