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Diversity
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Speciation, Phylogenetics and Taxonomy of Lepidoptera
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Speciation, Phylogenetics and Taxonomy of Lepidoptera

A special issue of Diversity (ISSN 1424-2818). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Diversity".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2024) | Viewed by 4317

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Vazrick Nazari

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biology, University of Padua, 35122 Padova, Italy
Interests: taxonomy and evolution of Lepidoptera; molecular and phylogenetic analysis; cultural entomology; cultural diversity and biological diversity

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Lepidoptera are among the most popular model groups in biology and routinely appear in studies of hybridization, sympatric and cryptic speciation, population genomics, chromosome evolution, ecological specialization and conservation genetics. Even though part of this popularity maybe due to their aesthetic appeal, the fact is that Lepidoptera are excellent model organisms in biological studies, as well as efficient and effective bioindicators of habitat health and climate change, often outperforming other animal groups. Even though they are among the best studied insect groups, new species of Lepidoptera continue to be discovered and described every year. Genomic studies continue to shed light on the speciation and evolution of this fascinating group of insects, and yet their taxonomy is still riddled with cases of uncertainty: on the one hand, some deep phylogenetic relationships among Lepidoptera groups are still shrouded in mystery, and on the other, taxonomic ranking is often disputed in geologically young species complexes with limited phenotypic or genetic differentiation, or where geographical clines, hybridization, and sympatric or cryptic speciation are involved. 

In this Special Issue, we aim to highlight studies that employ a multidisciplinary approach to obtain robust outcomes that inform the refinement of traditional taxonomic arrangements in various groups of Lepidoptera. We will focus on mechanisms of speciation, and the mutual contribution of classical (morphological) taxonomy and modern evolutionary methods (phylogenetics). We invite submissions of either review or original research articles that may cover a specific or broad range of species or genetic approaches, but that focus on how genetic/genomic information is (or could be) used to shed light on the speciation and taxonomy of Lepidoptera. Papers that employ novel methodologies to uncover such evolutionary patterns are particularly welcome. Manuscripts must contain original, previously unpublished data.

Dr. Vazrick Nazari
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diversity is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • species and subspecies delimitation
  • modes of speciation
  • identification of MOTUs
  • morphometrics
  • genomics and transcriptomics
  • phylogenetics and phylogenomics
  • haplotype diversity
  • distribution of genetic diversity across populations
  • historical and modern biogeography
  • hybridization

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 80710 KiB  
Article
Phylogenetic Trends in the Dissymmetrisation of Genitalia in Hadenini (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae)
by Zoltán Varga, Gábor Ronkay and László Ronkay
Diversity 2024, 16(4), 248; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16040248 - 22 Apr 2024
Viewed by 300
Abstract
The external genital appendages of Noctuidae represent correlated–coevolved elements of a complex structure. The pathways of changes are delimited by some constraints, and they are parallelly evolved in different phyletic lines. Asymmetrical male external genitalia were found in Hadenini, in Polia and its [...] Read more.
The external genital appendages of Noctuidae represent correlated–coevolved elements of a complex structure. The pathways of changes are delimited by some constraints, and they are parallelly evolved in different phyletic lines. Asymmetrical male external genitalia were found in Hadenini, in Polia and its closely related genera, but also in Anarta (s. l.). In Poliina, the asymmetry of the genital capsule is mostly expressed in the Holarctic Polia nebulosa species group, forming the basal split within Polia (s. str.). Higher species diversity, as a consequence of asymmetry connected with the split of functions between the right and left sides, was observed in Polia (s. str.) and in Anarta (s. l.). The highest level of expansivity was observed in the Holarctic Anarta, where some species are migrating and becoming invasive ones, while a bulk of species populates the steppic and mountainous habitats of North America and Central Asia. Parallelly, while some genera/subgenera of the subtribe Poliina are oligotypic and/or consist of strictly localised species, the sensu stricto Polia species with asymmetrical genital capsules are widely distributed. The diversification of the Hadulina phylogenetic line should have been initiated by the Messinian aridisation crisis. The core area of diversification of Poliina was connected with the Sino-Himalayan region, followed by expansion into the Holarctic boreo-nemoral zone. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Speciation, Phylogenetics and Taxonomy of Lepidoptera)
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16 pages, 5161 KiB  
Article
Exploring Morphological Population Variability: Host Plant and Habitat Dependency in the Protected Moth Gortyna borelii (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae)
by László Rákosy, Mihai Alexandru Martin, Geanina Magdalena Sitar, Andrei Crișan and Cristian Sitar
Diversity 2024, 16(4), 227; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16040227 - 09 Apr 2024
Viewed by 940
Abstract
In this paper, we discuss the evolutionary implications of the correlation between different species of Peucedanum plants and the distribution of Gortyna borelii moth populations in Romania. We highlight geographic separation and isolation among these populations due to anthropogenic landscape fragmentation, which hinders [...] Read more.
In this paper, we discuss the evolutionary implications of the correlation between different species of Peucedanum plants and the distribution of Gortyna borelii moth populations in Romania. We highlight geographic separation and isolation among these populations due to anthropogenic landscape fragmentation, which hinders genetic exchange. A geometric morphometric analysis was utilized to visualize and compare the morphometric variations in relation to the environmental variables, particularly the host plant. Additionally, the distribution of G. borelii populations across Europe and in Romania that are correlated with the host plant was analyzed. The significant morphological and morphometric differences between the analyzed populations support our working hypothesis, according to which the use of different Peucedanum species by the larvae of G. borelii leads to an intraspecific diversification correlated with the host plant species. The newly discovered population of G. borelii in Romania holds substantial conservation importance, necessitating protection measures, including demarcating habitat areas and raising awareness among stakeholders. G. borelii is a protected species at the European level (Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC, Appendices II and IV), considered endangered due to the isolation of its populations and anthropogenic pressures exerted through agricultural practices. Understanding the impact of agricultural practices on their habitat is crucial for effective management strategies. Overall, this study sheds light on the complex interplay between ecological adaptation, host plant specialization, and speciation dynamics in phytophagous insects, emphasizing the importance of conservation efforts to preserve G. borelii populations and their habitats. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Speciation, Phylogenetics and Taxonomy of Lepidoptera)
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12 pages, 3680 KiB  
Article
Co-Evolution of Iolana Blues with Their Host Plants and the Higher Phylogeny of Subtribe Scolitantidina (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae)
by Vazrick Nazari, Sergio Montagud Alario, Loukia Spilani, Vlad Dincă, Alireza Naderi, Wolfgang ten Hagen and Roger Vila
Diversity 2024, 16(2), 89; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16020089 - 30 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1288
Abstract
We investigated the evolutionary relationships between the taxa in the butterfly genus Iolana Bethune-Baker, 1914 and others in the subtribe Scolitantidina using information from nine DNA markers (COI-COII, ND1, ITS2, 28S, CAD, EF-1α, wg, and H3). We show that the genus Iolana originated [...] Read more.
We investigated the evolutionary relationships between the taxa in the butterfly genus Iolana Bethune-Baker, 1914 and others in the subtribe Scolitantidina using information from nine DNA markers (COI-COII, ND1, ITS2, 28S, CAD, EF-1α, wg, and H3). We show that the genus Iolana originated about 10 mya in Central Asia and gradually expanded to the west to reach Europe about 5 mya. We then compared our inferred phylogeny with that of the Iolana larval host plants in the genus Colutea, reconstructed using three DNA markers (ITS, matK, and rpl32). Although the host plant phylogeny was weakly resolved, the close spatiotemporal correlation between Iolana butterflies and their larval hosts suggests that they may have co-evolved. Based on the molecular results and the morphology of male and female genitalia, we confirm nine species in the genus Iolana, which are distributed in allopatry from Europe and North Africa to Central Asia. We synonymize I. andreasi andreasi Sheljuzhko, 1919 (=I. andreasi khayyami Bernardi, 1964 syn. nov.) and I. iolas wullschlegeli Oberthür, 1914 (=I. iolas protogenes Fruhstorfer, 1917 syn. nov.). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Speciation, Phylogenetics and Taxonomy of Lepidoptera)
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53 pages, 56535 KiB  
Article
The First Attempt to Assess the Taxonomic Diversity of the Nepticulidae of Armenia Resulted in the Discovery of New Species and Cryptic Taxa in the Caucasus
by Jonas R. Stonis, Viktorija Dobrynina, Andrius Remeikis, Arūnas Diškus, Svetlana Orlovskytė and Mark Yu. Kalashian
Diversity 2024, 16(1), 60; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16010060 - 17 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1075
Abstract
A taxonomic review of the Nepticulidae of Armenia is provided for the first time. Currently, the previously little-known fauna of the pygmy moths of Armenia consists of eight genera and 31 species, including seven new species described and illustrated in the current paper [...] Read more.
A taxonomic review of the Nepticulidae of Armenia is provided for the first time. Currently, the previously little-known fauna of the pygmy moths of Armenia consists of eight genera and 31 species, including seven new species described and illustrated in the current paper as follows: Stigmella armi Stonis, Dobrynina & Remeikis, sp. nov.; Stigmella garnica Stonis, Dobrynina & Remeikis, sp. nov.; Stigmella inopinoides Dobrynina, sp. nov.; Stigmella magicis Stonis & Dobrynina, sp. nov.; Stigmella ararati Stonis, Dobrynina & Remeikis, sp. nov.; Trifurcula vardenisi Stonis, Dobrynina & Remeikis, sp. nov.; and Etainia caucasi Remeikis, sp. nov. The most common Nepticulidae species in Armenia, Stigmella muricatella (Klimesch), still remains a taxonomic puzzle. However, the molecular sequences of the Armenian specimens and a specimen of S. muricatella from Greece were found to be similar, though clearly distinct from the widespread S. rolandi van Nieukerken due to numerous hypothetical mutational steps. Mitotype analysis revealed that the Ectoedemia specimens collected in Armenia do not belong to the expected widespread E. spinosella (Joannis) but are more similar to the less-known E. mahalebella (Klimesch). Moreover, some specimens from Armenia identified by us as Simplimorpha promissa (Staudinger) and Ectoedemia (Zimmermannia) longicaudella Klimesch may actually represent possible cryptic taxa, allopatric subspecies or species. However, from a practical point of view, the description of such difficult-to-diagnose taxa is inappropriate. Thus, we have refrained from describing such new taxa based solely on observed molecular differences. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Speciation, Phylogenetics and Taxonomy of Lepidoptera)
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