Molecular Systematics of the Butterfly Tribe Baorini (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) from China

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Abstract
The phylogenetic relationships of 16 species in 7 genera of butterflies belonging to the tribe Baorini in China were explored based on the partial sequences of three mitochondrial genes (Cytb, ND1 and 16S rDNA). Molecular phylogenetic trees were constructed using Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Bayesian Inference (BI) analyses. The monophyly of Baorini was confirmed with strong support. In addition, phylogenetic analyses suggest that Parnara, Baoris, Pelopidas and Caltoris are monophyletic. Baoris and Pelopidas are sister groups with strong support, whereas the relationships among Borbo, Pseudoborbo and Caltoris remain uncertain. A great differentiation was found between two subspecies of Parnara guttata, i.e., Pa. guttata guttata and Pa. guttata mangala in our molecular analysis results. Combined with their morphological differences, this leads us to suggest Pa. guttata mangala is an independent species.

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