The hawkmoth genus Rhodafra comprises two African species with unclear relationships, as their wing patterns are markedly different, with one species closely resembling species of a related genus, Hyles . The present paper aims to investigate the monophyly and phylogenetic position of Rhodafra in relation to Hyles and other genera of the subtribe Choerocampina (Sphingidae: Macroglossinae: Macroglossini) using mitochondrial and nuclear sequence data from more species and individuals than have hitherto been studied. As no fresh tissue of Rhodafra was available, ancient-DNA methodology was applied. All data corroborate the genus as monophyletic and that a similar wing pattern is not a good indicator of close phylogenetic relationship in this group of moths. Phylogenetic trees based on mitochondrial data agree in placing Rhodafra within Hyles . In contrast, analysis of nuclear EF1alpha sequences produces a topology in which Rhodafra is placed as the sister clade to Hyles . Although multispecies coalescent analyses suggest a polytomy between Rhodafra , Hyles lineata and the remaining Hyles , total evidence analyses corroborate Rhodafra as sister to Hyles . This relationship is interpreted as the favoured topology. For a more robust result, the question should be re-examined using genomic approaches.

中文翻译：

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Hyles和Rhodafra的古代不完整谱系分类（鳞翅目：Sphingidae）

天蛾属 Rhodafra 包括两个关系不清楚的非洲物种，因为它们的翅膀图案明显不同，其中一个物种与相关属 Hyles 的物种非常相似。本论文旨在使用来自比迄今为止研究的更多物种和个体的线粒体和核序列数据，研究 Rhodafra 与 Hyles 和亚部落 Choerocampina（Sphingidae：Macroglossinae：Macroglossini）的其他属相关的单系和系统发育位置。由于没有新鲜的罗达夫拉组织，因此采用了古 DNA 方法。所有数据都证实该属是单系的，并且类似的翅膀图案不是这组飞蛾密切系统发育关系的良好指标。基于线粒体数据的系统发育树同意将 Rhodafra 放在 Hyles 中。相比之下，核 EF1alpha 序列的分析产生了一种拓扑结构，其中 Rhodafra 被放置为 Hyles 的姐妹进化枝。尽管多物种联合分析表明罗达夫拉、海尔斯线虫和其余的海尔斯之间存在多种关系，但总证据分析证实罗达夫拉是海尔斯的姐妹。这种关系被解释为首选拓扑。为了获得更可靠的结果，应该使用基因组方法重新检查这个问题。