On Ypsolopha micromoths (Lepidoptera, Ypsolophidae) associated with Adesmia shrubs (Fabaceae) in the arid western slope of the central Andes

TL;DR

This paper explores the relationship between Ypsolopha micromoths and Adesmia shrubs in the Andes, revealing new host plant associations and genetic differences.

Contribution

The study identifies new host plant associations for Ypsolopha micromoths and reports genetic distances between species.

Findings

Adesmia atacamensis is a new host for Ypsolophamoltenii larvae.

Adesmiaspinosissima is the sole host for an unnamed Ypsolopha species.

DNA barcode analysis shows 7.9–8.1% genetic distance between the two micromoth species.

Abstract

Ypsolopha Latreille, 1796 (Lepidoptera, Ypsolophidae) is a genus comprised mostly of Holarctic micromoth species with a fairly broad range of larval hosts (e.g. Aceraceae, Rosaceae, and Fagaceae). The only previous record of herbivory on a representative of the South American genus Adesmia DC. (Fabaceae) was based on the discovery of Ypsolophamoltenii Vargas, 2018 larvae feeding on Adesmiaverrucosa Meyen in the Andes of northern Chile. Further surveys revealed Adesmiaatacamensis Phil. as another host for Y.moltenii, and Adesmiaspinosissima Meyen as the single host of Ypsolopha sp. The genetic distance between DNA barcodes of the two micromoth species was 7.9–8.1% (K2P). These results suggest narrow host ranges for Adesmia-feeding Ypsolopha and highlight the need to further explore the taxonomic diversity of these micromoths in other South American environments.

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