Phylogenomics and the evolution of hemipteroid insects

Area of Science:

• * Entomology and Evolutionary Biology
• * Molecular Phylogenetics and Genomics

Background:

• * Hemipteroid insects (Paraneoptera) represent over 10% of insect diversity and play crucial ecological roles.
• * Previous phylogenetic analyses have not consistently resolved relationships among major hemipteroid lineages.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To establish a well-supported phylogenetic framework for hemipteroid insects using phylogenomic data.
• * To investigate the evolutionary relationships and diversification timing of major hemipteroid groups.

Main Methods:

• * Maximum likelihood-based phylogenomic analyses utilizing sequences from 2,395 single-copy, protein-coding genes.
• * Analysis of 193 hemipteroid insect samples and outgroups.
• * Molecular dating incorporating 23 fossil calibration points.

Main Results:

• * Strong support for the monophyly of Psocodea, Thysanoptera, and Hemiptera, and most intraordinal relationships.
• * Thysanoptera is confirmed as the sister group to Hemiptera.
• * Psocodea is identified as the sister group to holometabolous insects, though this finding is debated by likelihood mapping.

Conclusions:

• * The study provides a robust phylogenetic framework for hemipteroid insects.
• * Diversification of hemipteroids began over 365 million years ago, before the Carboniferous period.
• * Results offer insights into trait evolution and mitochondrial genome organization within Paraneoptera.