Biochemical genetics and systematics of small ermine moths lepidoptera yponomeutidae
Menken, S.B.J.
Zeitschrift fuer Zoologische Systematik und Evolutionsforschung 20(2): 131-143
1982
Accession: 004833195
Nine taxa of small ermine moths (Lepidoptera, Yponmeutidae), representing at least 8 spp., were studied by means of starch gel electrophoresis for their variation on 51 genetic loci in both the larval and adult stages. Mean levels of heterozygosity vary considerably among Yponomeuta spp. (range 0.003-0.136, with a mean for the 9 spp. of 0.083 .+-. 0.041) and are relatively low for the Lepidoptera. Nei's measure of genetic distance between each pair of species ranges from 0.021-2.522. From the distance matrix a dendrogram expressing the phylogenetic relationships was constructed. This biochemical dendrogram is compared with one based on morphological characters and substantial differences are found. The taxonomic status of each of the 9 spp. is discussed.