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10-Minute Presentation

Systematics, Evolution, and Biodiversity

10-min: SysEB, Systematics, Phylogenetics, and Evolution 1

Mandibular rods: The form and function of a novel synapomorphy for the hymenopteran infraorder Proctotrupomorpha

Tuesday, November 12, 2024
10:12 AM – 10:24 AM MST
Location: Phoenix Convention Center, 132 A
Oral Presentation
The infraorder Proctotrupomorpha contains six superfamilies of primarily parasitic micro-Hymenoptera (Platygastroidea, Cynipoidea, Proctotrupoidea, Diaprioidea, Mymarommatoidea, and Chalcidoidea). While contemporary phylogenomic analyses have supported the monophyly of Proctotrupomorpha, and rapidly advanced our understanding of the relationships of consitutent taxa, the identification of a strong morphological synapomorphy has lagged. Seven synapomorphies have been proposed for Proctotrupomorpha—however the majority are defined by the reduction or absence of the character, and the remaining are too ambiguous to be effectively applied. Here we proposed a novel synapomorphy for Proctotrupomorpha which we call mandibular rods: set of thin cuticular rods present internally within the mandible. We surveyed the mandibles across 93 families of Proctotrupomorpha, and formally described the structure utilizing a variety of imaging techniques (CSLM, SEM, TEM, SR-µ-CT, DIC) and map our finding onto contemporary phylogenetic hypotheses of the Hymenoptera to explore evolution and phylogenetic signal of the characters. Finally we discuss the evolution, structure and putative function of the mandibular rods across the infraorder.