On the fringe of evolution: Phylogeny of Thysanoptera based on molecular data

Encompassing nearly 6,000 species Thysanoptera has two suborders with nine extant families but their phylogenetic relationships are poorly understood. We sequenced five genetic loci (18S, 28S, Histone 3, and Cox I) for 55 species representing six of the nine extant thrips families. Trees were reconstructed using parsimony and model-based methods for the combined data set. The objectives of this study were to (1) test the monophyly of the suborders Tubulifera and Terebrantia; (2) elucidate relationships among the thrips families; and (3) assess the monophyly of the subfamilies currently placed in Phlaeothripidae and Thripidae. Our analyses strongly support the monophyly of the suborder Tubulifera but suggest that the suborder Terebrantia is paraphyletic. Phlaeothripidae is monophyletic but the Phlaeothripinae is paraphyletic with respect to Idolothripinae. The challenge of deciphering relationships within Terebrantia and Thripidae are discussed.