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A phylogenetic study of the generic relationships within the subtribe L eucophoropterina S chuh ( M iridae: P hylinae: L eucophoropterini)
Author(s) -
MENARD KATRINA L.,
WOOLLEY JAMES B.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
systematic entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.552
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1365-3113
pISSN - 0307-6970
DOI - 10.1111/syen.12072
Subject(s) - biology , taxon , phylogenetic tree , lineage (genetic) , zoology , evolutionary biology , miridae , phylogenetics , ecology , heteroptera , genetics , gene
The subtribe L eucophoropterina ( M iridae: P hylinae: L eucophoropterini) is a relatively small lineage of mirids comprising 23 genera and 104 species. Most of the species are endemic to the I ndo‐ P acific and A ustralia, and many are considered ant mimics. A phylogenetic analysis including both the A ustralian and the I ndo‐ P acific taxa was conducted for the first time with a dataset of 137 morphological characters coded for all but two known species of L eucophoropterina. The hypothesis by Schuh ([Schuh, R.T., 1984]) of at least two major lineages of ant‐mimicking taxa based on his analysis of the Indo‐Pacific taxa continues to be supported with our inclusion of A ustralian taxa. The A ustralian taxa and I ndo‐ P acific taxa of L eucophoropterina do not form independent, geographically based lineages, but instead comprise several lineages containing taxa from both regions. This study provides a basis for future detailed studies of biogeography and ant mimicry in the group.