Integrative taxonomy solves taxonomic impasses: a case study from Epyrinae (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae)

• Published in: Systematic entomology Vol. 47; no. 3; pp. 504 - 529
• Main Authors: Colombo, Wesley D., Tribull, Carly M., Waichert, Cecilia, Azevedo, Celso O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.07.2022; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Aculeata; ancestral state reconstruction; Bayesian analysis; Bethylidae; Cytochrome; Cytochrome b; Hymenoptera; Mitochondria; molecular phylogeny; morphological phylogeny; Morphology; New genera; Phylogeny; Taxonomy
• DOI: 10.1111/syen.12544
• ISSN: 0307-6970

We apply integrative taxonomy to solve a historical taxonomic impasse in a flat wasp group (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae). The phylogeny of Epyrinae is inferred with parsimony analyses under equal and implied weights, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference using the nuclear markers 18S and 28S, the mitochondrial genes 16S, cytochrome oxidase subunit I and cytochrome B and 232 morphological characters. This is the first phylogenetic study to examine all 42 epyrine genera, including junior synonyms and extinct taxa, applying a combined molecular and morphological approach. This study considered 186 terminal taxa with 166 representing the ingroup taxa and 20 outgroup taxa. All resulting trees of the combined analyses recovered Anisepyris Kieffer, Aspidepyris Evans, Bakeriella Kieffer, Disepyris Kieffer, Laelius Ashmead and Trachepyris Kieffer as monophyletic; Chlorepyris Kieffer, Epyris Westwood, Formosiepyris Terayama and Holepyris Kieffer are non‐monophyletic. Calyozina Enderlein is recovered as an independent lineage in implied weights, Bayesian and maximum likelihood topologies. Here, we describe three new genera and revalidate six genera, five of them junior synonyms of Epyris and one of Holepyris. In addition, we analysed the presence/absence of a sulcus between the mesoscuto‐scutellar foveae and the shape of mesoscuto‐scutellar foveae as the most important taxonomic characters for Epyrinae using ancestral state reconstruction. Finally, we provide a checklist of all species of Epyrinae, compiled via direct observation of the type, illustrations, or literature and an updated and illustrated taxonomic key for all epyrine genera. We analysed 232 morphological characters and five molecular markers for all epyrine genera and propose a new generic classification, providing a landmark for any further study of these wasps. This study represents the largest phylogeny of Epyrinae published to date with 186 terminals and 18 genera included, comprising all morphological and biogeographical diversity of the subfamily. Ancestral character reconstruction analyses were performed for a more in‐depth morphological discussion of the historically most important taxonomic characters for Epyrinae.