Phylogeny of the stink bug tribe Chlorocorini (Heteroptera, Pentatomidae) based on DNA and morphological data: the evolution of key phenotypic traits

Abstract

Pentatomidae is the third largest family of true bugs, comprising over 40 tribes. Few tribes have been studied in a phylogenetic context, and none of them have been examined using molecular data. Moreover, little is known about the evolution of key morphological characters widely used in taxonomic and phylogenetic studies at multiple levels. Here, we conduct a phylogenetic study of the tribe Chlorocorini (Pentatominae) combining 69 morphological characters and five DNA loci. We use the inferred phylogeny to reconstruct the evolution of key morphological characters such as the spined humeral angles of the pronotum, a dorsal projection on the apices of the femora and characters of male genitalia. We provide solid evidence that the tribe as currently recognized is not monophyletic based both on DNA and morphological data. The genera Arvelius Spinola and Eludocoris Thomas were consistently placed outside of the Chlorocorini, whereas the remaining genera were found to form a monophyletic group. We also show that nearly all morphological diagnostic characters for the tribe are homoplastic. The only exception is the development of the hypandrium, which contrary to expectations for genital traits, showed the slowest evolutionary rates. In contrast, the most rapidly evolving trait is the length of the ostiolar ruga, which may be attributed to selection favouring anti‐predatory behaviour and other functions of its associated scent glands. Lastly, we also provide a preliminary glimpse of the main phylogenetic relationships within the Pentatomidae, which indicates that most of the included subfamilies and tribes are not monophyletic. Our results suggest that the current subfamily‐level classification of Pentatomidae is not adequate to reflect its evolutionary history, and we urge for a more complete phylogeny of the family.

Comparative mitogenomics and phylogenetic analyses of the genus Menida (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Pentatomidae)

“…We obtained highly similar topology based on two different methods of two datasets. Our results are basically consistent with the traditional morphological classification and recent molecular studies ( Rider et al 2018 ; Chen et al 2021 ; Genevcius et al 2021 ). Eysarcorini and Strachiini are highly supported as monophyletic (1/100/1/100).…”

“…The data produced by Zhao et al (2019b) strongly supported Eurydema Laporte, 1833 within the tribe Strachiini and as a sister group with Nezara viridula (Linnaeus, 1758). Genevcius et al (2021) confirmed that the currently recognized Neotropical tribe Chlorocorini is not monophyletic based on DNA and morphological data. Roca-Cusachs et al (2022) rejected the currently accepted monophyletic nature of Pentatomidae , confirming that Serbaninae are a sister lineage of all remaining Pentatomidae , rather than members of Phloeidae as previously assumed.…”

Comparative analysis and phylogeny of mitochondrial genomes of Pentatomidae (Hemiptera: Pentatomoidea)

“…The early classification of Pentatomidae subfamilies and tribes was mostly based on morphological data, Rider et al (2018) divided the family into ten subfamilies and provided an extensive description and discussion of the morphology of each subfamily and tribe within Pentatomidae. However, phenotypic plasticity was a major obstacle to morphological taxonomy (Barao et al, 2013;Sheikh, 2017;Sharif et al, 2020;Genevcius et al, 2021). With the widespread application of molecular technology, molecular data are more and more used in classification.…”

“…With the widespread application of molecular technology, molecular data are more and more used in classification. Genevcius et al (2021) made a preliminary discussion on the main phylogenetic relationships within Pentatomidae based on a combination of morphological and molecular data. In the most detailed analysis to date, which examined the phylogenetic relationships of the whole family of Pentatomidae based on mitochondrial (cox1 and 16S rRNA) and nuclear gene fragments (18S and 28S rRNA), Cyrtocorinae was excluded from ten subfamilies.…”

Bizarre morphology in extinct Eocene bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)

“…Anyway, recent DNA-based phylogenetic analyses suggest the current system of subfamilies and tribes of Pentatomidae as unsatisfactory and we may expect dramatic changes in its classification in the near future (e.g. [6][7][8][9][10]).…”