Phylogeny of the subfamilyLarentiinae (Lepidoptera:Geometridae): integrating molecular data and traditional classifications

Abstract

Larentiinae are the second largest subfamily of Geometridae, with more than 6200 described species. Despite recent advances in molecular systematics of geometrid moths, phylogenetic relationships between the numerous subgroups of Larentiinae are poorly known. In this study we present the most comprehensive attempt to date to resolve the phylogeny of Larentiinae, having sampled at least one species from all currently recognized 23 tribes. Fragments of one mitochondrial (COI) and eight nuclear (EF‐1α, WGL, GAPDH, RPS5, IDH, MDH, CAD and 28S) genes were sequenced, for a total of 6939 bp. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses resulted in identical well‐resolved phylogenetic trees, which had maximum or near‐maximum support values at most nodes. Almost all conventionally recognized tribes represented by more than one genus were found to be monophyletic. Close to the root of Larentiinae, six tribes branch off the main lineage one after another, with Dyspteridini being sister to all other members of the subfamily. The rest of larentiines are divided into two very diverse lineages, comprising eight and at least ten tribes, respectively. There were just three findings incongruent with the conventional tribal subdivision of the subfamily. First, the genera Collix Guenée and Anticollix Prout formed a separate, previously unrecognized but well‐supported clade at the tribe level. Second, the Palaearctic genus Pelurga Hübner was placed apart from Larentia Treitschke and Mesoleuca Hübner, which were the other members of Larentiini in this analysis. Third, Cataclysmini appeared together with genera belonging to Xanthorhoini, leaving the latter paraphyletic. The Neotropic genus Oligopleura Herrich‐Schäffer is shown to belong to the tribe Euphyiini (comb.n.) according to both molecular data and male genital morphology. The results and the tribal classification of Larentiinae are discussed with reference to the principal publications since the end of the 19th Century. We conclude that the current tribal classification of Larentiinae is not controversial from the phylogenetic point of view and that its increasing complexity has merely reflected the accumulation of information, mainly through different methods of biosystematic study having become available for researchers. Our results indicate that diurnal lifestyle, accompanied by conspicuous coloration, has evolved independently in several subgroups of Larentiinae.

The wing pattern of Hydriomena Hübner, [1825] (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Larentiinae) lacks a predictable relationship with venation

“…Lastly, nine specimens of H. costipunctata were examined. The phylogenetic relationship between H. costipunctata and the H. speciosata group has not been examined (Õunap et al, ; Sihvonen et al, ), but because H. costipunctata has been assigned to Hydriomena Group II (Pohl et al, ), it appears that H. costipunctata does not fall within the sister group to the H. speciosata group.…”

Revision of the genus Callipia Guenée, 1858 (Lepidoptera, Geometridae), with the description of 15 new taxa

“…Larentiinae was also confirmed by recent molecular phylogenetic analyses (Sihvonen et al 2011;Õunap et al 2016). The tribe Stamnodini (as represented by Callipia) is sister to the tribe Erateini Guenée, 1858 (as Erateinidae) (as represented by 'Trocherateina' cachara) (Sihvonen et al 2011;Viidalepp 2011).…”

Six New Species of Athaumasta Hampson, 1906 (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Bryophilinae) From the Mountains of Kazakhstan, Russian Altai and Mongolia

“…Most COI 5' barcode sequences were obtained through sequencing at the Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences (University of Tartu, Estonia) using standard methods (described by Õunap et al 2016;Saldaitis et al 2018). Some other COI 5' barcodes were obtained through sequencing at the Canadian Centre for DNA Barcoding (CCDB, Guelph) ( Table 1).…”