Multigene Phylogeny Uncovers Oviposition-related Evolutionary History of Cerambycinae (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

In this study, we reconstructed a first multi-locus phylogeny of Cerambycinae representing a wide range of oviposition strategies, host plants, and ovipositor lengths. Ancestral state reconstruction analyses showed that the shortened ovipositor in Cerambycinae evolved at least four times independently and that the use of host plant has evolved from stressed hosts to dead or living hosts and from broad-leaved trees to conifers. The correlated evolution test revealed the correlation between ovipositor length and oviposition strategy. Our study elucidates for the first time the complex evolutionary history of the ovipositor, oviposition strategy, and host plant usage, and their correlations within Cerambycinae.Graphical abstract
Source: Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution - Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research