First Record of Dioryctria simplicella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in China: Morphology, Molecular Identification, and...

Dioryctria Zeller, 1846 (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is a significant genus whose species primarily infest coniferous trees and are predominantly distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. To date, 17 species within this genus have been recorded in China. This study reports the discovery of Dioryctria simplicella (Heinemann, 1863) in China. During field surveys in forests of Heilongjiang Province, D. simplicella was observed infesting the cones and trunks of Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica Litv. as larvae. Comprehensive morphological descriptions and diagnostic characteristics of the adult, larva, pupa, and egg stages of D. simplicella are provided herein to facilitate accurate species identification within the genus. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) DNA barcoding sequences was conducted to assess the phylogenetic position of D. simplicella within Dioryctria. These results strongly support its species identity and clarify its phylogenetic relationships with congeners. This discovery not only expands the known diversity of Lepidoptera in China but also provides new data supporting taxonomic and phylogenetic studies of the genus Dioryctria.