ABSTRACT
We used a 227-bp fragment of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase I (DNA "barcode") in conjunction with morphological data to study specimens of the Neotropical genus Orthocomotis Dognin, 1906, acquired from natural history collections. We examined over 20 species of Orthocomotis from 17 localities in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. The analysis identified 32 haplotypes among the 62 specimens and found no haplotypes shared among species. The molecular study revealed not only the usefulness of short COI sequences in discriminating among Orthocomotis species but also showed distinctness of four clusters which correspond to those based on morphological (genitalia) characters. Moreover, the molecular results suggest the occurrence of rapid speciation in Orthocomotis. We hypothesize that this may be linked to the great biodiversity of potential host plants in Neotropical ecosystems.
Subject(s)
Biodiversity , DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic , Lepidoptera , Animals , Ecuador , Peru , PhylogenyABSTRACT
The application of molecular analyses for resolving taxonomic problems in the family Torticidae (Lepidoptera) is still uncommon. The majority of papers concern the assessment of population variability of economically important species; reports on the systematic positions ofNeotropical Tortricidae taxa are rare. The Neotropical genus Orthocomotis was classified initially as a member of the tribe Euliini. Then, based on genital morphology, it was moved to the tribe Polyorthini. A comparison of homologous 606 bp fragments of the COI mitochondrial gene revealed that Orthocomotis should be transfered back into the tribe Euliini. Based on an analysis ofphylogenetic relationships the studied genera of Euliini form a monophyletic cluster, clearly separated from tribe Polyorthini in which they were temporarily included. Moreover, in the current paper we describe two new species of the tribe Euliini: Galomecalpa lesta RAZOWSKI & PELZ, sp. n., Gauruncus ischyros RAZOWSKI & PELZ, sp. n.
