The subfamilies Cassidinae and Hispinae have been historically regarded as most closely related within the Chrysomelidae, however phylogenetic relations at all levels have not been stable. This study examines three fundamental systematic problems in these two subfamilies, their monophyly, their position within the Chrysomelidae, and their relations to each other.
A hypothesis of the phylogeny of the tribes of Cassidinae and Hispinae is presented based on a cladistic analysis of adult morphological characters. Exemplars of all 16 cassidine tribes and 20 of the 24 hispine tribes were sampled. Members of five other chrysomelid subfamilies were selected as outgroups. Character sampling was based on a detailed morphological study, which emphasized exploration of novel character systems. The matrix consists of 75 taxa and 175 characters. Analysis produced 51 most parsimonious trees (CI=23, RI=61, L=928). Trees indicate the relationship (Lamprosominae + (Criocerinae + ((Sagrinae + Donaciinae) + (Cryptocephalinae +(Cassidinae + Hispinae))))). The cassidine tribes appear as a derived monophyletic clade among the hispine tribes. The name Cassidinae is selected for the monophyletic clade Cassidinae + Hispinae. Many traditional tribes do not appear to be monophyletic, and a new tribal arrangement, with tribal diagnoses, is presented.
Evolutionary models for aspects of morphology, behavior, host plant associations and biogeography are developed and discussed.
Species 1: Coleoptera Chrysomelidae (tortoise beetles)
Species 2: Coleoptera Chrysomelidae (leaf-mining beetles)
Keywords: Morphology, Systematics
Back to Student Competition Ten-Minute Papers, Subsection A2. Systematics, Morphology, and Evolution
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Back to The 2002 ESA Annual Meeting and Exhibition