Phylogeny and tribal classification of Sterrhinae with emphasis on delimiting Scopulini (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)

Abstract. The phylogenetic relationships of tribes of the geometrid subfamily Sterrhinae (Lepidoptera) were studied, with special emphasis on finding delimiting characters for the tribe Scopulini. Two cladistic analyses were conducted for fifty‐nine species representing all previously recognized Sterrhinae tribes and covering the geographical range of the subfamily. In the first analysis, twelve putative synapomorphies of Scopulini, taken from the literature, were coded for actual specimens in order to test their ability to support the monophyly of the group. The resulting strict consensus cladogram was totally unresolved. In the second analysis, the twelve characters were combined with additional information from the morphology and ecology of adults and immature stages. Analysis of these ninety‐six characters resulted in a well‐resolved cladogram. The tribes were found to be monophyletic, except Cosymbiini and Rhodostrophiini. There are two main lineages within Sterrhinae: Cosymbiini + Rhodometrini + Timandrini and Rhodostrophiini + Cyllopodini + Sterrhini + Scopulini. Aletini and Problepsini lay within the concept of Scopulini. The association of the included Larentiinae taxa with the Cosymbiini + Rhodometrini + Timandrini lineage questions the monophyly of Sterrhinae. A majority of the recovered synapomorphic characters had been recognized previously, but several new phylogenetically informative characters were found, especially from the thorax. No unique characters diagnosing the tribe Scopulini were found, but many homoplastic synapomorphic features were found which diagnose parts of it. All recognized Sterrhinae genera are assigned tentatively to tribes and problematic cases are discussed.