Evolution of larval host ranges in Papilio (Family: Papilionidae)

Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Bayesian methods were used to reconstruct the phylogeny of the genus Papilio using three genes: elongation factor 1-alpha, cytochrome oxidase I, and cytochrome oxidase II. Phylogenies produced by both methods agree with the phylogeny produced by Zakharov et. al 2004. Larval host ranges were then mapped on to the tree to perform an ancestral state reconstruction for that character. It was found that polyphagy evolved at least twice and monophagy at least once. Oligophagy was present most frequently and appears to be the ancestral form of herbivory within Papilio. Further analyses explore relationships between larval host range and their host plant families.