Apaustina Grishin, new subtribe

http://zoobank.org/ 05EF9D2F-DACA-45DC-B6D7-7960424D3C33

Type genus. Apaustus Hübner, [1819] .

Definition. A subtribe without clear phylogenetic affinities within Hesperiini, but not a sister to Thymelicina (Fig. 1). Keys to J.1, M.1, or M4 or in Evans (1955). Characterized by elongated wings, weak flight, short antennae and gracile bodies. Diagnosed by a combination of: flattened antennal club without apiculus, long and thin 3rd segment of palpi extending beyond the 2nd segment (less so in Adopaeoides), the lack of spines on mid-tibiae (except Apaustus), and the lack of brands or stigmas on wings. In DNA, a combination of the following base pairs is diagnostic: aly3507.5.1:A578C, aly1297.14.4:A4190C, aly123.4.7:A70T, aly123.4.7:G71C, aly315.4.4:A453C.

Genera included. Apaustus Hübner, [1819], Adopaeoides Godman, 1900, and Ancyloxypha C. Felder, 1862 .

Parent taxon. Tribe Hesperiini Latreille, 1809 .

Comments. Our genomic findings corroborate recent anchored phylogenomic results (Toussaint et al. 2018) in dividing the former Thymelicina into two phylogenetic lineages of different origins (Fig. 1). While the association of Apaustus, formerly placed in Moncina A. Warren, 2008, with the other two genera formerly placed in Thymelicina Tutt, 1905, was unexpected at first, it makes morphological sense considering similarities in wing shapes and the gracile bodies of these butterflies.