Evolution of Micropterigidae (Lepidoptera) in the SW Pacific

The distribution and possible evolutionary history of two major lineages of Micropterigidae in Australia, New Caledonia and New Zealand are presented. In Australia a simple vicariant evolutionary model is applied to the data and it is noted that the development of micropterigids is paralleled by the evolutionary history of eastern Australian rainforests. In New Zealand there appear to be distinct patterns of evolution in the different micropterigid lineages, a situation which is interpreted in terms of separate evolutionary histories, possibly on different land masses. In New Caledonia a species swarm exists which is also interpreted in terms of a former more complex geography. It is concluded that micropterigid evolution in the SW Pacific supports the idea of a composite origin for both New Zealand and New Caledonia.