Wing base structural data support the sister relationship of megaloptera and neuroptera (insecta: neuropterida)

PLoS One. 2014 Dec 11;9(12):e114695. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0114695. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

The phylogenetic status and the monophyly of the holometabolous insect order Megaloptera has been an often disputed and long unresolved problem. The present study attempts to infer phylogenetic relationships among three orders, Megaloptera, Neuroptera, and Raphidioptera, within the superorder Neuropterida, based on wing base structure. Cladistic analyses were carried out based on morphological data from both the fore- and hindwing base. A sister relationship between Megaloptera and Neuroptera was recovered, and the monophyly of Megaloptera was corroborated. The division of the order Megaloptera, the traditional higher classification, into Corydalidae (Corydalinae + Chauliodinae) and Sialidae, was also supported by our wing base data analyses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Evolution, Molecular
  • Female
  • Insecta / anatomy & histology*
  • Male
  • Phylogeny*
  • Wings, Animal / anatomy & histology*

Grants and funding

The research described is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31322051, 31320103902) and the Foundation for the Author of National Excellent Doctoral Dissertation of PR China (No. 201178). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.