We synthesize the evidence from molecular phylogenetics, extant distribution, and plate tectonics to present an insight in ancestral areas, dispersal routes and the effectiveness of geographic ...barriers for net-winged beetle tribes (Coleoptera: Lycidae). Samples from all zoogeographical realms were assembled and phylogenetic relationships for ~550 species and 25 tribes were inferred using nuclear rRNA and mtDNA markers. The analyses revealed well-supported clades at the rank of tribes as they have been defined using morphology, but a low support for relationships among them. Most tribes started their diversification in Southeast and East Asia or are endemic to this region. Slipinskiini and Dexorini are Afrotropical endemics and Calopterini, Eurrhacini, Thonalmini, and Leptolycini remained isolated in South America and the Caribbean after their separation from northern continents. Lycini, Calochromini, and Erotini support relationships between the Nearctic and eastern Palearctic faunas; Calochromini colonized the Afrotropical realm from East Asia and Metriorrhynchini Afrotropical and Oriental realms from the drifting Indian subcontinent. Most tribes occur in the Oriental and Sino-Japanese realms, the highest alpha-taxonomic diversity was identified in Malesian tropical rainforests. The turn-over at zoogeographical boundaries is discussed when only short distance over-sea colonization events were inferred. The lycid phylogeny shows that poor dispersers can be used for reconstruction of dispersal and vicariance history over a long time-span, but the current data are insufficient for reconstruction of the early phase of their diversification.
We reviewed the species-level classification of Metriorrhynchina net-winged beetles to make the group accessible for further studies. Altogether, 876 valid species are listed in a checklist along ...with known synonyms, combinations, and distribution data. The compilation of geographic distribution showed that Metriorrhynchina is distributed mainly in the Australian region with very high diversity in the islands at the northern edge of the Australian craton, i.e., in the Moluccas and New Guinea (54 and 423 spp. respectively). The neighboring northern part of the Australian continent houses a majority of known Australian species (112 spp.) and the diversity of net-winged beetles gradually decreases to the south (43 spp.). The fauna of Sulawesi is highly endemic at the generic level (4 of 10 genera, 67 of 84 spp.). Less Metriorrhynchina occur in the Solomon Islands and Oceania (in total 22 spp.). The Oriental Metriorrhynchina fauna consists of a few genera and a limited number of species, and most of these are known from the Philippines (51 of 94 Oriental spp.). We identified a high species level turn-over between all neighboring landmasses. The genus-level endemism is high in Sulawesi (4 genera) and New Guinea (11 genera), but only a single genus is endemic to Australia. During the compilation of the checklist, we identified some homonyms, and we propose the following replacement names and a new synonym: Metriorrhynchus pseudobasalis, nom. nov. for M. basalis Lea, 1921 nec M. basalis Bourgeois, 1911; Metriorrhynchus pseudofunestus, nom. nov. for M. funestus Lea, 1921 nec M. funestus (Guérin-Méneville, 1838), Trichalus pseudoternatensis, nom. nov. for T. ternatensis Kleine, 1930 nec T. ternatensis Bourgeois, 1900, Procautires subparallelus, nom. nov. for P. parallelus (Pic, 1926) nec P. parallelus (Bourgeois, 1883), and Cautires pseudocorporaali, nom. nov. for C. corporaali (Pic, 1921: 12), (formerly Odontocerus and Cladophorus) nec C. corporaali (Pic, 1921) (formerly Bulenides, later Cautires). Diatrichalus biroi Kleine, 1943, syn. nov. is proposed as a junior subjective synonym of D. subarcuatithorax (Pic, 1926). Altogether, 161 new combinations are proposed, and 47 species earlier placed in Xylobanus Waterhouse, 1879 transferred from Cautirina to Metriorrhynchina incertae sedis. The study clarifies the taxonomy of Metriorrhynchini and should serve as a restarting point for further taxonomic, evolutionary, and biogeographic studies.
We present a genome assembly from an individual female
(soldier beetle; Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Cantharidae). The genome sequence is 777 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded ...into seven chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the assembled X sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 18.8 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 30,955 protein coding genes.
Species delineation is essential for any evolutionary and biodiversity research, and recent advances in genomic sequencing have made it possible to robustly define species boundaries and detect ...hidden diversity. Here, we studied 14 species of aposematically colored New Guinean
(Coleoptera: Lycidae) whose conventional morphology- and single-locus mtDNA-based taxonomy has been contentious. We analyzed mitochondrial and restriction site associated DNA fragments to obtain a phylogenetic hypothesis and compared relationships recovered by the RAD analysis with species limits based on other information. The results show the presence of cryptic diversity and common mitonuclear discordance when over 30% of individuals were incorrectly assigned to species if only mitogenomic markers were considered. Nuclear data falsified the species rank of one species and identified one earlier unrecognized lineage deserving species rank. Further, our analyses demonstrate a highly variable phenotypic differentiation, with several pairs of cryptic species standing in contrast with genetically close but phenotypically highly divergent lineages. We show that morphological and mitogenomic analyses produce reliable information for taxonomy in most cases. Nevertheless, the species boundaries among closely related species should be based on all lines of evidence, including nuclear markers.
Rhinorhipidae Lawrence, 1988 is an enigmatic beetle family represented by a single species,
Lawrence, 1988, from Australia, with poorly established affinities near the superfamily Elateroidea (click ...beetles, soldier beetles and fireflies) or the more inclusive series (infraorder) Elateriformia. Its evolutionary position may inform the basal relationships of the suborder Polyphaga, the largest clade of Coleoptera.
We analyzed four densely sampled DNA datasets of major coleopteran lineages for mitogenomes, rRNA genes and single copy nuclear genes. Additionally, genome sequencing was used for incorporation of
into a set of 4220 orthologs for 24 terminals representing 12 polyphagan superfamilies. Topologies differed to various degrees, but all consistently refute the proposed placement of Rhinorhipidae in Elateroidea and instead indicate either sister relationships with other Elateriformia, frequently together with Nosodendridae, another divergent small family hitherto placed in Derodontoidea, or in an isolated position among the deepest lineages of Polyphaga. The phylogenomic analyses recovered
in a sister position to all other Elateriformia composed of five superfamilies. Therefore, we erect the new superfamily Rhinorhipoidea Lawrence, 1988,
, with the type-family Rhinorhipidae. The origins of the Rhinorhipidae were dated to the Upper Triassic/Lower Jurassic at the very early phase of polyphagan diversification.
Thus, Rhinorhipidae adds another example to several recently recognized ancient relict lineages which are interspersed within contemporaneous hugely species-rich lineages of Coleoptera.
Gondwanan elaterids, previously thought to be unrelated, include bioluminescent Campyloxenus earlier placed in bioluminescent Pyrophorinae. Genomic data suggest close relationships between Gondwanan ...groups. We maintain Morostomatinae and Hapatesinae and redefine Pityobiinae with Nearctic Pityobiini, Gondwanan Parablacini stat. nov., Campyloxenini stat. nov., and Tibionemini trib. nov. Their ancestors putatively underwent differentiation in Gondwana during the Cretaceous separation of southern continents. In contrast with their age, extant groups are species poor. Campyloxenus represents a recent origin of bioluminescence, no older than ∼53 my. Its large pronotal lanterns differ from Pyrophorini and resemble color patches of sympatric beetle co-mimics. This discovery highlights the fourth or fifth origin of bioluminescence in Elateroidea, alongside the lampyroid clade, click beetles Pyrophorini, Alampoides and Coctilelater in Anaissini (Pyrophorinae), and Balgus schnusei (Thylacosterninae). While our phylogenetic findings illuminate the phylogenetic aspects, the complete story awaits further field observations and in-depth genomic analyses of biochemical pathways used by bioluminescent elateroids.
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•We studied bioluminescence and relationships among Gondwanan click beetles•The newly hypothesized clade of elaterid Gondwanan lineages contains ancient groups•Campyloxenus unveils a separate, recent origin of bioluminescence in elateroids
Entomology; Evolutionary biology; Phylogenetics
Ancient aposematic signals might have evolved under different ecological circumstances. Using European Cenozoic amber and phylogenetic reconstruction, we evaluated the evolution of net-winged beetle ...aposematism. We describe Priabonian Hiekeolycus winklerisp. nov. from Baltic amber, review known fossil species, and suggest earlier high diversity and morphological conservativeness of European Lycidae since the Eocene. We hypothesize the presence of red and black/red aposematic patterns in Eocene Europe. The analyses suggest the Oligocene to Miocene dispersal of additional species from East Asia and their advergence to autochthonous patterns. Recently dispersed lycids have retained similarities with their East Asian relatives. Net-winged beetles are rare in Europe after the Quaternary climatic oscillations, and we hypothesize a currently relaxed selection for shared aposematic signals. Neophobia, and eventually inborn rejection of brightly colored prey, putatively preserved ancient aposematism under changing conditions. Evidence from paleontology and phylogenetics can provide insight into the long-term persistence of old adaptations under changing conditions.
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•New net-winged beetle is described from Eocene amber•Diversified Eocene net-winged beetles formed mimicry complexes•Eocene red and red/black patterns were adopted by later dispersing groups•Ancient aposematic signals persist in contrast with lack of co-mimics
Zoology; Evolutionary biology; Paleobiology
The Papuan fauna of
contains only four species distributed in Mysool, Japen, and New Guinea and is less diversified than those of the continental Australia where 16 species have been recorded.
occurs ...in lowlands and in lower mountain forests. A new species,
sp. nov., is described from New Guinea, and
is redescribed. All Papuan species are keyed.
Abstract
Only 22 net-winged beetle species (Elateroidea: Lycidae) are known from the Western Palaearctic region (WPR), i.e. less than 0.5% of the global lycid diversity and much fewer than from ...similar latitudes of East Asia or Northern America. We used comprehensive distribution data and a molecular phylogeny of ~400 world lycids, including 14 European species, to provide a new perspective for understanding the structure and evolution of this group in the WPR. All Mediterranean species represent deeply rooted lineages with relatives in eastern Asia. These species occur in relictual ranges close to the family’s Pleistocene refugial edge. The phylogeny points to the loss of biological connection with East Asia since the Mid-Miocene. A third of WPR species is widespread in Central and Northern Europe, reaching eastern Asia, some of them possibly younger elements of the European fauna. Unlike the relatively high diversity in the Eocene amber, the extant net-winged beetles represent a small fraction of elateroid diversity in the WPR and are generally rare. Therefore, we assume that most WPR species are relics trapped in Mediterranean refugia since the onset of the Plio-Pleistocene cooling and are critically endangered by the ongoing loss of suitable habitats.
Newly available specimens of Prototrichalus Molino-Olmedo et al., 2020 yield further diagnostic characters for the phylogenetic classification of this recently described genus. We show that ...Prototrichalus has tarsal formula 5-5-4, short trochanters, kidney-shaped eyes; the antennae are inserted in front of eyes and palpomeres substantially differ from all net-winged beetles. These characters identify tenebrionoid families as potential relatives of Prototrichalus. For example, extant and Eocene Ischalia Pascoe, 1860 (Anthicidae: Ischaliinae) resemble Prototrichalus in the structure of elytral costae and costal interspaces. As a result, we transfer Prototrichalus from Elateroidea: Lycidae to Tenebrionoidea incertae sedis. The earlier claim that Prototrichalus pushes the origin of Metriorrhynchini beyond earlier estimates is incorrect. The radiation of major net-winged beetle lineages was estimated ~123 million years ago and the deepest splits within Metriorrhynchini to 77–98 million years ago and these estimations were not considered in the discussion on Prototrichalus. We assume that the superficial similarity in the general appearance of Prototrichalus and net-winged beetles can be a result of mimicry in already very diverse Cretaceous beetles, but only further discoveries of additional species can provide robust evidence for the convergent evolution.
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