Phylogeny of bethylid wasps (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) inferred from 28S and 16S rRNA genes

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Abstract

We conduct the first molecular studies of the higher level phylogeny of bethylid wasps (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae). Sequences of the 500-bp D2/D3 expansion regions of the nuclear 28S rRNA gene are obtained for 33 bethylid species in 18 genera covering all four commonly recognized subfamilies, and an additional 13 outgroup species. A 450-bp sequence of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene is obtained for a smaller subset of those species. Strong support is found for the monophyly of Bethylidae, and for Bethylinae as the sister to the other bethylid subfamilies. Pristocerinae are supported as monophyletic. A species of Mesitiinae clusters with the Sclerodermini (sensu lato), these two strongly supported as a monophyletic clade. The Epyrini are supported as monophyletic, but our data do not demonstrate whether Pristocerinae or the Mesitiinae+Sclerodermini clade are their closest relatives. Kishino-Hasegawa tests reject the monophyly of the Epyrinae. Our results are consistent with Kieffer's original five major subtaxa of Bethylidae.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)55-73
Number of pages19
JournalInsect Systematics & Evolution
Volume41
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2010

Keywords

  • 28S rRNA
  • Chrysididae
  • Chrysidoidea
  • molecular phylogeny
  • taxonomy
  • CLUTCH SIZE
  • SEX-RATIO
  • PARASITOID WASPS
  • MOLECULAR PHYLOGENY
  • SUBSTITUTION
  • BRACONIDAE
  • EVOLUTION
  • INFERENCE
  • BEHAVIOR
  • MODELS

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