Investigations into the Melitaea ornata species complex in the Levant: M. telona and the newly erected species Melitaea klili Benyamini, 2021 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

Melitaea klili Benyamini, 2021 was recently described from Israel as a species closely related to M. telona Fruhstorfer, 1908, but different in phenology, ecological preferences and with an allopatric distribution. Here, based on comparative examinations of mitochondrial DNA-barcodes, male genitalia and larval behaviour under laboratory conditions, we synonymize M. klili with M. telona. The COI barcodes ofM. klili were found to be identical to those ofM. telona. Analysis of 658 bp fragment of the mitochondrial gene COI demonstrated that the minimum uncorrected p-distance between M. ornata and M. telona was 1.98%. This value is remarkably less than the 3% threshold traditionally accepted as a species boundary in DNA barcoding studies. The morphological differences between these taxa are minimal. In fact, M. ornata and M. telona represent two phylogenetic lineages, the taxonomic status of which (separate species or subspecies of the same species) is intermediate and debatable.

Automated summary

Melitaea klili Benyamini, 2021, a newly described species from Israel, was found to be closely related to M. telona Fruhstorfer, 1908, but with differences in phenology, ecological preferences and geographical distribution. Through genetic, morphological and behavioral examinations, M. klili is synonymized with M. telona as they share identical COI barcodes and have minimal morphological differences. The analysis also suggests that M. ornata and M. telona represent two lineages with an intermediate and debatable taxonomic status.