Are Butterflies and Moths Monophyletic Introduction to Phylogenetic

Are Butterflies and Moths Monophyletic? Introduction to Phylogenetic Analysis Project Daniel Ochoa Bio. Informatics for Biologists October 28, 2009

Introduction • Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Lepidoptra • >180, 000 Species, 128 Families, 47 Superfamilies • Lepis “scale”, ptera “wing” – Scale wing • Typically divided into 2 to 3 groups – Butterflies: monophyletic; Moths: paraphyletyic* (*according to Bug. Guide website, hosted by Iowa State Univ. Dept. of Entomology)

Introduction • Date back ~200 MYA (Early Cretaceous) • Evolution closely tied to the evolution of flowering plants • Ditrysia is a group within Lepidopteran order Oder: Lepidoptera Suborder: Glossata Parvorder: Heteroneura Group/Clade: Ditrysia (Includes butterflies and moths)

From the Tree of Life website. Hosted by the University of Arizona

Phenotypic Characterization • 4 membranous wings – Forewings larger than hindwings – Covered with scales • Mouthparts modified for sucking (probiscus) • Moths – - Feathery antennae - Active at night - Rest with wings open - Cocoon • Butterflies – - Thin antennae w/knobs - Active during the day - Rest with wings closed above body - Chrysalis

Current Phylogenetic Views • Weller & Pashley (1994) – Molecular data: ND 1 gene (mitochondrial) and 18 S & 28 S r. RNA (HENNIG 86) – Morphological characteristics • Support 1991 classification (Minet) – Butterflies are monophyletic and Hedylids are their sister group Weller & Pashley, 1994.

Questions to be answered… • Determine phylogenetic relationship based on completely sequenced mitochondria of Dysteria • Determination of most appropriate outgroups • Statistically significant differences in codon usage of Alanine and Serine in protein coding genes • Compare genetic arrangements of protein coding genes, t. RNA’s and r. RNA’s between species