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10-Minute Presentation

Systematics, Evolution, and Biodiversity

10-min: SysEB, Invasive Species, Diagnostics, and Pest Control

Studies in the evolution of Noctuoidea: An integrated approach

Sunday, November 9, 2025
11:12 AM - 11:24 AM Pacific
Location: Oregon Convention Center, E147-148, OCC
Oral Presentation
For many years, research on the evolution of Lepidoptera has primarily focused on butterflies, leaving a significant gap in our understanding of the evolutionary history of the order as a whole. Recently, however, interest in moths, particularly the owlet moths, which constitute the largest superfamily within Lepidoptera has increased. Early studies relied heavily on morphological data with limited molecular comparisons. In contrast, recent research has tended to depend almost exclusively on genetic data, often overlooking important apomorphic and synapomorphic characters. This disconnect between morphological and molecular approaches has led to numerous systematic challenges, complicating efforts to reconstruct the evolutionary history of this superfamily. Effective study of systematics and evolution requires these disciplines to work in harmony. Over the past decade, we have collected both morphological and molecular data from 535 noctuoid taxa, representing all seven recognized families within Noctuoidea. Our primary focus has been on two of the most diverse families, Erebidae and Noctuidae, due to their continually evolving systematic classifications. We examined 56 morphological characters across all taxa included in this study and analyzed molecular sequences from 500 taxa, incorporating data from anchored hybrid enrichment, transcriptomics, and genomics. Our results reveal strong evidence, supported by both genomic and morphological data, that among the 41 subfamilies studied (18 within Erebidae and 23 within Noctuidae) 15 should be elevated to full family status. Additionally, we propose raising the subfamily Diptherinae, currently classified within Nolidae, to family status, as our data indicate it is not closely related to Nolidae.