Agonopterix calavrisella sp. nov., a new Depressariinae from the impurella species subgroup from South Italian forests (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea, Depressariidae)

The family Depressariidae Meyrick, 1883 (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea) comprises a diverse and taxonomically complex group of moths, with recent studies revealing cryptic diversity, especially in the Mediterranean region. During several years of macromoth sampling in forested habitat of southern Italy, 23 specimens morphologically similar and genetically close to Agonopterix liturosa (Haworth, 1811) were collected in Calabria.

DNA barcoding of some of these specimens revealed a genetic divergence of 4.46% from A. liturosa, along with clear differences in wing pattern and in genitalia structure. Based on integrative taxonomic analyses, we describe a new species, Agonopterix calavrisella sp. nov.