Biogeography of a disjunct population of Hemileuca peigleri (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) in the coastal bend of Texas

Abstract

DNA barcoding and genitalia morphology are used to confirm the identity of an isolated population of Hemileuca in Calhoun County, Texas. Evidence from mitochondrial DNA, genitalia dissection, and morphological evidence supports a species determination of Hemileuca peigleri Lemaire, 1981 despite isolation of the population by host plant and apparent geographic distance from the only other known populations on the Edwards plateau of Texas.