Palaclemensia is a genus within the family Incurvariidae, and it has been reported to be a monophagous or narrow oligophagous genus, like other incurvariids, except for two polyphagous species, Paraclemensia incerta and P. acerifoliella. Paraclemensia incerta is one of the common species in Japan and Korea, and seven host plant families are recognized. However, these host records aren’t based on DNA analysis or detailed morphological comparison. Therefore, it was hypothesized that there is genetic differentiation among host races in P. incerta. To investigate this hypothesis, DNA analysis and morphological comparison were performed on Paraclemensia species collected from Japan. As a result, genetic divergence among populations feeding different host plants was not confirmed. Moreover, not only P. incerta but also P. caerulea were suggested to be polyphagous. In contrast, geographic genetic divergence in P. incerta and P. caerulea was observed in Japan. Additionally, it is suggested that P. viridis, P. oligospina, and P. cyanea, despite external morphological differences, could be the same species.

• Hyeong-Kyu Kim(Entomological Laboratory, Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Kyushu University, Japan, Technology Department, TEISO TOYOKA Co., Ltd, Japan) Corresponding author
• Sadahisa Yagi(Entomological Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Japan)
• Toshiya Hirowatari(Entomological Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Japan)