Evolution of the Parasitic Wasp Subfamily Rogadinae
Author Information
Author(s): Zaldívar-Riverón Alejandro, Shaw Mark R, Sáez Alberto G, Mori Miharu, Belokobylskij Sergey A, Shaw Scott R, Quicke Donald L J
Primary Institution: Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
Hypothesis
How did the phylogenetic history and host ranges of the Rogadinae wasps evolve?
Conclusion
The study supports the idea that the diversification of Aleiodes was driven by host recruitment rather than coevolution.
Supporting Evidence
- The Bayesian analyses weakly support the monophyly of the Rogadinae subfamily.
- The Aleiodes clade is estimated to have originated more recently than its principal lepidopteran host groups.
- Variation in the site of emergence from the mummified host likely evolved due to the mummy's site and mode of formation.
Takeaway
This study looks at how a group of wasps that turn their caterpillar hosts into mummies evolved and changed their food preferences over time.
Methodology
The study used molecular phylogenetic analyses based on DNA sequences from 34 genera and 118 species.
Limitations
The study's conclusions are limited by the uncertainty in the fossil record and the lack of host records for some genera.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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