Estudos macro e microevolutivos nas borboletas Ithomiinae (Nymphalidae)

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

1998

RESUMO

The subfamily Ithomünae was investigated from the point of view of macroevolution, in search for cladogenetic events, using the first instar larval morphology for the generation of hypotheses about the phylogenetic relationships between genera and tribes. The chaetotaxy (the study of setal distribution on the body and other structures of larvae) of 35 Ithomünae and 3 Danainae species (143 individuals), derived from examination of the head capsule, labrum, mandible and body was used to delineate 99 taxonomic characters. Phylogenetic relationships in the Ithomiinae were evaluated, using P AUP and Hennig programs. The monophyletic groups do not correspond to tribes generally accepted. Some characters were important in the discussion about the phylogenetic position of Tellervo (the only non-Neotropical Ithomiinae genus). In the microevolutionary approach, geographic (phenotypic) variation was studied in Methona populations of the Central Plateau, mainly of the larvae, and their differences with relation to other populations in Brazil. Caterpillars were sought in 82 localities in Central Brazil; 629 plants (Brunfelsia sp., the "manacá") were inspected. In all, 614 individual larvae were collected, described and their geographic distribuition mapped. The astonishing phenotypic variation and its geographic extent were recorded and compared with that of other populations (South, Southeast, North and Northeast of Brazil). The study of the larvae of the Central Plateau population indicateda probably new taxonomic entity for this species, one of the more common urban butterflies in Brazil

ASSUNTO(S)

evolução larva

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