Work

Two in one: DNA taxonomy of Acronicta major complex (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) reveals previous misidentifications and faunal connection in East Asia

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: The Korean populations of Acronicta major (Bremer, 1864) were reexamined with genital morphology and DNA barcodes. They were turned out to be a mixture of the true A. major and another species, Acronicta gigasa Chang, 1991. The alleged aberration of A. major, ab. anaedinella Strand, 1916, is associated with A. gigasa. The distributional range of A. gigasa is expanded to include Korea and southern China. A possible faunistic belt crossing Korea, southern China and Taiwan is discussed with exemplar lepidopterans. The divergence patterns of A. major and A. gigasa in East Asia are hinted by our estimation of their COI genetic distances. Our finding raises an issue of reconsideration in the hitherto-known information on the distribution, host-range and pest status of A. major in Korea.

Source: Ecologica Montenegrina

DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.79.7

Authors: Jae-Cheon Sohn, Han-Rong Tzuoo, Soowon Cho

Institutions: Gongju National University of Education, Chungbuk National University

Language: English

Topic: Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy

Subfield: Genetics

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $161

Funders: Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Education, India, National Institute of Biological Resources