The evolutionary position of Lestoniidae revealed by molecular autapomorphies in the secondary structure of rRNA besides phylogenetic reconstruction (Insecta: Hemiptera: Heteroptera)

Abstract

Pentatomoidea (stink bugs and their relatives) is the third largest superfamily in Heteroptera, or the true bugs. The phylogenetic relationships among the families within Pentatomoidea remain controversial. The family Lestoniidae is morphologically highly specialized, currently including only two species endemic to Australia. Previous researchers have suggested a close relationship of Lestoniidae to either Plataspidae or Acanthosomatidae, based on morphological characters. In this study, phylogenetic tree reconstruction revealed that Lestoniidae and Acanthosomatidae form a monophyletic clade. In addition, in comparisons of the secondary structures of 18S and 28S rRNAs representing 15 families of Pentatomoidea, four length-variable regions in 18S and 28S rRNAs that can serve as autapomorphies for the clade Lestoniidae + Acanthosomatidae were recognized. Among them, E in 18S rRNA and D3-1 and D5-1 in 28S rRNA are unique in length in Lestoniidae and Acanthosomatidae. Based on the new molecular evidence and morphological evidence published by previous authors, Lestoniidae is suggested to be a highly specialized group derived from a common ancestor with Acanthosomatidae.

Phylogeny and the colourful history of jewel bugs (Insecta: Hemiptera: Scutelleridae)

“…The problem of the monophyly of Scutelleridae has already been touched upon tangentially by two molecular phylogenetic studies (Grazia et al., ; Wu et al., ). Grazia et al.…”

“…Three to eight subfamilies have been recognized within the family by different authors (Gross, ; Carayon, ; McDonald and Cassis, ; Schuh and Slater, ; Fischer, ; Cassis and Gross, ; Cassis and Vanags, ; Göllner‐Scheiding, ; Carapezza, ; Tsai et al., ), but there is no consensus among the authors due to the uncertain relationships among the subfamilies. Although a few scutellerids were included in different cladistic analyses of Pentatomoidea based on morphological characters (Gapud, ; Fischer, ), morphological and molecular data (Grazia et al., ), or molecular data (Wu et al., ), a phylogenetic analysis with a complete taxon sampling is still absent. The following details are particularly controversial: the rank and status of Elvisurinae and Scutellerinae (sister groups or Elvisurinae nested within Scutellerinae) (Tsai et al., ; Czaja, ); the phylogenetic position of the recently proposed Hoteinae (Carapezza, ); the monophyly of the diverse and heterogenous Pachycorinae comprising about one‐third of the total described species of the family; the rank and status of Eurygastrinae, Odontoscelinae and Odontotarsinae, three morphologically similar groups; and the phylogenetic position of Tectocorinae, a monotypic subfamily of controversial affinities (McDonald and Cassis, ; Fischer, ; Cassis and Vanags, ; Tsai et al., ).…”

Total evidence phylogenetic analysis and reclassification of Euschistus Dallas within Carpocorini (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae: Pentatominae)

“…Menard et al ., ; Forero & Weirauch, ). However, the high degree of morphological specializations observed in some true bugs, and character convergence between taxa, may negatively impact the reconstruction of phylogenetic hypotheses based on morphology alone (Wu et al ., ). Modern approaches combining morphological and molecular data have been able, in some cases, to overcome these confounding factors (Abrams et al ., ).…”

“…While molecular phylogenies are becoming more common for analyses at the family‐level and above (e.g. Wu et al ., ; Zhang et al ., ), phylogenetic analyses for genus‐ or tribal‐level taxa are usually still generated using only morphological data (e.g. Garbelotto et al ., ; Namyatova & Cassis, ), yet phylogenies using combined datasets have been published (e.g.…”

“…Gapud, ; Henry, ), molecular (e.g. Li et al ., ; Wu et al ., ), or combined morphological and molecular data (Grazia et al ., ), resulting in different hypotheses. Phylogenetic hypotheses for subordinate groups within Pentatomidae are scarce (Grazia et al ., ), and there is no generally accepted phylogenetic framework relationships of the nine subfamilies ( sensu Rider, ).…”