Phylogeny of the Poritiinae (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae), butterflies with ant associations and unusual lichenivorous diets

Abstract

The Poritiinae are a diverse subfamily of lycaenid butterflies with about 700 species divided into two major groups: the Asian endemic tribe Poritiini, and the African endemic tribe Liptenini. Among these, the Liptenini are notable for their lichenivorous diet and the strong but apparently non-mutualistic ant associations of many species. We present the first molecular phylogeny for this subfamily, based on data from 14 gene regions, and including 218 representatives from 177 taxa (approximately 25% of species) in 50 of the 58 (86%) recognized genera. From this analysis, we confirm the division of the

New taxa described by the staff of the Hungarian Natural History Museum in 2023

“…. The newly described insect taxa consist of 70 species, 12 subspecies, 4 genera, one subgenus and one subtribus of butterflies (Lepidoptera)(Bálint et al 2023, Bartsch et al 2023a, b, Boyle et al 2023, Pan et al 2023, Ronkay et al 2023, Sáfián & Belcastro 2023, Sáfián et al 2023, Volynkin et al 2023, 15 species of ichneumon wasps (Hymenoptera)(Vas 2023a, b, c, d), one species of dustywings and one species of spongillaflies (Neuroptera) (Sziráki 2023, Szőke 2023), one species of dragonflies (Odonata)(Kovács & Theischinger 2023), 3 species of stoneflies (Plecoptera)(Murányi et al 2023), and 4 species of flat bugs (Heteroptera)(Vásárhelyi 2023, Vásárhelyi & Heiss 2023. Newly described plants are represented by a fossil species of gymnosperms (Gymnospermae)(Barbacka et al 2023).…”