Phylogeny of the superfamily Gelechioidea (Lepidoptera: Obtectomera), with an exploratory application on geometric morphometrics

Systematics and evolutionary dynamics of insect-fern interactions in the specialized fern-spore feeding Cuprininae (Lepidoptera, Stathmopodidae)

Fern-spore-feeding (FSF) is rare and found in only four families of Lepidoptera. Stathmopodidae is the most speciose family that contains FSF species, and its subfamily Cuprininae exclusively specializes on FSF. However, three species of Stathmopodinae also specialize on FSF. To better understand the evolutionary history of FSF and, more generally, the significance of specialization on a peculiar host, a phylogenetic and taxonomic revision for this group is necessary. We reconstructed the most comprehensive molecular phylogeny, including one mitochondrial and four nuclear genes, of Stathmopodidae to date, including 137 samples representing 62 species, with a particular focus on the FSF subfamily, Cuprininae, including 33 species (41% of named species) from 6 of the 7 Cuprininae genera. Species from two other subfamilies, Stathmopodinae and Atkinsoniinae, were also included. We found that FSF evolved only once in Stathmopodidae and that the previous hypothesis of multiple origins of FSF was misled by inadequate taxonomy. Moreover, we showed that (1) speciation/extinction rates do not differ significantly between FSF and non-FSF groups and that (2) oligophage is the ancestral character state in Cuprininae. We further revealed that a faster rate of accumulating specialists over time, and thus a higher number of specialists, was achieved by a higher transition rate from oligophagages to specialists compared to the transition rate in the opposite direction. We finish by describing three new genera, Trigonodagen. nov., Petalagen. nov., and Pediformisgen. nov., and revalidating five genera: Cuprina, Calicotis, Thylacosceles, Actinoscelis, Thylacosceloides in Cuprininae, and we provide an updated taxonomic key to genera and a revised global checklist of Cuprininae.

Taxonomy of the genus Periacma Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Autostichidae) from China, with a checklist of the world species

Ten new species of the genus Periacma Meyrick, 1894 are described: P. anterosinuata sp. nov., P. falcata sp. nov., P. largiloba sp. nov., P. laterispinulosa sp. nov., P. platygnatha sp. nov., P. ludingensis sp. nov., P. mediacantha sp. nov., P. securiformis sp. nov., P. solitaridens sp. nov. and P. subaequalis sp. nov. Periacma lianzhouensis (Wang, 2006) comb. nov. is transferred from the genus Irepacma to the present genus. The females of P. acriuncata Wang, Li & Liu, 2001, P. ferialis Meyrick, 1894, P. lianzhouensis (Wang, 2006), P. nepalensis Ueda et Moriuti, 1996 and P. rectignatha Wang et Li, 2006 are described for the first time. Periacma himalayensis Ueda et Moriuti, 1996, P. kunai Moriuti, Saito et Lewvanich, 1985, P. nakhonnayokensis Moriuti, Saito et Lewvanich, 1985 and P. nepalensis Ueda et Moriuti, 1996 are newly recorded for the Chinese fauna. Images of the new species and the newly described females are provided, and a global checklist of the described Periacma species is included.

First report of the genus Semioscopis Hbner and four species of Gelechioidea (Lepidoptera) from Korea with redescriptions

We report for the first time the presence of the genus Semioscopis Hbner, 1825 and four species of the superfamily Gelechioidea in Korea, namely Coleophora serinipennella Christoph, 1872 (Coleophoridae), Semioscopis japonicella Saito, 1989 (Depressariidae), Anarsia isogona Meyrick, 1913 (Gelechiidae) and Dichomeris syndyas Meyrick, 1926 (Gelechiidae). In addition, we provide redescription and diagnostic characteristics for each species, based on previous descriptions and additional morphological data acquired.

The Genus Heterogynis Rambur, 1866 (Heterogynidae, Lepidoptera): Congruence of Molecular, Morphological and Morphometric Evidence Reveal New Species in Serbia

The Heterogynidae are a small family of moths consisting of a single genus Heterogynis and sixteen described species distributed in the Mediterranean region. A species new to science, Heterogynis serbica sp. nov., is described from the locality of Srebrenac, Mt. Kopaonik, Republic of Serbia, Balkan Peninsula, by applying an integrative taxonomic approach using morpho-anatomical characteristics, wing morphometics and DNA barcoding. Male genitalia, scanning electron micrographs of adult male head anatomy, abdominal tergites/sternites, cocoons and habitats of the closely related species H. serbica sp. nov. and H. zikici are discussed and illustrated. Photographs of adult males and females, cocoons, plants in which the cocoons were found and habitats are shown. Importantly, marked differences in genital structure and other morphological characters were noted. These differences were confirmed with forewing morphometrics and COI-based DNA barcoding results. Additionally, DNA barcodes for H. serbica sp. nov. and H. zikici were compared against previously available data for the genus to evaluate the phylogenetic relationships. We conclude that deep, previously unknown and unexpected intrageneric morphological diversity exists in the genus Heterogynis.

The genome sequence of the long-horned flat-body, Carcina quercana (Fabricius, 1775)

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Carcina quercana (the long-horned flat-body; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Depressariidae). The genome sequence is 409 megabases in span. Most of the assembly (99.96%) is scaffolded into 30 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the assembled Z sex chromosome. The complete mitochondrial genome was also assembled and is 15.3 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 18,108 protein coding genes.

Global Biodiversity of the Family Lecithoceridae (Gelechioidea) with a Brief Historical Review

The family Lecithoceridae (Lepidoptera, Gelechioidea) is one of the more poorly known groups of microlepidoptera, even though it is a highly diverse group containing more than 1430 known species so far. During the last two decades since the end of the 20th century, the author has intensively studied the family Lecithoceridae, especially for the less explored areas including southern Asia and the Oceanian and Afrotropical regions. Throughout these studies, the author (often with his co-authors) described the new subfamily Crocanthinae Park, 2015, 32 new genera, and over 540 new species of the family. In this article, a historical review for the taxonomic works of the family since the comprehensive study by Gozmány is briefly summarized, with a comparison of the number of genera/species of each subfamily, and the number of the species by the subfamily in each region of the world. All available information on the phylogeny, biology, morphological characters of subfamilies, and zoogeographical remarks for the distribution of family are listed and discussed.

Revision of Neotropical Scythrididae moths and descriptions of 22 new species from Argentina, Chile, and Peru (Lepidoptera, Gelechioidea)

The taxonomy of South American Scythrididae (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea) is revised, based on external morphology, genitalia, male abdominal segment VIII, and DNA barcodes using genetic distances, BINs, and a tentative molecular phylogeny. Data include both historical and fresh specimens from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Peru. Thirty-four species are recognised as valid, and the fauna classified in three genera. Type specimens and morphology of all species are described and figured in detail. DNA barcode sequences of the COI gene were successful for 22 species, the average genetic divergence between species being 5.1%. A key to Neotropical Scythrididae species is provided, based on the male genitalia and abdominal segment VIII, which show most and easily accessible interspecific differences.

Our study revealed that the Scythridae fauna of South America is more or less completely unknown. As a result, 22 new species are described, increasing the number of South American Scythrididae species from 13 to 34. All new species are authored by Kari Nupponen (incertae sedis means the genus combination is uncertain and needs further research, country of the type locality is given in parentheses): Rhamphurasubdimotasp. nov. (Argentina), R.pozohondaensissp. nov. (Argentina), R.spiniuncussp. nov. (Argentina), R.angulisociellasp. nov. incertae sedis (Argentina), R.curvisociellasp. nov. incertae sedis (Argentina), R.tetrafasciellasp. nov. incertae sedis (Argentina), Landryiaankylosauroidessp. nov. incertae sedis (Argentina), L.chilensissp. nov. incertae sedis (Chile), Scythrisdirectiphallellasp. nov. (Argentina), S.furciphallellasp. nov. (Argentina), S.manchaoensissp. nov. (Argentina), S.salinasgrandensissp. nov. (Argentina), S.angustivalvellasp. nov. (Argentina), S.caimancitoensissp. nov. (Argentina), S.lequetepequensissp. nov. (Peru), S.sanfriscoensissp. nov. (Argentina), S.tigrensissp. nov. (Argentina), S.bicoloristrigellasp. nov. incertae sedis (Argentina), S.saldaitisisp. nov. incertae sedis (Argentina), S.wikstromisp. nov. incertae sedis (Argentina), S.andensissp. nov. incertae sedis (Argentina), S.mendozaensissp. nov. incertae sedis (Argentina).

The following new combinations are proposed: Scythrisdepressa Meyrick, 1931 and Scythrisdimota Meyrick, 1931 are transferred from Scythris Hübner, 1825 to Rhamphura Landry, 1991 comb. nov. Three species classified in Scythris earlier are now classified as Scythris (incertae sedis): Scythrisdividua Meyrick, 1916, S.medullata Meyrick, 1916 and S.notorrhoa Meyrick, 1921. The taxon Syntetrernisneocompsa Meyrick, 1933, recently classified in Scythrididae: Scythris, is excluded from Scythrididae and it is now classified in Cosmopterigidae incertae sedis.

Taxonomy of the genus Meleonoma Meyrick, 1914 (Lepidoptera: Autostichidae) from China (IV), with descriptions of twelve new species

Twelve new species of the genus Meleonoma Meyrick are described. Meleonoma aculeolata sp. nov. and M. rectivalva sp. nov. belong to the acutiuscula species-group; M. robustijuxta sp. nov. and M. varilobata sp. nov. belong to the jigongshanica species-group; M. basitriangula sp. nov., M. biprocessa sp. nov., M. curvicornuta sp. nov., M. dilatilobata sp. nov., M. globulosa sp. nov., M. prospina sp. nov., M. sinuata sp. nov. and M. unijugata sp. nov. belong to the puncticulata species-group. Images of both adults and genitalia are provided.

Taxonomy of the genus Autosticha Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Autostichidae) in China: Descriptions of fifteen new species

Fifteen new species of the genus Autosticha Meyrick are described from China: A. annulata sp. nov., A. flabellata sp. nov., A. rhombea sp. nov., A. auriculata sp. nov., A. apicilata sp. nov., A. bomiensis sp. nov., A. longispina sp. nov., A. angustivalva sp. nov., A. basiprocessa sp. nov., A. semicircularia sp. nov., A. trapeziformis sp. nov., A. turriformis sp. nov., A. ventericoncava sp. nov., A. furcillata sp. nov. and A. ornithorhyncha sp. nov. Images of adults and genitalia are provided.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Periacma orthiodes Meyrick, 1894 (Lepidoptera: Autostichidae)

The complete mitogenome of Periacma orthiodes Meyrick, 1894 was determined in this study. It was 15,306 bps long and strongly AT biased. It consisted of 13 PCGs, 22 tRNAs, 2 rRNAs and 1 non-coding control region (371 bps). Most PCGs used the typical ATN start codon, except for cox1. Four genes (cox1, cox2, nad4 and nad5) used truncated stop codons (a single T or TA) rather than the commonly used TAA or TAG. All tRNAs, excluding TrnS1, folded into the iconic cloverleaf structure. ML phylogenetic tree built on 13 PCGs from P. orthiodes and another 28 species in Gelechioidea demonstrated that the genus Periacma was a member of the family Autostichidae, which was consistent with the newest phylogenetic study.

Taxonomic study of the genus Punctulata Wang (Lepidoptera: Autostichidae) from China, with descriptions of two new species

The genus Punctulata Wang, 2006 is transferred from Oecophoridae to Autostichidae based on morphological characters and molecular data. Punctulata guangxiensis sp. nov. and P. novipalliptera sp. nov. are described as new based on the specimens collected in China. The females of P. palliptera Wang, 2006 and P. trunciformis Wang, 2006 are described for the first time. Images of male adults and male and female genitalia are provided for all the six Punctulata species along with a key to separate its species and a map showing their distribution.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Meleonoma mirabilis (Wang 2003) (Lepidoptera: Autostichidae)

The mitogenome of Meleonoma mirabilis was determined in this study. It was 15,268 bps long and strongly AT biased. It harbored 13 PCGs, 22 tRNAs, 2 rRNAs, and 1 non-coding control region (334 bps). BI phylogenetic analysis based on 13 concatenated PCGs from 24 moth species indicated that M. mirabilis was clustered in the family Autostichidae, which was consistent with the latest phylogenetic study.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Ripeacma umbellata Wang, 2009 (Lepidoptera: Autostichidae)

The mitogenome of Ripeacma umbellata Wang, 2009 was reported in this study. It was 15,486 bps long and strongly AT biased, consisting of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), and 1 non-coding control region (351 bp). Most PCGs used the conventional ATN start codon, except for cox1 and cox2. Four genes used single T residue as stop codon rather than the routinely used TAA or TAG. All tRNAs, except for TrnS1, could fold into the cloverleaf secondary structure. Bayesian inference phylogenetic tree built on 13 PCGs from R. umbellata and another 21 species in Gelechioidea demonstrated that genus Ripeacma was a member in Autostichidae, which was consistent with the latest phylogenetic study.