Phylogeny and color pattern evolution in a New World bumble bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Bombus: Pyrobombus) species complex

Bombus ephippiatus is one of the most common and widespread bumble bee species throughout Mexico and Central America. This robust and charismatic species possesses a highly variable color pattern throughout its wide distribution across montane and lowland regions, which raises the question of whether or not it is in fact one species. I examined the molecular phylogeny of B. ephippiatus populations and its sister species, B. wilmattae and B. impatiens, with the aims of resolving the species relationships, distinguishing species boundaries and examining correlations between color pattern and phylogeny. I applied DNA sequences from three genes to resolve the species-level phylogeny and to gain insight into the population structure of B. ephippiatus. The results reveal that B. impatiens is the sister group to B. ephippiatus + B. wilmattae. Results also suggest that B. ephippiatus is paraphyletic with respect to B. wilmattae, as B. wilmattae attaches to the Costa Rican B. ephippiatus clade. The B. ephippiatus + B. wilmattae complex appears to be associated with geography and color pattern, providing new insights into the evolutionary history of this complex.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Entomology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2010

Author dc:creator

• Duennes, Michelle A.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Cameron, Sydney A.

• bumble bees
• species delimitation
• Mesoamerica
• color pattern

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2010 Michelle A. Duennes

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/16172

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/16172