To keep the community as up to date as possible on the progress of the LepTree molecular project, initial phylogenetic analyses of our sequence data will be displayed on this page as they are obtained, and updated as they progress toward formal publication. Posts in the first three sections are INFORMAL PROGRESS REPORTS ONLY, they are NOT TO BE REGARDED AS PUBLICATIONS.

New, 5 Sept, 07: PILOT STUDIES

The Leptree molecular project began with three pilot studies, designed to identify an appropriate gene vs. taxon sampling strategy for resolving the “backbone” phylogeny of Lepidoptera in subsequent years (see Molecular Update 1). The results have just begun to be analysed, and will be presented in stages as they become available. Changes will be frequent; indeed, “final” error checking of the sequences is still in progress.We intend to make our results continuously available for community inspection and (we hope) comment, rather than waiting until formal publication.

Many more analyses remain to be done, and we are still thinking about a publication strategy for these results. A number of people have made significant contributions to the work already, and will be invited to co-author. A great many more will co-author subsequent studies, as we are now greatly expanding our taxon sample. (The preliminary results strongly reinforce the need to do this.) The total sum of material we have in process so far - over 350 exemplars - represents contributions from more than 50 collectors, for which we are very grateful.

Pilot Studies Preliminary Results

• Bombycoid Pilot Study results and tree
• Obtectomera Pilot study results and tree
• Lower Apoditrysia pilot study results and tree

Trees

• Kristensen tree, our starting point.
• Preliminary analysis of Bombycoidea and outgroups, precursor to Leptree (posted August 2007).

Updates

• Molecular project update #2 August 2007
• Molecular project update #1 October 2006