Molecular evidence supports the recognition ofEpitrix papaas a distinct species fromEpitrix similaris

Abstract

Following the description of the species Epitrix papa Orlova-Bienkowskaja, 2015, which was previously misidentified in the EPPO region as E. similaris Gentner, 1944, the authors assessed the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) sequence divergence between specimens of E. papa from Portugal and E. similaris from California. This study strongly supports the recognition of E. papa as a distinct species from E. similaris. It also complements existing genetic studies on the molecular identification of Epitrix potato flea beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) by making the E. similaris COI sequence publicly available.