Phylogeny and taxonomy of casebearer moths (Lepidoptera, Coleophoridae) based on morphological and molecular genetic data. 2. Reconstruction of divergence time for major taxa of Coleophoridae based on COI gene variability

Abstract

Reconstruction of divergence time for major taxa of the family Coleophoridae showed casebearer moths to be evolutionarily young, probably due to the formation of the first taxa of the family in a specific environment of grassland ecosystems during the Eocene–Oligocene. Analysis of evolutionary divergence of species indicated that the ancestors of modern taxa of the subfamily Coleophorinae lived in the early Oligocene and were probably associated with herbaceous plants of the families Amaranthaceae, Fabaceae, and Asteraceae. In general, the most active speciation among casebearer moths occurred in the late Miocene, possibly due to the increasing diversity of habitats and active changes of woody and herbaceous plant formations in the Ancient Mediterranean during that historical period.