Monday, December 11, 2006
D0143

A phylogenetic analysis of the lady beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) based on molecular data

Jose A. Giorgi, giorgi@bugs.ent.uga.edu1, Juanita A. Forrester, jforrester@bugs.ent.uga.edu1, Kelly B. Miller, kelly.miller@byu.edu2, Joseph V. McHugh, JMCHUGH@bugs.ent.uga.edu1, and Michael F. Whiting, michael_whiting@byu.edu3. (1) University of Georgia, Department of Entomology, 413 Biological Sciences Building, Athens, GA, (2) Brigham Young University, Department of Integrative Biology, 401WIDB, Provo, UT, (3) Brigham Young University, Integrative Biology, Department of Integrative Biology, 401 WIDB, Provo, UT

The species of Coccinellidae exhibit considerable diversity in dietary preference, including predators, herbivores and fungivores. During the past twenty years, several studies have attempted to understand the evolutionary causes and consequences of trophic shifts within the family. The validity of such studies in the absence of a phylogenetic framework has been repeatedly questioned. The present study is the first attempt to use a formal cladistic analysis to reconstruct the phylogeny of the major coccinellid lineages. Molecular sequence data from ribosomal (18S, 28S), nuclear protein-coding (wingless), and mitochondrial (COI) genes were used to generate a phylogenetic hypothesis that will provide a basis for understanding the ancestral food preference for Coccinellidae and for examining trophic shifts within the family. Implications for the current classification system are also discussed.


Species 1: Coleoptera Coccinellidae (ladybird beetles)

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COMMENTS AND CORRECTIONS

  • From Kota Furukawa, Graduate Student, Hokkaido University, March 21, 2007
    University of Georgia, Department of Entomology giorgi@bugs.ent.uga.edu Dear Mr. Giorgi: Please allow me to write you without introduction. I'm a graduate student of Hokkaido University, Japan, analysing phylogenetic relationships of Coccinellidae in Prof. H. Katakura’s laboratory. My study is based on the molecular sequence data (18SrRNA, 28SrRNA, EF1a, COI) obtained from materials mainly collected in Japan (11 tribes: Sticholotidini, Serangiini, Coccinellini, Psylloborini, Epilachnini, Chilocorini, Platynaspini, Scymnini, Stethorini, Aspidimerini, Noviini). Recently I was surprized to see the abstract of your presentation entitled 'A phylogenetic analysis of the lady beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) based on molecular data' on web, and was very much interested in it. Its contents are similar to those of my own. Please send me reprints or pdf files of your study on molecular phylogenetic studies of coccinellids, if they are available for distribution. I also would like to know the further detail of your study, particularly the taxa which you used for the analyses. I am grateful if you could provide me information of your study. Knowing how much my study overlaps with yours is very important for me in deciding direction of my future study. I am looking forward to your kindest reply. Sincerely yours, Kota Furukawa yamo_303@yahoo.co.jp

  • From Seino Richard Akwanjoh, Senior Lecturer, University of Dschang, June 23, 2009
    I am presently a PhD student of Cameroon Coccinellid systematics. Am interested in the taxonomy and phylogeny of Cameroonian species in this family.Am at the proposal stage stage and need alot of information on this family. I would be grateful for any information qnd material that could be useful. I happen to come from a university that has no funds to obtaining scientific information hence my plight. Thanks for kind and urgent response to my reauest.