Systematics and biology of some species of Micrurapteryx Spuler (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae) from the Holarctic Region, with re-description of M.caraganella (Hering) from Siberia

摘要

During a DNA barcoding campaign of leaf-mining insects from Siberia, a genetically divergent lineage of a gracillariid belonging to the genus Micrurapteryx was discovered, whose larvae developed on Caragana Fabr. and Medicago L. (Fabaceae). Specimens from Siberia showed similar external morphology to the Palearctic Micrurapteryxgradatella and the Nearctic Parectopaocculta but differed in male genitalia, DNA barcodes, and nuclear genes histone H3 and 28S. Members of this lineage are re-described here as Micrurapteryxcaraganella (Hering, 1957), comb. n., an available name published with only a brief description of its larva and leaf mine.Micrurapteryxcaraganella is widely distributed throughout Siberia, from Tyumen oblast in the West to Transbaikalia in the East. Occasionally it may severely affect its main host, Caraganaarborescens Lam. This species has been confused in the past with Micrurapteryxgradatella in Siberia, but field observations confirm that Micrurapteryxgradatella exists in Siberia and is sympatric with Micrurapteryxcaraganella, at least in the Krasnoyarsk region, where it feeds on different host plants (Viciaamoena Fisch. and Vicia sp.).In addition, based on both morphological and molecular evidence as well as examination of type specimens, the North American Parectopaocculta Braun, 1922 and Parectopaalbicostella Braun, 1925 are transferred to Micrurapteryx as Micrurapteryxocculta (Braun, 1922), comb. n. with albicostella as its junior synonym (syn. n.). Characters used to distinguish Micrurapteryx from Parectopa are presented and illustrated. These findings provide another example of the potential of DNA barcoding to reveal overlooked species and illuminate nomenclatural problems.