Comprehensive gene and taxon coverage elucidates radiation patterns in moths and butterflies

TLDR

Lepidoptera are among the most diverse animal groups, yet the phylogeny of advanced ditrysian Lepidoptera, which comprise about 99 % of species, remains largely unresolved. The study aims to provide a rigorous and comprehensive analysis of lepidopteran affinities. Phylogenetic analyses were performed on 350 taxa representing nearly 90 % of lepidopteran families. Ditrysia is monophyletic with Tischerioidea + Palaephatoidea as its sister group, while traditional major clades Apoditrysia, Obtectomera and Macrolepidoptera are not monophyletic as currently defined (though each is supported with modifications); most superfamilies remain monophyletic or near‑monophyletic, yet several species‑rich superfamilies are para‑ or polyphyletic; butterflies are more closely related to microlepidopteran moths than to Macrolepidoptera, and Macrolepidoptera is monophyletic when butterflies and Calliduloidea are excluded; the rapid radiation of basal non‑tineoid Ditrysia likely coincides with flowering‑plant diversification.

Abstract

Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) represent one of the most diverse animals groups. Yet, the phylogeny of advanced ditrysian Lepidoptera, accounting for about 99 per cent of lepidopteran species, has remained largely unresolved. We report a rigorous and comprehensive analysis of lepidopteran affinities. We performed phylogenetic analyses of 350 taxa representing nearly 90 per cent of lepidopteran families. We found Ditrysia to be a monophyletic taxon with the clade Tischerioidea + Palaephatoidea being the sister group of it. No support for the monophyly of the proposed major internested ditrysian clades, Apoditrysia, Obtectomera and Macrolepidoptera, was found as currently defined, but each of these is supported with some modification. The monophyly or near-monophyly of most previously identified lepidopteran superfamilies is reinforced, but several species-rich superfamilies were found to be para- or polyphyletic. Butterflies were found to be more closely related to ‘microlepidopteran’ groups of moths rather than the clade Macrolepidoptera, where they have traditionally been placed. There is support for the monophyly of Macrolepidoptera when butterflies and Calliduloidea are excluded. The data suggest that the generally short diverging nodes between major groupings in basal non-tineoid Ditrysia are owing to their rapid radiation, presumably in correlation with the radiation of flowering plants.