Patterns of evolution and multidimensional systematics in graylings (Lepidoptera: Hipparchia)

The difficult and controversial attribution of Hipparchia (Parahipparchia) populations to species or
subspecies rank led us to use a comparative, quantitative approach to clarify evolutionary and
taxonomic relationships among taxa. Seventeen populations from the Mediterranean area belonging
to nine presumptive species or subspecies were sampled, and multivariate analyses were employed to
study three character sets: allozymes, morphometric profiles of male genitalia, and quantitative
descriptors of wing pattern and shape. Comparative analyses of distance matrices, trees and
ordination patterns enabled us to outline evolutionary relationships among taxa and to assess the
relative value of each character set. Congruent relationships among taxa were obtained from
allozymes and male genital morphometrics, suggesting that divergence in genital morphology is a
fairly good marker of the overall genetic divergence. On the other hand, discordant results from
wing pattern descriptors suggest these might be subjected to different evolutionary trajectories and
rates because of their particular adaptive significance, and might not represent reliable tracers of
phylogeny.