Chromosomal identification of cryptic species sharing their DNA barcodes: Polyommatus (Agrodiaetus) antidolus and P. (A.) morgani in Iran (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae)

Abstract

DNA barcoding has been suggested as a universal tool for molecular species identification; however, it cannot be applied in cases when morphologically similar species share their DNA barcodes due to the common ancestry or mitochondrial introgression. Here we analyze the karyotype of Polyommatus (Agrodiaetus) morgani (Le Cerf, 1909) from the region of its type locality in the southern Zagros Mountains in Iran, provide first chromosomal evidence for P. (A.) antidolus (Rebel, 1901) in Iran and demonstrate that these two species can be easily identified through analysis of their karyotypes whereas they share their mitochondrial barcodes.