Molecular phylogeny of Lichen Tiger Moths (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae, Lithosiini): a contribution toward classifying Western Hemisphere genera

Abstract

This study analyzes molecular sequence data from one mitochondrial (COI) and two nuclear (28S, RPS5) genes to test the monophyly of previously proposed subtribes of the Lithosiini (Erebidae: Arctidinae), including subtribal assignment of all North American genera that occur north of Mexico. After transferring Gardinia W.F. Kirby from Lithosiina to Cisthenina, there is strong support for a monophyletic Lithosiina, which includes three originally unplaced Nearctic genera: Agylla Walker, Inopsis Felder, and Gnamptonychia Hampson. The result of this study removes Clemensia Packard and Pronola Hampson from Cisthenina and places them in subtribe Clemensiina. We synonymize Eudesmiina under Cisthenina. After these changes, the phylogeny shows strong support for the monophyly of Cisthenina, which includes a further three unplaced Nearctic genera: Gardinia Kirby, Bruceia Neumögen, and Ptychoglene Felder. The monophyly of Cisthenina (including Eudesmia and Gardinia) is supported by two apomorphies found in adults: the apodemes of the second abdominal sternite are long and the anterolateral processes are fused with the rest of the sternite.