Preliminary phylogenetic analysis of North American Agonopterix Hübner 1825 (Gelechioidea: Elachistidae: Depressariinae)

Depressariinae (Elachistidae) is a cosmopolitan subfamily of microlepidoptera within Gelechioidea that is in need of taxonomic revision. However, like many members of Gelechioidea, systematic studies are lacking. Agonopterix is a genus found within Depressariinae that comprises approximately half of the recorded North American diversity of the subfamily. No phylogeny has ever been produced for Agonopterix and it is possible the group may not be monophyletic. This study will be the first to investigate the genus and would also answer questions regarding the evolution of plant host selection within Depressariinae.