Relict populations of Lyonetia ledi Wocke, 1859 (Lepidoptera, Lyonetiidae) from the Alps indicate postglacial host-plant shift to the famous Alpenrose (Rhododendron ferrugineum L.)
Lyonetia ledi Wocke, 1859 (Lyonetiidae), was hitherto considered as a boreal species with a circumpolar distribution pattern and relict populations in isolated peat bogs north-east of the Alps (Austria, Czech Republic, Germany). In Europe it is known as a leaf-miner on Rhododendron tomentosum Stokes...
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| Published in | Alpine entomology Vol. 5; pp. 101 - 106 |
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| Main Authors | , |
| Format | Journal Article |
| Language | English German |
| Published |
Pensoft Publishers
22.11.2021
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| Online Access | Get full text |
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| Summary: | Lyonetia ledi
Wocke, 1859 (Lyonetiidae), was hitherto considered as a boreal species with a circumpolar distribution pattern and relict populations in isolated peat bogs north-east of the Alps (Austria, Czech Republic, Germany). In Europe it is known as a leaf-miner on
Rhododendron tomentosum
Stokes ex Harmaja (Ericaceae) as the primary host-plant and also
Myrica gale
L. (Myricaceae). The first record of
L. ledi
from the Swiss Alps on
Rhododendron ferrugineum
L., the famous Alpenrose, indicates an ancient host-plant switch during postglacial periods when
R. tomentosum
and
R. ferrugineum
shared habitat in the prealps. Conspecificity with northern populations is supported by the adult morphology and supplementing DNA barcodes (mtDNA COI gene).
L. ledi
is the first obligatory leaf-mining species on
R. ferrugineum
. Details of the life-history and habitat are described and figured. The record finally substantiates the probability of an autochthonous population in Carinthia (Austria), from where the species was recently published as new to the Alps. |
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| ISSN: | 2535-0889 2535-0889 |
| DOI: | 10.3897/alpento.5.76930 |