Eur. J. Entomol. 102 (4): 607-615, 2005

Phylogenetic evaluation of the taxonomic status of Timandra griseata and T. comae (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Sterrhinae)

Erki ÕUNAP1,2, Jaan VIIDALEPP2, Urmas SAARMA1,3
1 Department of Integrative Zoology, Institute of Zoology and Hydrobiology, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, 51014 Tartu, Estonia; e-mail: erkio@ut.ee; Urmas.Saarma@ut.ee
2 Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian Agricultural University, Riia 181, 51014 Tartu, Estonia; e-mail: jaan@zbi.ee
3 Estonian Biocentre, Riia 23, 51010 Tartu, Estonia

The sterrhine loopers Timandra griseata and T. comae have been treated as distinct species since 1994. However, morphological differences between the taxa are minor and therefore their status has often been disputed. Here, we present a molecular phylogenetic study, which separates T. griseata and T. comae into different clades. Altogether, 43 Timandra specimens from eight European countries were studied. The phylogeny is based on a comparative sequence analysis of mitochondrial genes coding for the cytochrome C oxidase subunit I (COI) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (ND1). Nevertheless, a single individual of both species was assigned to the "wrong" clade. The symplesiomorphy of T. griseata and T. comae is considered to be a result of introgressive hybridization. Conditions that could lead to the hybridization of T. griseata and T. comae are discussed, as well as the likely distribution history of these taxa in Northern Europe. Results of the current analysis are in favour of retaining the species status of T. griseata and T. comae.

Keywords: Geometridae, Sterrhinae, Timandra, COI, ND1, phylogeny, taxonomy, hybridization

Received: December 31, 2004; Revised: March 11, 2005; Accepted: March 11, 2005; Published: November 3, 2005  Show citation

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ÕUNAP, E., VIIDALEPP, J., & SAARMA, U. (2005). Phylogenetic evaluation of the taxonomic status of Timandra griseata and T. comae (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Sterrhinae). EJE, 102(4), 607-615
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