Athrips rancidella

Karsholt, Ole & Huemer, Peter, 2017, Review of Gelechiidae (Lepidoptera) from Crete, Linzer biologische Beiträge 49 (1), pp. 159-190 : 177-178

Athrips rancidella (HERRICH- SCHÄFFER, 1854)

F i r s t r e c o r d. HUEMER & KARSHOLT (1999: 191) without details.

E x a m i n e d m a t e r i a l. 13, 4♀♀, Omalos , 1200 m, 25-30.vi.2000, leg. Fibiger et al. ( ZMUC) ; 13, Kallergi Mts. 1450-1550 m, 28-30.vii.2001, leg. Fibiger et al. ( ZMUC) ; 2♀♀, Omalos , 1100-1200 m, 28.vii.-2.viii.2001, leg. Fibiger et al. ( ZMUC) ; 13, 2♀♀, N of Omalos Plateau , at pass, 1150 m, 11.vi.2004, leg. Skule, Hviid & Vesterhede ( ZMUC) ; 13, Pandom. , Fodele, 100 m, 10.x.2001, leg. Ruckdeschel ( TLMF) ; 13, 4♀, Omalos , 1000 m, 11.viii.2006, leg. Ruckdeschel ( TLMF) ; 13, ditto, but 9.viii.2006 (DNA Barcode TLMF Lep 21346) ( TLMF) ; 333, 2♀♀, Omalos Plateau , 1040 m, 14-20.vi.2014, leg. Karsholt, Hviid & Vilhelmsen ( ZMUC) ; 233, 1♀, Omalos Plateau , road to Kallergi, 1225 m, 14-20.vi.2014, leg. Karsholt, Hviid & Vilhelmsen ( ZMUC) ; 1♀, 3.5 km SW Omalos Plateau , 1040 m, 16-20.vi.2014, leg. Karsholt, Hviid & Vilhelmsen ( ZMUC) ; 13, 10 km SW Omalos Plateau , 760 m, 18.vi.2014, leg. Karsholt, Hviid & Vilhelmsen ( ZMUC) .

M o l e c u l a r d a t a. 21 barcode sequences in BOLD cluster in three widely separated clades and show a large intraspecific divergence with maximum of 9.88 %. Specimens identified as A. rancidella tadzhika should likely be considered as a separate species due to the large genetic distance from European counterparts. Also the only available barcode from Crete with a minimum distance of 3.31 % to other continental samples indicates potential cryptic diversity.

R e m a r k s. Specimens from Crete generally have more distinct forewing markings compared to specimens from mainland Europe.