taxonID	type	description	language	source
03D4DF29217AFF848CD9FBB38C1A9E4B.taxon	description	(Figs 5 – 8, 17 – 23, 26 – 27, 30 – 31)	en	Sohn, Jae-Cheon, Tzuoo, Han-Rong, Cho, Soowon (2024): Two in one: DNA taxonomy of Acronicta major complex (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) reveals previous misidentifications and faunal connection in East Asia. Ecologica Montenegrina 79: 76-86, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.79.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.79.7
03D4DF29217AFF848CD9FBB38C1A9E4B.taxon	description	Redescription. Habitus (Figs 5 – 8). Head: Vertex and frons brownish gray, densely intermixed with white scales. Antenna 2 / 3 as long as forewing; scape white, densely intermixed with brownish gray scales dorsally, tinged with dark brown distally; flagellomeres white, intermixed with pale brownish gray scales dorsally. Labial palpus with 1 st segment dark grayish brown dorsally, white ventrally; 2 nd segment 2 x longer than 1 st, dark grayish brown, densely intermixed with white scales ventrobasally and dorsodistally; 3 rd segment 1 / 2 as long as 1 st, white, speckled with dark grayish brown. Thorax: Patagium, tegula and mesonotum pale purplish gray, densely speckled with pale gray. Forewing 23 – 29 mm (average 25.57 mm, n = 10) pale purplish gray, densely speckled with pale gray; two antemedian lines zigzagged; median line oblique, incomplete in posterior 3 / 4, connected with orbicular spot; two postmedian lines sinuous, diverged near costa; reniform spot with grayish brown shade outward; subterminal line serrate along veins, accompanying with grayish brown shades outward; terminal bars present between veins; cilia white, intermixed with brownish gray scales. Hindwing pale yellowish gray, tinged with brownish gray along veins; postmedian line sinuous in posterior 1 / 3, dark brownish gray; terminal shade broad, dark brownish gray; cilia pale yellowish gray, intermixed with brownish gray scales. Fore- and midleg with coxa white, intermixed with pale grayish brown scales; femur white, intermixed with grayish brown, tinged with black distally; tibia white, densely intermixed with dark brownish gray scales; tarsomere dark brownish gray, sparsely intermixed with white scales, with white ring distally. Hindleg with coxa white, sparsely intermixed with pale brownish gray scales; femur and tibia white, densely intermixed with pale brownish gray scales, tinged with dark brownish gray distally; tarsomere dark brownish gray, sparsely intermixed with white scales, with white ring distally. Abdomen with terga gray, intermixed with pale yellowish gray and dark grayish brown scales; sterna pale grayish yellow, sparsely intermixed with grayish brown scales, tinged with dark grayish brown on basal area of each segment. Male genitalia (Figs 26 – 27). Uncus elongate, rather broad, curved at distal 1 / 3, with spiniform apex, setose dorsally. Tegumen subpentagonal, hairy lateromedially. Valva narrow-obovate, setose on distal half; costa slightly concave at basal 1 / 3 and distal 1 / 3, with broad rim on basal half; harpe large, spiniform, slightly curved inward, accompanying with oblique fold; basal bulge broadly round, as long as sacculus; saccular margin slightly bulged at distal 1 / 4, with sacculus on basal 2 / 5. Juxta tongueshaped, with rhomboidal sclerite basally. Vinculum small, V-shaped. Phallus (Figs 26 a, 27 a) short, stout; proximal part of vesical broad, with globular ventral diverticulum; dorsal diverticulum tubular, gradually narrowed distally, with elongate cornutal zone comprising numerous spines. Female genitalia (Figs 30 – 31). Papilla analis subrectangular, setose. Apophysis posterioris as long as apophysis anterioris. Ostium bursae moderate in size, with broadly-emarginated surrounding areas. Ductus bursae narrowed to corpus bursae, longitudinally rugose. Corpus bursae long-obovate, slightly constricted at posterior 2 / 5, longitudinally rugose, with conical diverticulum near junction with ductus bursae; cervical area slightly protruding, broadly round.	en	Sohn, Jae-Cheon, Tzuoo, Han-Rong, Cho, Soowon (2024): Two in one: DNA taxonomy of Acronicta major complex (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) reveals previous misidentifications and faunal connection in East Asia. Ecologica Montenegrina 79: 76-86, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.79.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.79.7
03D4DF29217AFF848CD9FBB38C1A9E4B.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. KOREA [Gangwon] 1 ♂, Chuncheon-si, 21 viii 1992, GJUE; 1 ♂, Chuncheon-si, Bongmyeong-ri, 29 vii 2002 (HL Han), GJUE; 1 ♀, Chuncheon-si, Jiam-ri, 6 vi 2002 (HW Lee & AR Kim), GJUE; 1 ♂, Gangreung-si, Sogeumgang, 8 viii 1988, GJUE; 1 ♂, Gangreung-si, Yeongok-myeon, Odaesan Resting Place (N 37 ° 49 ′ 58.4 ″ E 128 ° 39 ′ 02.7 ″, alt. 283 m), 4 viii 2004 (SW Cho, JC Sohn & HJ Park), CBNU. [Gyonggi] 1 ♂, Gapyeong-gun, 8 vii 2002 (HL Han), GJUE; 1 ♂, Gapyeong-gun, Mt. Myeongjisan, 28 vii 1992, GJUE. [Chungbug] 1 ♂, Boeun-gun, Mt. Sogrisan, Mansu Valley, 26 vii 2002 (MA Kim), [GSN] SJC- 216, [COI] JCS-COI-D 312, GJUE; 1 ♂, Jecheon-si, Hansu-myeon, Songgye-li, Mt. Weolagsan (N 35 ° 51 ′ 56.0 ″ E 128 ° 05 ′ 20.0 ″, alt. 222 m), 18 vi 2004 (S Cho, S Nam & Y Han), [COI] JCS-COI-D 311, CBNU. [Chungnam] 1 ♂, Dangjin-si, Myeoncheonmyeon, Mt. Amisan (N 36 ° 50 ′ 23.59 ″ E 126 ° 40 ′ 04.21 ″, alt. 215 m), 4 viii 2022 (JC Sohn), GJUE; 1 ♂, Gongju-si, Gyeryong-myeon, Guwang-ri, Mt. Gyeryongsan, Gapsa branch of National Park Service (N 36 ° 22 ′ 03.95 ″ E 127 ° 10 ′ 58.58 ″, alt. 137 m), 21 vi 2023 (JC Sohn), GJUE. [Jeonbug] 1 ♂, Muju, 12 viii 1975 (JY Shim), [GSN] SJC- 757, GJUE. 1 ♂, Mt. Jirisan, 12 - 13 vii 2002 (HL Han & CH Kim), [COI] JCS- 0002, GJUE. [Gyongnam] 2 ♀, Geoje-si, Is. Geojedo, Dongbu-myeon, Mt. Nojasan (N 34 ° 47 ′ 47.3 ″ E 128 ° 36 ′ 50.8 ″), 30 vii 2017 (JC Sohn), [COI] JCS- 0026, GJUE; 1 ♂, Geoje-si, Jangmog-myeon, Jangmog-ri, Jangmunpo Waeseong (N 34 ° 59 ′ 30.8 ″ E 128 ° 40 ′ 25.2 ″), 23 viii 2004 (SW Cho, JC Sohn & SC Nam), CBNU; 1 ♀, Geoje-si, Is. Geojedo, Jangmog-myeon, Sangpo-ri, Mt. Daegeumsan (N 34 ° 56 ′ 38.3 ″ E 128 ° 42 ′ 46.6 ″), 29 vii 2017, NIBR. TAIWAN [Nantou] 1 ♂, Huisun Forest Area, 15 km N Puli (alt. 500 m), 12 – 13 iv 1997 (Csorba & Ronkay), [GSN] SJC- 704, HMNH; 1 ♀, Lushan, ca. 30 km E Wushe (alt. 1,000 m), 27 – 31 v 1980, [GSN] SJC- 731, GJUE; 2 ♂, Yuniong Bridge (alt. 1,120 m), 4 vi 2019 (LC Shih), JCS-COI 17 - 138 & 139, NMNS. [Taichung] 1 ♂, Taichung City, Low Altitude Experimental Station (alt. 1,000 m), 21 ix 2018 (CQ Chen), NMNS.	en	Sohn, Jae-Cheon, Tzuoo, Han-Rong, Cho, Soowon (2024): Two in one: DNA taxonomy of Acronicta major complex (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) reveals previous misidentifications and faunal connection in East Asia. Ecologica Montenegrina 79: 76-86, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.79.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.79.7
03D4DF29217AFF848CD9FBB38C1A9E4B.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Korea, China (Sichuan), Taiwan.	en	Sohn, Jae-Cheon, Tzuoo, Han-Rong, Cho, Soowon (2024): Two in one: DNA taxonomy of Acronicta major complex (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) reveals previous misidentifications and faunal connection in East Asia. Ecologica Montenegrina 79: 76-86, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.79.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.79.7
03D4DF29217AFF848CD9FBB38C1A9E4B.taxon	biology_ecology	Host plants. Moraceae – Morus indica L. (https: // twmoth. tbri. gov. tw)	en	Sohn, Jae-Cheon, Tzuoo, Han-Rong, Cho, Soowon (2024): Two in one: DNA taxonomy of Acronicta major complex (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) reveals previous misidentifications and faunal connection in East Asia. Ecologica Montenegrina 79: 76-86, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.79.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.79.7
03D4DF29217AFF848CD9FBB38C1A9E4B.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Strand (1916) described an aberration of Acronicta major, ab. anaedinella from Mt. Emei-shan (= Omei-shan auct) of southern China. The first author (JCS) examined the aberrant specimen in the NHMUK collection (Fig. 8) and found that its external appearance better fits to Acronicta gigasa. He could not dissect the specimen but the sympatric one from the USNM collection, instead. The latter specimen turned out to be A. gigasa, indicating its occurrence in southern China. The name anaedinella is infrasubspecific and thus unavailable because its priority over gigasa by Chang (1991) is declined according to the ICZN article 45.5.1 (Ride et al. 2000).	en	Sohn, Jae-Cheon, Tzuoo, Han-Rong, Cho, Soowon (2024): Two in one: DNA taxonomy of Acronicta major complex (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) reveals previous misidentifications and faunal connection in East Asia. Ecologica Montenegrina 79: 76-86, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.79.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.79.7
03D4DF29217DFF8B8CD9F8EA8B619EDE.taxon	description	(Figs 1 – 4, 9 – 16, 24 – 25, 28 – 29)	en	Sohn, Jae-Cheon, Tzuoo, Han-Rong, Cho, Soowon (2024): Two in one: DNA taxonomy of Acronicta major complex (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) reveals previous misidentifications and faunal connection in East Asia. Ecologica Montenegrina 79: 76-86, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.79.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.79.7
03D4DF29217DFF8B8CD9F8EA8B619EDE.taxon	description	Acronicta major ssp. atritaigena Dubatolov & Zolotarenko, [1996]: 34, fig. 1 b. Type locality: Russia, South Siberia, Altai. Redescription. This species is very similar to the former species on overall features but they can be distinguished from each other in the external and genital features as shown in Table 2.	en	Sohn, Jae-Cheon, Tzuoo, Han-Rong, Cho, Soowon (2024): Two in one: DNA taxonomy of Acronicta major complex (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) reveals previous misidentifications and faunal connection in East Asia. Ecologica Montenegrina 79: 76-86, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.79.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.79.7
03D4DF29217DFF8B8CD9F8EA8B619EDE.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. KOREA [Gangwon] 1 ♀, Gangreung-si, Yeongok-myeon, Odaesan Resting Place (N 37 ° 49 ′ 58.4 ″ E 128 ° 39 ′ 02.7 ″, alt. 283 m), 4 viii 2004 (SW Cho, JC Sohn & HJ Park), CBNU; 1 ♂, Korea, Gangwon Prov., Taebaeg-si, Hwabangjae (N 37 ° 06 ′ 52 ″ E 128 ° 54 ′ 41 ″, alt. 953 m), 30 vii 2002 (DP Lyu, HJ Park & SC Nam), CBNU. [Seoul] 2 ♂, Seoul-si, Seongbug-gu, Korea University (in campus), 19 v 1961 (YB Yoo), GJUE; 1 ♂, ditto, 27 v 1961 (YB Yoo), GJUE. [Gyonggi] 1 ♂, Cheongpyeong, 13 viii 1972 (SM Lee), GJUE; 1 ♂, Hwanseong-si, Gijeon-ri, 15 vi 1996 (JC Yun), GJUE; 1 ♂, Pyeongteg, 9 vi 1974, GJUE; 1 ♂, Suwon, 9 vi 1976 (JC Paik), GJUE; 1 ♂, ditto, 23 vi 1976 (JC Paik), GJUE; 1 ♀, Yeoncheon, 10 ix 1991, GJUE. [Chungbug] 1 ♂, Goesan, 11 – 15 ix 1991, GJUE; 1 ♂, Jecheon-si, Hansu-myeon, Songgye-li, Mt. Weolagsan (N 35 ° 51 ′ 56.0 ″ E 128 ° 05 ′ 20.0 ″, alt. 222 m), 18 vi 2004 (S Cho, S Nam & Y Han), CBNU. [Chungnam] 1 ♂ 2 ♀, Gongju-si, Mt. Gyeryongsan, Templ. Donghagsa, 28 vii 1979, GJUE; 1 ♀, Gongju-si, Mt. Gyeryongsan, Templ. Gapsa, 29 vii 1979, [GSN] SJC- 705, GJUE. [Jeonbug] 1 ♂, Muju-gun, Mupung-myeon, Samgeo-ri (N 35 ° 52 ′ 02.0 ″ E 127 ° 49 ′ 42.2 ″, alt. 933 m), 27 vii 2003 (SW Cho, SC Nam & DB Kwon), CBNU. [Jeonnam] 3 ♂ 1 ♀, Gulye-gun, Sandong-myeon, Mt. Jirisan, Nogodan Cabin (N 35 ° 17 ′ 35.4 ″ E 127 ° 31 ′ 41.1 ″, alt. 1,344 m), 20 vii 2004 (S Cho, JC Sohn & HJ Park), [GSN] SJC- 752 (♂), [DNA] JCS-COI-D- 314, CBNU; 1 ♂, Suncheon-si, Mt. Chogyesan, 2 viii 1994 (SB Ahn), [GSN] SJC- 756, GJUE. [Gyeongbug] 2 ♂, Ulleung-gun, Is. Ulleungdo, Ulleung-eup, Jeodong-ri, Naesujeon trail (N 37 ° 31 ′ 01.0 ″ E 130 ° 54 ′ 18.6 ″, alt. 340 m), 28 v 2017, JCS-COI 17 - 010, CBNU; 1 ♀, Yeongdeok, 26 – 30 ix 1991, GJUE. [Gyeongnam] 1 ♂, Geoje-si, Jangmog-myeon, Jangmog-ri, Jangmunpo Waeseong (N 34 ° 59 ′ 30.8 ″ E 128 ° 40 ′ 25.2 ″), 23 viii 2004 (SW Cho, JC Sohn & SC Nam), CBNU; 1 ♂, Haman-gun, Chilgog-myeon, 6 ix 2002 (JK Kim), [GSN] SJC- 237, GJUE; 1 ♂, Ulsan-si, Eonyang, Mt. Gajisan, Baenaegol (valley), 28 vi 2000 (JY Choi), NIAST. [Jeju] 3 ♂, Is. Jejudo, Seogwipo-si, Beobjeongag (N 33 ° 19 ′ 22.2 ″ E 126 ° 28 ′ 02.6 ″, alt. 895 m), 1 viii 2003 (S Cho et al.), [GSN] SJC- 754, JCS-COI 17 - 003, CBNU. CHINA [Jilin] 1 ♂, Chongshan, Mt. Changbaishan (alt. 720 m), 3 viii 2002 (Park, Han & Kim), [GSN] SJC- 762, GJUE.	en	Sohn, Jae-Cheon, Tzuoo, Han-Rong, Cho, Soowon (2024): Two in one: DNA taxonomy of Acronicta major complex (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) reveals previous misidentifications and faunal connection in East Asia. Ecologica Montenegrina 79: 76-86, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.79.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.79.7
03D4DF29217DFF8B8CD9F8EA8B619EDE.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Korea, Japan, China, Russia (Far East, South Siberia).	en	Sohn, Jae-Cheon, Tzuoo, Han-Rong, Cho, Soowon (2024): Two in one: DNA taxonomy of Acronicta major complex (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) reveals previous misidentifications and faunal connection in East Asia. Ecologica Montenegrina 79: 76-86, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.79.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.79.7
03D4DF29217DFF8B8CD9F8EA8B619EDE.taxon	biology_ecology	Host plants. Polyphagous: Fabaceae – Robinia spp.; Moraceae – Morus spp.; Rosaceae – Malus spp., Prunus spp., Pyrus spp.; Salicaceae – Salix spp.; Sapindaceae – Acer spp.; Ulmaceae – Zelkova spp. (Yamamoto & Sugi 1987; Lee & Chung 1997).	en	Sohn, Jae-Cheon, Tzuoo, Han-Rong, Cho, Soowon (2024): Two in one: DNA taxonomy of Acronicta major complex (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) reveals previous misidentifications and faunal connection in East Asia. Ecologica Montenegrina 79: 76-86, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.79.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.79.7
03D4DF29217DFF8B8CD9F8EA8B619EDE.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The specimens of A. major from two remote islands of Korea, Jejudo and Ulleungdo exhibit the paler wings than the inland ones (Figs 3 – 4). This species has been treated as a pest on cultivated mulberries (Lim et al. 2017). The status needs to be reconsidered, since the larvae of A. gigasa also feed on the plants. 2. COI divergences Our NJ tree of 13 COI barcodes against an outgroup, Acronicta rumicis showed their division into two clades, corresponding to A. major and A. gigasa (Fig. 32). The average infraspecific divergences of A. major clade and A. gigasa clade were 1.07 and 0.08 % in K 2 P and 1.13 and 0.08 % in p - distance, respectively. The average interspecific COI divergence of those two species was 6.22 % in K 2 P and 6.17 % in p - distance (Table 3). The A. major clade was divided into two subclades (“ A ” and “ B ” in Fig. 32). The subclade A exhibited 0.51 % of average COI divergence (0.52 % in p - distance) among the included individuals from two remote islands, Jejudo and Ulleungdo, Russia and an unknown locality of Korea. The subclade B comprised one individual from Mt. Jirisan of Korea and two from China and their average COI divergence was 0.43 % in K 2 P and 0.47 % in p - distance. The average COI divergence between two subclades of A. major was 2.35 % in K 2 P and 2.39 % in p - distance (Table 3). Discussion The Larger Dagger moth, Acronicta major occurs broadly in the temperate East Asia including Korea (Kononenko et al. 1998). It is considered as a common species flying in June and July across South Korea (Kim et al. 1982). The larvae occasionally cause minor damage on colonnades and trees of economic importance in the country (Lee & Chung 1997; Moon & Lee 2014; Lim et al. 2017; Ahn et al. 2022). Our study on the Korean populations of hitherto known “ A. major ” revealed that they are in fact mixed with another species, A. gigasa. This necessitates a reconsideration of their distribution and bionomics in Korea. To make the situation complicate, those two species in some localities occur sympatrically and also share mulberries as larval hosts. They exhibit clear differences in the genital features, while their superficial appearance is nearly indistinguishable. The black streak on the basal area of the forewing is narrower and shorter in A. gigasa than in A. major. These differences, however, become obscure in some specimens. Therefore, reliable identification of those two species needs examination of their genitalia. Our NJ clustering of COI barcodes included eight and five accounts of A. major and A. gigasa, respectively. The resulting tree showed the less divergence among the Korean and Taiwanese specimens of A. gigasa than those among the specimens of A. major from various localities. The local populations of A. major were divided into two subclades possibly representing subspecies. There have been two subspecies of A. major, ssp. major and atritaigena, known from Russia. The individuals of A. major from Islands Jejudo and Ulleungdo appears similar to ssp. atritaigena in the external features. On the other hand, Han & Kononenko (2010) disputed the subspecies status of atritaigena. In fact, the subspecific division of A. major needs examination of the local populations broadly sampled across East Asia. The taxonomic status of two subclades of A. major found from the present study is pending, until such examination becomes available. The trivial COI divergences between the populations of A. gigasa from Korea and Taiwan may imply their separation relatively recent. The extant biota of Taiwan originated from Asian continent or its surrounding islands (Ali 2017). In fact, the island has been periodically connected with Asian mainland through a land bridge (Qu et al. 2015). Jowers et al. (2019) proposed that the dispersal of some mammals involved in the land bridge. In such cases, the Ryukyu Islands arc system played a pivotal role, leading to the similarity in the biotas of Japan, Chinese mainland and Taiwan. A faunistic belt linking Korea, Taiwan and southern China, and excluding Japan, has gained less attention. The distribution of A. gigasa may provide an example of such belt. A bombycid, Rotunda rotundapex (Miyata & Kishida, 1990) seems another example (Wang et al. 2015). The distributional pattern can be better explained by vicariance along fragmentation processes of East Asian margins during Quaternary glacial cycling. Such geological events seem of particular interest but remain unstudied. Furthermore, an Indochinese species, A. meghala exhibits closer affinity to A. major than to A. gigasa in the genital features. The phylogenetic relationships of the East Asian members of A. major species-group may help in understanding their current distributions but such information is still on demand. Acknowledgements This work was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Biological Resources (NIBR), funded by the Ministry of Environment (MOE) of the Republic of Korea (NIBR 202203201).	en	Sohn, Jae-Cheon, Tzuoo, Han-Rong, Cho, Soowon (2024): Two in one: DNA taxonomy of Acronicta major complex (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) reveals previous misidentifications and faunal connection in East Asia. Ecologica Montenegrina 79: 76-86, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.79.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.79.7
