Phylogeny of Cotesia Wasps Parasitizing Melitaeini Butterflies

A ten-gene dataset was used to reconstruct the phylogeny of 22 Cotesia wasp species, including cryptic species complexes parasitizing Melitaeini butterflies. The dataset, created by Julian Schach and last updated on 2026-05-27, includes samples collected from Europe, Asia, and North America. The analysis yielded a highly supported phylogeny revealing four major clades and clarifying previously unresolved relationships.

Use Cases

• Reconstructing phylogenetic relationships among Cotesia species based on a ten-gene dataset.
• Testing the monophyly of parasitoids associated with a specific butterfly host group (Melitaeini).
• Investigating host shift dynamics and evolution in parasitoid wasps.
• Clarifying taxonomic relationships within cryptic species complexes (Cotesia acuminata agg. and C. melitaearum agg.).

Strengths

• Dataset includes a ten-gene molecular dataset for phylogenetic inference.
• Analysis covers 22 Cotesia species, including non-Melitaeini associated species for comparative context.
• Samples were collected from three continents (Europe, Asia, North America), providing geographic breadth.

Limitations

• The dataset is very small at 9.5 KB, indicating limited scope.
• Row count and column-level documentation are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data may reflect geographic bias inherent to the sampling locations described.

Provenance

Source

figshare

Collection Method

Phylogenetic reconstruction using maximum likelihood on a ten-gene dataset from collected samples.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-05-27 17:33:26; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Samples collected in Europe, Asia, and North America.