Cryptic Diversity in the Monotypic Neotropical Micromoth Genus Angelabella (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) in the Peru-Chile Desert

Taxonomic Delineation of the Old World Species Stomphastis thraustica (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) Feeding on Jatropha gossypiifolia (Euphorbiaceae) that Was Collected in the New World and Imported as a Biocontrol Agent to Australia

We provide the identification and species delineation of this biocontrol agent as Stomphastis thraustica (Meyrick in Trans Ent Soc Lond 80(1):107-120, 1908) belonging to the family Gracillariidae. We clarify the distribution pattern of S. thraustica, its host plant preferences, and present taxonomic and molecular diagnoses based on original morphological and genetic data as well as data retrieved from historic literature and genetic databases. Following our own collecting efforts in three continents Africa, South America, and Australia as well as our study of historic museum collection material, we present many new distribution records of S. thraustica for countries and territories in the world including the new discovery of this species in the Neotropical region and we report its introduction in Australia as a biocontrol agent. Using mitogenomic and COI gene data, we clarified that the closest relative of S. thraustica is Stomphastis sp. that occurs in Madagascar and Australia and feeds on the same host plant as S. thraustica - Jatropha gossypiifolia L. (Euphorbiaceae). The molecular sequence divergence in the mitochondrial DNA barcode fragment between these two closely related species S. thraustica and Stomphastis sp. is over 5.7% supporting that they are different species.

Host Plant Variation and Lack of Genetic Differentiation in Populations of Dione (Agraulis) dodona Lamas & Farfán (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

Dione (Agraulis) dodona (Nymphalidae: Heliconiinae) is a butterfly restricted to the western slopes of the Andes of Peru and Chile and is associated with Malesherbia tenuifolia in xerophytic environments. In this study, we found six additional species of host plants for D. (A.) dodona belonging to the genus Malesherbia (Passifloraceae). We used mitochondrial DNA sequences (COI) and microsatellites to screen genetic variation and investigate population structure in six geographic disjointed populations of D. (A.) dodona associated with distinct Malesherbia species. The PCoA analysis based on allele frequencies evidenced a lack of differentiation among populations and a low F_ST. The Bayesian cluster analyses revealed the existence of three genetically distinct groups, but almost all individuals present an admixture ancestry. An absence of isolation by distance pattern was observed. Possible scenarios are discussed: a bottleneck or recent colonization from interconnected populations from the south, and ongoing gene flow among local populations by high dispersal through a landscape formed of isolated populations of Malesherbia.

A contribution to the knowledge of leaf-mining Phyllocnistis Zeller, 1848 associated with Baccharis (Asteraceae), with description of two new species from Peru (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae)

We provide new information on Neotropical Phyllocnistis Zeller (Gracillariidae) associated with Baccharis (Asteraceae) in the Andes region. Two new species are described, P. canta Cerdeña & Farfán, n. sp. and P. elongata Cerdeña & Farfán, n. sp., from the western slopes of the Andes of Peru between 2,000 and 3,000 m elevation, both associated with Baccharis latifolia (R.&P.) Pers. The type locality of P. baccharidis Hering is confirmed; immature stages were found at 1,300 m feeding on Baccharis tucumanensis Hook. & Arn. in Quebrada las Higueras (Tucumán, Argentina). Four new locality records for P. furcata Vargas & Cerdeña are provided, extending its distribution by 450 km to the north of the type locality.