Hiding in plain sight: Phylogenomics reveals a new branch on the Noctuoidea tree of life

Abstract

We analyse anchored hybrid enrichment data from densely sampled tribes and subfamilies of Notodontidae (Prominent Moths). Notodontidae are monophyletic except for an assemblage of genera related to Thacona Walker (=Scrancia Holland), which had been recognized at either the tribal or subfamilial rank within Notodontidae. We elevate and re-describe Scranciidae stat. nov. as a family distinct from the six currently recognized noctuoid families (Noctuidae, Erebidae, Euteliidae, Nolidae, Notodontidae and Oenosandridae). Scranciidae include 22 genera comprising approximately 100 species—distributed in Africa, Asia and Australia. We re-interpret morphological synapomorphies previously proposed for Notodontidae (including Scranciidae) and for the trifid Noctuoidea more broadly. Deep-level relationships within Noctuoidea are not well resolved outside the clade comprising the four quadrifid families (Noctuidae, Erebidae, Euteliidae and Nolidae). The phylogenetic position of Scranciidae relative to Notodontidae, Oenosandridae and the quadrifids varied markedly depending on data type (amino acid vs. nucleotide) and analytical framework (maximum likelihood, multi-species coalescent and parsimony). We discuss the possible roles of missing data and short branch lengths in resolving the placement of Scranciidae. In the topology best supported by the most available data, Scranciidae are sister to the remaining Noctuoidea, highlighting their phylogenetic significance. We provide a provisional list of the genera included in Scranciidae.