Marimbondos: systematics, biogeography, and evolution of social behaviour of neotropical swarm‐founding wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Epiponini)

• DOI: 10.1111/cla.12446
• Publication Date: 2020-12-19T12:40:50Z
• Authors: Fernando B. Noll; Marjorie da Silva; Raduan A. Soleman; Rogério B. Lopes; Yuri C. Grandinete; Eduardo A. B. Alm...; John W. Wenzel; James M. Carpenter
• Keywords: Monophyly; Tribe; Molecular Phylogenetics

Abstract Neotropical swarm‐founding wasps are divided into 19 genera in the tribe Epiponini (Vespidae, Polistinae). They display extensive variation several colony‐level traits that make them an attractive model system for reconstructing evolution of social phenotypes, including caste dimorphism and nest architecture. has been upheld as a solid monophyletic group most phylogenetic analyses carried out so far, supported by molecular, morphological behavioural data. Recent molecular studies, however, propose different relationships among wasps. This study is based on comprehensive epiponine sampling far was analyzed combining morphological, nesting The resulting hypothesis shows many traditional clades but still impacts way certain characters, such structure castes, evolved, thus requires some re‐interpretations. Angiopolybia sister to remaining implies envelopes casteless plesiomorphic tribe. Molecular dating points early tribal diversification during Eocene ( c . 55–38 Ma), with major differentiation current concentrated Oligocene/Miocene boundary.