Evolutionary History of the Genus Thaumetopoea

Abstract

This chapter presents the evolutionary history of Thaumetopoea species associated with pines, at different temporal and spatial scales. It corresponds to recent discoveries and ongoing works using sequencing technologies and population genetics. Most of the subchapters focus on the winter pine processionary moths T. pityocampa/T. wilkinsoni including a population with a shifted life cycle. Results concerning the summer pine processionary moth T. pinivora and the evolution of the whole genus are also presented. This chapter gives insights about the effects of Quaternary climate changes in different regions, and allow to study the contemporary changes due to the present climate warming