Adhemarius eurysthenes (Felder, 1874) (Lepidoptera, Sphingidae) in the Atlantic Rain Forest: A phylogeographic perspective

The Brazilian Atlantic Rain Forest biome has been strongly impacted by human action and by various factors related to economic development. The hawkmoth Adhemarius eurysthenes (Sphingidae, Smerinthinae, Ambulycini) is endemic to the southern portion of this biome, with most of its existing populations within Brazil. Using CAD, wingless, and the barcode region of the mitochondrial COI gene, populations of A. eurysthenes were analyzed phylogeographically to obtain information on their genetic structure and variability, and to explain their spatial distribution. We obtained 14 COI haplotypes of 109 individuals from 10 localities. The population in the state of Espirito Santo, southeastern Brazil, showed the highest average genetic distance in relation to other populations. A test of molecular variance using the spatial component (SAMOVA) separated the samples into two groups; again, Espirito Santo was the divergent site. We found no significant correlation between genetic and geographic distances, but did find a tendency toward genetic isolation near the northern limit of the range of A. eurysthenes. We discuss the implementation of the observed patterns for other taxa, in an attempt to support studies on the conservation of Ambulycini in the Atlantic Rain Forest. Espirito Santo proved to be a locality of particular importance for conservation of the endemic Ambulycini in this biome.