Molecular systematics of the subfamily Limenitidinae (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae).

Bidur Dhungel,Niklas Wahlberg

doi:10.7717/peerj.4311

Abstract

We studied the systematics of the subfamily Limenitidinae (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) using molecular methods to reconstruct a robust phylogenetic hypothesis. The molecular data matrix comprised 205 Limenitidinae species, four outgroups, and 11,327 aligned nucleotide sites using up to 18 genes per species of which seven genes (CycY, Exp1, Nex9, PolII, ProSup, PSb and UDPG6DH) have not previously been used in phylogenetic studies. We recovered the monophyly of the subfamily Limenitidinae and seven higher clades corresponding to four traditional tribes Parthenini, Adoliadini, Neptini, Limenitidini as well as three additional independent lineages. One contains the genera Harma + Cymothoe and likely a third, Bhagadatta, and the other two independent lineages lead to Pseudoneptis and to Pseudacraea. These independent lineages are circumscribed as new tribes. Parthenini was recovered as sister to rest of Limenitidinae, but the relationships of the remaining six lineages were ambiguous. A number of genera were found to be non-monophyletic, with Pantoporia, Euthalia, Athyma, and Parasarpa being polyphyletic, whereas Limenitis, Neptis, Bebearia, Euryphura, and Adelpha were paraphyletic.

Highlights

The butterfly family Nymphalidae has been the subject of intensive research in many fields of biology over the decades
We introduce seven new gene regions (CycY, Exp1, Nex9, PolII, ProSup, proteasome beta subunit (PSb) and UDP glucose6 dehydrogenase (UDPG6DH)) used in this study which have never been previously used for phylogenetic studies
For the new gene regions Cyclin Y (CycY), exportin-1-like (Exp1), sorting nexin-9-like (Nex9), DNA-directed RNA polymerase II polypeptide (PolII), suppressor of profiling 2 (ProSup), proteasome beta subunit (PSb), UDP glucose6 dehydrogenase (UDPG6DH) as well as a different section of Arginine Kinase (ArgKin) we used primer pairs and protocols described by Wahlberg et al (2016)

Summary

Introduction

The butterfly family Nymphalidae has been the subject of intensive research in many fields of biology over the decades. The higher classification of the family is still being worked on, with the delineation of subfamilies being established fairly recently (Wahlberg et al, 2009). It is clear that there are 12 subfamilies that are well supported by both molecular (Brower, 2000; Wahlberg, Weingartner & Nylin, 2003; Wahlberg et al, 2009) and morphological data (Freitas & Brown, 2004). These subfamilies have been accepted by most of the community working on Nymphalidae. We turn our attention to Limenitidinae, a subfamily with a complex taxonomic history

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion