Phylogeny, character evolution and tribal classification in Crambinae and Scopariinae (Lepidoptera, Crambidae). CRAMB+SCOP phylogeny

Crambinae (2047 sp.) and Scopariinae (577 sp.) are two major groups of pyraloid moths with a worldwide distribution. Their larvae feed predominantly on Poales and Bryophyta, with a number of species of economic importance. Understanding of their phylogeny is still fragmentary but essential for a solid taxonomic classification and analysing of morphological and ecological traits. We present here the first detailed molecular phylogeny of the two groups based on five nuclear and one mitochondrial genes (total = 4713 bp) sampled for 58 crambine species representing 56 genera and all tribes and 33 scopariine species representing 12 genera as well as several other crambid lineages. Molecular data were analysed using Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference. Relationships of Crambinae and Scopariinae are supported (BS > 90 %) for 60 % of the nodes and weakly supported (BS 70–90 %) for further 18 % of the nodes. Crambinae and Scopariinae are each monophyletic. Erupini, formerly regarded as ingroup of Midilinae, is weakly supported as sister to Crambinae. Topology within Crambinae suggests the following changes: Prionapterygini Landry syn. n. of Ancylolomiini Ragonot stat. rev., Myelobiini Minet syn. n. of Chiloini Heinemann. Argyriini Munroe is monophyletic after exclusion of Pseudocatharylla Bleszynski and Vaxi Bleszynski, belonging to Calamotrophini. Crambini, Diptychophorini and Haimbachiini are found monophyletic after exclusion of Euchromius Guenée and Miyakea Marumo from Crambini and Microchilo Okano from Diptychophorini. Euchromiini trib. n. is described for Euchromius. Microcramboides Bleszynski syn. n. and Tortriculladia Bleszynski syn. n. are synonymized with Microcrambus Bleszynski. In Scopariinae, Caradjaina Leraut syn. n. and Cholius Guenée syn. n. are synonymized with Scoparia Haworth as well as Dasyscopa Meyrick syn. n., Dipleurinodes Leraut syn. n. and Eudipleurina Leraut syn. n. with Eudonia Billberg. Micraglossa melanoxantha (Turner) (Scoparia) comb. n. is found as a new combination. We analysed 27 morphological characters of wing venation, tympanal organs, male and female genitalia as well as host plant data and adhesive properties of the eggs. The ancestral character state analysis revealed some characters as synapomorphies for some but not all clades. Non-adhesive eggs dropping behaviour is found to have evolved at least twice in Crambinae, and is correlated with the use of Pooideae as host plants.