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Phylogeny of the New World Dysdercus (Insecta: Hemiptera: Pyrrhocoridae) and Evolution of their Colour Patterns
1Faculty of Biological Sciences and Institute of Entomology, Branišovská 31, České Budejovice, 370 05, Czech Republic.
Abstract:
Evolution of colour patterns is reconstructed in the case of the New World species of Dysdercus (Hemiptera: Pyrrhocoridae). The phylogenetic species concept was applied to this group, elevating five subspecific taxa to specific rank (D. capitatus, D. discolor, D. fervidus, D. luteus, and D. neglectus), and the resulting 41 phylogenetic species were analysed cladistically. Using optimization methods, evolution of colour patterns of the group is hypothesized, and possible developmental mechanisms of colour-pattern evolutionary changes are inferred.
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