Phylogeny of Arctiidae

Phylogeny of the Milkweed tussocks (Arctiidae: Arctiinae: Phaegopterini) and its implications for the evolution of ultrasound communication.

Milkweed tussock moths Euchaetes Harris, are unusual in that some species use only ultrasound in courtship. A relative, Cycnia tenera Hübner, uses both pheromone and ultrasound as courtship cues. It has been hypothesized that Euchaetes has lost this pheromonal cue from the redundant condition, but this has yet to be tested in a phylogenetic framework.

The objectives of this study were to:

1. Test the monophyly of Euchaetes and allied genera Cycnia, Pygarctia, and Ectypia with phylogenetic analysis.
2. Describe characters diagnostic of each genus.
3. Examine the distribution of male courtship structures (tymbals and coremata) in Euchaetes and allied genera, and test hypotheses of the evolution of ultrasound in courtship behavior in Euchaetes.

Click on links below to download:

-Data matrix
-Character list
-Figures

This study was supported in part by NSF/DEB-9981416 (SJW), NSF-REU supplement to SJW to support PL, and the Minnesota Experiment Station Project (MN-17-022). MD received funding from the Dayton-Wilkie Fund (Bell Museum, University of Minnesota).