title: A new genus and species of leaf-mining moth from the French Alps, Mercantouria neli gen. n., sp. n. (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae).
abstract: The Alps are a hotspot of biodiversity in Europe with many Lepidoptera species still to be discovered. Here we describe a new gracillariid genus and species, Mercantouria neli gen. n. and sp. n. The morphology of the male genitalia is highly differentiated with unique features. DNA barcodes show that its nearest neighbor is the North American species 'Caloptilia' scutellariella (Braun, 1923). Mercantouria neli is known from four adults (two males and two females) collected at two localities in the French Alps. Its host plant and life cycle remain unknown.
authors.affiliation: Tiroler Landesmuseen Betriebsgesellschaft m.b.H., Naturwissenschaftliche Sammlungen, Feldstr. 11 a, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Huemer
authors.affiliation: INRA, UR0633 Zoologie Forestière, F-45075 Orléans, France; Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l'Insecte, CNRS UMR 7261, Université François-Rabelais de Tours, UFR Sciences et Techniques, 37200 Tours, France.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lopez-Vaamonde
authors.affiliation: Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, Lungadige Porta Vittoria 9, I-37129 Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Triberti
keywords: Alps; COI; DNA barcoding; Gracillaria group; histone 3; new genus; new species