Biodiversity of Lepidoptera in a mid-mountain site in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula. 2017-2019 Annualities. Description of the species Agnoea corteganensis Bernabé, Huertas, Jiménez & Vives, 2024, new especies, from Huelva, Spain (Insecta: Lepidoptera)

Study Extent

This study was carried out on a 0.5 ha plot located at the bottom of a valley called Barranco de Carabaña, within the Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche Natural Park. It has an altitude of 600 m above sea level, a north-north-west orientation and an average slope of 20 %. Within the boundaries of the plot there are four different habitats: chestnut woodland (Habitat of Community Interest 9260-Castanea sativa woodland), an orchard, hedgerows on the boundaries and a gallery woodland in the northern area. The predominant tree species surrounding the plot belong to the genus Quercus, in order of importance, Q. suber L., Q. faginea Lam. and Q. rotundifolia Lam.

Sampling

Systematic monthly sampling was carried out using two actinic light sources, close to the gallery forest and 50 m apart. Diurnal transects have also been carried out through the different habitats that make up the studied area (orchard, chestnut grove, gallery forest and hedgerows) with a length of about 250 m, following, in general, the methodology described by Pollard & Yate (1993).

Quality Control

In addition to comparing the morphological elements of the captured specimens, at all stages of development, including the genitalia, for the new species Agnoea corteganensis we have also used the proposed tool for molecular identification of Lepidoptera species, or DNA barcode marker, which uses the nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial molecular marker cytochrome oxidase I (COI) (Hebert et al. 2003). More details on the link: https://doi.org/10.57065/shilap.845

Method steps

1. They are described in detail at the following link: https://doi.org/10.57065/shilap.845

Half hectare plot in the south-west of the Iberian Peninsula. Centre coordinates of the study plot: 37.9064N -6.8092W, Datum WGS84.