[Article]Phylogenetic relationships of Holarctic Teleiodini (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) based on analysis of morphological and molecular data

Phylogenetic relationships of Holarctic Teleiodini (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) based on analysis of morphological and molecular data

Authors: LEE, SANGMI; BROWN, RICHARD L.1

Source: Systematic Entomology, Volume 33, Number 4, October 2008 , pp. 595-612(18)

Publisher: Blackwell Publishing

Abstract: Phylogenetic relationships of 25 genera of Holarctic Teleiodini (Gelechiidae) are postulated based on morphology and molecular characters, including CO-I, CO-II, and 28S genes. The phylogenetic analysis of the morphology matrix yielded four equal most-parsimonious trees (length 330 steps, CI = 0.36, RI = 0.55) and a strict consensus tree (length 335 steps, CI = 0.36, RI = 0.54) with one polytomy and one trichotomy. The phylogenetic analysis of the combined morphology and CO-I + CO-II + 28S matrices yielded two equally most-parsimonious trees (length 1184 steps, CI = 0.50, RI = 0.42) and a strict consensus tree (length 1187 steps, CI = 0.50, RI = 0.42) that reinforced results from the morphological analysis and resolved the one polytomy present in the morphology consensus tree. Teleiodini are defined as a monophyletic clade with a Bremer support value greater than 5 in the consensus tree based on morphological and molecular data. Twenty-three clades of genera are defined with Bremer support values provided. An analysis of larval host-plant preferences based on the consensus tree for combined data indicates derivation of feeding on woody hosts from genera feeding on herbaceous hosts and a single origin of feeding on coniferous hosts. An area cladogram indicates five independent origins of Nearctic genera from Holarctic ancestors and one origin from a Palearctic genus.

[Article]Widespread decoupling of mtDNA variation and species integrity in Grammia tiger moths

Widespread decoupling of mtDNA variation and species integrity in Grammia tiger moths (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Authors: SCHMIDT, B. CHRISTIAN; SPERLING, FELIX A. H.1

Source: Systematic Entomology, Volume 33, Number 4, October 2008 , pp. 613-634(22)

Publisher: Blackwell Publishing

Abstract: We investigate the diversity of the North American tiger moth genus Grammia Rambur (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) by comparing mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) `barcode' fragments of cytochrome oxidase I with non-molecular characters such as morphology, ecology, behaviour and distribution. Mitochondrial DNA genealogy is strikingly at odds with morpho-species taxonomy for most of the 28 sampled species, as haplotypic polyphyly not only is taxonomically widespread, but involves multiple shared haplotypes among two to four species. Morpho-ecological traits show that those species sharing haplotypes are often not closely related. Furthermore, high mtDNA divergences occur within species. Haplotypic variation is highly discordant with species taxonomy, but variation at a continental scale reveals significant geographic structuring of haplogroups, transcending morpho-species boundaries. A nested clade analysis and comparison of non-molecular with mtDNA data indicate that most discordance between mtDNA and taxonomy in Grammia is explained best by taxonomically and geographically widespread ongoing hybridization events resulting in mtDNA introgression. We hypothesize that broad areas of sympatry, interspecifically compatible genitalic structure, and species overlap in pheromone components facilitate hybridization, with disparate interspecies abundances promoting mitochondrial introgression. The molecular evolution of Grammia challenges the view that interspecific gene exchange occurs rarely and is restricted to recently diverged species. These results show the value of mtDNA in detecting cryptic hybridization, while highlighting the inherent dangers of drawing taxonomic conclusions based solely on mtDNA. Widespread decoupling of mtDNA variation and species integrity in Grammia tiger moths (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

[Article]Molecular phylogenetics of heliothine moths

Molecular phylogenetics of heliothine moths (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Heliothinae), with comments on the evolution of host range and pest status

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Authors: CHO, SOOWON; MITCHELL, ANDREW1; MITTER, CHARLES2; REGIER, JEROME3; MATTHEWS, MARCUS; ROBERTSON, RON

Source: Systematic Entomology, Volume 33, Number 4, October 2008 , pp. 581-594(14)

Abstract: The Heliothinae are a cosmopolitan subfamily of about 365 species that include some of the world's most injurious crop pests. This study re-assesses evolutionary relationships within heliothines, providing an improved phylogeny and classification to support ongoing intensive research on heliothine genomics, systematics, and biology. Our phylogeny estimate is based on two nuclear gene regions, namely elongation factor-1α (EF-1α; 1240 bp) and dopa decarboxylase (DDC; 687 bp), and on the barcoding region of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI; 708 bp), providing a total of 2635 bp. These were sequenced for 71 heliothines, representing all major genera and nearly all recognized subgenera and species groups, and for 16 outgroups representing all major lineages of trifine Noctuidae. Analysis of the combined data by maximum likelihood, unweighted parsimony and Bayesian methods gave nearly identical topologies, and the individual gene trees showed only one case of potentially strong conflict. Relationships among genera and subgenera are resolved with strong bootstrap support. The earliest-diverging lineages (c. 200 species in total) consist almost entirely of host specialists, reflecting the inferred ancestral heliothine host range under parsimony. The remaining species form a clade - the Heliothis group - that includes most of the polyphages (30% of heliothines) and all of the major pests. Many other species in the Heliothis group, however, are host specialists. Our results extend previous efforts to subdivide this large clade, and show the most notorious pest groups, the corn earworm complex (Helicoverpa) and the tobacco budworm (Heliothis virescens) group, to be closely related, joining with a small oligophagous genus in what we term the major-pest lineage. Thus, genomic/experimental results from one model pest may extrapolate well to other pest species. The frequency of evolutionary expansion and contraction in host range appears to increase dramatically at the base of the Heliothis group, in contrast to the case for earlier-diverging lineages. We ascribe this difference provisionally to differential evolutionary constraints arising from contrasting life-history syndromes. Host-specific behaviour and crypsis, coupled with low fecundity and vagility, may discourage host-range expansion in earlier-diverging lineages. By contrast, in the Heliothis group, the absence of host-specific traits, coupled with high vagility and fecundity, may more readily permit expansion or contraction of the host range in response to varying ecological pressures such as host species abundance or differential competition and predation.

Lepidoptera Larval Morphology Symposium at ESA 2008

Lepidoptera Larval Morphology Symposium at ESA 2008

LepTree is sponsoring a symposium entitled “Lepidopteran Larvae: Biology and Morphology” at the Entomological Society of America Meetings in Reno November 19 from 1-3:30 pm. Organized by John Brown, Don Davis and Susan Weller, this symposium will highlight current larval research from several lab groups in a series of four 20-25 minute talks. After the talks we will present an introduction to LepTree.net, and we will have computers available for hands-on demonstrations and guided exploration of the website. At this time LepTree developers will be able to talk with individuals and lab groups about contributing content to the growing LepTree.net resource. There will be a signup to encourage and facilitate those interested in adding species and higher level taxon descriptions, glossary entries, and character sets to the databank. Although the workshop officially ends at 3:30, the room and computers will be available until 5:00pm so those who would like to are welcome to stay on and navigate LepTree.net with us.

Symposium Schedule
1:00 PM Introductory Remarks.
1:05 PM Don Davis Morphology and biology of larval Micropterigidae and leaf-mining Lepidoptera.
1:50 PM J Brown and TM Gilligan An overview of larval morphology of "advanced" microlepidoptera...but mostly Tortricidae.
2:20 PM MA Solis Snout moth caterpillars (Lepidoptera:Pyraloidea) eat wax, feces, or just plain plants - Yikes!: What do they look like?
2:40 PM F. Vegliante The glands of lepidopteran larvae.
3:10 PM Discussion.
3:20 PM Concluding Remarks.