Xiaoling Fan

Molecular phylogeny of Lymantriinae (Lepidoptera, Noctuoidea, Erebidae) inferred from eight gene regions

To understand the evolutionary history of Lymantriinae and test the present higher‐level classification, we performed the first broad‐scale molecular phylogenetic analysis of the subfamily, based on 154 exemplars representing all recognized tribes and drawn from all major biogeographical regions. We used two mitochondrial genes (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and 16S ribosomal RNA) and six nuclear genes (elongation factor‐1α, carbamoylphosphate synthase domain protein, ribosomal protein S5, cytosolic malate dehydrogenase, glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase and wingless). Data matrices (in total 5424 bp) were analysed by parsimony and model‐based evolutionary methods (maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference). Based on the results of the analyses, we present a new phylogenetic classification for Lymantriinae composed of seven well‐supported tribes, two of which are proposed here as new: Arctornithini, Leucomini, Lymantriini, Orgyiini, Nygmiini, Daplasini trib. nov. and Locharnini trib. nov. We discuss the internal structure of each of these tribes and address some of the more complex problems with the genus‐level classification, particularly within Orgyiini and Nygmiini.

Clarification of the Phylogenetic Framework of the Tribe Baorini (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae: Hesperiinae) Inferred from Multiple Gene Sequences

Members of the skipper tribe Baorini generally resemble each other and are characterized by dark brown wings with hyaline white spots. These shared characteristics have caused difficulties with revealing the relationships among genera and species in the group, and some conflicting taxonomic views remain unresolved. The present study aims to infer a more comprehensive phylogeny of the tribe using molecular data, to test the monophyly of the tribe as well as the genera it includes in order to clarify their taxonomic status, and finally to revise the current classification of the group. In order to reconstruct a phylogenetic tree, the mitochondrial COI-COII and 16S genes as well as the nuclear EF-1α and 28S genes were analyzed using parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian inference. The analysis included 67 specimens of 41 species, and we confirmed the monophyly of Baorini, and revealed that 14 genera are well supported. The genus Borbo is separated into three clades: Borbo, Pseudoborbo, and Larsenia gen. nov. We confirmed that Polytremis is polyphyletic and separated into three genera: Polytremis, Zinaida, and Zenonoida gen. nov., and also confirmed that the genus Prusiana is a member of the tribe. Relationships among some genera were strongly supported. For example, Zenonia and Zenonoida were found to be sister taxa, closely related to Zinaida and Iton, while Pelopidas and Baoris were also found to cluster together.

Systematics of the genus Zinaida Evans, 1937 (Hesperiidae: Hesperiinae: Baorini)

Traditionally, species of the genus Zinaida were assigned to the genus Polytremis, until molecular evidence revealed that the former is a distinct genus. Nine species in Polytremis sensu Evans have since been removed and assigned to Zinaida; however, there is still uncertainty as to the taxonomic status of an additional seven Polytremis species. Moreover, the interspecific relationships within Zinaida have remained unresolved. To further investigate the taxonomic statuses and interspecific relationships within Zinaida, a molecular phylogeny of most species of Zinaida and its allies was inferred based on regions of the mitochondrial COI-COII and 16S and nuclear EF-1α genes (3006 bp). The results revealed that Zinaida is monophyletic and consists of four intra-generic clades that correspond to morphological characteristics. Clade A (Z. suprema group) consists of P. kiraizana, Z. suprema, and P. gigantea, with the latter two as sister species. Clade B (Z. nascens group) consists of seven species, and is the sister group of Clade C (Z. pellucida group), which comprises sister species Z. pellucida and Z. zina. In Clade B, Z. caerulescens and Z. gotama, and Z. theca and Z. fukia are sister species, respectively. On the basis of our molecular evidence and morphological features, we have moved P. gigantea, P. kiraizana, P. jigongi, and P. micropunctata to the genus Zinaida as new combinations. We review morphological characteristics and discuss the distribution of each of these groups in the light of our phylogenetic hypothesis, and provide a comprehensive taxonomic checklist.

A preliminary molecular phylogeny of the genus Scobura, with a synonym of Scobura masutaroi (Lepidoptera, Hesperiidae)

Abstract A molecular phylogeny of the genus Scobura based on the mitochondrial COI and the nuclear EF-1α genes using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference is proposed. The analyses include 19 specimens from nine ingroup species. The monophyly of Scobura is not strongly supported, but two strongly supported monophyletic groups within the genus are recognized: the Scobura coniata group and the Scobura woolletti group. Judging from combination of the molecular evidence and morphological features, the former consists of six species, including Scobura masutaroi, while four species belong to the latter. Scobura mouchai Krajcik, 2013 is confirmed to be a syn. n. of Scobura masutaroi Sugiyama, 1996. The key to the species of the genus Scobura is modified to reflect these results.

Phylogeny, systematics and biogeography of the genus Panolis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) based on morphological and molecular evidence.

The genus Panolis is a small group of noctuid moths with six recognized species distributed from Europe to East Asia, and best known for containing the widespread Palearctic pest species P. flammea, the pine beauty moth. However, a reliable classification and robust phylogenetic framework for this group of potentially economic importance are currently lacking. Here, we use morphological and molecular data (mitochondrial genes cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and 16S ribosomal RNA, nuclear gene elongation factor-1 alpha) to reconstruct the phylogeny of this genus, with a comprehensive systematic revision of all recognized species and a new one, P. ningshan sp. nov. The analysis results of maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inferring methods for the combined morphological and molecular data sets are highly congruent, resulting in a robust phylogeny and identification of two clear species groups, i.e., the P. flammea species group and the P. exquisita species group. We also estimate the divergence times of Panolis moths using two conventional mutation rates for the arthropod mitochondrial COI gene with a comparison of two molecular clock models, as well as reconstruct their ancestral areas. Our results suggest that 1) Panolis is a young clade, originating from the Oriental region in China in the Late Miocene (6–10Mya), with an ancestral species in the P. flammea group extending northward to the Palearctic region some 3–6 Mya; 2) there is a clear possibility for a representative of the Palearctic clade to become established as an invasive species in the Nearctic taiga.

The complete mitochondrial genomes of two skipper genera (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) and their associated phylogenetic analysis

The systematic positions of two hesperiid genera, Apostictopterus and Barca (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae), remain ambiguous. We sequenced and annotated the two mitogenomes of Apostictopterus fuliginosus and Barca bicolor and inferred the phylogenetic positions of the two genera within the Hesperiidae based on the available mitogenomes. The lengths of the two circular mitogenomes of A. fuliginosus and B. bicolor are 15,417 and 15,574 base pairs (bp), respectively. These two mitogenomes show similar AT skew, GC skew, codon usage and nucleotide bias of AT: the GC skew of the two species is negative, and the AT skew of A. fuliginosus is negative, while the AT skew of B. bicolor is slightly positive. The largest intergenic spacer is located at the same position between trnQ and ND2 in A. fuliginosus (73 bp) and B. bicolor (72 bp). Thirteen protein-coding genes (PCGs) start with ATN codons except for COI, which starts with CGA. The control regions of both mitogenomes possess a long tandem repeat, which is 30 bp long in A. fuliginosus, and 18 bp in B. bicolor. Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood methods were employed to infer the phylogenetic relationships, which suggested that A. fuliginosus and B. bicolor belong in the subfamily Hesperiinae.

Establishment of a new genus for Abraximorpha heringi and A. pieridoide s (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae: Pyrginae: Tagiadini)

A new hesperiid genus, Albiphasma gen. nov., is described with Abraximorpha heringi as the type species. The new genus consists of two species: Al. heringi comb. nov. and Al. pieridoides comb. nov. The genitalia and hair tuft on the hind tibiae suggest that the new genus is related to the genus Pintara rather than the genus Abraximorpha to which the two species have been assigned. The geographic distribution is currently restricted to southern China and Vietnam. The adult, hind leg, wing venation and male genitalia of Al. heringi as well as relevant species are illustrated.

A New Record of Euproctis wilemani (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) from Hainan Island

Hainan Island, with an area of about 33920 km2 located at the northern margin of tropical Asia, (Zhang 2004), has exceptional high species richness and is considered a hotspot region for biodiversity research (Myers et al. 2000). On 11 Apr 2009, we conducted a survey of Lepidoptera in Jianfengling National Nature Reserve, south west of Hainan Island, as a part of Lepidoptera inventory initiated several years ago (Wang & Huang 2005). Two male lymantrid specimens of Nygmiini collected by light traping were con firmed as Euproctis wilemani based on the male genitalia compared with the literature. The spe cies was first described by Collenette in 1929 and previously recorded only from regions of the Ma lay Archipelago including The Philippines, Borneo, and Sumatra (Holloway 1999). We report here the occurrence of E. wilemani from Hainan Island as well as China for the first time and de scribe morphological characters. Male adult (Figs. 1 and 2): Wingspan 22 mm. Head covered with yellow scales. Antenna bipec tinate, pale yellow. Labial palpus short, upturned, thickened with somewhat rough yellow scales. Thorax and tegula yellow. Forewing evenly yel low, fringe white; venation with R2 branching off more distally than R5, R5 stalked with R2+3+4, M1 arising from upper angle of distal cell, M3 from under angle of distal cell, M2, M3 and CuAx iso lated. Hindwing yellowish white, fringe white; ve nation with Rs and Ml stalked at basal 1/3, M2 and M3+CuA1 arising from under angle of distal cell, M3 stalked with CuAj at 1/5 basally. Abdomen dark yellow. Male genitalia (Fig. 3): Uncus bifid at base. Valves square, cucullus slightly convex medially. Saccus strong, V-shaped. Juxta deeply convex on anterior margin at middle. Aedeagus wide, longer than valves in length; a single, heavily sclerotized cornutus present in the vesica, broad basally, acute apically. The present discovery greatly extends the dis tribution range of E. wilemani from the Malay Ar chipelago, which is mainly a tropical rainforest cli mate, to Hainan Island, which has a tropical mon soon climate. However, Hainan Island has close as sociation and shares a common origin with Malay Archipelago in some insect species (Zhang 2004; Huang 2002). Euproctis wilemani from Hainan has no distinct difference from those of Borneo and Sumatra, except the Hainan specimens are Figs. 1 and 2. Adult and venation of Euproctis wile mani Collenette, 1929, 1. Male adult, upperside. 2. Ve nation, male.