Elachista dimorphella sp. nov., the first known sexually dimorphic species of Aphelosetia, a subgenus of Elachista (Elachistidae, Elachistinae)
Abstract
Elachista dimorphella sp. nov. , the first known species with a sexually dimorphic wing pattern of the large subgenus Aphelosetia of the genus Elachista is described. The male is dark grey with an indistinct forewing pattern, the female yellowish white, variably with a yellow to honey-yellow pattern and some brown scales. The male and female were associated by their DNA barcodes that cluster together with nearly no variation within the cluster. Based on original type material or other material from the vicinity of the type locality, and/or barcode data, we also characterise previously unknown or misinterpreted species or sexes of close relatives of E. dimorphella : male of E. amseli Rebel, 1933, a species with unclear status; the previously unknown male of E. constitella Frey, 1859, and female of E. maculata Parenti, 1978. The male of E. maculata has widely but erroneously been considered to be E. constitella .
Fields of Study & Subjects
Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
Ichthyology and Marine Biology
Fish Biology and Ecology Studies
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Nota Lepidopterologica
- Publisher
- Pensoft Publishers
- Volume
- 49
- Pages
- 1–15
- Publication date
- 12 January 2026
- Language
- EN