Integrated Identification and Genetic Diversity of Potentially Invasive Clearwing Moths (Lepidoptera: Cossoidea: Sesiidae) in Korea

초록

Simple Summary Climate change is accelerating the introduction of exotic pests, coupled with an increase in international trade and travelers. This study is a case of a street tree planted as an urban green space for natural landscape, shade, and pollution prevention that became a habitat for exotic pests. As an initial response to the exotic pests damaging the urban landscape, this study was conducted to accurately identify the species and trace their route of introduction into Korea. Based on distinct morphological features and gene-based intra- and interspecific divergence analyses, the pest group was identified as two species, Sphecodoptera sheni and Paranthrenella pinoakula sp. n. To track their movement in Korea, haplotype analyses revealed that S. sheni is likely to have spread to five other neighboring areas, mainly in the Wonju and Goyang populations, while P. pinoakula sp. n. could only be identified in Wonju. Furthermore, the phylogenetic tree confirmed that P. pinoakula sp. n. is closely divergent from congeneric species and distantly related to S. spheni. Accurate species identification of pests is paramount to pest management strategies, and tracking migration routes is essential research for ongoing surveillance and pre-emptive action in high-infestation areas.Abstract The populations of clearwing moth borers in Korea have recently caused extensive and severe damage to pin oaks (Quercus palustris Munchh.). We conducted field monitoring and molecular analyses to identify them in an integrated manner. Morphological examination and molecular analyses of the COI gene, based on intra- and interspecific genetic divergences (GDs), revealed that the borers were identified as two invasive species, Sphecodoptera sheni and Paranthrenella pinoakula sp. nov. The maximum intraspecific GD was found to be 1.9%, whereas the minimum interspecific GD was confirmed as 8.1%, indicating a distinct barcoding gap. Both the MJ network and NJ tree also showed that 18 haplotypes (Hs) were detected from the 52 COI sequences. The borers revealed a total of 17 Hs: (i) H1-H7 were detected in all seven regions with S. sheni; (ii) Wonju and Goyang populations of S. sheni revealed more than three Hs; (iii) H7 was closely connected with H8 of the Chinese population of S. sheni; (iv) H9-H10 were detected in other samples from the Wonju population with P. pinoakula sp. n. and were closely located with congeneric species. A maximum likelihood tree also revealed that P. pinoacula sp. n. nested within the congeneric species, genetically separating from S. sheni.

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