# Comparative Analysis of Mitogenomic and Nuclear Gene Data Reveals Phylogenetic Implications, Divergence Times, and Historical Biogeography in the Subfamily Pyrginae (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae)

## TL;DR

This study uses genetic data to explore the evolutionary history and geographic origins of skipper butterflies in the Pyrginae subfamily.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into the phylogeny and biogeography of Pyrginae using mitogenomic and nuclear gene data from 118 species.

## Key findings

- The monophyly of Pyrginae is strongly supported, but some tribal relationships remain unresolved.
- The most recent common ancestor of Pyrginae sensu lato originated in the Neotropical or Neotropical + Palearctic regions in the early Paleocene.
- Pyrginae sensu stricto originated in the Neotropical region in the early Eocene.

## Abstract

The subfamily Pyrginae sensu lato (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) represents a group of skipper butterflies, consisting of 1132 species in 153 genera and nine tribes. Although the phylogeny and morphology of Pyrginae have been extensively studied, there is limited information on their historical biogeography. Evolutionary relationships among hesperiid subfamilies and tribes are prerequisites for inferring their biogeographic patterns. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genomes of 10 Hesperiidae, in which seven Pyrginae, were newly sequenced. Our sampling encompassed 118 species, including 93 Pyrginae, representing nine tribes and 85 genera. A concatenated super‐matrix of mitogenomic data and the nuclear genes EF‐1α and Wingless was constructed. The monophyly of Pyrginae was robustly supported (PP = 1, BP = 89). Within Pyrginae, relationships among Tagiadini, Pyrrhopygini, Jerini, and Celaenorrhinini were stable, while relationships among Pyrgini, Carcharodini, Erynnini, and Achlyodidini varied, requiring further study. The most recent common ancestor of Pyrginae sensu lato was inferred to have been distributed in the Neotropical region or the Neotropical region + the Palearctic region in the early Paleocene (ca. 56.31 Ma) while that of Pyrginae sensu stricto (Achlyodidini, Pyrgini, Carcharodini, and Erynnini) was in the Neotropical region in the early Eocene (ca. 46.72 Ma).

This study examined the phylogeny and historical biogeography of the skipper butterfly subfamily Pyrginae using mitochondrial and nuclear gene data from 118 species. The monophyly of Pyrginae was strongly supported, though some tribal relationships within the subfamily remain unresolved. Biogeographic analysis suggests the most recent common ancestor of Pyrginae sensu lato originated in the Neotropical region or Neotropical + Palearctic regions in the early Paleocene, while Pyrginae sensu stricto originated in the Neotropics in the early Eocene.