A panbiogeographic perspective for pre-cretaceous angiosperm–Lepidoptera coevolution

Abstract

The coevolutionary history of Lepidoptera and angiosperms is evaluated in relation to Croizat's panbiogeographic synthesis of angiosperm evolution. The panbiogeographic method of ocean basin classification is used to identify major patterns of trans-oceanic distribution for lepidopteran families and genera (principally non-ditrysian). The Pacific basin is identified as a major evolutionary centre for several 'primitive non-ditrysian Lepidoptera, including Zeugloptera, Aglossata, Heterobathmiina, Neopsuestina, Palaephatidae, Prodoxidae, and possibly the Dacnonypha. The ditrysian Ithomiidae are similarly classified with the Pacific while the related Daniidae are identified as Indian Ocean. An Indian Ocean baseline is proposed for the Callidulidae, Tinissimae and Perissomasticini (Tineidae). A 'coevolutionary' history is supported in terms of Lepidoptera and angiosperms sharing common biogeographic (spatiotemporal) characters associated with the pre-Cretaceous tectonic history of major ocean and sea basins. The lack of congruent higher level Lepidoptera-angiosperm phylogenies emerging from systematic studies may be due to a lack of cospeciation events, but this does not exclude a close ecological and evolutionary relationship through the history of both groups.