Work

Unwanted guests: The first records of two established non-native moth species in the Caucasus, with notes on non-native fauna of Georgia

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This study aims to expand our current knowledge of biological invasions of Georgia by reporting the first records of two non-native moth genera Micromelalopha Nagano, 1916 (Notodontidae), and Antheraea Hübner, 1819 (Saturniidae) from the South Caucasus, based on three male specimens of Micromelalopha sieversi (Staudinger, 1892) and five male specimens of Antheraea pernyi (Guérin-Méneville, 1855). These findings are based on recent field collections, supported by morphological examination and DNA barcoding, and contribute to a better understanding of the region's shifting lepidopteran fauna and potential bio-invasion risks. Additionally, we provide the first comprehensive list of non-native animal species recorded in Georgia, based on literary and online sources.

Source: Caucasiana

DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.4.e168433

Authors: Lasha-Giorgi Japaridze, Armen Seropian

Institutions: Agricultural University of Georgia, Ilia State University

Language: English

Topic: Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy

Subfield: Genetics

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: diamond

Funder: Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung

Award: Verbundprojekt: Georgisch-armenisch-deutsche Initiative zum Aufbau einer gemeinsamen Kaukasischen Biodiversitätsforschungsplattform (CaBOL), Teilvorhaben: Erfassung und Barcoding der kaukasischen Fauna und Verbundkoordination