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Relationships within the M elitaea phoebe species group ( L epidoptera: N ymphalidae): new insights from molecular and morphometric information
Author(s) -
TÓTH JÁNOS P.,
BERECZKI JUDIT,
VARGA ZOLTÁN,
ROTA JADRANKA,
SRAMKÓ GÁBOR,
WAHLBERG NIKLAS
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.12083
Subject(s) - biology , sensu , taxonomy (biology) , nymphalidae , taxon , zoology , species group , group (periodic table) , lepidoptera genitalia , genus , ecology , chemistry , organic chemistry
The genus Melitaea consists of about 80 species, divided into ten species groups, which are all restricted to the P alaearctic region. The Melitaea phoebe group was defined by H iggins based on morphological characters such as wing pattern and genital structures. According to his interpretation, the M. phoebe group included seven species: M. phoebe , M. sibina , M. scotosia , M. aetherie , M. collina , M. consulis and M. turkmanica . The taxonomy of the phoebe species group has been poorly resolved and recent results on the species composition within the group suggest the need for a re‐evaluation. In this study molecular sequences (5985 bp) including one mitochondrial ( COI ) and up to six nuclear ( CAD , EF ‐ 1α , GAPDH , MDH , RpS5 and wingless ) gene regions from 38 specimens of the Melitaea phoebe species group sensu Higgins and some closely related taxa from the P alaearctic region were analysed. The possible evolution of the processus posterior of the male genitalia was also reconstructed based on a shape mapping technique. The analysis of the combined data shows a very clear pattern and almost all relationships are highly supported. Based on the combined B ayesian tree and the shape of the processus posterior of the male genitalia, four main groups are recognised: (i) collina group, (ii) arduinna group, (iii) aetherie group and (iv) phoebe group. The status of M. ornata , M. zagrosi and M. scotosia as species is confirmed, and the results also indicate that M. telona ( s.s. ) from I srael is a separate species.