The taxonomic status of Cossus cossus afghanistanus (Lepidoptera, Cossidae) from Afghanistan: insights from molecular and morphological data
<p>In our study we use a 658 bp fragment of the <em>COI</em> gene to analyze a taxon from Afghanistan usually treated in literature as <em>Cossus cossus afghanistanus </em>(Daniel, 1953)<em>.</em> The previous conclusions on taxonomy and nomenclature were not supported by molecular data therefore the question of identity of this taxon has remained unverified. Phylogenetic analysis revealed <em>C. c. afghanistanus </em>to be strongly differentiated from nominotypical <em>Cossus cossus</em> (Linnaeus, 1758) (p-distance: 6.7% ± 1.5%). <em>Cossus c. afghanistanus </em>forms a distinct well-supported clade in ML and BI trees. This fact, together with prominent morphological differences (wing color and genitalia structure) shows that <em>C. c. afghanistanus </em>represent a separate species rather than a subspecies of <em>Cossus cossus</em>.</p>