A preliminary molecular phylogeny of the genus Scobura, with a synonym of Scobura masutaroi (Lepidoptera, Hesperiidae)

Abstract

A molecular phylogeny of the genus Scobura based on the mitochondrial COI and the nuclear EF-1α genes using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference is proposed. The analyses include 19 specimens from nine ingroup species. The monophyly of Scobura is not strongly supported, but two strongly supported monophyletic groups within the genus are recognized: the S. coniata group and the S. woolletti group. Judging from combination of the molecular evidence and morphological features, the former consists of six species, including S. masutaroi, while four species belong to the latter. S. mouchai Krajcik, 2013 is confirmed to be a syn. n. of S. masutaroi Sugiyama, 1996. The key to the species of the genus Scobura is modified to reflect these results.