A preliminary phylogeny of the lichen moth tribe Lithosiini (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae) with an assessment of the subtribal relationships using molecular data

The lichen moth tribe Lithosiini is composed of an estimated 4000 to 5000 species. Two phylogenetic analyses have recovered the tribe as monophyletic, but no work has been completed to examine the evolutionary relationships among the genera. Currently, seven subtribes have been proposed to occur within Lithosiini based on shared morphological characters. This study will use molecular data to examine the systematics of the lichen moth tribe. Specifically, the analysis will test the monophyly of the proposed subtribes and assess the relationships among the genera. This will also be the first higher-level phylogenetic analysis of the tribe Lithosiini using molecular data.