ABSTRACT
The Taiwanese species of Microleon are reviewed with morphological and DNA data. Our review recognized two congeners, including a new species, M. taiwanensis n. sp. and one known species, M. longipalpis Butler, 1885. The findings from this study request a reconsideration of the previous records of Microleon from Taiwan. The minor differences in external appearance among the species of Microleon pose a challenge for reliable identification. Our study shows that examination of the male genitalia and COI barcoding helps distinguish the species. A checklist of the world species of Microleon with their distributional range is provided.
Subject(s)
Lepidoptera , Male , Animals , Lepidoptera/genetics , Taiwan , DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic , Genitalia, Male , DNAABSTRACT
The metallic-blue body coloration is a distinct characteristic found in seven species of the cosmopolitan genus Pimpla Fabricius, 1804. In this study, we focus on two externally similar species, namely P. cyanator Morley, 1914 in India and P. alishanensis (Kusigemati, 1984) in Taiwan, along with the Indian P. indra Cameron, 1899, which are the only three species in the Oriental region exhibiting this trait. By examining the type series of these two taxa and acquiring additional materials from Taiwan, we discovered female morphological variations that resemble the form of the holotype of P. cyanator. Consequently, we propose that P. alishanensis should be synonymized with P. cyanator (syn. nov.). Furthermore, we provide a redescription of P. cyanator based on morphological characters and molecular COI sequences. We also discuss its revised distribution, the diagnostic features distinguishing P. cyanator from other metallic-blue Pimpla species worldwide, the factors influencing the color change in specimens, and some potential misidentifications that have occurred in the past.