The Phylogenetics and Biogeography of the Central Asian Hawkmoths, Hyles hippophaes and H. chamyla: Can Mitogenomics and Machine Learning Bring Clarity?

The western Palaearctic species of the hawkmoth genus Hyles (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) have long been subject molecular phylogenetic research. However, much less attention has paid to taxa inhabiting central and eastern Palaearctic, particularly Central Asia, where almost 50% diversity occurs. Yet, many taxonomic conundrums hinder a proper assessment true in these moths. One still unresolved group includes hippophaes chamyla. Despite largely overlapping morphology ecology, plethora infraspecific display some unique divergent characters over wide geographical area. In this study, we undertook each population resolved complex using an integrative approach. A combination new computational techniques (DAISY-II) comparative recent advances DNA extraction methods sequencing museum specimens (WISC) alongside more traditional genetic approaches allowed testing three main phenotypes—bienerti, chamyla apocyni—in terms their morphological, mitochondrial biogeographical integrity, elucidate evolutionary relationships. Our results support existence two closely related species, H. hippophaes, but former apocyni (here discussed as ecological form chamyla) is best regarded hybrid between h. bienerti. indicate that relationship one admixture context ongoing differentiation, which led shared morphological blurring boundaries. These clarify relationships open future research lines, including analysis nuclear markers denser sampling, vespertilio Europe.