Genetic differences among "Elachista" species of the "E. argentella, E. bedelella" and "E. bifasciella" species groups (Lepdoptera: Elachistidae: Elachistinae)

Abstract

The Elachista Treitschke, is the largest genus in the subfamily Elachistinae. Moths are small, with a wingspan from 5 to 14 mm. Forewing pattern mainly consist either a white fascia and spots on dark background or fuscous marks on light background or moths unicolour (white, yellowish or cream). Larvae of Elachista are typical leaf-miners, trophically connected with Monocotyledonous grasses. Elachistinae moths largely have been investigated using traditional entomological methods. In the current study we examined Elachista species using traditional entomological methods (making of morphological preparations, species identification, and documentation of morphological structures) and DNA analysis. DNA was extracted from head or thorax of pined specimens and specimens which were stored in 96% ethanol. The extraction was made using the Nucleospin Tissue Kit (Machery-Nagel, Düren, Germany). One specific COI primer was used for polymerase chain reaction, which amplified mitochondrial DNA sequences. Both strands of the PCR products were sequenced using 3130xl Genetic Analyzer (Applied Biosystems) at the Institute of Biotechnology (Vilnius, Lithuania). Mitochondrial DNA sequence of the COI gene was tested as the tool for analysis of intraspecific and interspecific genetic variation. The polymorphism of sequenced mtDNA segments of the COI gene were assessed in 8 species from different species groups: Elachista argentella, E. bedelella and E. bifasciella.