Distribution and host plants of Eretmocera artemisiae Li, 2019 (Lepidoptera: Scythrididae) in Japan

Abstract

Eretmocera artemisiae Li, 2019 (Lepidoptera: Scythrididae) has been reported in China, Korea, and Japan, and its larvae are known to feed on Chenopodium album (Amaranthaceae) in Korea. In this study, a comparison of the male and female genitalia and DNA barcode regions with E. artemisiae collected in Japan, China, and Korea revealed that the genetic distances between the Japanese, Chinese, and Korean populations were small. In addition, new host plants of this species have been identified, suggesting that this species can feed on various plant genera in the family Amaranthaceae.