Molecular phylogeny of the subfamilies in geometridae (Geometroidea : Lepidoptera)

Molecular sequence data from three gene fragments were used to examine crit ically a provisional phylogenetic classification based on morphological cha racters of the Geometridae, one of the most species-rich families of moths. The sister group relationship between Geometridae and Drepanidae gained fu rther support from the molecular analysis, which was based on the ND1 mitoc hondrial gene and the first and second expansion segments of the 28S riboso mal RNA gene. Although the alignment of the second expansion segment contai ned regions with many gaps, it provided the most resolution of the gene fra gments. Parsimony analysis of the combined data resulted in a cladogram in which species belonging to Drepanidae, Larentiinae, and Sterrhinae formed m onophyletic groups. The Ennominae did not form a monophyletic group but rat her were contained within a broader monophyletic group including Archiearin ae, Geometrinae, and Alsophilinae (represented by only one species per grou p in the present study). The molecular results were used to explore further the relationship between Sterrhinae and Larentiinae, the question as to wh ether Ennominae actually represent a monophyletic group, and the relationsh ips between Ennominae and some of the other subfamilies. (C) 2001 Academic Press.