Red stripes and splotches: UCE phylogeny of Phylinae (Hemiptera: Miridae) reveals evolution of color patterns

Miridae are one of the most speciose families of true bugs, containing >11,000 species. These phytophagous and predatory insects can be found in all biogeographic regions interacting closely with their plant hosts. Phylinae, the second largest subfamily of Miridae with >2,700 described species, are cosmopolitan with highest diversity in the Neotropics. Members of Phylinae are predominantly phytophagous and a number of species show remarkable cryptic coloration for disguise from predators on their host plants. This large subfamily has seen a rapid increase in description of taxa over the past 45 years, however no robust and well supported phylogeny of the group is currently available. Here is presented the first UCE based phylogenetic hypothesis for Phylinae providing the most taxon and data rich phylogeny of the group. Additionally, the evolution of ancestral color patterns is investigated with an emphasis on Australian Casuarinaceae associated Phylinae which have convergently evolved similar coloration for disguise on their hosts.