RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Multi-Locus Molecular Phylogeny of Solenopsis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) JF bioRxiv FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory SP 2020.06.05.136945 DO 10.1101/2020.06.05.136945 A1 Scott Shreve A1 Rafael Achury A1 Kevin Johnson A1 Andrew Suarez A1 Dietrich Gotzek YR 2020 UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2020/06/07/2020.06.05.136945.abstract AB The myrmicine ant genus Solenopsis is species-rich, globally distributed, and is often a common and ecologically important faunal element of the leaf litter. The genus is also well-known for containing several widely distributed tramp species and some of the worst invasive species in the World (the Red Imported Fire Ant, S. invicta, and the Tropical Fire Ant, S. geminata). Although not hyper-diverse and despite its ecological and economic importance, Solenopsis has long frustrated systematists due its lack of reliable diagnostic characters and no phylogenetic hypothesis exists to date. We present a preliminary multi-locus molecular phylogenetic analysis of Solenopsis to address this knowledge gap. Our analyses recover mostly well-supported phylogenetic hypothesis, which suggests Solenopsis arose in the Neotropics and spread to all other continents (except Antarctica). Importantly, it demonstrates problems with current systematic understanding of the genus, but provides an evolutionary framework upon which to build future research.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.