Molecular phylogeny reveals genital convergences and reversals in the barklouse genus Trichadenotecnum (Insecta: Psocodea: 'Psocoptera': Psocidae)

- The molecular phylogeny of Trichadenotecnum from the Old World was estimated.
- A morphologically-based intrageneric taxonomic system was mostly supported.
- Extensive convergences and reversals in genital morphology were identified.

Trichadenotecnum is one of the most diverse genera among the non-parasitic members of Psocodea (Insecta: “Psocoptera”). The genus shows a world-wide distribution (excluding the Australian Region, where only one introduced species is known) with its center of diversity in southern to eastern Asia. Several species groups had been proposed for this large genus based on morphology, but their validity and phylogenetic relationships are still unclear because of great morphological diversity in the genitalia, systematically the most relevant character. In this study, we estimated the molecular phylogeny of the Old World species of Trichadenotecnum based on extensive taxon sampling. As a result, the monophyly of morphology-based species groups was very strongly supported in most cases. However, two groups were recovered as non-monophyletic, which had been inadequately defined on the basis of plesiomorphies or convergences of genital characters. First, the monophyly of the sexpunctatum group was not supported because the medium group was found to be embedded within this group. The simpler genitalia observed in the medium group were considered to be derived from the more complicated genitalia present in the sexpunctatum group. Second, the monophyly of the majus group was not supported for two reasons: (1) It was divided into two distant clades which initially had been united on the basis of convergent similarities of the male genitalia. (2) Two species groups were revealed to be embedded within the main clade of the majus group; the initial separation of these groups had been based on reversals to the ancestral genital condition.

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