DNA barcoding solves the mystery of the rainbow battleship caterpillar (Lepidoptera: Limacodidae) and reveals cryptic diversity in Australian slug moths

IF 1.1 3区农林科学 Q3 ENTOMOLOGY

Austral Entomology Pub Date : 2025-01-19 DOI:10.1111/aen.12727

Lyn G. Cook, Jessa H. Thurman, Andrew A. Walker

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Abstract

Despite their striking appearance and abundance, the diversity and life-histories of cup moths and their relatives (Lepidoptera: Limacodidae) in Australia are not well known. An example is a caterpillar commonly known as the rainbow battleship, or rainbow school bus. This caterpillar has been claimed to be the larva of Calcarifera ordinata (Butler, 1886), a wattle cup moth, but rearing experiments have recently shown that caterpillars of C. ordinata are not rainbow battleships. Here, we use DNA barcoding to identify the rainbow battleship by comparing the mitochondrial gene COI to sequences obtained from a DNA-barcoding blitz at the Australian National Insect Collection. We positively identify the rainbow battleship caterpillar as the larva of Comana albibasis (Walker, 1862), an association not previously hypothesised. The COI barcode region appears to be a useful tool for identifying limacodids, including matching larval and adult forms. Divergence within some currently recognised species highlights the presence of potentially undescribed species diversity in Limacodidae.

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来源期刊

Austral Entomology ENTOMOLOGY-

CiteScore

3.20

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0.00%

发文量

期刊介绍： Austral Entomology is a scientific journal of entomology for the Southern Hemisphere. It publishes Original Articles that are peer-reviewed research papers from the study of the behaviour, biology, biosystematics, conservation biology, ecology, evolution, forensic and medical entomology, molecular biology, public health, urban entomology, physiology and the use and control of insects, arachnids and myriapods. The journal also publishes Reviews on research and theory or commentaries on current areas of research, innovation or rapid development likely to be of broad interest – these may be submitted or invited. Book Reviews will also be considered provided the works are of global significance. Manuscripts from authors in the Northern Hemisphere are encouraged provided that the research has relevance to or broad readership within the Southern Hemisphere. All submissions are peer-reviewed by at least two referees expert in the field of the submitted paper. Special issues are encouraged; please contact the Chief Editor for further information.