Integrating Morphological, Molecular, and Climatic Evidence to Distinguish Two Cryptic Rice Leaf Folder Species and Assess Their Potential Distributions.

ABSTRACT: The larvae and damage symptoms of Cnaphalocrocis medinalis and Cnaphalocrocis patnalis exhibit a high degree of similarity, which often leads to confusion between the two species. This has posed challenges for research on their population dynamics and the development of effective control measures. To better understand their morphological and damage characteristics, population dynamics, species identification based on COI gene fragments, and potential future distribution, a searchlight trap monitoring program was conducted for C. medinalis and its closely related species C. patnalis across four sites in Longhua, Haitang, and Yazhou districts in Hainan Province from 2021 to 2023. The MaxEnt model was utilized to predict the potential global distribution of

SUBMITTER: Gao Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12842515 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature