Revised systematics and higher classification of pierid butterflies (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) based on molecular data. (12th August 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wahlberg, Niklas; Rota, Jadranka; Braby, Michael F.; Pierce, Naomi E.; Wheat, Christopher W.
• Is Part Of: Zoologica scripta. Volume 43:Number 6(2014:Nov.)
• Page Start: 641
• Page End: 650
• Publication Date: 2014-08-12
• Subjects: Zoology -- Periodicals; 590.5
• DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12075
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0300-3256

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="zsc12075-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>The butterfly family Pieridae comprises approximately 1000 described species placed in 85 genera, but the higher classification has not yet been settled. We used molecular data from eight gene regions (one mitochondrial and seven nuclear protein‐coding genes) comprising a total of ~6700 bp from 96 taxa to infer a well‐supported phylogenetic hypothesis for the family. Based on this hypothesis, we revise the higher classification for all pierid genera. We resurrect the tribe Teracolini <italic>stat. rev</italic>. in the subfamily Pierinae to include the genera <italic>Teracolus, Pinacopteryx, Gideona, Ixias, Eronia, Colotis</italic> and most likely <italic>Calopieris</italic>. We transfer <italic>Hebomoia</italic> to the tribe Anthocharidini and assign the previously unplaced genera <italic>Belenois</italic> and <italic>Dixeia</italic> to the subtribe Aporiina. Three lineages near the base of Pierinae (<italic>Leptosia</italic>, <italic> Elodina</italic> and <italic>Nepheronia</italic> + <italic>Pareronia</italic>) remain unplaced. For each of these, we describe and delineate new tribes: Elodinini Braby <italic>tribus nova</italic>, Leptosiaini Braby <italic>tribus nova</italic> and Nepheroniini Braby <italic>tribus nova</italic>. The proposed higher classification is based on well‐supported monophyletic groups and is likely to remain stable even with the addition of more data.</p> </abstract>