Phylogeny and life history evolution of <i>Prodoxus </i>yucca moths (Lepidoptera: Prodoxidae)

TitlePhylogeny and life history evolution of Prodoxus yucca moths (Lepidoptera: Prodoxidae)
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2005
AuthorsPellmyr O, Balcázar-Lara M, Althoff DM, Segraves KA, Leebens-Mack J
JournalSystematic Entomology
VolumeDOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3113.2005.00301.x
Date Published2005
Call Number00851
Keywordsarticle, insect, Prodoxus, insect, yucca moth, insect,population ecology, journal, phylogeny, Lepidoptera, phylogeny, Prodoxidae, phylogeny, Prodoxus, phylogeny, yucca moth, pollination mutualism, yucca moth, pollination, yucca moth, yucca moth, Prodoxus, Yucca, pollination, Yucca, Prodoxus, Yucca, reproduction, Yucca, yucca moth
AbstractYucca moths (Lep., Prodoxidae) are well-known for their obligate pollination mutualism with yuccas. In addition to the pollinators, yuccas also host many non-pollinating yucca moths. Here the genus Prodoxus, the nonpollinating sister group of the pollinators, is revised using morphological and molecular data, their phylogenetic relationships are analysed, and the evolution of host tissue specialization explored. Twenty-two species are recognized, including nine new species: Prodoxus gypsicolor sp.n., P. sonorensis sp.n., P. carnerosanellus sp.n., P. tamaulipellus sp.n., P. weethumpi sp.n., P. tehuacanensis sp.n., P. californicus sp.n., P. mapimiensis sp.n. and P. atascosanellus sp.n. Prodoxus y-inversus Riley, P. coloradensis Riley and P. sordidus Riley are redescribed. The genus Agavenema is synonymized with Prodoxus. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that stalk-feeding is basal within the group, that there are three separate origins of fruit-feeding, and one origin of leaf-mining from a stalk-feeding ancestor. Although species with different feeding habits often coexist within hosts, the analyses suggest that ecological specialization and diversification within a host only may have occurred within one or possibly two hosts.
Reprint EditionIn File (01/09/2006)