Taxonomic position of Hormaphis similibetulae Qiao & Zhang, 2004 (Hemiptera, Aphididae): molecular and biological evidences

Abstract. The taxonomic position of Hormaphis similibetulae Qiao & Zhang, 2004 has been reexamined. The phylogenetic position of Hormaphis similibetulae was inferred by maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses on the basis of partial nuclear elongation factor-1α and mitochondrial tRNA leucine/cytochrome oxidase II sequences. The results showed that this species fell into the clade of Hamamelistes species, occupying a basal position, and was clearly distinct from other Hormaphis species. A closer relationship between Hormaphis similibetulae and Hamamelistes species was also revealed by life cycle analysis. Therefore, we conclude that Hormaphis similibetulae should be transferred to the genus Hamamelistes as Hamamelistes similibetulae (Qiao & Zhang), comb. n.