2018/02/28 by Xiaoshuang Ban, Nan Jiang, Rui Cheng +2 · 3 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy #Biological Control of Invasive Species #Plant and animal studies
paper · doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zly013
openalex publication_date 2018/02/28 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
Despite recent progress in the molecular systematics of Geometridae, phylogenetic relationships within the subfamily Geometrinae remain largely unexplored. To infer the relationships among tribes, we performed a molecular phylogenetic analysis of Geometrinae based on 116 species representing 17 of the 18 recognized tribes, mainly from the Palaearctic and Oriental regions. Fragments of one mitochondrial and six nuclear genes were sequenced, yielding a total of 5805 bp of nucleotide data. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses yielded largely congruent results. The monophyly of Geometrinae and most recognized tribes is supported. We present a new phylogenetic classification for Geometrinae composed of 13 tribes, two of which are proposed here as new: Ornithospilini trib. nov. and Agathiini trib. nov. A broad concept of Hemitheini is presented by the inclusion of nine subtribes, with Thalerini as a new synonym of Hemitheiti. The close relationship among Nemoriini, Synchlorini and Comibaenini, and the sister relationship between Timandromorphini and Geometrini is well supported. Monophyly of the genera Maxates, Berta, Lophophelma, Dooabia, Geometra and Tanaorhinus was found not to be supported. Hethemia syn. nov. is synonymized with Thalera, and six new combinations and two revised statuses are proposed.