A Taxonomic Overview of the Apodemia mormo Complex from a Genomic Perspective

Authors

Jing Zhang, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Qian Cong, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Jinhui Shen, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at DallasFollow
Leina Song, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterFollow
Nick V. Grishin, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterFollow

Date of this Version

2-11-2026

Document Type

Journal Issue

Citation

The Taxonomic Report (February 11, 2026) 13(3): 1-60

Comments

Copyright 2026, International Lepidoptera Survey. Open access

License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-SA-NC 4.0 International)

Abstract

Genomic analysis of the Apodemia mormo group (Riodinidae Grote, 1895 (1827)) specimens across the range from southwestern Canada through much of the western USA and northwestern Mexico, complemented by phenotypic examination and photographs of live individuals to inspect eye color, partitions the complex into eight species, one of which is proposed as new: Apodemia (Apodemia) apache Grishin, sp. n. (type locality in USA: Arizona, Apache Co.), and three elevated from subspecies of A. mejicanus: Apodemia (Apodemia) maxima (Weeks, 1891), stat. rest., Apodemia (Apodemia) deserti W. Barnes & McDunnough, 1918, stat. nov., and Apodemia (Apodemia) pueblo J. Scott, 1998, stat. nov., in addition to four others confirmed as species-level taxa: Apodemia (Apodemia) virgulti (Behr, 1865), Apodemia (Apodemia) mormo (C. Felder & R. Felder, 1859), Apodemia (Apodemia) duryi (W. H. Edwards, 1882), and Apodemia (Apodemia) mejicanus (Behr, 1865). Geographic variation, both genetic and phenotypic, is interpreted as subspecies, 12 of which are described as new (type localities are listed in parentheses): Apodemia (Apodemia) maxima bajanor Grishin, ssp. n. (Mexico: BC, San Quintín Mpio.), Apodemia (Apodemia) mormo nordesta Grishin, ssp. n. (Canada: SK, vic. Val Marie), Apodemia (Apodemia) mormo centralis Grishin, ssp. n. (USA: UT, San Juan Co.), Apodemia (Apodemia) mormo sudesta Grishin, ssp. n. (USA: CO, Costilla Co.), Apodemia (Apodemia) mormo confusa Grishin, ssp. n. (USA: AZ, Coconino Co.), Apodemia (Apodemia) mormo arizatra Grishin, ssp. n. (USA: AZ, Cochise Co.), Apodemia (Apodemia) deserti keni Grishin, ssp. n. (USA: CA, Kern Co.), Apodemia (Apodemia) deserti megawhy Grishin, ssp. n. (USA: AZ, Pima Co.), Apodemia (Apodemia) apache rufa Grishin, ssp. n. (USA: AZ, Cochise Co., Huachuca Mts.), Apodemia (Apodemia) apache riftoria Grishin, ssp. n. (USA: NM, Sandoval Co., Sandia Mts.), Apodemia (Apodemia) apache texana Grishin, ssp. n. (USA: TX, Brewster Co., Del Norte Mts.), and Apodemia (Apodemia) pueblo mescalero Grishin, ssp. n. (USA: NM, Lincoln Co., Sacramento Mts.). Populations from the Coastal Ranges in Southern California are identified as Apodemia (Apodemia) mormo arenaria J. Emmel, T. Emmel & Pratt, 1998, which we treat as a subspecies of A. mormo, distinct from and possibly sympatric with A. virgulti in that area. Apodemia (Apodemia) mormo langei J. A. Comstock, 1939 is found to occupy a broad range in central coastal California (Contra Costa to Kern Cos.), with the federally endangered “species” restricted to the population at and around the type locality. A neotype is designated for Nemeobius mejicanus Behr, 1865 (Mexico: Sonora, Guaymas Mpio.) and a lectotype is designated for Apodemia mormo deserti W. Barnes & McDunnough, 1918 (USA: California, San Diego Co.).