Morphological and genetic diversity of two individual forms of Euphaedra eberti (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae)

Abstract

A total of 385 Euphaedra eberti Aurivillius, 1898, adults collected between 2012 and 2018 in the vicinity of Bangui, Central African Republic, were examined for intraspecific morphological variability, genetic diversity and genitalia structure. The species shows significant wing pattern variability. Two main morphotypes were identified in the set: the nominate form eberti, and the one comprising specimens with a red patch, form rubromaculata. However, both forms had similar genitalic structures and shared some specific wing marks, in addition to displaying the same COI (i.e., barcode region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene) haplotype, strongly suggesting that the two morphologically distinct forms belong to the same species, E. eberti. The causes of this variability remain unclear.

Malagasy Polka Dot Moths (Noctuoidea: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Syntomini) of Ambohitantely—endemism in the most important relict of Central Plateau rainforest in Madagascar

“…Other, but more phylogenetically distant examples in Lepidoptera are: the Asian clearwing moth Bembecia rushana Gorbunov, 1992 with two differently coloured morphotypes and the African nymphalid Euphaedra eberti Aurivillius, 1896 , with two significantly different wing patterns. In both cases, genetic and morphological analyses confirmed conspecifity of the forms ( Zúbrik et al, 2019 ; Garrevoet, Bartsch & Lingenhöle, 2013 ). However, causes of variation in all three abovementioned species remain unknown ( Grados, 2019 ; Zúbrik et al, 2019 ; Garrevoet, Bartsch & Lingenhöle, 2013 ).…”

“…In both cases, genetic and morphological analyses confirmed conspecifity of the forms ( Zúbrik et al, 2019 ; Garrevoet, Bartsch & Lingenhöle, 2013 ). However, causes of variation in all three abovementioned species remain unknown ( Grados, 2019 ; Zúbrik et al, 2019 ; Garrevoet, Bartsch & Lingenhöle, 2013 ).…”