Phylogenetics of the rose gall wasp, Diplolepis, and its associated inquiline, Periclistus

Many gall wasp taxa are understudied and in need of taxonomic revision, especially the non-oak gallers. The gall wasp genus Diplolepis (Hymenoptera: Diplolepididae) is one such group. Diplolepis induces galls, or abnormal outgrowths of plant tissue, on wild roses, which are occupied by its larvae before pupating and emerging as adults. Closely associated with Diplolepis is Periclistus (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae), a gall gasp genus which has lost the ability to induce its own galls. Periclistus has become a specialized nest parasite of Diplolepis, and its invasion can influence gall morphology and cause significant mortality in gallmaker larvae. Though relatively distantly related within Cynipidae sensu lato, the intertwining life histories of Diplolepis and Periclistus warrants consideration of both groups when answering taxonomic and evolutionary questions. Ultraconserved elements, or UCEs, are a phylogenetic tool used to illuminate previously unresolved evolutionary relationships, both shallow and deep. A comprehensive phylogenetic tree of Nearctic Diplolepis and the first UCE tree for Periclistus were constructed to investigate species delimitation, speciation, and potential coevolution of the genera.