Molecular phylogenetics and evolution of Lamiinae, the flat-faced longhorn beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

Lamiinae is the largest subfamily of Cerambycidae with more than 30,000 described species. They are primarily wood feeders and thus play important roles in terrestrial ecosystems. Many lamiines, such as the Asian longhorned beetle, are plant pests of major ecological and economic importance. The subfamily Lamiinae is undoubtedly monophyletic, but lacks a robust evolutionary framework due to the instability and uncertainty of its internal phylogeny. In this presentation I will share results from my ongoing molecular phylogenetic and evolutionary studies of Lamiinae. These studies, based on DNA sequence data from multiple nuclear genes, provide new insights into the interrelationships and monophyly of lamiine tribes and the evolution of lamiine morphology (e.g., flightlessness, mimicry) and host associations (feeding on herbaceous plants, gymnosperms, etc.). We are now expanding the taxon sample in order to further resolve the phylogenetic, taxonomic, and nomenclatural problems that pervade lamiine internal higher classification, and to gain further insights into lamiine phylogeny and evolution.