Annotated catalogue of the Nepticulidae and Opostegidae (Lepidoptera: Nepticuloidea) of the Iberian Peninsula

The Nepticulidae and Opostegidae of mainland Spain (including the Balearic Islands), Portugal, Gibraltar and Andorra are listed. All previous literature records are given, and interpreted where needed. Detailed records are given for material collected and /or studied by us. In total 102 Nepticulidae and 5 Opostegidae are listed. Stigmella nivenburgensis (Preissecker, 1942), S. rhamnella (Herrich-Schäffer, 1860), S. crenulatae (Klimesch, 1975) (on new host Rhamnus lycioides), S. sorbi (Stainton, 1861), Trifurcula (Trifurcula) beirnei Puplesis, 1984, Ectoedemia (Fomoria) euphorbiella (Stainton, 1869) (on three new hosts in the genus Euphorbia) and E. (E. ) subbimaculella (Haworth, 1828) are new for Spain, and Stigmella rhamnella (Herrich-Schäffer, 1860), S. crenulatae (Klimesch, 1975), S. paradoxa (Frey, 1858), S. crataegella (Klimesch, 1936), S. hybnerella (Hübner, 1813), S. incognitella (Herrich-Schäffer, 1855), Trifurcula (Glaucolepis) rosmarinella (Chrétien, 1914), T. (Levarchama) cryptella (Stainton, 1856), T. (T.) squamatella (Stainton, 1849), Ectoedemia (Zimmermannia) atrifrontella (Stainton, 1851), E. (Z.) longicaudella Klimesch, 1953, E. (Z.) liebwerdella (Zimmermann, 1940), E. (Z.) hispanica Van Nieukerken, 1985, E. (E.) caradjai (Groschke, 1944), E. (E.) albifasciella (Heinemann, 1871), E. (E.) pubescivora (Weber, 1938) and E. (E.) heringi (Toll, 1934) are new for Portugal. Stigmella crenulatae is also new for Europe. Stigmella ilicifoliella (Mendes, 1918) and Acalyptris minimella (Rebel, 1924) are the first Nepticulidae recorded for resp. Andorra and Gibraltar. Stigmella assimilella (Zeller, 1848), S. vimineticola (Frey, 1856) and S. obliquella (Heinemann, 1862) are confirmed as Spanish. Previous records of Stigmella viscerella and S. lemniscella could not be confirmed and are regarded as doubtful. Stigmella ruficapitella (Haworth) and Trifurcula pallidella (Duponchel) are removed from the Portuguese and Spanish lists, and Ectoedemia groschkei (Skala) is shown to have been incorrectly cited from Spain. For many species we provide the first detailed records, since they were previously only listed in checklists. Records are summarized per provinces, the highest recorded number of species is 46 for Teruel in Spain, and 34 for the Algarve in Portugal. We illustrate leafmines and genitalia of several rare species of Nepticulidae. The male and female genitalia of Opostegoides menthinella (Mann, 1855) and Pseudopostega chalcopepla (Walsingham, 1908) are illustrated for the first time; Opostegoides menthinella and Pseudopostega chalcopepla are also recorded from Tunisia for the first time. In addition a key to the six species of European Opostegidae is provided

A new pygmy leafmining moth, Stigmella tatrica sp. n., from the alpine zone of the Tatra Mountains (Lepidoptera, Nepticulidae)

Stigmella tatrica sp. n. is described from moths taken in the alpine zone of the Tatra Mountains in Slovakia. The new species is similar to several other montane species of Stigmella Schrank, 1802 in the S. aurella (Fabricius, 1775) group in external characters and male genitalia; its closest relative is S. dryadella (O. Hofmann, 1868). It is indistinguishable from S. tormentillella (Herrich-Schäffer, 1860) by the colour and pattern elements of the forewing; however, it differs in the male genitalia in the shape and number of cornuti, in the female genitalia by long apophyses with protruding ovipositor, and by COI barcodes. Immature stages are unknown, but Dryas octopetala L. (Rosaceae) is the possible hostplant. The long ovipositor suggests an unusual, possibly hidden place for oviposition. The male and female adults and genitalia of both sexes are figured and photographs of the habitat are provided

Evaluating DNA barcoding for species identification and discovery in European Gracillariid moths

Abstract Gracillariidae is the most species-rich leaf-mining moth family with over 2,000 described species worldwide. In Europe, there are 263 valid named species recognized, many of which are difficult to identify using morphology only. Here we explore the use of DNA barcodes as a tool for identification and species discovery in European gracillariids. We present a barcode library including 6,791 COI sequences representing 242 of the 263 (92%) resident species. Our results indicate high congruence between morphology and barcodes with 91.3% (221/242) of European species forming monophyletic clades that can be identified accurately using barcodes alone. The remaining 8.7% represent cases of non-monophyly making their identification uncertain using barcodes. Species discrimination based on the Barcode Index Number system (BIN) was successful for 93% of species with 7% of species sharing BINs. We discovered as many as 21 undescribed candidate species, of which six were confirmed from an integrative approach; the other 15 require additional material and study to confirm preliminary evidence. Most of these new candidate species are found in mountainous regions of Mediterranean countries, the South-Eastern Alps and the Balkans, with nine candidate species found only on islands. In addition, 13 species were classified as deep conspecific lineages, comprising a total of 27 BINs with no intraspecific morphological differences found, and no known ecological differentiation. Double-digest restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD) analysis showed strong mitonuclear discrepancy in four out of five species studied. This discordance is not explained by Wolbachia-mediated genetic sweeps. Finally, 26 species were classified as “unassessed species splits” containing 71 BINs and some involving geographical isolation or ecological specialization that will require further study to test whether they represent new cryptic species