A New Species Nyctegretis seminigra sp. nov. (Pyralidae, Phycitinae) Revealed by Congruent Morphological and Mitogenomic Evidence

TL;DR

A new species of moth, Nyctegretis seminigra, is described using both physical traits and genetic data to confirm its unique identity.

Contribution

The paper introduces a new moth species supported by congruent morphological and mitogenomic evidence.

Findings

The new species Nyctegretis seminigra is distinguishable by unique wing patterns and genitalia features.

DNA barcoding and mitochondrial genome analysis confirm the species' distinct genetic identity.

Phylogenetic analysis supports the taxonomic placement of the new species within the genus.

Abstract

As the largest subfamily within Pyralidae, Phycitinae comprises over 3300 known species worldwide. The considerable diversity and high incidence of homoplasy within Phycitinae present significant challenges for species identification when relying exclusively on morphological characters. Therefore, the integration of molecular data analysis is particularly crucial. In this study, we describe a new pyralid moth species, integrating both morphological and molecular evidence. We provide detailed illustrations of adults, wing venation, male and female genitalia, DNA barcodes, and the complete mitochondrial genome of the new species, and conduct a phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial genes to get a better understanding of the taxonomic status of the new species.

The Nyctegretis seminigra sp. nov. from China is described. The new species is similar to N. triangulella, but can be distinguished by its bicolored forewing pattern and a pointed protrusion on the costa of the valva in males, as well as the signum location in the females. Detailed illustrations of adults, wing venation, and the male and female genitalia of the new species are provided. The DNA barcode of the new species has been successfully sequenced. Genetic divergence analyses among species within Nyctegretis are conducted using pairwise analysis, revealing that all included species exhibit highly species-specific DNA barcodes. The complete mitochondrial genomes of the new species and its related species, N. triangulella, are obtained through next-generation sequencing, followed by a comparative analysis. Furthermore, phylogenetic analyses based on mitogenomes through Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference approaches are also performed to elucidate the taxonomic status of the new species.

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