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- Title
A total evidence phylogeny for the processionary moths of the genus Thaumetopoea (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae: Thaumetopoeinae).
- Authors
Basso, Andrea; Negrisolo, Enrico; Zilli, Alberto; Battisti, Andrea; Cerretti, Pierfilippo
- Abstract
Processionary moths belong to a group of about 100 species well known for their social behaviour and their urticating systems. The genus Thaumetopoea s.l. includes about 15 species and has been divided into three genera ( Helianthocampa, Thaumetopoea s.s., and Traumatocampa) in the last revision, based on key morphological features of the adults and on the host plants of the larvae. We performed a total evidence approach to resolve the phylogeny of the genus Thaumetopoea s.l., analysing all valid taxa included in this group, plus a broad array of close relatives. Thaumetopoea was monophyletic and supported by several apomorphies. Further subclades corroborated by synapomorphies were identified. Our phylogeny suggests that Thaumetopoea must be regarded as a single genus. The mapping of key life history traits on the total evidence tree allowed us to sketch a plausible identikit of the Thaumetopoea ancestor and to track the evolution of the genus. The ancestor originated in the eastern Mediterranean area, and used broadleaved host plants. Subsequently, a switch to conifers occurred, just once, in a large subclade. The ancestor pupated in the soil, like several current species, but in a few taxa this trait was lost, together with the related morphological adaptations.
- Subjects
THAUMETOPOEA; INSECT phylogeny; OAK processionary moth; MOTH behavior; INSECT morphology; INSECT evolution; CLASSIFICATION of insects
- Publication
Cladistics, 2017, Vol 33, Issue 6, p557
- ISSN
0748-3007
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/cla.12181