02171nas a2200229   4500008004100000020001400041245008400055210006900139260000900208300001400217490000700231520146600238653002501704653001701729653001501746653002101761653002501782100002501807700002501832700002901857856005501886       2010                        eng d  a1558-564600aLarge-scale evolutionary patterns of host plant associations in the lepidoptera0 aLargescale evolutionary patterns of host plant associations in t  c2010  a1098-11190 v643 aWe characterized evolutionary patterns of host plant use across about 2500 species of British Lepidoptera, using character optimization and independent phylogenetic contrasts among 95 operational taxa, and evaluated the extent to which caterpillars are monophagous, use woody host plants, and feed concealed. We also analyzed the use of different Angiosperm superorders and related these associations to other key variables. The Nepticulidae, Pterophoridae, and Gracillariidae allowed explicit comparisons between the British fauna and the Lepidoptera worldwide, which indicated that our broad categorizations for Britain are accurate predictors for the global fauna. The first (lower glossatan) radiation of the Lepidoptera started with monophagous, internal feeding on woody Eurosids I. Polyphagy on nonwoody Eurosids I evolved together with the ability to feed externally, but did initially not produce significant radiations. Exposed feeding became associated with radiations in the lower Ditrysia and Apoditrysia and remained correlated with more polyphagy, fewer woody host plants, and increasing use of other Angiosperm superorders. The macrolepidopteran radiation has frequent reversals to monophagy on woody Eurosids I, particularly in taxa that lost concealed feeding. We discuss the general implications of these results and address several key adaptations and constraints that have characterized the major transitions in lepidopteran life histories.10aComparative analysis10adiet breadth10aEurosids I10aexternal feeding10aphytophagous insects1 aMenken, Steph, B. J.1 aBoomsma, Jacobus, J.1 aVan Nieukerken, Erik, J.  uhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1558-5646.2009.00889.x