Molecular phylogeny and biogeography of the genus Symbrenthia (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) correlates with the past geography of the Oriental region

Exochorion in the tribe Nymphalini (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae): the genus Hypanartia Hbner, [1821] and comparison with related genera

We describe and compare the exochorion of six species of Hypanartia (H. paullus, H. bella, H. lethe, H. godmanii, H. dione disjuncta, and H. trimaculata autumna) using specimens collected in the field and deposited in entomological collections. We used a standard staining technique and scanning electron microscopy to visualize and describe the main exochorionic characters, especially the ridges and the differentiation in the micropylar, perimicropylar, and transition zones in the apical region. We included plates with photographs, drawings, and schemes for clearer visualization of these structures, which are tabulated for comparison. For our characterization, we considered the ridges in colonnade as the main exochorionic feature in the Nymphalini. Thus, we made brief comparisons of these features among several species of the tribe, particularly with the genus Antanartia. The exochorionic characters agree with the separation of groups (paullus group and dione group). By examining the characteristics of H. paullus, the basal species of the paullus group, we found that ridges with conspicuous columns (e.g., in one section only) appears to be the plesiomorphic state, while those with elongated shafts and walls only in the intercolumn represent the apomorphic state.

Mitogenomic phylogeny of nymphalid subfamilies confirms the basal clade position of Danainae (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

The phylogenetic relationships among the nymphalid subfamilies have largely been resolved using both morphological and molecular datasets, with the exception of a conflicting basal clade position for Libytheinae or Danainae that remains contentious between morphological and molecular studies. Several phylogenomic analyses have found that the danaine clade is sister to other nymphalid subfamilies; however, it largely depends on utilizing different molecular datasets, analysis methods, and taxon sampling. This study aimed to resolve the basal clade position and relationships among subfamilies and tribes of Nymphalinae by combining the most comprehensive available mitogenomic datasets with various analyses methods by incorporating a new Symbrenthia lilaea Hewitson sequence data. Phylogenetic relationships among 11 nymphalid subfamilies and the tribes of Nymphalinae were inferred by combining new and available mitogenomic sequence data from 80 ingroup and six outgroup species. The phylogenetic trees were reconstructed using maximum-likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods based on five concatenated datasets: amino acid sequences and nucleotides from different combinations of protein-coding genes (PCGs), ribosomal RNA (rRNAs), and transfer RNA (tRNAs). Danainae is well-supported as the basal clade and sister to the remaining nymphalid subfamilies, except for the paraphyletic Libytheinae. Libytheinae was either recovered as a sister to the danaine clade followed by the satyrine clade or sister to the nymphaline + heliconiine clades, and is consistent with recent phylogenetic studies on Nymphalidae. The monophyletic Nymphalinae has been recovered in all analyses and resolves tribal-level relationships with high support values in both BI and ML analyses. We supported the monophyletic Nymphalini as a sister clade to Victorini, Melitaeini, and Kallimini + Junoniini with high supporting values in BI and ML analyses, which is consistent with previously published morphological and molecular studies.

Alien species revises systematic status: integrative species delimitation of two similar taxa of Symbrenthia Hübner, [1819] (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae)

Introduction of organisms to new range may impose detrimental effects on local organisms, especially when closely related species are involved. Species delimitation employing an integrative taxonomy approach may provide a quick assessment for the species status between taxa of interest, and to infer ecological competition and/or introgression that may be associated with the introduction. A nymphalid butterfly, Symbrenthia lilaea lunica, was recently introduced to Taiwan, where a closely related local taxon, S. l. formosanus, can be found. We employed multiple species delimitation methods to study the species status between the two taxa, and the results revealed that they can be recognized as two distinct species, revised to S. l. lilaea (syn. nov.) and S. formosanus (stat. rev.) respectively. We further performed a niche modeling approach to investigate the ecological interaction between the two species. The taxonomic status of the two taxa, now elevated to species, has been revised and conservation facing rapid expansion of the introduced species discussed.