Morphology agrees with molecular data: phylogenetic affinities of Euptychiina butterflies (Nymphalidae: Satyrinae)

Abstract

Euptychiina is the most species-rich subtribe of Neotropical Satyrinae, with over 450 known species in 47 genera (14 monotypic). Here, we use morphological characters to examine the phylogenetic relationships within Euptychiina. Taxonomic sampling included 105 species representing the majority of the genera, as well as five outgroups. A total of 103 characters were obtained: 45 from wing pattern, 48 from genitalia and 10 from wing venation. The data matrix was analysed using maximum parsimony under both equal and extended implied weights. Euptychiina was recovered as monophyletic with ten monophyletic genera, contrasting previous DNA sequence-based phylogenies that did not recover the monophyly of the group. In agreement with sequence-based hypotheses, however, three main clades were recognized: the 'Megisto clade' with six monophyletic and three polyphyletic genera, the 'Taygetis clade' with nine genera of which three were monophyletic, and the 'Pareuptyhia clade' with four monophyletic and two polyphyletic genera. This is the first morphology-based phylogenetic hypothesis for Euptychiina and the results will be used to complement molecular data in a combined analysis and to provide critical synapomorphies for clades and genera in this taxonomically confused group.

Morphological phylogeny of Megachilini and the evolution of leaf-cutter behavior in bees (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)

“…We chose to conduct the IW analysis because studies have proven its effectiveness in recovering topologies congruent with those of total evidence phylogenies (e.g., Reemer, 2012), sometimes outperforming other methods (e.g., Goloboff et al, 2018). This weighting approach is also frequently used in the analysis of morphological datasets along with EW (e.g., Kim & Ahn 2016;Marín et al, 2017;Rocha Filho & Packer, 2017).…”

Peer Review #1 of "Phylogeny of Libellulidae (Odonata: Anisoptera): comparison of molecular and morphology-based phylogenies based on wing morphology and migration (v0.1)"

“…A large number of studies have shown that the morphology-based interspecific relationship is basically consistent with the interspecific relationship established by molecular data when the morphological characteristics are selected judiciously (Grzywacz et al 2017;Noguerales, Cordero & Ortego, 2018). Marín et al (2017) showed that the interspecific relationship of Nymphalidae based on wing shape and wing vein was consistent with that based on molecular data. It indicated the existence of phylogenetic information in the insect wing morphology.…”

Evolution of leaf-cutter behavior in bees (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) as inferred from total-evidence tip-dating analyses

“…We chose to conduct the IW analysis because studies have proven its effectiveness in recovering topologies congruent with those of total evidence phylogenies (e.g., Reemer and Ståhls, 2012), sometimes outperforming other methods (e.g., Goloboff et al, 2017). This weighting approach is also frequently used in the analysis of morphological datasets along with EW (e.g., Kim and Ahn 2016;Marín et al, 2017;Rocha Filho and Packer, 2017).…”