DNA barcoding unravels three new species and a subspecies of Olepa Watson, 1980 (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae) from India, with morphotypes

The genus Olepa is distributed in Palearctic and Oriental regions with more species in India and Sri Lanka. In the recent studies, morphological variations within the group were well established, with couple of first set of mt COI DNA barcodes for at least three species. In the present account, three new species and a new subspecies are described from the northern Western Ghats region of Maharashtra based on mt COI DNA barcode studies. Due to high morphological divergence and complete genetic homogeneity on the mt COI DNA, four morphotypes under two species are reported. Morphological and genital characters of male and female are provided along with their respective species morphotypes for the first time under this genus from India. The genitalia and the habitus of male and female are illustrated. Preliminary phylogenetic tree based on the mt COI DNA sequences available in the GenBank for the genus with the sequences for the new species also provided and discussed.