Cladistic analysis of the Zethus (Zethoides) Fox, 1899 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae) species groups with insights on the current subgeneric classification of Zethus Fabricius, 1804

Author(s)

Lopes, Rogerio Botion ^{[1, 2]} ; Noll, Fernando Barbosa ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Filosofia Ciencias & Letras Ribeirao Pret, Dept Biol, Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Paulista Julio Mesquita Filho, Inst Biociencias Letras & Ciencias Exatas, Dept Zool & Bot, Lab Aculeata, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Insect Systematics and Evolution; v. 49, n. 2, p. 103-129, 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 3

Abstract

Zethus is the largest genus in Eumeninae, with over 250 species. Currently, it is divided in four subgenera: Z. (Zethus), Z. (Zethusculus), Z. (Zethoides) and Z. (Madecazethus). Z. (Zethoides), with 42 species, is subdivided in eight species groups, each considered a phylogenetic unit, that were created without any phylogenetic analysis. Eighteen species of Z. (Zethoides) corresponding to different groups were examined, altogether with terminals from distinct lineages of Zethus, Zethini and Eumenini, to perform a cladistics analysis to verify the proposed divisions. Zethus (Zethoides) and all of its species groups, except for the Z. biglumis group, were monophyletic. Zethus s.s. was paraphyletic in relation to Z. (Madecazethus), Z. (Zethoides) and Ctenochilus. Z. (Zethusculus) was also retrieved paraphyletic. Despite the subgeneric incongruences, the outgroups were too poorly represented to carry a taxonomic modification. Thus, the only alteration was the inclusion of the Z. clypearis group in the Z. biglumis group. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/16586-1 - Phylogeny of the Zethus (Zethoides) Fox, 1899 species groups (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae)
• Grantee: Rogério Botion Lopes
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master