Chersotis laeta leonhardi (Rebel, 1904)

Koren, Toni, Podnar, Martina, Vojvoda, Ana Mrnjavčić, Beshkov, Stoyan, Mihoci, Iva & Kučinić, Mladen, 2021, Genus Chersotis Boisduval, 1840 (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Croatia with some notes on the other Balkan countries: DNA barcoding, distribution and new records, Ecologica Montenegrina 48, pp. 86-108 : 91

Chersotis laeta leonhardi (Rebel, 1904) .

New records: Mt. Biokovo , Podglogovnik, 19.06.2007, 1 ex., leg. Mihoci ; Mt. Biokovo , meadows at 1080 m, 18.06.2007, 5 ex., leg. Mihoci ; Mt. Biokovo , Ravna Vlaška, 13.07.2013, 2 ex., leg. Mihoci ; Mt. Biokovo , above Vošac, 15.07.2013, 6 ex., leg. Mihoci ; Mt. Biokovo , electric substation, 18.06.2007, 3 ex., leg. Mihoci ; 02.07.2007, 5 ex., leg. Mihoci ; Mt. Biokovo , below Sv. Jure, 24.07.1994, 1 ex., leg. Kučinić , 02.07.2007, 9 ex., leg. Mihoci , 16.07.2013, 5 ex., leg. Mihoci; Mt. Biokovo , Lađena, 22.07.1995, 1 ex., leg. Vajdić , 24.07.1995. 1 ex., leg. Kučinić ; Mt. Biokovo , near the chapel, 13.07.1994, 1 ex., leg. Kučinić , 14.06.1991, 1 ex., leg. Kučinić.

Genetic data: Sequences from this study represent the first published DNA barcodes for this species and clustered within two well supported monophyletic clades, the first one containing all samples of Ch. laeta leonhardi , and the second clade samples of Ch. laeta macini and one of Ch. laeta achaiana ( Fig. 1 ). The intraspecific p-distances ranged from 0,2-2.9 % (2.7-2.9 % between two Ch. laeta subspecies, Table 2 ). They marginally overlapped with interspecific distances revealed between Ch. laeta and its sister species Ch. fimbriola (2.9-3.2 %, Tab. 2 ). Moreover, they are in the range or even larger than interspecific distances between several well-defined species of the genus such are: Ch. andreae vs. Ch. multangula (2.7-3-0 %), Ch. anatolica vs. Ch. elegans (2.4-2.7%) and Ch. margaritacea cyrnea vs. Ch. margaritacea (1.7 – 2.4 %) ( Tab. 2 ). Those findings are consistent with the results of the ABGD analysis which advocates distinct species status of Ch. laeta leonhardi and Ch. laeta achaiana which are found sympatric and synchronic in Albania, Tomorr Mt., as well as with unresolved trichotomy obtained in NJ analysis between Ch. fimbriola , Ch. laeta achaiana /macini ( Fig. 5 : a-e) and Ch. laeta leonhardi ( Fig. 6 ). All above strongly argues for the necessity of taxonomic revision within Ch. laeta which, based on molecular data, could be split into two species. Additional morphological analysis of the greater number of specimens from Ch. laeta subspecies from different localities should be undertaken to support the rising of the Ch. laeta leonhardi on the species level.

Figures

Figure 1. Phylogram based on Bayesian analysis of DNA barcode sequences (mitochondrial COI gene). Numbers at nodes indicate Bootstrap values for NJ analysis and Bayesian posterior probabilities (BS / BPP). For the samples from the previous studies, only a single representative of each haplotype is shown. Samples from this study are in bold. Putative Chersotis species as suggested by most conservative ABGD partition are depicted by rectangles on the right of the clades. * not included in ABGD analysis.

Figure 5. a) & b) Ch. laeta achaiana, males. Albania, Tomorr Mts, below, Abaz Ali Top, 1730m, N40.6111, E020.1885, 13.VII.2018, S. Beshkov & A. Nahirnić leg., c) & d) Ch. laeta macini, males. Romania, Dobrogea, Jud. Tulcea, Enisala, 02.6.2016, L. Szekely leg. e) Ch. laeta achaiana, male genitalia with everted vesica. Gen. prep. 2./21.XII.2020, S. Beshkov. AL, Tomorr Mts, below, Abaz Ali Top, 1730m, N40.6111, E020.1885, 13.VII.2018, S. Beshkov & A. Nahirnić leg. f) Ch. laeta macini, male genitalia with everted vesica. Gen. prep. 1./21.XII.2020, S. Beshkov. Romania, Dobrogea, Jud. Tulcea, Enisala, 02.6.2016, L. Szekely leg.

Figure 6. a) Ch. laeta leonhardi. Croatia, Mt. Biokovo, below Sv. Jure, 43°20'26.2"N 17°03'08.0"E, 1620 m a.s.l.,30.VIII.2018, T. Koren leg. b) Ch. laeta leonhardi. Albania, Tirana County, Dajt Mt, Shkallë Village, 893m, N41°19'49"; E019°57'55", 29.VI.2017, S. Beshkov & A. Nahirnić leg. c) Ch. laeta leonhardi. AL, Tomorr Mts, below Abaz Ali Top, 1730m, N40.6111, E020.1885, 13.VII.2018, S. Beshkov & A. Nahirnić leg., d) Ch. laeta leonhardi. AL, Bjeshkët e Nemuna Mts (=Prokletije Mts), Radohima Mt., between Qafa e Thorës pass and Theth village, south-east of Shtegu peak, 1657m, N42.3854, E019.7502, 19.VII.2018, S. Beshkov & A. Nahirnić leg., e) Ch. laeta leonhardi, male genitalia with everted vesica. Gen. prep. 3./21.XII.2020, S. Beshkov. AL, Bjeshkët e Nemuna Mts (=Prokletije Mts), Radohima Mt., between Qafa e Thorës pass and Theth village, south-east of Shtegu peak, 1657m, N42.3854, E019.7502, 19.VII.2018, S. Beshkov & A. Nahirnić leg., f) Ch. laeta leonhardi, male genitalia with everted vesica. Gen. prep. 2./22.XII.2020, S. Beshkov. AL, Korca County, above Drenovë Village, 1050m, N40°35'18"; E020°48'23", 7.VII.2016, S. Beshkov & A. Nahirnić leg.