Molecular phylogeny, biogeography and colour pattern evolution of the subfamily Chalcosiinae (Lepidoptera, Zygaenoidea, Zygaenidae)

The subfamily Chalcosiinae is one of the most fascinating groups of butterflies. It consists of about 70 genera and 400 species, distributed mainly in East and Southeast Asia, with only one genus and two species restricted to the western Palaearctic. The mainly diurnal adults are known for their bright colours, contrasting patterns and fascinating mimicry relationships with other butterfly groups. However, the monophyly of the subfamily and its internal relationships are still not fully understood, and little is known about its biogeography and divergence time. Our first aim is to construct a stable molecular phylogenetic tree of the subfamily using the protocol developed at the ZFMK. Based on this, we will investigate further topics such as the biogeography, the divergence time of different taxa of lower levels and the evolution of the colour pattern of this subfamily.