Phylogeny of Mesitiinae (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae): assessing their classification, character evolution and diversification

• Published in: Arthropod systematics & phylogeny Vol. 80; no. 3; pp. 603 - 625
• Main Authors: Barbosa, Diego N., Hermes, Marcel Gustavo, Lepeco, Anderson
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dresden Pensoft Publishers 22-11-2022; Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung
• Subjects: Analysis; Classification; Females; Hypotheses; Integument; Males; Mesitiinae; Morphology; Museums; New genera; Phylogenetics; Phylogeny; Australia; Madagascar
• ISSN: 1863-7221; 1864-8312
• DOI: 10.3897/asp.80.e86666

We present the first phylogenetic hypothesis for Mesitiinae based on 112 morpho-structural characters and 61 species. The results did not support Argaman’s tribal classification for Mesitiinae, since no tribes were found to be monophyletic.
Anaylax
was found to be paraphyletic, and
Gerbekas
,
Heterocoelia
,
Parvoculus
,
Pycnomesitius
,
Sulcomesitius
,
Zimankos
were found to be polyphyletic. Two new genera are proposed and described:
Hadesmesitius
gen. nov.
and
Brachymesitius
gen. nov.
;
Botoryan
is considered as a junior synonym for
Zimankos
. Three species status are revalidated; and 11 species combinations were proposed, so that all genera are now monophyletic. The results indicate the thickness of integument in Mesitiinae could be related to their protection against their hosts.