The little available evidence, however, appears to be more congruent with molecular data than with wing pattern characters.
These clades, however, do not correspond with traditional classifications, which were mainly based on the very limited set of wing pattern characters.
The monomorphic Agrodiaetus species of the admetus and dolus clades differ in karyotype but are difficult or impossible to identify based on wing pattern characters.
We targeted pairs of eyespots with artificial selection for coordinated (concerted selection) versus independent (antagonistic selection) change in their color composition and size and compared evolutionary responses of the two color pattern characters.
We discovered substantial genetic divergence within the species complex, especially across the Continental Divide, with population genetic structure corresponding more closely with geographic proximity and local isolation than with taxonomic divisions originally based on wing color and pattern characters.
Two addiditional characters are optimized as ground pattern characters of the group, but are known only for few of the included taxa and seem dubious; 17, two joints in flap-like exopod (present in Emeraldella and Sidneya, while the exopods of Retifacies lack joints; unknown for the other taxa).
A. iphidamon and A. dizinensis have been placed in different groups according to wing pattern characters [ 49], but they share a synapomorphic character in their genitalia: the shape of the labides is short, pointed and "dagger-like" (Coutsis, pers. comm).. Molecular results also clearly show that they are closely related.
Consequently, a stout telson with teeth arranged in pairs seems to be a (autapomorphic?) ground-pattern character of the unnamed taxon Unipeltata sensu stricto + Sculda.
A possible ground pattern character lost or modified in subsequent nodes is: 16, distal lobe of exopod large, teardrop shaped with long attachment (reversals in Trilobita, Tegopelte, and Misszhouia + Naraoia compacta).
Our topology suggests, that this bilobate exopod morphology with lamellar setae is potentially a ground pattern character for Lamellipedia and experiences modification in some of the lamellipedian taxa, such as e.g. Marrellomorpha, where lamellae insert on individual articles rather than on the proximal lobe of a bilobate flap [ 61].
