Gelechioidea

Bucheli, Sibyl Rae, 2009, Annotated review and discussion of phylogenetically important characters for families and subfamilies of Gelechioidea (Insecta: Lepidoptera), Zootaxa 2261 (1), pp. 1-22 : 8

Monophyly of Gelechioidea

Minet (1991), using Hennigian argumentation, supported the monophyly of Gelechioidea with the following groundplan synapomorphies: dense imbricated scales covering the base of the haustellum, strongly recurved labial palpi in most taxa, larval abdominal segments 1–8 with L1 and L2 approximate or on same pinaculum, and pupae with apical or subapical invagination of the mesothoracic legs ( Table 2). While scholars have used similar characters to diagnose the Gelechioidea since Forbes(1923) first defined their utility, Passoa (1995) was the first to use them in a cladistic analysis and to establish their importance as synapomorphies for Gelechioidea . He emphasized the following features as potential synapomorphies for the superfamily: adults with haustellum scaled at least halfway; adults with maxillary palpi folded; adults with labial palpi upturned; larvae with L1 and L2 setae approximate on abdominal segments; and larvae with SD1 setae on A9 hairlike. Passoa was also the first to test cladistically the monophyly of Gelechioidea using the outgroups Yponomeutoidea and Roeslerstammiidae .

Hodges (1998) considered the scaled haustellum (at least halfway) and folded maxillary palpi to be synapomorphies for Gelechioidea , but did not use them for phylogenetic reconstruction. He considered the remaining of the above characters to be potential synapomorphies for the superfamily, but stated they would need further investigation in more taxa before their value would be fully recognized.

Kaila’s (2004) work does not support the monophyly of Gelechioidea with any of the above characters, and the definition of the superfamily is based on homoplastic characters (abdomen with scales modified as spiniform setae in tergum; sternal rods of A2 sternum present as sharply delimited narrow ridges; membrane between papillae anales and A 8 in the female telescopic; and pupal antennae meeting mesally). The first three of these characters are found amongst the outgroup taxa, but reversed within Gelechioidea . Table 2 summarizes this discussion.