A Phylogenetic Analysis of Pheromone Communication in Primitive Moths

Abstract

A robust phylogeny exists for Lepidoptera, but the phylogenetic arrangement of the archaic lineages, as well as several lineages within the Ditrysia, has not been fully resolved (Kristensen and Skalski 1996). Sex pheromones have been chemically identified from more than 400 lepidopteran species, sex attractants have been reported for many more (Arn et al. 1992), and the pheromone communication systems of many moths have been investigated in great detail (Baker 1989c), making the Lepidoptera an interesting target group for a phylogenetic analysis of the communication systems. Can pheromone characters provide increased resolution in the reconstruction of the lepidopteran phylogenetic tree? How have pheromones evolved within an insect order, from archaic to more advanced character states? To what extent can the design of pheromone communication systems be considered adaptive?