Phylogeny of the pollinating yucca moths, with revision of Mexican species (Tegeticula and Parategeticula; Lepidoptera, Prodoxidae)

Olle Pellmyr,Kari A Segraves,Manuel Balcázar-Lara,David M Althoff,Rik J Littlefield

doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2007.00361.x

Abstract

ABSTRACT The yucca moths (Tegeticula and Parategeticula; Lepidoptera, Prodoxidae) are well-known for their obligate relationship as exclusive pollinators of yuccas. Revisionary work in recent years has revealed far higher species diversity than historically recognized, increasing the number of described species from four to 21. Based on field surveys in Mexico and examination of collections, we describe five additional species: T. californica Pellmyr sp. nov., T. tehuacana Pellmyr & Balcazar-Lara sp. nov., T. tambasi Pellmyr & Balcazar-Lara sp. nov., T. baja Pellmyr & Balcazar-Lara sp. nov., and P. californica Pellmyr & Balcazar-Lara sp. nov. Tegeticula treculeanella Pellmyr is identified as a junior synonym of T. mexicana Bastida. A diagnostic key to the adults of all species of the T. yuccasella complex is provided. A phylogeny based on a 2104-bp segment of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in the cytochrome oxidase I and II region supported monophyly of the two pollinator genera, and strongly supported monophyly of the 17 recognized species of the T. yuccasella complex. Most relationships are well-supported, but some relationships within a recent and rapidly diversified group of 11 taxa are less robust, and in one case conflicts with a whole-genome data set (AFLP). The current mtDNA-based analyses, together with previouslymore » published AFLP data, provide a robust phylogenetic foundation for future studies of life history evolution and host interactions in one of the classical models of coevolution and obligate mutualism. ADDITIONAL KEY WORDS: mutualism, pollination, molecular phylogenetics, mitochondrial DNA« less

Highlights

The obligate mutualism between yucca moths (Tegeticula, Parategeticula; Lepidoptera, Prodoxidae) and yuccas (Yucca, Hesperoyucca; Agavaceae) is one of the most well-known models of coevolution (Riley, 1892; Baker, 1986; Powell, 1992; Pellmyr, 2003)
Examination indicated that T. yuccasella was a complex of at least 13 species (Pellmyr, 1999), and three additional species of Parategeticula were reported from Mexico (Pellmyr & Balcázar-Lara, 2000)
Three Parategeticula species have already been described (Pellmyr & Balcázar-Lara, 2000), and here we describe five additional species from both genera

Summary

Introduction

The obligate mutualism between yucca moths (Tegeticula, Parategeticula; Lepidoptera, Prodoxidae) and yuccas (Yucca, Hesperoyucca; Agavaceae) is one of the most well-known models of coevolution (Riley, 1892; Baker, 1986; Powell, 1992; Pellmyr, 2003). In this association, the female moth actively gathers pollen from yucca stamens. The 1999 revision of the T. yuccasella complex was almost completely confined to the northern species, because of the scarcity of other material To remedy this situation, two of us (M.B.L., O.P.) performed extensive surveys of the Mexican yuccas for all prodoxid moths during the years 1996–2001. With all recognized species described, we use molecular data for all taxa to reconstruct the phylogeny of the radiation of the two genera of pollinator yucca moths, creating a foundation for future analysis of such issues as the role of coevolution in driving co-diversification of the yucca moth–yucca mutualism

Methods

Results

Conclusion